Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on May 18, 2011 by Shibley
The time between Pesach and Shavuot is marked in Israel with four modern holidays. Yom Hashoa, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Haatzmaut, and Yom Yerushalayim. Colloquially, this time of year is called y’mei yamim. The days of days. It has been an incredible experience to watch Israel move from Pesach into these modern celebrations. Israeli flags adorn Continue Reading »
Posted on April 21, 2011 by David Bogomolny
Raised in the Squirrel Hill neigborhood of Pittsburgh, Brian’s fascination with Jewish tradition grew through his USY involvement. For the young man, “regional USY Shabbatons were a religious experience in a way that Hebrew school never was.” He experienced traditional Shabbat seudot, and learned about netilat yadayim, lechem mishneh, seudat shlishit, and singing zmirot. As time went on, Brian Continue Reading »
Posted on April 20, 2011 by Aviva P.
Note: I began writing this post almost a month ago, a day following the March 23 bombing at a Jerusalem bus station I call the first time I came to Israel, the last “Golden Year” of summer programs. I was here in 2000, several months before the start of the second intifada. No one thought Continue Reading »
Posted on March 11, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media
Check out Ben’s article in Canada’s Jewish Independent! Read about Hillel UBC‘s event: We R Israel, held at Temple Sholom. Good job, Ben!
Posted on March 1, 2011 by David Bogomolny
Samahra (Spring ’11) first found the words to describe her passion for ‘bridging communities’ as a York University student upon receiving the annual ‘Partnership and Outreach’ award from UJA and Hillel of Greater Toronto for activism as Hillel ‘Tzedek’ Chair. After completing her B.A. Honors in theater and B.Ed. in education, Samahra continued to pursue cross-cultural education as the Education and Continue Reading »
Posted on February 18, 2011 by David Bogomolny
Natalie (above, right) and her sister Sharyn (above, left) from Melbourne, Australia arrived at Pardes in September, knowing they would only be able to join us for one semester. Natalie (Nat) informed These&Those that the Australian summer holiday is in December and January, and the academic year runs from February through November. This explains her plans to return home next week to continue her professional studies. Continue Reading »
Posted on December 1, 2010 by David Bogomolny
“How do I make a positive impact on Israeli society as a Jew living in America?” Farrah Green contemplates aloud. Farrah has felt a sense of ‘home’ in Israel ever since her March of the Living trip in 2000, and unlike many foreigners studying in Jerusalem she has no sense of being the tourist in Continue Reading »
Posted on November 9, 2010 by Merissa
Today in class someone asked if I consider myself racially Jewish. I answered as honestly as possible on the spot, “I don’t know, I am still forming my Jewish identity.” My thoughts are quick, but not that quick. Later it occurred to me both why I was speaking in dissent, and how I define myself Continue Reading »
Posted on October 20, 2010 by David Bogomolny
Many of you may be familiar with Rav Meir Schweiger – he has taught at Pardes nearly since its founding. Rav Meir Schweiger happens to be the faculty advisor for the 2010-11 Pardes Fellows, which is really a wonderful privilege for those of us who have chosen to return here for a 2nd year of Torah study. Generally, each class Continue Reading »
