A Poem: “Moshe”
Perfect standards for Perfect people Do not take us out of the wilderness And our people have known wilderness All too well Perfect standards for Imperfect people Are just enough to Take us Home
View Article[Alumni Guest Post] One Wish for Iran, Love Israel
Joseph Shamash (Year ’12, MAPP ’13) and Andrew Lustig (Year ’12) have produced their latest video:
View Article[Alumni Guest Post] Pardes Summer Program 2013
Here is the poem I read at the closing lunch for the '13 summer program: We started Pardes on the eighth of July Little did we know, that time would fly At our opening circle, there are so many names …...
View ArticleJust – Can’t – Say it…Right
From my blog: Sometimes my Mind Thinks in Poetry Sometimes my mind thinks in poetry, but it’s a halting poem because I’m feeling and I’m feeling and I can’t put the right words to the feelings. Like...
View ArticleThe Copyist
From my blog: The Copyist People tell me that I am brave. People tell me that what I do is scarier than a job interview or public speaking. It’s more frightening than singing karaoke in front of 15...
View ArticleBe the String: A D’var Torah on Parshat Noach
(From the Pardes Opening Shabbaton): When I was a junior in college, I had to take a semester off from school. The reason? Stomach problems. I felt sick all of the time, I was gradually losing weight,...
View ArticleGo For Yourself
From my blog: This past week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, made me think of my own decision to take a year to study in Israel. The first verse reads as follows: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ...
View Article[Guest Post] Jewish Studies, a Poem by Abraham Leibson
Early in 2013 my wife Sharon and I visited Israel for the first time. We rented an apartment in Jerusalem (Rehavia), and used it as a base to explore as much as we could in one month. I had prepared …...
View ArticleThe Patriarch’s Plea, or: Abraham’s Moment of Doubt and Pain
Performed on the Negev tiyulduring the Talent Show: I sat in fire with my faith I smashed the idols of my race I left the land of father’s rules To wander far and play the fool Against great doubts I …...
View ArticleMikeitz Meets Chanukah
Mikeitz, is the parsha of this week, Pharaoh had two dreams which would led to Egypt’s peak. Joseph was at his lowest, in captive for things he did not do, Forgotten by the chief cupbearer and feeling...
View Articleרביעי
From my blog: I like it the most when you speak with your hands, y o u - fully unveiled from words. (Like weapons they hold us hostage) But you look so beautiful just like that! Without any hang-ups or...
View ArticleMy ‘Third Story’ Midrash Poem
Daniel Roth presented our ‘Judaism and Conflict Resolution’ class for Jewish Educators with this assignment, and below is the ‘Third Story’ poem that I wrote about Jacob and Esav: Esav We’re not...
View ArticleThe Ultra-Nationalist
Drowsy in my Wooden womb I hide myself Inside this room As Ocean wishes to Consume me– Here I’ll lie, nursing contumely Oh– How they crash upon my ears! These waves of shouts and flood of tears! These...
View Article[Alumni Guest Post] ‘From outside Pardes’ by Aaron Voldman
Aaron Voldman (Fall '12, Elul '13) is still taking classes at Pardes, as a Dorot Fellow. He recently wrote this poem- Over the din Of traffic A flute sounds Signaling the start of class To the melody...
View Article[PCJE Dvar Torah] Mirror Back, Mirror Forward
I don’t know if this only happens to me, but throughout this year I have continually been having flashbacks. Sometimes it is in the education courses, reminiscing about the strategies my teachers used,...
View ArticleTorah of New Snow
Laurie Franklin (Year '13) sent us this poem, written as she watched a blizzard and read from Kedushat Levi: Laurie Franklin is the spiritual leader and rabbinic intern at Har Shalom. She can be...
View ArticleFlowers of Bread
I recently searched for & found these online instructions for making flowers out of old bread. This would be a fun art project – it’s not so complicated: Spread the slices of bread on a tray Crush...
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