They are leading and creating organizations and businesses of all kinds, responding to humanitarian crises, writing novels, educating at all levels, creating works of art, and so much more! In celebration of Pardes’s 50th, we are highlighting 50 standout alumni whose accomplishments exemplify the rich texture of the Pardes community worldwide.
Miriam Camerini is a theater director, actress, singer and writer. She founded the first professional Jewish theater company in Italy, called Benhashmashot, with which she has been touring Italy and Europe for the last 12 years. She has published a book on food and religions in Italian and German. Miriam is a rabbinical student at Har’El, one of the first (modern) orthodox yeshivas to ordain women rabbis.
CAN YOU SHARE A SPECIAL PARDES MEMORY?
Something that changed my life for real was the first “tour” of the Beit-Midrash, where – after 23 years of “Jewish education” – I finally learned what each book actually is and how to use it.
WHAT DOES THE JEWISH WORLD NEED MOST RIGHT NOW?
Learning, depth, moving away from labels, tags and definitions, real love, openness, compassion and curiosity for other people’s point of view. Ah, and Feminism.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SHABBAT GUEST, WHO WOULD IT BE?
I’d love to have my maternal grandmother, once again, to show her what I have become since she’s gone. I think she’d be happy. I’d also like to have Else Lasker-Schüler, a Jewish German woman poet about whom I wrote and staged a play. I’d love to read the play with her. She lived in Berlin and died in Jerusalem so I’m sure she could tell me something interesting about the two cities very close to my heart.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPOT IN JERUSALEM?
Right now, it’s the “Khurshat hayareakh,” a small little forest between the Jerusalem theater and the Hartman Institute, so I also managed to name two other places I love.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOuR WORK?
I’m proud that I have been able to take all the things I love doing; singing, acting, writing, staging, and teaching, and craft them into an actual job that also benefits others by learning about Judaism and Jewish culture.
WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE?
I very much divide my life – when I think of it – into “Before Pardes” and “After Pardes.” The After Pardes is better and – hopefully – much longer, B”H!