Pardes From Jerusalem

How is it possible for a relationship to be strengthened through conflict? In this week's podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Brent Spodek, Pardes North America faculty member and host of Good Jewish Lover. Together, they discuss the Rabbini Derash and it's description of how healthy conflict can actually build and enhance a loving relationship. Brent shares his personal and professional wisdom with us all, exploring how we can engage with one another in both an honest and caring way at the same time. Peace and passion can indeed co-exist. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Brent Spodek - Pardes Faculty

How we can have hard conversations that lead to growth and renewed relationship, as opposed to anger and distance? In this week's Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Pardes Faculty member Sefi Kraut, one of Pardes's lead educators for Mahloket Matters. The Mahloket Matters methodology combines social psychology with the rich Jewish textual tradition of deeply engaging with conflicting opinions in order to learn. This curriculum helps provide learners with the motivation to better engage constructively with those with whom they disagree, thereby improving civil discourse. Mahloket Matters reframes what previously felt hostile and threatening as an opportunity for connection and change. Join Zvi and Sefi for an exploration the narrative of this week's Torah portion, Korach, through the lens of constructive conflict. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Sefi Kraut - Pardes Faculty

How can we connect with the Godliness within ourselves? In this week's Parsha Podcast, our host, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield, is joined by Pardes faculty member Yischa Smith to discuss the failure of the spies sent ahead of the tribes of Israel. Together, we will examine how their failure reflects the inability of the Jewish people to trust the Godliness within themselves. What are the potential conflicts that may be found between trusting the authentic self and the authority of a transcendent Being? Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Yiscah Smith - Pardes Faculty  

Imagine being on a journey filled with excitement and hope, only to have it quickly derailed. That's exactly what happens in this week's parsha. What causes this sudden shift, and what can we learn from it? In this week's Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Michael Hattin for a deep dive into Parshat Beha'alotecha. Together, we will explore the transitions and unexpected turns in this week's parsha and discuss the importance of staying true to our values and mission while organizing as communities and as a nation.  

What threats and opportunities can their be found in the concept of vows as presented through Judaism? In this week’s Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Daniel Reifman for an exploration of this week’s parsha. Together, we will explore the power of vows as an avenue for building a more individualized and fulfilling spiritual life. On the flipside, we will also examine why the Sages had many hesitations about vows, and how they can be problematic. At the conclusion of this episode, we discuss the need for Jewish communities to innovate new standards and behaviors in order to respond to the many challenges facing us. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Daniel Reifman – Pardes Faculty  

Can pluralism and individuality enhance our sense of a shared framework and obligation to one another? In this week’s Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Jonathan Leener, Pardes North America Faculty Associate, for an exploration of this week's parsha. Together, we will learn how this text, which describes in great detail how the Jewish people organized themselves in the desert, is in fact the ideal parsha for us to prepare ourselves for the receiving of the Torah on Shavuot. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Jonathan Leener - Pardes Faculty

How do the restrictions and limitations of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years shape our understanding of power, ownership, and social responsibility? In this week’s Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Elchanan Miller for an exploration of the relevance of these ideas from the perspective of a modern Israel struggling to build a society where members feel may strong and empowered on the one hand, but also bound by values and responsibilities toward one another on the other. Join us for an exploration of this week’s parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Elchanan Miller – Pardes Faculty

How do build a community that is both coherent and inclusive? In this week's Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash for a discussion on the tragic episode of the blasphemer, and how the search for inclusion can include the pain of being left out. Together we will examine Moshe's role as a leader and think about own leadership today through the eyes of inclusion. Join us for an exploration of this week's parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash - Pardes Faculty    

How do we balance a sense of reverence and our desire for closeness with the Divine? In this week's episode of the Pardes Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash for a discussion on boundaries and intimacy in our relationships with God and others. Join them for an exploration of this week's parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash - Pardes Faculty  

How do we make sense of Divine reward and punishment in our complex world? In this week's episode of the Pardes Parsha Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Dean Emeritus Dr. David I. Bernstein for a discussion on theodicy, free will, and living in an uncertain and unjust world. Join them for an exploration of this week's parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Dr. David I. Bernstein - Pardes Faculty

Is there a reason behind the laws of keeping kosher? Join Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Elisha Ancselovits as they tackle this question, exploring the various explanations for these laws and unpacking Rabbi Elisha's personal theory. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits - Pardes Faculty  

Passover is all about telling the story of the Exodus, but that wasn't always the case. How did the central ritual of Passover shift over time from the paschal sacrifice to the ritual of storytelling? In this special episode of the Pardes Parsha Podcast, join Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Daniel Reifman on a journey of discovering the meaning of Passover in Jewish history and in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Daniel Reifman - Pardes Faculty  

So much of Sefer Vayikra (the Book of Leviticus) is steeped in concepts that are foreign to us today - the temple cult, the offering of sacrifices - that it's de rigueur to assume we won't understand or care very much about this set of Torah portions. But Elisha Ancselovits, in a havruta of guiding questions from Aviva Lauer, gives us a whole new take on why the Korban Shlamim - the peace offering - is actually a practice that we can and do still fulfill today in slightly different cultural ways. Credits: Aviva Lauer and Rabbi Dr. Elisha Anscelovits - Pardes Faculty  

The Sanctuary's washbasin came from mirrors donated by the Israelite women. Yet, Rashi's comment raises some doubts that Moses had regarding the propriety of using these mirrors, items that are generally used for feminine beautification. This opens a discussion of the place of sexuality in the Tabernacle. Credits: Rabbi Alex Israel and Rabbi Elhanan Miller - Pardes Faculty

Are we too judgmental towards Ahron? Join Rabbi Brent Spodek and Professor Ziva Hassenfeld in an exploration of the weekly parsha as they examine the tragic life of Moses's brother Ahron. Credits: Rabbi Brent Spodek and Professor Ziva Hassenfeld - Pardes North America Faculty

Rabbi Elisha Anscelovitz and Yiscah Smith discuss the historical roots of Purim as an agricultural holiday while drawing from the Hasidic masters to help us find deeper meaning to the holiday. Credits - Rabbi Elisha Anscelovitz and Yiscah Smith - Pardes Faculty  

This podcast is in memory of Arlene Ruby Harel z”l upon the occasion of her first yahrzeit. Arlene’s welcoming, free-spirited nature, warmth, authenticity, candor, humor and openness is missed deeply by all of us who were privileged to work with her, connect with her, and learn from her wisdom. In this week's episode, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Daniel Reifman discuss the building of the Tabernacle and having a relationship with God and how it affects our relationship with one another. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Daniel Reifman - Pardes Faculty  

Parshat Mishpatim tells us that we should distance ourselves from lying. Join Pardes faculty members Yiscah Smith and Rabbi Dr. Howard Markose for an exploration of why human beings lie, similarities between the Torah and Hammurabi's Code, and Divine compassion. Credits: Rabbi Dr. Howard Markose and Yiscah Smith - Pardes Faculty

In Yitro, we see Moses learn that it takes more to be a public religious leader than simply being a person of faith. How does Moses learn to be a person who has experienced faith on a personal level bring it out and share it with others? Join Brent and Ziva as they explore the deeper values and ideas of this week's Torah portion. Credits: Rabbi Brent Spodek and Professor Ziva R. Hassenfeld - Pardes North America Faculty

In this week's parsha podcast, Rabbis Amirit Rosen and Elisha Anscelovitz discuss Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea, and the importance of taking pauses in life. Credits: Rabbi Amirit Rosen and Rabbi Elisha Anscelovits - Pardes Faculty