Pardes from Jerusalem Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

How does the Jewish people's journey through the desert shape our approach to Torah?



In this week’s episode, Rabbi Leon Morris and Rabbi Tzvi Hirschfield explore the theme of openness in Torah study, using the wilderness in the Midbar as a metaphor for the mindset required. Drawing from the Midrash and personal experiences, they explore the concept of being "hefker" or ownerless, and allowing Torah to guide us without preconceived notions.



Credits: Rabbi Leon Morris and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty

Can we approach the Torah as a rational guide for living wisely while allowing space for genuine emotional and spiritual experiences?



In this week's episode, Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield delve into the concept of reward and punishment. Elisha offers an intriguing interpretation - rather than God actively intervening, the Torah provides wisdom about how our behaviors yield consequences in the natural order of things.



They'll take us on an exploration of the balance between the rational understanding of cause-and-effect with the emotional yearning for divine involvement and control.



Credits:

Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits - Pardes Faculty

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Why is Mount Sinai mentioned in connection with the laws of Shmitta (Sabbatical year) and Yovel (Jubilee year)?



In this thought-provoking episode, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rachel Friedrichs delve into the profound significance of this week's Torah portion of Behar opening with a reference to Mount Sinai. Together, we'll explore the contrast between the communal revelation of Sinai and the private revelations within the Mishkan (the Tabernacle), analyzing the connection between these agricultural laws governing humanity's relationship with the Land and the transcendent experience of Sinai. Our discussion will also touch on the role of educators in engaging both the highly motivated and the disengaged, as well as Israel's potential as a center for the Jewish world.



Credits:

Rachel Friedrichs - Pardes Faculty and 

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

How do we approach texts in our traditions that seem to discriminate against or exclude certain groups of people?



In this thought-provoking discussion, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Haim Shalom wrestle with the disqualification of kohanim (priests) with physical deformities or disabilities from serving in the Temple. We'll explore how to reconcile such texts with modern values of inclusion while examining the evolving rabbinical perspectives on disability as a social construct. Ultimately, our discussion calls on us to embrace the struggle with difficult traditional texts as an opportunity to renew and deepen our spiritual philosophies.



Credits:

Rabbi Haim Shalom - Pardes Faculty and Director of Israel Studies

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

In a world rife with conflict and oversimplified narratives about "the other," how can we embody true holiness by cultivating empathy, humility, and deeper human connection?



Rabbi Brent Spodek joins our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week for a thought-provoking discussion exploring the Torah's call in Parshat Kedoshim to "be holy." Brent denounces the insidious habit of gossip that denies people the dignity of authoring their own stories. Instead, he argues argue for a stance of curiosity - resisting easy judgments and really listening in order to understand the complex realities others face, even amid fraught situations like the Israel-Iran tensions. By embracing this aspirational ethic, perhaps we can create the fertile ground for holiness to take root in our divisive world.



Credits:

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Rabbi Brent Spodek - Pardes North America Faculty and Host of Good Jewish Lover

How can the Jewish people maintain a sense of unity and connection as a nation despite geographical separation and divergent experiences between the Diaspora and Israel?

In this week's episode, Rabba Shani Gross joins us from afar for a discussion on the Torah portion's emphasis on centralized worship, linking it to the biblical story of the 2.5 tribes who settled outside the Land of Israel and built their own altar. Together, they explore the need for open dialogue in order to "witness" one another's perspectives and find a path toward sustaining mutual understanding.

Credits

Rabba Shani Gross - Pardes North America Faculty and Senior Director of Education

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem