Pardes From Jerusalem

This was originally posted on Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah Smith. From Yiscah: “Nechama Goldman Barash is a role model for spiritual authentic living, a dedicated Torah scholar and educator specializing in matters of gender and Jewish law AND … Read the rest The post Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah Smith – Episode 32: Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Authentic Jewish Living with Yiscah Smith – Episode 32: Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash at Elmad Online Learning.

Jacob is a man divided within himself, as suggested by the paradoxical statement that “Jacob remained alone,” yet “a man struggled with him.” With an emphasis on the recurring “guiding words” in the text, we will explore the nature of… Read the rest The post VaYishlach 5781: Facing Forward first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading VaYishlach 5781: Facing Forward at Elmad Online Learning.

In this podcast we will look at the broad sweep of the narrative that includes the complex dynamic and relationship between two sisters married to one man. After summarizing the entire Torah portion through the lens of their relationship, we… Read the rest The post VaYetze 5781: The Twinning Relationship of Leah and Rachel first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading VaYetze 5781: The Twinning Relationship of Leah and Rachel at Elmad Online Learning.

Sometimes we need to shed our disguises in order to discover who we really are. At other times we need to dress up in disguises to remind us of who we want to be. The story of Jacob and Esau… Read the rest The post 5781 — Toldot: The Blessings of Putting On and Taking Off Disguises first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Toldot: The Blessings of Putting On and Taking Off Disguises at Elmad Online Learning.

At least half of the relationships in our modern times don’t last. When we are looking for love that will last, how do we know what to look for? And once we find love, how do we rekindle the sparks… Read the rest The post 5781 — Chaye Sarah: Looking for Love first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Chaye Sarah: Looking for Love at Elmad Online Learning.

This week’s parasha contrasts two acts of hospitality: Avraham welcomes three strangers to his tent at Elonei Mamrei, and Lot later welcomes two of them to his home in Sodom. Superficially, the episodes are similar but we will discover that… Read the rest The post 5781 — Vayera: Life’s Concentric Circles first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Vayera: Life’s Concentric Circles at Elmad Online Learning.

Avraham is both the Idol Smasher and the Harbinger of Justice and Righteousness. The Torah tells us explicitly why Avraham was chosen in Genesis 18:18-19, and the rabbis tell a story intended to explain what qualified him for the job.… Read the rest The post 5781 — Lech Lecha: Why is Avraham Really Chosen? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Lech Lecha: Why is Avraham Really Chosen? at Elmad Online Learning.

There are many points of connection between the story of creation and the story of the flood, and at least one significant difference. The permission given to Noach and his descendants to eat meat is the opening of a new… Read the rest The post 5781 — Noach: To Meat or Not To Meat first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Noach: To Meat or Not To Meat at Elmad Online Learning.

Bereishit opens with the hope of a new world. But ends with God’s decision to destroy his world. What happened. This shiur offers two readings of the final verses of Bereishit, verses that depict the moral descent towards the Deluge.… Read the rest The post 5781 — Bereishit: From Creation to Destruction first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Bereishit: From Creation to Destruction at Elmad Online Learning.

This podcast was first published in 2009, for Simhat Torah 5770. We hope you enjoy this replay. In this podcast, Rabbi Daniel Landes discusses Maimonides’ teachings (Mishneh Torah, Rest on a Holiday 1) on how to properly celebrate the festivals.… Read the rest The post 5781 — Simhat Torah: Maimonides on How to Celebrate the Festivals first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Simhat Torah: Maimonides on How to Celebrate the Festivals at Elmad Online Learning.

Our practice today of shaking the lulav every day of Sukkot is based on a decree that R. Yohanan b. Zakai made post Temple destruction. From where did he get the daring to institute that we would continue to perform… Read the rest The post 5781 — Sukkot: The Ritual of Lulav; To Rejoice for Seven Days Before the Divine first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Sukkot: The Ritual of Lulav; To Rejoice for Seven Days Before the Divine at Elmad Online Learning.

Moving away from feeling distant from the Divine Presence – the Shechina – towards sensing closeness to Her. Why do we in fact feel distant, feel far, feel disconnected at times? And why do we sense closeness and connection at… Read the rest The post 5781 — Ha’Azinu: Cultivating the Spiritual Practice of Remembering first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Ha’Azinu: Cultivating the Spiritual Practice of Remembering at Elmad Online Learning.

This Rosh Hashanah podcast is sponsored by Ricki and David Bernstein in memory of Ricki’s parents, Beatrice and Murray Kirschblat, each a sole survivor of large families which perished in the Shoah. This podcast compares the popular song “Kol… Read the rest The post 5781 — Rosh Hashana: A Very Narrow Bridge: Getting to the Other Side first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5781 — Rosh Hashana: A Very Narrow Bridge: Getting to the Other Side at Elmad Online Learning.

Nitzavim sees the Nation of Israel renew their covenant with God. One word – “Hayom – Today!” – repeats itself throughout the parsha. We offer four different meanings of this word, with some inspirational messages for the New Year and… Read the rest The post 5780 — Nitzavim-VaYelech: Living for “Today!” first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5780 — Nitzavim-VaYelech: Living for “Today!” at Elmad Online Learning.

Parashat Ki Tavo contains the command, found in Devarim 28:9: “And you shall walk in His ways.” The Rambam counts this as one of the 613 mitzvot, and explains that it charges us “to resemble Him according to our capacity.”… Read the rest The post 5780 — Ki Tavo: Cultivating the spiritual practice of Walking In His Ways first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5780 — Ki Tavo: Cultivating the spiritual practice of Walking In His Ways at Elmad Online Learning.

Kickstart your Torah routine with Pardes Daily! For the month of Elul, traditionally a time when Jews prepare for the upcoming new year, Pardes Daily will be offering three Rosh Hashanah themed daily learning tracks featuring beloved Pardes Faculty. After … Read the rest The post Download the New Pardes Daily App first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Download the New Pardes Daily App at Elmad Online Learning.

This week’s parasha (Deuteronomy 21:10) introduces us to a Torah command with a seemingly obvious rationale. We will explore the interpretation of the Sefer HaChinuch who sees in this mitzvah a foundation principle: we are subject to laws of nature… Read the rest The post 5780 — Ki Tetze: The Mitzvah of the Roof Rail – Guarding Against a Fall first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5780 — Ki Tetze: The Mitzvah of the Roof Rail – Guarding Against a Fall at Elmad Online Learning.

The juxtaposition of judges and police officers in the Torah is deliberate. What does this juxtaposition teach us about the inevitability of force in law? What do the rabbis have to say about recent calls to defund the police? Download … Read the rest The post 5780 — Shoftim: Shoftim v’Shotrim: Go together like a Horse and Carriage? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5780 — Shoftim: Shoftim v’Shotrim: Go together like a Horse and Carriage? at Elmad Online Learning.

In this podcast we will look at the moral complexity behind the command to utterly annihilate an Israelite city proven to be idolatrous. The debate around the practical application of this passage results in some interesting textual comparisons to other… Read the rest The post 5780 — Re’eh: Was there ever an Ir Nidahat or Subverted City? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5780 — Re’eh: Was there ever an Ir Nidahat or Subverted City? at Elmad Online Learning.

We hope that the Divine is on our side, especially when circumstances are far from optimal. How do we go about making sure that the Lord is with us in all of our earthly endeavors? In this podcast, Rabbi Howard… Read the rest The post 5780 — Ekev: Bribing God–Not Such a Great Idea? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading 5780 — Ekev: Bribing God–Not Such a Great Idea? at Elmad Online Learning.