Pardes From Jerusalem

How are we able to live in the past, future and present all at the same time? Aviva Lauer, Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators, joined Zvi to discuss Devarim and Moshe’s opening speech for the final book … Read the rest The post Devarim 5783: Listening Between the Lines first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Devarim 5783: Listening Between the Lines at Elmad Online Learning.

In this week’s episode, Zvi is joined by Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy for an exploration of Matot and Massei, discussing the challenging tale of the tribes who chose not to settle in the land of Israel. Meesh offers us different … Read the rest The post Matot-Massei: The Boundary Lines of the Jewish People first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Matot-Massei: The Boundary Lines of the Jewish People at Elmad Online Learning.

In this week’s episode, Zvi is joined by Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash in an exploration of Parshat Pinchas and the story of the Daughters of Zelophehad. Zvi and Nechama discuss the transformative role of the Daughters of Zelophehad in creating … Read the rest The post Pinchas 5783: Finding Their Voice first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Pinchas 5783: Finding Their Voice at Elmad Online Learning.

In what ways might we find deeper meaning to our parsha through an examination of the haftarah? In this week’s podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Amirit Rosen to discuss one of the wildest stories of the Torah, … Read the rest The post Balak 5783: The View from the Inside first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Balak 5783: The View from the Inside at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Chukat 5783: Loving Conflict first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Chukat 5783: Loving Conflict at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Korach 5783: Was a Different Conversation Possible? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Korach 5783: Was a Different Conversation Possible? at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Shelach 5783: Real Self-Confidence is Born in Faith first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Shelach 5783: Real Self-Confidence is Born in Faith at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Beha’alotecha 5783: Moving Forward or Running Away first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Beha’alotecha 5783: Moving Forward or Running Away at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Naso 5783: I Promise to Be My Best Self first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Naso 5783: I Promise to Be My Best Self at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Bamidbar 5783: A Different Flag for Each Tribe first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Bamidbar 5783: A Different Flag for Each Tribe at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Behar – Bechukotai 5783: The Boundaries of Love first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Behar – Bechukotai 5783: The Boundaries of Love at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Emor 5783: The Power and Pain of Exclusion first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Emor 5783: The Power and Pain of Exclusion at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Acharei Mot – Kedoshim 5783: Boundaries and Making Space for the Other first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Acharei Mot – Kedoshim 5783: Boundaries and Making Space for the Other at Elmad Online Learning.

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, … Read the rest The post Tazria-Metzora 5783: Uncertainty & Divine Providence first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Tazria-Metzora 5783: Uncertainty & Divine Providence at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Shemini 5783: What’s the Deal with Kashrut? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Shemini 5783: What’s the Deal with Kashrut? at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Pesach 5783: The Repackaging of Passover – How Pesach Became a Holiday of Storytelling first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Pesach 5783: The Repackaging of Passover – How Pesach Became a Holiday of Storytelling at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Vayikra 5783: What Do We Do With a Book Full of Animal Sacrifice? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayikra 5783: What Do We Do With a Book Full of Animal Sacrifice? at Elmad Online Learning.

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 … Read the rest The post Vayakhel-Pekudei 5783: The Washbasin – Sanctuary and Sexuality first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayakhel-Pekudei 5783: The Washbasin – Sanctuary and Sexuality at Elmad Online Learning.

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 – … Read the rest The post Ki Tisa 5783: Accepting Failure first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Ki Tisa 5783: Accepting Failure at Elmad Online Learning.

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 – … Read the rest The post Purim 5783: Divinity Within a Blade of Grass first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Purim 5783: Divinity Within a Blade of Grass at Elmad Online Learning.