Pardes From Jerusalem

How do we navigate the tension between devotion to mitzvot and the pursuit of understanding their significance in our lives? In this week’s parsha, we explore the seemingly archaic ritual purity laws. Rabbi Michael Hattin joins the discussion to highlight … Read the rest The post Tazria 5784: Reimagining Ritual Purity first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Tazria 5784: Reimagining Ritual Purity at Elmad Online Learning.

In this week’s episode, we navigate the complexities of failure and growth in the aftermath of pivotal moments in the Tanakh. Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy draws a parallel between the incidents of the Golden Calf and the death of Aaron’s … Read the rest The post Shemini 5784: Going Beyond Our Mistakes first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Shemini 5784: Going Beyond Our Mistakes at Elmad Online Learning.

In this week’s episode, we navigate the complexities of failure and growth in the aftermath of pivotal moments in the Tanakh. Joined by Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash, we’ll draw a parallel between the incidents of the Golden Calf and the … Read the rest The post Tzav 5784: In the Shadow of Failure first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Tzav 5784: In the Shadow of Failure at Elmad Online Learning.

Join Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week as he delves deep into the rich theological tapestry of Purim alongside Rafael Polisuk. Together, they explore the intricate messages woven into the fabric of the holiday and the profound challenges encountered by the … Read the rest The post Vayikra/Purim 5784: For God or King? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayikra/Purim 5784: For God or King? at Elmad Online Learning.

In what way does the Mishkan (Tabernacle) serve as a metaphor for organizing one’s relationship with God, oneself, and others? This week, we’re joined by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman for a discussion of the meticulous detailing of the construction of … Read the rest The post Pekudei 5784: Constructing Connection first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Pekudei 5784: Constructing Connection at Elmad Online Learning.

What is it that makes us join together with different groups? Over the past two parshiot, we’ve seen two gatherings, one in which the people gathered to create the Golden Calf, and another in which they gathered to build the … Read the rest The post Vayakhel 5784: Gathering With Intention first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayakhel 5784: Gathering With Intention at Elmad Online Learning.

Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash joins us to share her take on this week’s parsha, and the infamous story of the Golden Calf. We’ll discuss how this event can serve as an example of the inevitable moments of collapse and the … Read the rest The post Ki Tisa 5784: The Inevitable Collapse first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Ki Tisa 5784: The Inevitable Collapse at Elmad Online Learning.

Do the clothes we wear define us? Rabbi Daniel Reifman joins our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week for a discussion on the priestly vestments as described in this week’s parsha in precise detail. Does the Torah teach us to … Read the rest The post Tetzave 5784: The Biblical Fashion Show first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Tetzave 5784: The Biblical Fashion Show at Elmad Online Learning.

Can we find value in tangible expressions or experiences of spirituality, even if they challenge our rational view of the world? Pardes President Rabbi Leon Morris joins us this week to explore the challenges raised by the commandment to build … Read the rest The post Terumah 5784: God Everywhere, Yet Somewhere? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Terumah 5784: God Everywhere, Yet Somewhere? at Elmad Online Learning.

This week’s parsha is primarily concerned with laws meant to order and structure our interactions and society, including a prohibition against cursing judges and the king. In light of this prohibition, Sefi Kraut, Pardes Director of Mahloket Matters, asks us … Read the rest The post Mishpatim 5784: Toward a Healthy Society first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Mishpatim 5784: Toward a Healthy Society at Elmad Online Learning.

What is our responsibility to the rest of the world, and how might that impact the image that we want to project to humanity at large? Tovah Leah Nachmani joins us in the studio this week to discuss Yitro, an… Read the rest The post Yitro 5783: Thinking Outside Ourselves first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Yitro 5783: Thinking Outside Ourselves at Elmad Online Learning.

Dive on in as Yiscah Smith joins Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield to discuss the story of the Red Sea, reminding us that we had to first jump into the water before it would split. Can we view faith as a concious … Read the rest The post Beshalach 5784: Choosing Faith first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Beshalach 5784: Choosing Faith at Elmad Online Learning.

On the cusp of leaving Egypt, the children of Israel are told that they must remember the Exodus. For over 2,000 years, this commandment to remember the past has helped the Jewish people remain connected to their history as a … Read the rest The post Bo 5784: Building a Shared Future first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Bo 5784: Building a Shared Future at Elmad Online Learning.

How may we be redeemed when we feel as if our spirits have been crushed? Rabbi Leon Morris joins us this week to discuss the idea of kotzer ruach, a crushed soul, and how Moshe faced resistance from those who … Read the rest The post Va’era 5784: Cultivating Hope, Awaiting Salvation first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Va’era 5784: Cultivating Hope, Awaiting Salvation at Elmad Online Learning.

This week, we begin the book of Shemot and are introduced to Moshe. Yet, by the time Moshe takes up the mantle of leadership, he’s already in his later years, and his developmental years are practically skipped over. Rabbi Dr. … Read the rest The post Shemot 5784: Moshe’s Moral Development first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Shemot 5784: Moshe’s Moral Development at Elmad Online Learning.

When thinking of traditional inheritance, we often think of the firstborn as being the main heir, and in many ways the Torah confirms this, yet throughout the book of Bereishit we see the script being flipped, with the younger sibling … Read the rest The post Vayehi 5784: An Inherited Meritocracy? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayehi 5784: An Inherited Meritocracy? at Elmad Online Learning.

Can the pains of the past be overcome, opening the way for relationships to heal and be redefined? In this week’s parsha, we witness the emotional reunion between the sons of Israel, with Yosef revealing himself to the brothers who … Read the rest The post Vayigash 5784: Overcoming Pain as a Family first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayigash 5784: Overcoming Pain as a Family at Elmad Online Learning.

What might Yosef’s story, so full of pain yet hope, teach us about maintaining our own faith during difficult times? During these challenging times, many feel themselves torn between a desire to stand firmly in their Jewish identities and values … Read the rest The post Miketz 5784: Being Seen for Who We Are first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Miketz 5784: Being Seen for Who We Are at Elmad Online Learning.

What can the mitzvah of yibum, Levirate marriage, teach us about making difficult decisions and personal growth? In this week’s episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman unpack the complicated family dynamics of … Read the rest The post Vayeshev 5784: Growth and Responsibility first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayeshev 5784: Growth and Responsibility at Elmad Online Learning.

What can a fraught meeting between brothers teach us about our own instincts? The events of October 7 shattered the worldview for many of us, and can cause us to approach how we understand the Torah differently. In this week’s … Read the rest The post Vayishlach 5784: Faith in Humanity vs. Survival first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading Vayishlach 5784: Faith in Humanity vs. Survival at Elmad Online Learning.