Pardes from Jerusalem

Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Pardes from Jerusalem features a weekly discussion using Torah, Talmud and other Jewish texts to explain themes from the weekly Torah portion. The Pardes faculty is featured each week. For more information about all Pardes programs and events visit www.pardes.org.il.

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29 episodes
weekly
Avg 36 min
English

Episodes 29

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Sunday · 34 min
Noach 5787: Beyond Leadership
Do you have to be a leader to make a difference? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Tani Cohen-Fraade revisit the complicated character of Noach. Was he truly righteous, or did his silence in the face of destruction reveal his limitations? Exploring different interpretations of Parshat Noach, they challenge the assumption that righteousness must always look like leadership. Their conversation makes room for a different kind of strength: the courage to hold on to your values, do what is right, and remain faithful even when you cannot change the world around you.
October 5 · 43 min
Bereshit 5787: In the Divine Image
What does it really mean to be created in God’s image? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Michael Hattin explore one of the Torah’s most intriguing descriptions of humanity: “Let us make the human in our image.” Through different readings of this puzzling verse in Parshat Bereshit, they consider what sets human beings apart—from our capacity for humility and leadership to our power over creation and the spiritual nature of the human soul. What does it truly mean to be created in God’s image?
September 20 · 34 min
Sukkot 5787: Joy in the Unknown.
What if letting go of control is actually the key to joy? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Reuven Margrett explore why Sukkot, coming on the heels of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is called zman simchateinu—the time of our joy. They consider how the holidays form a single journey: from confronting judgment to accepting that we are not ultimately in control. The sukkah invites us to discover how that vulnerability can open the door to gratitude, closeness with God, and joy.
September 14 · 30 min
Haazinu 5787: Words That Endure
What does it mean to teach without knowing what will take root? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Dr. Ales Weiss explore Moshe’s transformation from a reluctant speaker into the poet of Parshat Ha’azinu. They consider the poetry of Ha’azinu as an act of acceptance: after a lifetime of leading, teaching, and trying to shape Israel’s future, Moshe must ultimately let go of control. Their conversation turns to teaching, Jewish life in Prague, and the optimism it takes to plant words whose impact you may never see.
September 6 · 35 min
Rosh Hashana 5787: When the Shofar Is Silent
What can the absence of the shofar teach us about how we approach God? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy explore what happens when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat and the shofar—the holiday’s defining sound—is absent. Looking beyond the practical rabbinic concern about carrying, they consider the shofar as a wordless cry to God: an expression of fear, longing, and the hope that someone is listening. Shabbat offers a different way of approaching God, suggesting that sometimes connection can be found not in crying out, but in quiet trust and love. This Rosh Hashana podcast is sponsored by Ricki and Dr. David I. Bernstein in memory of Ricki’s parents, Beatrice and Murray Kirschblat z”l, survivors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, respectively. Beatrice and Murray were each the sole survivors of large families which perished in the Shoah. Their resilience and courage in building a family after such loss is a powerful testament to their strength. May the Torah we explore today serve as a blessing to their memory.
August 31 · 34 min
Nitzavim-Vayelech 5786: What We Leave Behind
What do we hope will remain of our teachings when we are no longer there to teach them? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Deborah Anstandig explore Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech through Moses’ final days as teacher and leader. As Moses prepares the people for a future without him, he offers more than instructions—he creates a legacy meant to endure through gathering, teaching, writing, and honest reflection. The conversation asks how we pass on the values that matter most and how the people who shape us continue to guide us even after they are gone.
August 23 · 36 min
Ki Tavo 5786: Choosing Together
How much of our responsibility belongs to us alone? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman explore Parshat Iand the covenantal ceremony at Har Gerizim and Har Eval. Comparing it with Sinai, they ask how Torah balances individual choice with collective responsibility. What changes when the people become active participants in the covenant, and what might that teach us about shared identity and obligation in a polarized world?
August 16 · 39 min
Ki Tetze 5786: Choosing to See
What changes when we choose to truly notice the people around us? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore Parshat Ki Tetze and what everyday mitzvot can teach us about how we treat others. Through the mother bird and the obligation to return lost property, they consider what it means to notice another’s vulnerability without taking advantage of it. The conversation challenges us to look beyond ourselves, recognize our responsibility to others, and build a society rooted in care. This week’s podcast is sponsored in memory of Helen Lubin, הינדא בת צבי הירש ובתיה חיה, by her loving family.
August 9 · 33 min
Shoftim 5768: The Work of Justice
What does it take to build a society where justice is truly shared? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Tani Cohen-Fraade explore Parshat Shoftim and the Torah’s vision for building a just society. Through judges, kings, priests, and prophets, they consider why leadership requires different voices and sources of authority. The conversation asks what these ancient models can teach us today about responsibility, good leadership, and our shared role in pursuing justice.
August 2 · 39 min
Re'eh 5786: Seeing Blessing
What does it really mean to "see" God's presence in everyday life? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Yiscah Smith explore Parshat Re'eh through Moshe's opening command, "See." Drawing on the Malbim, Hasidic thought, Rabbi Alan Lew, and the prophet Amos, they examine how mitzvot become opportunities to cultivate awareness of God's presence rather than mere religious obligation, inviting us to approach Jewish life with greater consciousness, purpose, and spiritual depth.
July 26 · 35 min
Ekev 5786: Learning to Begin Again
What if our failures aren't the end of the story—but the place where real growth begins? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy explore Parshat Ekev and Moses' surprisingly stern message to the Jewish people before they enter the Land of Israel. Looking beyond the rebuke, they uncover a deeper message of resilience: failure is part of the human journey, but it is never the end of the story. Through the image of the second tablets, they reflect on God's enduring faith in us and the possibility of growth after every setback
July 19 · 39 min
Va’etchanan 5786: The Purpose of Prayer
What if the deepest purpose of prayer isn't to change God—but to change us? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Shmuel Rosenberg explore Parshat Va’etchanan through Moses’ heartfelt plea to enter the Land of Israel. Reflecting on unanswered prayer, they ask whether the deepest purpose of prayer is to change God's mind—or to change us. The conversation suggests that even when our hopes are unmet, prayer can deepen our relationship with God and help us embrace the path before us.
July 12 · 38 min
Devarim 5786: The Burden of Leadership
How do we know when humility is helping us—and when it’s holding us back? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore Parshat Devarim through the inner world of Moses as he prepares to say goodbye to the Jewish people. Focusing on the repeated phrase rav lachem ("enough" or "you have gone too far"), they reflect on self-doubt, humility, and the burden of leadership. The conversation invites us to consider how we balance confidence with self-questioning—and what it means to lead without losing
July 6 · 34 min
Mattot Masei 5786: Torah in Conversation
What if the deepest expression of Torah isn't having the right answers—but being willing to listen? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Rafael Polisuk conclude the Book of Bamidbar by exploring why it ends not with a dramatic event, but with a legal conversation. Through the laws of vows and the story of the daughters of Tzelofchad, they reflect on how Torah is shaped through listening, questioning, and dialogue. The conversation suggests that holiness is not lived in isolation, but in relationship—with family, community, and even with God.
June 28 · 35 min
Pinchas 5786: Voices That Change Us
How can a tradition stay true to its values while continuing to grow? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Leon Morris explore the story of the Daughters of Tzelofchad in Parshat Pinchas and what it teaches about change within tradition. By courageously bringing their case before Moses, these five women help expand the Torah’s laws of inheritance without rejecting the system itself. Marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, the conversation reflects on how societies grow through thoughtful interpretation, principled debate, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
June 24 · 34 min
Balak 5786: One God, Many People
Can we hold on to what makes us different while still recognizing what unites us? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Moshe Silver explore the strange and fascinating story of Balaam in Parshat Balak. Why does an outsider become the source of some of the Torah’s most enduring blessings? Through Balaam’s encounters with God, they examine the challenge of monotheism in a world shaped by competing identities and loyalties. The conversation reflects on how belief in one God can create space for human diversity while calling us toward a deeper sense of shared responsibility and connection.
June 21 · 40 min
Chukat 5786: The End of the Journey
What does it mean to devote your life to a goal you may never live to see fulfilled? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Michael Hattin explore Parshat Chukat and the mysterious episode of Moses striking the rock. Set against the backdrop of Miriam’s death and the transition to a new generation, they examine why Moses and Aaron are denied entry into the Promised Land after decades of leadership. Through classical commentaries and close reading, the conversation reflects on leadership, accountability, and what it means to guide a people toward a future you may never see yourself.
June 14 · 42 min
Korach 5786: The Price of Leadership
How do we balance the desire for equality with the need for leadership? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Dr. Yosefa Vogel-Rubel explore Parshat Korach and the challenge of leadership in a community under strain. Looking beyond the rebellion itself, they focus on its aftermath—how the Torah responds to dissent, fear, and competing visions of authority. Through the roles of Moses, Aaron, and the Levites, the conversation examines the responsibilities that come with leadership and the difficult balance between equality, hierarchy, and communal stability.
June 8 · 30 min
Shlach 5786: Faith and Failure
How do we know when caution is wisdom—and when it’s holding us back? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy explore the story of the spies in Parshat Shlach and its connection to Tisha B’Av. Reflecting on the people’s fear of entering the Land of Israel, they examine the tension between caution and courage, realism and hope. Drawing connections to later moments in Jewish history, including the Bar Kokhba revolt, the conversation asks how we balance honest assessment with the faith and confidence needed to move forward.
May 24 · 36 min
Beha'alotcha 5786: The Edge of Belonging
What does it take to move from the edge of belonging into shared commitment? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Deborah Anstandig explore Parshat Beha’alotcha as the Jewish people prepare to begin their journey through the wilderness. Focusing on Moses’ invitation to Chovav to join the people, they reflect on what it means to stand at the edge of belonging—drawn toward a shared mission, yet uncertain about fully joining it. As the parashah unfolds with anxiety, disagreement, and tension at the edges of the camp, the conversation asks how communities make space for uncertainty while remaining committed to a collective journey.

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