How do our perceptions, whether clear or confused, impact our understanding of Torah and our relationships?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek explore Parshat Re’eh, focusing on the intriguing and often perplexing laws of kashrut. They … Read the rest

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How can a single word in the Torah guide us toward deeper spiritual understanding?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Yizcah Smith dive into Parshat Ekev, exploring the profound spiritual insights hidden within the word “Ekev.” They discuss how the … Read the rest

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How do ancient trumpets teach us about modern journeys and transitions?

In this episode, Rabbi Tzvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Rafael Polisuk delve into Parshat Behalotcha, highlighting the themes of journey and transition within the Torah portion. They discuss the creation … Read the rest

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Are we blinded by our reading of the text? When we read about characters that are often portrayed negatively, such as Ishmael, are we truly giving them a chance? And what about our heroes? Are we allowing figures, such as … Read the rest

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The Jewish Story Season 6

Episode 4: Electoral Dysfunction Part III

Here is the final installment in the series detailing the evolution of Israel’s electoral system. It brings us almost all the way to the present, touching on topics like … Read the rest

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In this week’s Torah portion, we examine a story that many today would consider jarring. How do we take the afflictions placed upon the Egyptians for Sarah’s kidnapping? Was Sarah a victim of Pharoah and patriarchy, or were the Egyptians … Read the rest

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Rabbis Meesh Hammer-Kossoy and Elisha Ancselovits bring poetry, midrash, Talmud and a Nobel Prize winning economist into dialogue about how Noah and the 7 Noahide laws are relevant to our current climate crisis.

Credits: Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy and Rabbi … Read the rest

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Bereishit takes us from Creation to God’s decision to destroy the world. From “Tov” – a world filled with good – to “Ra” – a world in which evil prevails.
How do we get there?

In this podcast, Alex Israel … Read the rest

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Sukkot 5783 – Sukkot and the Secret of Jewish Happiness

This podcast is a republication of last year’s Sukkot special. 

Why is Sukkot described as the “Season of our Rejoicing”?
What is the objective of sitting in the Sukka?
What … Read the rest

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Ha’azinu speaks of God as a parent, as the Being that created and formed us all. What implications does this fact have for our spirituality and consciousness? Yiscah Smith presents a teaching of the Hassidic master – the Piazecne Rabbe, … Read the rest

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How do we approach the complicated dynamic in the High Holiday liturgy? What is the dynamic between Rosh Hashana’s haftarah reading of the Binding of Isaac and Yom Kippur’s reading of the Book of Jonah?

You can also enjoy reading … Read the rest

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This Rosh Hashana podcast is sponsored by Ricki and David Bernstein in memory of Ricki’s parents, Beatrice and Murray Kirschblat, survivors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, respectively. Beatrice and Murray were each the sole survivors of large families which perished in … Read the rest

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Love learning Jewish history? Join Rav Mike Feuer for the Jewish Story Live!

The Jewish Story Season 6

Episode 1: Prologue: A New Perspective

Season 6 of The Jewish Story has finally begun! Here is a prologue to help frame … Read the rest

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How does our unique role strengthen the Jewish communities? 

In this episode, Rabbi Tzvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Michael Hatton delve into Parshat Naso, highlighting the importance of each person’s contributions to the community. They discuss how the counting of the … Read the rest

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How does the law of bikkurim (sacrifice of the first fruits) relate to the Exodus from Egypt? Why does the blessing from the farmer use the plural tense, and why would a farmer who had never experienced the Exodus need … Read the rest

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This week’s parsha depicts four modes of administration in ancient Israel. What are these four centers of societal leadership, and how do they interact? How does our parsha give us room to consider our own political climate? What does this … Read the rest

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In this week’s Pardes Parsha Podcast, Aviva Lauer joins Rabbi Michael Hattin to discuss parashat Re’eh.

As the people of Israel prepare for their entry into the land of Israel, Moses teaches them that God will choose the place for … Read the rest

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This podcast is sponsored by Suzana and Alan Caro in memory of Avi West z”l. A brilliant educator and master teacher, Avi touched the lives of thousands of Jews in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. His breadth of knowledge spanned … Read the rest

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In this week’s parsha, Moshe recalls several events and presents for us what many consider to be one of the foundational texts of Judaism, the Shema. Join Yiscah Smith as she discusses the parsha and some of the fundamental values … Read the rest

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Rabbi Michael Hattin discusses Devarim with Rabbi Alex Israel, exploring the question of repetition in Deuteronomy. The Rabbis called Devarim “Mishneh Torah” – the Repetition of the Torah. How is the retelling different to the original? Is Moses manipulating the … Read the rest

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How do we distribute scant resources in a needy world? Are wealthy societies obligated to share their fundamental resources with more impoverished societies in need?

This podcast takes us to a challenging passage in Nedarim which draws its prooftext from … Read the rest

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This podcast is dedicated to Shlomo Berlin, Shlomo Ben Rachel v’Shimon – שלמה בן רחל ושמעון, with prayers for a refuah shelaymah from Rabbi Hayim Herring and Terri Krivosha.

Nechama Goldman Barash and Alex Israel discuss Parashat Matot and the … Read the rest

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Parashat Balak: The Outsider’s View

Description: Parashat Balak narrates the strange tale of a foreign seer who is hired to curse the Israelites but is compelled by God to bless them. What is this story doing in the Torah? It … Read the rest

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The Jewish Story Season 5

Episode 8: The Raid on Entebbe

Heroism is a precious quality, and one strong enough to change the world. Here is the story of the Israeli mission to free hostages on Entebbe, perhaps the most … Read the rest

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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 … Read the rest

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Parashat Chukat: Moses. The Hand and the Word

Description: In our parsha we read the episode of “Moses’ Sin” in which Moses hits the rock instead of speaking to it. In this podcast, Pardes faculty Alex Israel and Gila Fine … Read the rest

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Parashat Korach 5782: Was it all Negative?

Description: In this podcast, we explore the mixed motivations behind Korach’s challenge to Moshe and Aaron’s leadership. Can one be driven by ego and still mix in a valid claim? Was Korach’s claim … Read the rest

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Parashat Shelach Lecha 5782: Slandering Israel

Description: The story of people who toured Israel and emerged with a negative assessment of the Land of Israel. Is criticism of Israel legitimate or is it a sin? Join Pardes faculty member Rabbi … Read the rest

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Parashat Behaalotecha 5782: The Power of Inclusion

Description: An exploration of the narratives about Pesach Sheni and the naming of the 70 elders and Eldad and Medad. Two stories that combine Law and Narrative, also portray the value of initiative … Read the rest

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Parashat Naso/Shavuot 5782: Har Sinai – the First Beit Midrash
Description: What was the Torah that the Israelites actually heard and learned?

Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write to us at elmad@pardes.org.il. We appreciate… Read the rest

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Parashat Bamidbar 5782: Heavenly Jerusalem, Earthly Jerusalem.
A Shiur for Jerusalem Day and Bamidbar

Description: In Celebration of Jerusalem Day, we study Psalm 122 and its dreamy depiction of an ancient Jerusalem pilgrimage. We reflect on the makom (place/space) and … Read the rest

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Parashat Bechukotai 5782: Ancient Metaphors and Contemporary Realism

Description: This podcast focuses on understanding the blessings and curses in this week’s parasha with Rabbi Dr. Howard Markose.

Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write to … Read the rest

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Parashat Behar 5782: The Economy of Spirituality

Description: This special podcast features Rabbi Yedidya Sinclair. Join us to hear our discussion of how the Sabbatical and Jubilee years described in parashat Behar are providing the spiritual values which are … Read the rest

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Parashat Emor 5782: The Jewish Year Cycle, Emor-Style

Description: While the Torah lists our holidays several times throughout the five books, there is something special about the way it’s done in this week’s parasha. Find out what that is by … Read the rest

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Parashat Kedoshim 5782: “Be Holy!” How?

Description: The Torah instructs the Jewish people to “Be Holy!” But how might that be performed? In this podcast, Alex Israel discusses three approaches to this question, considering the question of withdrawal from and … Read the rest

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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 … Read the rest

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Parashat Metzora 5782: Sitting Alone Outside the Camp

Description: On the 7th day of Pesach, we commemorate the people of Israel’s successful traversal of the Sea of Reeds. While the moment was exceptional, even eliciting an epic song, we must … Read the rest

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Pesach 5782: Three Keys to Freedom – Three Features of the Seder

Description: What are the key elements of free life? This podcast identifies three features of the Exodus, also manifested in the Seder rituals, and proposes that these can … Read the rest

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Parashat Metzora 5782: Sitting Alone Outside the Camp

Description: The graphic description in the Torah of tzaraat, leprosy, leaves modern readers alienated and baffled. Can moral flaws truly manifest physically? Aesthetics and ethics mix in this week’s reading, where immoral … Read the rest

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Parashat Tazria 5782: Selective Memory; Choosing Productive Narratives

This podcast episode is sponsored by Pardes alum Graham Hoffman in honor of his parents, teachers, and role models Rabbi Richard and Rebbitzen Debra Zussman.

Description: Why bring a sin offering after … Read the rest

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Parashat Shemini 5782: The Aftermath of Grief

Description: In this podcast, we will look at the deaths of Aaron and the different stages of grief presented in the midrash that reflect our own awareness that processing death takes time and … Read the rest

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Parashat Tzav 5782: Pushing Ourselves By-the-By

Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write to us at elmad@pardes.org.il. We appreciate you leaving us a review with 5-stars if you enjoy these podcasts.

For more information about … Read the rest

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Parashat Vayikra 5782: Calling. Listening. Giving.

Description: This week, Rabbi Alex Israel discusses some of Rashi’s opening remarks to Vayikra highlighting some critical spiritual messages for our fast-paced world.

Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, … Read the rest

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Parashat Pekudei 5782: The Eyes Have it – The Divine as Israel’s Tour Guide

Description: As we bring the Book of Shemot – Exodus – to a close in this week’s Parasha, Parashat Pekudei, we conclude the final chapter with … Read the rest

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Parashat Vayakhel 5782: Repairing Even the Worst Ruptures

Description: Even after warning against all forms of constructive creativity in the Ten Commandments, the Torah explicitly warns now against using fire on Shabbat. Legal ramifications aside, the prohibition against fire cautions … Read the rest

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Parashat Ki Tisa 5782: The Inherent Value of the Individual

Description: Cultivating a Healthy Self-Esteem through the Parsha in the midst of the growing crisis of loneliness, lack of self-worth and alienation from a sense of one’s own being. You … Read the rest

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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 … Read the rest

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Parashat Tetzaveh 5782: The Golden Altar of Incense

Description: While the Mizbach Hazahav or Golden Altar occupies a central place within the space and ritual of the Mishkan or Tabernacle, it is not mentioned at all in last week’s description … Read the rest

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Parashat Terumah 5782: Stop the Clocks or Hang the Flags? How Moderns Create Jewish Space

Description: This podcast takes us on a roller-coaster of a trip from the tabernacle in the desert to 19th century ultra-orthodoxy in Hungary to 20th … Read the rest

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Parashat Mishpatim 5782: God and Government

Description: Is our public discourse too aggressive? Are our public institutions vulnerable to attack? In this class, Alex Israel addresses a verse (22:27) in Parashat Mishpatim which warns of attacks on Government figures. Why … Read the rest

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