Pardes From Jerusalem

In this week's episode, Zvi is joined by Yiscah Smith for a discussion of the mitzvah of "sending away the mother bird," and how the Talmudic rejection of finding reasons for the commandment became an invitation for Hasidic thinkers to explore even deeper. While we started with this example, our conversation broadened out to a wider on the topic of finding the balance between external authority and structure, and internal coherence and connection. Credits: Yiscah Smith and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty

What are the three kinds of leadership the Torah requires the Jewish people to create when they become Sovereign in their own Land? What are their roles and the potential dangers inherent in the powers they hold? In this week's Torah Talk, Zvi is joined by Tovah Leah Nachmani to discuss Parshat Shoftim's profound insights into the complexities and potential pitfalls of leadership. We will examine the various leadership roles presented in this parsha, their responsibilities, and the inherent dangers these positions hold, offering a profound insight into shaping a distinctive nation while being attuned to the broader world. Read this week's parsha here. Credits: Tovah Leah Nachmani and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty

Zvi is joined from across the ocean with Pardes North America faculty associate Rabbi Brent Spodek, host of Good Jewish Lover, to discuss the weekly parsha. Brent discusses our tendency to lean on core negative images, failing to see ourselves as part of the picture and not acknowledging our partner's imperfect efforts. How do we break this tendency, retaining a belief that we are both inherently good and inherently flawed? Credits: Rabbi Brent Spodek and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty

Are we truly able to be aware of and appreciate the blessings in our lives? This week, Zvi is joined in the Pardes from Jerusalem studio by Rabbi Michael Hattin. Michael shares with us how Parshat Ekev teaches us about abundance, awareness, and gratitude.  Together, we explore the obstacles facing each of us in cultivating greater appreciation and awareness of the blessings in our lives, and how the Torah both anticipated this challenge and offers tools for overcoming it. Read this weeks parsha here. Credits: Rabbi Michael Hattin and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty  

Join Pardes President Rabbi Leon Morris joined Zvi in the studio to discuss his personal journey on a path to Jewish practice. Listen in as Leon combines insight into the text with the practice of tefillin, to show us how we can make obligation and mitzvot into a language of love. Read this week's parsha here. Credits: Rabbi Leon Morris, President of Pardes, and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield, Pardes Faculty and Host of 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 of the Tanakh. Aviva shares how, if read carefully, we could learn from Moshe's speech exactly how we could simultaneously manage to live in the past, present, and future, and how this ability is so essential for us in this day and age. Read this week's parsha here. Credits: Aviva Lauer and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty

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 interpretations for the motivation guiding the tribes' decision to not cross the Jordan and helps us in understanding Moshe's response. With these interpretations in mind, we look to modern Jewish life, discussing how it is possible for Jews who have chosen to live in Israel and those who have not to find a shared framework in building a modern Jewish identity. Read this week’s parsha here. Credits: Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty

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 a space for women’s voices, and seeking justice and their rightful place in the Land of Israel. Nechama also shares with us who she sees as contemporary Daughters of Zelophehad and how they have inspired her. Read this week’s parsha here. Additional Resources * Sifrei Bamidbar 133 Credits: Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty

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, containing a talking donkey and a wizard. Together, they expand the story through an analysis of the parsha's haftarah, the prophecies of Micah, exploring how Micah's message of comfort and challenge to the Jewish people could be considered both an interpretation and corrective to the blessings of Bilaam. Credits: Rabbi Amirit Rosen and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty  

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 Rabbini Derash and it's description of how healthy conflict can actually build and enhance a loving relationship. Brent shares his personal and professional wisdom with us all, exploring how we can engage with one another in both an honest and caring way at the same time. Peace and passion can indeed co-exist. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Brent Spodek - Pardes Faculty

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 for Mahloket Matters. The Mahloket Matters methodology combines social psychology with the rich Jewish textual tradition of deeply engaging with conflicting opinions in order to learn. This curriculum helps provide learners with the motivation to better engage constructively with those with whom they disagree, thereby improving civil discourse. Mahloket Matters reframes what previously felt hostile and threatening as an opportunity for connection and change. Join Zvi and Sefi for an exploration the narrative of this week's Torah portion, Korach, through the lens of constructive conflict. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Sefi Kraut - Pardes Faculty

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 Israel. Together, we will examine how their failure reflects the inability of the Jewish people to trust the Godliness within themselves. What are the potential conflicts that may be found between trusting the authentic self and the authority of a transcendent Being? Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Yiscah Smith - Pardes Faculty  

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 Podcast, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is joined by Rabbi Michael Hattin for a deep dive into Parshat Beha'alotecha. Together, we will explore the transitions and unexpected turns in this week's parsha and discuss the importance of staying true to our values and mission while organizing as communities and as a nation.  

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 will explore the power of vows as an avenue for building a more individualized and fulfilling spiritual life. On the flipside, we will also examine why the Sages had many hesitations about vows, and how they can be problematic. At the conclusion of this episode, we discuss the need for Jewish communities to innovate new standards and behaviors in order to respond to the many challenges facing us. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Daniel Reifman – Pardes Faculty  

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 week's parsha. Together, we will learn how this text, which describes in great detail how the Jewish people organized themselves in the desert, is in fact the ideal parsha for us to prepare ourselves for the receiving of the Torah on Shavuot. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Jonathan Leener - Pardes Faculty

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 relevance of these ideas from the perspective of a modern Israel struggling to build a society where members feel may strong and empowered on the one hand, but also bound by values and responsibilities toward one another on the other. Join us for an exploration of this week’s parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Elchanan Miller – Pardes Faculty

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 for inclusion can include the pain of being left out. Together we will examine Moshe's role as a leader and think about own leadership today through the eyes of inclusion. Join us for an exploration of this week's parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash - Pardes Faculty    

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 and intimacy in our relationships with God and others. Join them for an exploration of this week's parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash - Pardes Faculty  

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, free will, and living in an uncertain and unjust world. Join them for an exploration of this week's parsha and gain wisdom that can help guide and inspire us in our lives today. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Dr. David I. Bernstein - Pardes Faculty

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 and Rabbi Dr. Elisha Ancselovits - Pardes Faculty