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 Abraham, to be fully complex figures, both positive and negative?

Credits: Rabbi Brent Spodek and Professor Ziva Hassenfeld – Pardes North America Faculty

Parashat Vayera 5783: Examining Our Own Narratives

Join Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and guests each week for a thoughtful and engaging podcast discussion of the weekly Torah portion. Each week, Zvi will be joined by a guest for a deep dive into the text, unraveling the wisdom nestled within each Torah portion, exploring its timeless relevance, and uncovering contemporary insights.  Whether you’re a seasoned Torah scholar, an inquisitive seeker of knowledge, or simply someone looking for inspiration and wisdom, Pardes from Jerusalem provides you with thought-provoking conversations, invaluable lessons for personal growth, and deeper insight into Jewish texts.  Tune into this Pardes podcast for a creative, personal and brave journey as Zvi and guests leave no stone unturned in seeking to bring out meaning and significance from each Torah portion.

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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 opening with a reference to Mount Sinai. Together, we'll explore the contrast between the communal revelation of Sinai and the private revelations within the Mishkan (the Tabernacle), analyzing the connection between these agricultural laws governing humanity's relationship with the Land and the transcendent experience of Sinai. Our discussion will also touch on the role of educators in engaging both the highly motivated and the disengaged, as well as Israel's potential as a center for the Jewish world.

Credits:
Rachel Friedrichs - Pardes Faculty and 
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Behar 5784: Feet on the Ground, Eyes on the Mountain

How do we approach texts in our traditions that seem to discriminate against or exclude certain groups of people?

In this thought-provoking discussion, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Haim Shalom wrestle with the disqualification of kohanim (priests) with physical deformities or disabilities from serving in the Temple. We'll explore how to reconcile such texts with modern values of inclusion while examining the evolving rabbinical perspectives on disability as a social construct. Ultimately, our discussion calls on us to embrace the struggle with difficult traditional texts as an opportunity to renew and deepen our spiritual philosophies.

Credits:
Rabbi Haim Shalom - Pardes Faculty and Director of Israel Studies
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Emor 5784: The Perfection Paradox

In a world rife with conflict and oversimplified narratives about "the other," how can we embody true holiness by cultivating empathy, humility, and deeper human connection?

Rabbi Brent Spodek joins our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week for a thought-provoking discussion exploring the Torah's call in Parshat Kedoshim to "be holy." Brent denounces the insidious habit of gossip that denies people the dignity of authoring their own stories. Instead, he argues argue for a stance of curiosity - resisting easy judgments and really listening in order to understand the complex realities others face, even amid fraught situations like the Israel-Iran tensions. By embracing this aspirational ethic, perhaps we can create the fertile ground for holiness to take root in our divisive world.

Credits:
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem
Rabbi Brent Spodek - Pardes North America Faculty and Host of Good Jewish Lover

Kedoshim 5784: Empathy in a Divided World

How can the Jewish people maintain a sense of unity and connection as a nation despite geographical separation and divergent experiences between the Diaspora and Israel?
In this week's episode, Rabba Shani Gross joins us from afar for a discussion on the Torah portion's emphasis on centralized worship, linking it to the biblical story of the 2.5 tribes who settled outside the Land of Israel and built their own altar. Together, they explore the need for open dialogue in order to "witness" one another's perspectives and find a path toward sustaining mutual understanding.
Credits
Rabba Shani Gross - Pardes North America Faculty and Senior Director of Education
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Acharei Mot 5784: A People Apart

Can we transform the "bread of affliction" into the "bread of redemption" this Passover?"

Yiscah Smith returns this week with a call for us to see ourselves ("l'rot atzmo") as leaving spiritual enslavement each Passover. Drawing from the Piazner Rebbe and Rav Kook, Yiscah illuminates how painful self-examination can allow for divine blessings and personal redemption to emerge. Grappling with the role of suffering, Yiscah shares a powerful lens for experiencing this holiday's liberating spirit, even amidst darkness.

Join us for this timely discussion imbued with hope on Pardes from Jerusalem.

Credits:
Yiscah Smith - Pardes Faculty
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Parashat Vayera 5783: Examining Our Own Narratives

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