Pardes from Jerusalem

By 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 inform... more

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The podcast currently has 1,103 episodes available.

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Number 1: 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.
September 06, 202636min
Number 2: 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 23, 202637min
Number 3: 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 31, 202635min
Number 4: 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 16, 202640min
Number 5: Rosh Hashana 5785: Renewal in Challenging Times
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. How can we find hope and renewal during a challenging Rosh Hashanah season? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Brent Spodek discuss the deep challenges of approaching Rosh Hashanah after a particularly difficult year. They explore how the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and covenant can help us navigate our feelings of despair, frustration, and anger. Through classical sources and personal reflections, they offer pathways for reconnecting with our tradition, our community, and ourselves during the High Holidays. Featuring: Rabbi Brent Spodek – Pardes Faculty and Rabbi Emeritus of Beacon Hebrew Alliance Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem
September 30, 202440min