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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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…