Can we uncover hidden blessings, even from within painful experiences? Join us this week as we delve into the profound purification rituals surrounding the mysterious affliction of tzara'at (often translated as "leprosy") in the weekly Torah portion of Metzora. In a riveting discussion, Rabbi Jon Leener challenges the conventional view of this condition as merely a punishment. Drawing from insightful Jewish sources, he illuminates the possibility that tzara'at may in fact be a divine wake-up...

How do we navigate the tension between devotion to mitzvot and the pursuit of understanding their significance in our lives? In this week's parsha, we explore the seemingly archaic ritual purity laws. Rabbi Michael Hattin joins the discussion to highlight how these laws, though initially perplexing, offer profound insights into human behavior and ethics. By engaging critically with religious practice and moral conduct, listeners are encouraged to navigate the complexities of tradition and...

In this week’s episode, we navigate the complexities of failure and growth in the aftermath of pivotal moments in the Tanakh. Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy draws a parallel between the incidents of the Golden Calf and the death of Aaron’s sons, both occurring at crucial moments meant to elevate the spiritual consciousness of the Jewish people. Delving into these tragic events, we’re invited to contemplate profound questions: How do we grapple with our failures when we aren’t sure where we...

Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash joins us this week for an investigation of the eternal flame that burned upon the altar. Contemplating the balance between the passion of the burning fire and the steadfastness of its daily lighting, Zvi and Nechama ask how we may infuse our own religious practices with both regularity and inspiration. As we discuss the altar upon which sacrifices were meant to be made, we'll also reflect on the sacrifices being made today by the youth of Israel during this...

Join Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week as he delves deep into the rich theological tapestry of Purim alongside Rafael Polisuk. Together, they explore the intricate messages woven into the fabric of the holiday and the profound challenges encountered by the Jewish people of that era. Unraveling the layers of history and tradition, they ponder the intriguing question: Did the Jewish people substitute God with the mortal figure of King Achashverosh? Could the opulent court of the King have...

In what way does the Mishkan (Tabernacle) serve as a metaphor for organizing one's relationship with God, oneself, and others? This week, we're joined by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman for a discussion of the meticulous detailing of the construction of the Mishkan and its role in serving as both a physical structure for God's presence and a metaphor for the Jewish people's journey towards understanding their relationship with God. Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield - Host of Pardes from...

What is it that makes us join together with different groups? Over the past two parshiot, we've seen two gatherings, one in which the people gathered to create the Golden Calf, and another in which they gathered to build the Mishkan. In both stories, the people give willingly and generously in order to build something together. How can these two stories help us understand what draws us to gather together, and how to do so in a manner that ensures we are building something with the proper...

Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash joins us to share her take on this week's parsha, and the infamous story of the Golden Calf. We'll discuss how this event can serve as an example of the inevitable moments of collapse and the repair that follows in all relationships. Our conversation will turn to the societal relationship within Israel, and the divide that we've seen occur within Israeli society, as we ask ourselves whether the response to October 7 has helped to heal and repair this...

Do the clothes we wear define us? Rabbi Daniel Reifman joins our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield this week for a discussion on the priestly vestments as described in this week's parsha in precise detail. Does the Torah teach us to create such an intricate and beautiful garb solely to create the right atmosphere for religious service, or is it that a specific uniform has the power to transform the wearer? Together, we'll explore the various uniforms worn by contemporary Jewish groups, the role...

Can we find value in tangible expressions or experiences of spirituality, even if they challenge our rational view of the world? Pardes President Rabbi Leon Morris joins us this week to explore the challenges raised by the commandment to build a portable temple (the Mishkan) to serve as God's house in the desert. How are we able to reconcile the idea of a physical home for God, when we believe that God is everywhere? Is it possible for us to fulfil our spiritual needs when they are in...

This week's parsha is primarily concerned with laws meant to order and structure our interactions and society, including a prohibition against cursing judges and the king. In light of this prohibition, Sefi Kraut, Pardes Director of Mahloket Matters, asks us to consider what we can and should do when we believe that the institutions meant to defend our values have betrayed those very values. Reflecting on the protest movement that spread across Israel this past summer, Sefi reminds us...

What is our responsibility to the rest of the world, and how might that impact the image that we want to project to humanity at large? Tovah Leah Nachmani joins us in the studio this week to discuss Yitro, an outsider whose story appears alongside the covenantal moment of receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. How does Yitro, and by contrast Amalek, offer competing models for how the Jewish people may interact with the outside world? Are we able to reconcile Jewish particularism with positive...

Dive on in as Yiscah Smith joins Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield to discuss the story of the Red Sea, reminding us that we had to first jump into the water before it would split. Can we view faith as a concious choice, rather than a reaction? If so, how can we find the strength and resilience to make this choice and hold to our faith when facing immense difficulties? During our discussion, Yiscah challenges us take responsibility for how we perceive the world, and to fight to see goodness despite...

On the cusp of leaving Egypt, the children of Israel are told that they must remember the Exodus. For over 2,000 years, this commandment to remember the past has helped the Jewish people remain connected to their history as a people. Yet, is that enough for us to remain united as well? In this week's episode, Rafael Polisuk joins Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield for a deep dive into what united the children of Israel, and a discussion on the importance of building a shared future...

How may we be redeemed when we feel as if our spirits have been crushed? Rabbi Leon Morris joins us this week to discuss the idea of kotzer ruach, a crushed soul, and how Moshe faced resistance from those who could not believe that redemption was at hand. Bringing modern relevance to the redemption story, we'll unpack what it means to be kotzer ruach, and how we might break out of a state despair through the cultivation of hope and widening of imagination. Credits: Pardes President...

This week, we begin the book of Shemot and are introduced to Moshe. Yet, by the time Moshe takes up the mantle of leadership, he’s already in his later years, and his developmental years are practically skipped over. Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy joins us this week to examine those developmental years with three stories; Moshe’s smiting of the Egyptian slavemaster, his stepping in during a conflict among his own people, and his protection of the Midianite women and their flocks. Exploring...

When thinking of traditional inheritance, we often think of the firstborn as being the main heir, and in many ways the Torah confirms this, yet throughout the book of Bereishit we see the script being flipped, with the younger sibling receiving the greater blessing. The final example of this appears at Ya'akov's deathbed, where he blesses his descendants and uses his dominant hand to bless Ephraim, the younger of his two grandchildren. In this week's episode, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is...

Can the pains of the past be overcome, opening the way for relationships to heal and be redefined? In this week's parsha, we witness the emotional reunion between the sons of Israel, with Yosef revealing himself to the brothers who had once thrown him into a pit and, ignoring his pain and pleas, sold him into slavery. Rabba Shani Gross joined our host Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield to discuss the relationship between Yosef and his brothers, in particular Yehuda, and how the power of speech helped...

What might Yosef's story, so full of pain yet hope, teach us about maintaining our own faith during difficult times? During these challenging times, many feel themselves torn between a desire to stand firmly in their Jewish identities and values and the feeling that they must hide their identity. In this week's parsha discussion, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Jon Leener explore this familiar feeling through an examination of Yosef. Having experienced significant trauma and spent much of...

What can the mitzvah of yibum, Levirate marriage, teach us about making difficult decisions and personal growth? In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman unpack the complicated family dynamics of Yehudah, his sons, and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. As the only mitzvah in the Torah that allows one to "opt-out", Levirate marriage provides an opportunity to examine the Torah's perspective on making choices that lead to personal growth....

What can a fraught meeting between brothers teach us about our own instincts? The events of October 7 shattered the worldview for many of us, and can cause us to approach how we understand the Torah differently. In this week’s episode, Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield unpack the emotionally charged reunion between Ya’akov and Esav and the fears that Ya’akov might have dealt with leading up to that moment. Credits: Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash and Rabbi Zvi...

What might Ya'akov’s nocturnal revelation teach us about how to approach darkness? As we continue to pray for the safe return of the hostages and yearn for better days ahead, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy delve into what tools this week’s parsha might give us for getting through these difficult days. Together, they will explore how Ya'akov's divine encounter teaches us about the importance of maintaining routine spiritual practices, even amidst difficult and...

The book of Bereishit, filled with the themes of covenant and birthright, tells the story of the progenitors of the Jewish people. Among the many characters we meet in the book are pairs of siblings of which one gets chosen as the inheritor of the covenant, while the other is subject to a different fate. Why was it that these forefathers were forced to choose only one of their children to continue the line of the Jewish people, and what does the Torah teach us about making such choices? In...

What does the Torah teach us about encountering grief? As we mourn the tragedies of October 7, Ilana Gleicher-Bloom and Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield explore Avraham and Yitzchak's response to the passing of Sarah. How does Avraham mourn for his wife, and why is it that he does not interact with his own son in such a vital moment? Meanwhile, Yitzchak looks to comfort from an unexpected source. What can we learn from this week's Torah portion about the models of mourning, and how could they apply...