Philosophy | Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Philosophy

If you're interested in spending a summer in Israel or a year in Israel, you've come to the right place. For serious study in Israel, including text study, Torah, Talmud, Halacha and Jewish philosophy, our experienced faculty present challenging courses with Havruta study for all levels. Much more than a co-ed yeshiva, Pardes in Jerusalem offers a variety of educational Israel programs for college and post-college young people interested in serious Jewish studies in an open Beit Midrash environment.

bullet Rigorous Text Study

The center of learning at Pardes is the beit midrash (the hall of study). Each student analyzes classic Jewish texts together with a havruta (learning partner). After preparing in pairs, the students convene with a teacher to discuss the issues, problems and ideas raised by the texts.

Our courses have three main objectives:

to give students the skills for in-depth Jewish learning
to encourage students to grapple with the relevance of ancient texts to the modern world
increase our students' knowledge of their Jewish heritage and its classical texts

bullet Intellectual and Spiritual Growth

Whether through understanding a Talmudic argument, chanting from the Torah for the first time or helping to feed Jerusalem's poor, Pardes students are challenged to grow as individuals and as members of our community.

bullet Religious Diversity and Tolerance

As a matter of principle, Pardes is not affiliated with any political party or religious denomination. At the same time, we are committed to Jewish practice as prescribed by Halacha (Jewish Law), and this is reflected in our official activities and events. Pardes faculty do not impose any patterns of observance or belief on students. We support student initiatives that meet the plurality of religious needs.

bullet Israel

We believe that a strong relationship with the Land and State of Israel is a fundamental part of a modern Jewish identity. Our trips around Jerusalem and the rest of the country give students a chance to explore places they might not get to on their own, and to ground their learning in a broader historical and geographical context.

bullet Social Action

We believe that the study of Torah must engender a commitment to assisting those in need. Students devote one afternoon each week to volunteer work with disadvantaged children and adults. The Community Service program enables students to see, first-hand, the need for and the impact of their efforts.

bullet Learning Beyond the Text

Jewish learning should not be limited to the realm of text alone. Our holistic approach includes spiritual retreats, community Shabbat activities and informal programs.