Description

This core Pardes program offers serious study for post-university students, including dynamic interactive learning, day and overnight trips, and community service. Students learn both in Havruta study (partner learning) and in seminar-style classes five days per week.

The Pardes experience gives students maximum exposure to the classic texts of Jewish tradition.

Program Options

While in special cases students may attend for one semester, our experience shows that the impact of a year at Pardes grows exponentially as the hours invested increase.

Year Program

The Year Program is the optimal framework for intensive Jewish study and the exploration of ethical, spiritual, philosophical, legal and societal issues facing individuals, the Jewish people and humanity. Students participate in seminar-style classes and Havruta (partner study) and take between 20 and 32 hours of courses per week. Year Program students also have the opportunity to participate in weekly community service projects in Jerusalem.

Specialty Tracks

As part of the Year Program, students can choose to create a tailored program which reflects their interests:

Intensive Talmud
The Talmud concentration is geared for Intermediate and Advanced students, and includes three or four mornings a week of in-depth Talmud study combined with two afternoons of survey style Talmud study.

Intensive Tanakh
Intensive Tanakh is available four mornings and two afternoons per week at the Intermediate level. Instruction is in Hebrew.

Social Justice Track (Fall semester only)
We all want to build a better world, but how should that world look and how should we get there?The Social Justice track combines the study of social issues such as the environment, gender and minority welfare, through classical and modern Jewish texts. In addition, students will be learning about the state of the field and specific challenges in Israel with the help of guest lectures from the governmental and non-profit sectors and field visits.

The track is aimed at giving current and future activists the tools to use Jewish text to inform and inspire their work.

This track is taught by Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy.

The Self, Soul and Text Track (Fall semester only)
The Self, Soul & Text: Personal Transformation in Judaism Track will focus on the spiritual, psychological, ethical and religious transformation of the individual and the community.Participants will work on transforming their moral and spiritual selves and deepening their awareness through the study of Jewish texts from the spiritual, mystical and musar traditions, performance of spiritual practices of self-transformation, processing these practices and the experiences of being they produce, field trips, guest speakers and a class retreat.

Texts and practices will be integrated in a way that students gain religious, philosophical, historical and terminological depth in the nature of Jewish spiritual practice and understand and experience the transformative power of these practices. This course will involve intellect, soul, heart and body and so participants are asked to come with intellectual, emotional, spiritual openness, and the willingness to experiment.

This track is taught by Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels.

Peace & Conflict Track (Spring semester only)

The Peace and Conflict Track includes in-depth study of various types of conflicts and attempts to make peace, including interpersonal, family, communal, and international conflicts, through the lenses of both classical Jewish texts and the related academic literature. Classes will focus on the traditional pre-modern Jewish models of peace and reconciliation, as well as an attempted creation of a new post-modern Jewish model. Students will also participate in related site visits, guest lectures and weekly volunteering opportunities relating to the field of peacemaking in Israel.

While designed for individuals working or pursuing careers in the range of Peace and Conflict studies such as mediation, psychology, and international relations, the track is open to all students of all levels.

This track is taught by Rabbi Daniel Roth.

Internships
This internship program is geared to Pardes students who want more extensive participation in their field or in a service opportunity than the Year Program is able to accommodate. In the past most Pardes students have been successful in setting up their own internships. However, if you prefer, Pardes can put you in touch with Career Israel who can provide that service for a $200 fee. Hebrew language proficiency is not required for most internships. Students may combine an internship with any of the above tracks.

Choosing Your Program

Pardes staff members are available in person, by phone, and online to assist you in selecting the most appropriate option for your individual situation. Students may make changes during the first month of study. Please note that there is a difference in financial aid availability for full and part-time students.