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.

Check out our list of 101 reasons to study at Pardes!.

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.

Peace & Conflict Track/Rodfei Shalom (Spring semester only)
The Track seeks to transform participants into being knowledgeable and active rodfei shalom (Jewish pursuers of peace) between individuals, families, communities and nations. We will attempt to do this through the study of classic Jewish rabbinic texts, conflict resolution theories, newspapers articles, group discussions, guest speakers and field trips.

Track topics include "The Identity and Methods of the Rodef Shalom"; "Forgiveness and it's Limits"; "Narrative Mediation and Reconciling Israelite-Amalekite Narratives"; "Ethical Dilemmas of War and Peace in Judaism and Israel." In addition to participating in the bi-weekly second semester classes, participants will be required to attend occasional guest speaker lectures (Tuesday 12-1); class trip, at least two "peace and conflict" activities outside of class time; and to share a short dvar shalom during class.

While designed for individuals working or pursuing careers in the larger field of conflict resolution studies and its related fields such as law, psychology, social work and international relations, the track is open to all students of all levels. The Peace and Conflict Track is one of the programs of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution.

The Samuel and Evelyn Scholarship Fund is available for hourly students engaged or seriously interested in the broader field of conflict resolution to participate in the Peace and Conflict Track. For details please contact the registrar at registrar@pardes.org.il by January 15, 2012.

This track is taught by Rabbi Daniel Roth.

The Self, Soul and Text Track (Spring 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.

Pre-Rabbinic Track (Fall and Spring semesters)

The Pre-Rabbinic Track is designed to help students who want to pursue a career in the rabbinate, by attending any rabbinical school. Students will be mentored throughout their regular Pardes learning by an adviser with rabbinic training and experience, who will help insure that they are maximizing their learning opportunities, especially in ways that will best prepare them for rabbinical school. In addition, students will have the opportunity to meet with interesting rabbinic personalities on a monthly basis who live in (or are visiting) Jerusalem, in order to broaden and deepen their appreciation for the possibilities of the rabbi as Jewish leader. The director will act as a liaison with the various rabbinical schools. The course brings together students of different religious observance patterns and belief systems will enrich their understanding of the whole Jewish community, especially as most will attend denominational rabbinical schools.

This track is taught by Rabbi Miriam C. Berkowitz .

Jewish Educators Track
A semester-long track intended for individuals interested in learning about the field of Jewish education, offering a variety of options to students:
Jewish Spiritual Education: The curriculum will include the study of siddur, spirituality, Hasidut and Jewish thought. In addition, students will engage in applied educational practice, allowing them to connect their personal experiences to their professional growth, applying what they are discovering in their learning to their work in the Jewish community;
Teaching Text:The curriculum will include both personal and professional encounters with the text, offering a deep understanding of the theory of Jewish learning, with a focus on havruta learning, and translating it into the practice of both formal and experiential Jewish education;
Israel Education: The curriculum will include the study of traditional and modern texts about Israel; experiential learning - including site visits; diverse opportunities for discourse; and explorations of the many possibilities for building connections. Students will have opportunities to engage in the conversation of what a Jewish state should look like and what its core values should be.

This track is taught by faculty of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators.

Foundations of Judaism Track (Fall and Spring semesters)

Do you want to know more about Judaism? Have questions you always wanted answered? If you are beginning a Jewish journey and want a good entrance to Jewish life then Pardes' Foundations of Judaism track is for you. The track includes study of Jewish philosophy, ritual, and text leading to greater knowledge and sharper skills. Students will be encouraged to grapple with the underlying ideas of Judaism and explore how these ideas affect their own lives. Become part of the Jewish conversation and influence the direction of the Jewish future!

Classroom learning will be enhanced by lunchtime workshops, speakers from a broad gamut of the Jewish world, visits to synagogues and museums - all of them opportunities to see how Israel works as a giant Jewish laboratory.

This track is taught by Rabbi David Levin-Kruss.

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 $300 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.