Pardes alumni are making an incredible impact on our world.
They are leading and creating organizations and businesses of all kinds, responding to humanitarian crises, writing novels, educating at all levels, creating works of art, and so much more! In celebration of Pardes’s 50th, we are highlighting 50 standout alumni whose accomplishments exemplify the rich texture of the Pardes community worldwide.
The year I was at Pardes, I met my wife. It was 2002, the year Trembling Before God came out (ha!) and it started a conversation in the Orthodox community. We fell in love as hevrutas studying Megilat Ruth, of all things. I remember the first time all of us assembled in the Pardes Beit Midrash and an engagement of two other students was announced. Everyone exploded into dance and the joy was palpable. I remember thinking, will the community do that for us; (for me and my future wife)? When we got engaged some years later, indeed, we were listed in the “Pardes Personals” section of a newsletter, and it felt like the ultimate sign of belonging. We know this is a common practice and are so proud of Pardes for embracing all segments of our community.
I had my first aliyah at morning minyan at Pardes. I never had a Bat Mitzvah. Israelis didn’t do that when I was growing up, so having one was a big deal. I was nervous and shaky, but the community made me feel safe and held. I am grateful to have had many aliyot since then.
I am most proud of choosing a career in the Jewish nonprofit sector that directly improves folks’ day- to- day lives and, in so doing, adds to the amount of good in the world. We spend the majority of our waking hours as adults at work. Making that experience better, even by a tiny bit, has positive reverberations for the world. That’s the heart of my organization’s work.
Talmud with Zvi Hirschfield. It lit up my mind and soul in ways that I could have never imagined.
Wandering around the ancient streets of Ein Kerem. It has the best hummus and a secret monastery with an incredible view.
The trajectory of my life would have been very different had I not to spent a year at Pardes. I fell in love with the wisdom of our tradition at Pardes, and found meaning within it and our community. That connection led me to choose a career in the Jewish nonprofit sector. I also fell in love with my partner in life at Pardes, and we are building a Jewish home together. I sometimes wonder if our children will be called to learn at Pardes, too.
Celebrate Gali’s story — and help shape the next 50 years of Pardes alumni making an impact on the world.
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