Rabbi Alex Israel teaches Bible at Pardes. Born and raised in London, he holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education London and Bar-Ilan University. Alex studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion under Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Rav Yehudah Amital, and gained Rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate.
Alex has taught for twenty years in many top Jerusalem Yeshivot and Midrashot. He is also a volunteer for Tzohar, a group that seeks to bridge the gaps between religious and secular communities In Israel. Alex lives with his wife and 4 children in Gush Etzion.
Parashat Bamidbar 5782: Heavenly Jerusalem, Earthly Jerusalem. A Shiur for Jerusalem Day and Bamidbar Description: In Celebration of Jerusalem Day, we study Psalm 122 and its dreamy depiction of an ancient Jerusalem pilgrimage. We reflect on the makom (place/space) and…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Bamidbar
Parashat Kedoshim 5782: “Be Holy!” How? Description: The Torah instructs the Jewish people to “Be Holy!” But how might that be performed? In this podcast, Alex Israel discusses three approaches to this question, considering the question of withdrawal from and…
Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Kedoshim
Pesach 5782: Three Keys to Freedom – Three Features of the Seder Description: What are the key elements of free life? This podcast identifies three features of the Exodus, also manifested in the Seder rituals, and proposes that these can…
Jewish calendar, Pesach, Tanakh, Torah
Parashat Vayikra 5782: Calling. Listening. Giving. Description: This week, Rabbi Alex Israel discusses some of Rashi’s opening remarks to Vayikra highlighting some critical spiritual messages for our fast-paced world. Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write…
Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Vayikra
Parashat Mishpatim 5782: God and Government Description: Is our public discourse too aggressive? Are our public institutions vulnerable to attack? In this class, Alex Israel addresses a verse (22:27) in Parashat Mishpatim which warns of attacks on Government figures. Why…
Tanakh, Torah, Shemot (Exodus), Mishpatim
Parashat Vayishlach 5782 – Cyclical History Description: Does History repeat itself? Nachmanides thinks it does! He reads the entire standoff between Jacob and Esau as a paradigm of future events – Isael and Rome, Judaism and Christianity. What are we…
Tanakh, Torah, Bereishit (Genesis), Vayishlach
Sukkot 5782 – Sukkot and the Secret of Jewish Happiness Why is Sukkot described as the “Season of our Rejoicing”? What is the objective of sitting in the Sukka? What messages does it have to our technological and materialistic age?…
Jewish calendar, Sukkot
Greatest Hits: The High Holidays Episode 7: Yom Kippur: The Repentance of Nineveh Description: Sefer Yona, the book of Jonah, is read at the Mincha service of Yom Kippur day. In this podcast, Rabbi Alex Israel delves into repentance by…
Jewish calendar, High Holidays, Yom Kippur
The learn how to register for the All in the Family event please visit www.pardes.org.il/pew. Shoftim 5781 – Access to the Law This week we hear about the mandate to appoint magistrates and police “in all your gates”. Why does…
Tanakh, Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy), Shoftim
A dialogue between traditional commentary and modern literary analysis illuminates II Kings’ historical, political, and religious themes.
A dialogue between traditional commentary and modern literary analysis illuminates I Kings’ historical, political, and religious themes.