Rabbi Yitzhak of Radziwiłłów was active as a hasidic master in the early nineteenth century. His father, the maggid (preacher) Rabbi Yehiel Mikhel of Złoczów (1731-1780s), was a hasidic leader in the early days of nascent Hasidism. Each of Rabbi…
Self & spirituality, Spirituality
In 1933, Rabbi Yisrael Bekmeister (1877-1954) published a twenty-page collection of hasidic tales. The collection included a fascinating tale that speaks to assessing the past year, as we approach the High Holy Days. **** Bekmeister’s slender booklet included fifteen tales…
Self & spirituality, Reflection, Spirituality, Jewish calendar, High Holidays, Yom Kippur
A 1907 collection of hasidic tales by Rabbi Yisrael Berger (1855-1919), Eser Orot, offered a bevy of tales about Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdyczów (1740-1809). Rabbi Berger was one of the key transmitters of hasidic tales, publishing a tetralogy that…
Self & spirituality, Reflection, Spirituality
Likkutei Tefillot is one of the fascinating books in the hasidic library. Written by Rabbi Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (1780-1844), it does not fit neatly in the classic genres of hasidic writing. The work, as we have it today, is…
Self & spirituality, Jewish prayer, Reflection, Spirituality
Originally published June 18, 2015, with the conclusion of the 2022-2023 academic year, we’ve decided to bring this article back as a reminder to all of us that the Torah learning goes on. Who’s Carrying the Torah? The noisy din…
Self & spirituality, Personal transformation, Reflection, Spirituality, Tanakh, Torah
The attached chapter, entitled “Halakhah” and written by Rabbi Levi Cooper is available as part of a new textbook that discusses thirteen different sources for the study of Hasidism: derashot, stories, writings of mitnaggedim, writings of maskilim, newspapers, archives, music,…
Self & spirituality, Hasidut, Personal transformation, Reflection, Spirituality
This was originally published August 20, 2013. We are now in the midst of the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, which recall the siege on Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Tradition…
Jewish calendar, 17th of Tammuz, 9 Days, Mishnah, Self & spirituality, Spirituality
In the run up to Purim, Rabbi Michael Hattin gave the second lecture in a 2-part series on Megillat Esther, this time focusing on Divine Concealment and Human Initiative. Click here for part 1.
Tanakh, Ketuvim (Writings), Esther, Jewish calendar, Purim, Self & spirituality
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash interviews Rabba Yaffa Epstein on the topic of “Why Should We Learn Torah?” See https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/ for more information on Valley Beit Midrash.
Self & spirituality, Personal transformation, Spirituality, Tanakh, Torah
Through a teaching of R. Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (a Hasidic Rebbe who led a pre-Zionist Hasidic Aliyah to Israel) on this week’s parsha, Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels will explore the nature of transformation and how true transformation requires a dying…
Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Acharei Mot, Self & spirituality, Personal transformation
In this Podcast Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels looks at the Piaseczner Rebbe who discusses the crucial place of the body in our spiritual practice and the unique gift and contribution each one of us has to give to the task of…
Self & spirituality, Personal transformation, Spirituality, Tanakh, Torah, Bereishit (Genesis)
The Torah, which we have just begun again this last week, begins “bereshit.” This opening word is often translated as “in the beginning” but we can perhaps more properly read as in a beginning, (rather than in the beginning which…
Self & spirituality, Jewish prayer, Spirituality
Take live online courses with our world-class faculty, from Tanakh to Talmud to Text Skills and beyond.
Explore the diverse array of books authored by Pardes teachers.
Use our search tool to find the Pardes program that fits your schedule.