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Mahloket Matters Fellowship

We live in a moment of unprecedented breakdown in civil discourse.

Join an online cohort of Jewish leaders who want to make a difference. In this fellowship  you will explore the following questions:

What distinguishes constructive disagreement from destructive disagreement?
How might good people have diametrically opposing views on moral issues?
What are the variables to consider when determining if, when, and how to engage in a difficult conversation?
What are some value tensions within Jewish tradition related to specific contentious, contemporary issues?
What practical tools and skills can I use to become adept at considering an issue from multiple perspectives and engaging with the other?
How can I help foster a culture of constructive disagreement?

As part of this eight-week fellowship, you will plan and implement a Mahloket Matters Community Engagement Project using this unique curriculum, with financial support from Pardes.

I am interested in learning more?

Beit Midrash Program detailes

Community Engagement Project Requirements:

Each fellow will be asked to lead either a single high visibility event for 50 people or a series of events (minimum 3 sessions) for at least 10 people per session.

Program Dates

Project Content options

  • The Pardes Beit Midrash Program is flexible – join for a full academic year, a single semTeach pieces of the Mahloket Matters (MM) curriculum
  • Use the MM curriculum or its content to model or facilitate a difficult conversation
  • Innovate a new way to teach the MM messaging ester, or one of our shorter immersive programs to fit your schedule and needs.
Eligibility

Types of fellow-led programs or events could include

  • Fellows lead discussion based directly on texts and themes cited in the curriculum.
  • Fellows use parts of the MM curriculum as a starting point to facilitate discussion about other topics
  • Fellows form a Jewish text study group or book club on themes and authors that emerge from their learning.
Tuition

Other Requirements

  • Writing – Fellows will write an op-ed piece about their experience in the fellowship. This can be for their synagogue newsletter, JCC bulletin, etc. or for an organization to which they are connected. Fellows can also write for a national or local Jewish newspaper, if they so choose.
  • Evaluations – Fellows will fill out evaluation forms at the end of each session providing feedback about their experience in the fellowship.

Funding for Mahloket Matters Fellowship

There is no cost to participate in this Fellowship. Funding up to $400 is available for community engagement programs designed and implemented by fellows.

For more information about the Mahloket Matters Fellowship, contact Monica Kleinman at mm@pardes.org.

“In our times of great political, social and religious debates, Mahloket Matters offers a necessary and diverse toolkit to get us to work through differences.”

Fall 2023 Fellow

“In a world that is so divided, the Mahloket Matters fellowship teaches how we, as leaders, can help our communities learn to talk to each other in productive ways.”

Fall 2023 Rabbinic Fellow

“I am someone who has always feared conflict to some degree. This fellowship helped make it feel less like a thing to be feared and more like an opportunity to understand other people and other perspectives.”

Fall 2023 Fellow

About Mahloket Matters

The Mahloket Matters methodology combines social psychology with the rich Jewish textual tradition of deeply engaging with conflicting opinions in order to learn. This curriculum helps provide learners with the motivation to better engage constructively with those with whom they disagree, thereby improving civil discourse. Mahloket Matters reframes what previously felt hostile and threatening as an opportunity for connection and change.

Frequently Asked Questions

In order to cultivate an intimate group of Fellows, we invite Fellows to learn together in targeted cohorts. These are sometimes based on profession, stage in life, physical location, or affinity group. If you don’t feel like any of the current cohorts represent you, please contact Monica at mm@pardes.org

We meet online for ninety minutes weekly for eight weeks. We use that time to learn with our faculty, each other, and explore how we can understand ourselves better in order to engage with others l’shem shamayim (for the sake of Heaven)

Missing one session is not a deal-breaker, but we ask that you watch the recording to catch up. Each session contains crucial information that builds on the week before. The nice thing about virtual learning is that you can sign in from anywhere! We have had Fellows join us from all over the world during the eight week session.

Yes! We utilize a combination of full group learning (15 Fellows maximum) and havruta learning (paired study) so it is an interactive learning experience. Your presence matters and we value what you have to share.

Fellows work on planning and implementing their Mahloket Matters Community Engagement Projects. Pardes is here to support you as you choose your audience, key takeaways, and how you’ll share this valuable learning with your community. Our faculty and staff are happy to meet in small groups or one on one to help you along the way.

Each Fellow is granted access to the entire Mahloket Matters curriculum for their use. This is non-transferable and a valuable resource for your future teaching endeavors. You will also receive access to the Mahloket Matters Teens curriculum.

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