The Art of Jewish Learning

“This learning, especially at this time in our Jewish history, felt like a privilege and gift. To be learning Torah at Pardes, in Jerusalem, with some of the best minds in contemporary Torah thought, surrounded by a diverse and inspiring group of fellow students.”

“The Mahloket Matters fellowship opened my eyes to an idea that I’d been searching for and sensing for years – that many of our toughest disagreements unsolved problems are rooted not in ignorance or incompetence, but in different values and experiences, striving not for a right answer, but for a best answer.”

“For many years, I have felt there was always something greater. I knew I had a ton of potential but did not know how to harness that properly and direct it into something good. I now feel like I am walking down the path that I have been meant to walk down all my life. I owe Pardes a great deal of credit for that!”

“I am so grateful that my experience of living in Israel was combined with intensive learning in a diverse, warm and open environment that allowed me to make informed decisions about my Jewish practice that feel meaningful, fulfilling and empowering for me.”

“Pardes provided me with an accepting and uplifting place where a person of limited Jewish knowledge could access our vast spiritual treasures. My daughter, Lia, also attended Pardes, as have several of my former students. All had the same experience as I did more than forty years ago–openness, education, inspiration, and the thirst to know more.”

“Pardes is a gift you give to your future Jewish self – uplifting, enlightening, transformational. The faculty is a cross-section of the Jewish world, not the least bit uniform outside of the depth of their knowledge and their love of Torah. They are among the most generous teachers inspiring a love Torah through their dedication to the endless possibilities of text and its importance to our lives today.”

“This has absolutely been one of the most formative years of my life, and it’s hard to imagine not having come here… It really is the place to ask your own questions and get your own answers, rather than being supplied with ‘right’ questions and answers.”

My community especially benefited from thinking deeply about where they are coming from, and recognizing that they can’t possibly have all the answers nor perfect morality.

[It] helped frame hard conversations and steep them in our Jewish tradition and texts.

I used to think that I’d lost an argument if the other person didn’t adopt my way of thinking. But now I think I’ve won if both sides have actually heard each other.

MM came at the perfect time for navigating board discussions setting vision and mission. 

The texts presented were excellent and the conversations profound. Lots of great ideas were put forth to strengthen skill development for challenging conversations. 

We had a very positive experience partnering with Pardes to deliver Teaching Israel through Disagreement, a two-day Mahloket Matters Intensive for Jewish educators… through deep Jewish text study, social-emotional learning frameworks, and Israel-related case studies. Sefi is a dynamic, thoughtful, and flexible facilitator who inspired our participants by consistently walking the walk. 

The retreat was wonderful and Sefi was utterly amazing. Everyone loved her and many of us (myself included) have already started employing the Pardes Mahloket Matters techniques. 

The Jewish Educators Forum in Sweden embarked on an educational journey with Pardes… Pardes’s sensitive, thoughtful, and wise approach to teaching created a space for deep learning, meaningful dialogue, and lasting inspiration that will continue to shape our work and our community for many years to come.

“A gifted Pardes facilitator and teacher, Sefi developed an incredible rapport with our challenging and diverse congregation. She has since been available for us every step of the way to offer advice on how we can make this program effective and successful. Her knowledge, humility, approachability, and creativity have been part of the secret sauce.”

[It] helped frame hard conversations and steep them in our Jewish tradition and texts.

I used to think that I’d lost an argument if the other person didn’t adopt my way of thinking. But now I think I’ve won if both sides have actually heard each other.

MM came at the perfect time for navigating board discussions setting vision and mission. 

“The texts presented were excellent and the conversations profound. Lots of great ideas were put forth to strengthen skill development for challenging conversations.”

We had over 100 members attend our event co-created with Mahloket Matters. The feedback was spectacular – several folks said it was the single best event they have ever attended.

When we taught the Mahloket Matters teen curriculum, there were so many lightbulb moments for the kids.

My community especially benefited from thinking deeply about where they are coming from, and recognizing that they can’t possibly have all the answers nor perfect morality.

This fellowship helped frame hard conversations and steep them in our Jewish tradition and texts.

I used to think that we idealize the mahloket of the rabbis as an esoteric past. Now I think it’s possible to ground it in lived experience for everybody.

I used to think that I’d lost an argument if the other person didn’t adopt my way of thinking. But now I think I’ve won if both sides have actually heard each other.

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Pardes is where people find their path. Alumni go on to do great things and become movers and shakers in the Jewish world. Studying in a non-denominational Beit Midrash in Israel was an absolute dream come true.”

“…it is a luxury to learn in an atmosphere that empowers participants to seek knowledge and information that will enable them to make their own decisions about their spiritual and religious lives.”

“If you want to engage and struggle with Torah, learn from world class faculty and from people with different perspectives, and feel the power of being together, there is no better place to do that than with Pardes at the Learning Seminar in Jerusalem. The summer Learning Seminar provide these opportunities as well as to breathe in the cadence of living in Jerusalem (even for a short while).”

“The Winter PLS is a unique opportunity to learn Jewish texts with terrific teachers, feeling as if you are in the Beit Midrash in Jerusalem from the comfort of your own home in the States”

“I am thrilled I participated in PLS Summer Program. The seminar ignited my mind, my heart and also my soul. It’s a must for anyone seeking wisdom and community!”

“Studying at Pardes with such a diverse group of Jewish souls has allowed me to ‘own’ my unique life experiences, and taught me how to make learning a meaningful part of my Jewish future”

“I love that Pardes has given me the tools to reclaim a tradition that is mine, but which wasn’t open to me until I came here.”