Pardes In the Press
Summer Study in Jerusalem
By Barbara Miller
Atop a Mazda dealership tucked amid Jerusalem apartments stands the unassuming Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. College students and adults kindly labeled 40+ assembled from English speaking countries (U.S., England and Canada) to study Torah, Talmud and Jewish Philosophical thought with highly qualified, energetic and friendly instructors.
At the urging of Rabbi Darryl Crystal I took the plunge into a study of Rabbinic interpretation of Torah namely the Jacob narratives in Genesis, selected texts in Exodus, a fascinating social reconstruction of the careers of early rabbis (including R. Gamaliel and R. Akiva) and an exploration of interfaith relations in the Talmud. My goal was to learn methods of Rabbinic interpretation and become acquainted with a few Rabbinic texts. My training and teaching have been in historical and literary methods of biblical analysis enlivened by a smattering of traditional midrash. I wanted to compare modern analytical methods with those of the past.
Each class began with introductory material presented by the instructor which led to an assignment to be completed in the Beit Midrash (house of study). Each of us had a havruta or study partner. Together we consulted commentaries such as Midrash Rabbah, Rashi, Ramban and Rav Hirsch to explore the development of Torah interpretation from the first through the nineteenth centuries. Our partner served as a resource for added information and as a check on hasty unreasoned conclusions. In other words, the havruta system kept us honest. We then returned to the classroom for broader discussion.
In addition to attending classes 7.5 hours Sunday through Wednesday with one class and special lectures on Thursday, Pardes offered additional activities such as walks through Jerusalem neighborhoods, hospitality in homes of faculty, service opportunities, and skills in Torah cantillation and scribal arts.
One of my instructors invited students to her home in the settlement Alon Shvut in Gush Etzion south of Jerusalem. En route we learned of the history of the regional settlements. Upon arrival we were led in a meditation as we watched the sun set over the Judean hills. From below we could hear singing from a neighboring Arab village. It was a moment of hope that peace was possible in the troubled West Bank.
Pardes is not directly affiliated with a denomination or political party. It is halakhic and optional minyans and Shabbat services used a traditional prayerbook. One minyan made use of a mechitzah separating men and women. In the egalitarian minyan women and men sat together and women led the prayer. Most students were “modern” orthodox with a few from Reform and Reconstructionist traditions. Our first Shabbat service was held on the Pardes roof overlooking the city. On another Shabbat I attended services at Kol Hanashama a Reform congregation in which almost all of the service was sung by the congregation in harmony. Thrilling! My last Shabbat service was at Hebrew Union College and felt much like home.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the food. David, the Pardes cook, created vegetarian and vegan salads, hot dishes and desserts aplenty for our special meals. My favorite was his fruit chutney which he offered to me as a gift. Fruits and vegetables are fresh, crisp, juicy and abundant in open markets and grocery stores for reasonable prices.
While not without blemishes, their taste is wonderful.
My time at Pardes satisfied my intellectual curiosity and my sense of pride in living on my own in Jerusalem for a month. I recommend this experience particularly for college students or graduates and for the growing number of adults who want to continue their Jewish education.
In addition to three summer sessions, Pardes offers year-round programs, an educator’s program leading to a certificate or an M.A. in Jewish Education, an Advanced Scholars Program, and continuing education. Be advised that securing housing is difficult. It is best to find housing well before arriving in Jerusalem. For more information visit www.pardes.org.il or email info@pardes.org.il
Barbara Miller is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Edgewood College and a member of Temple Beth El.
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