Alumni Survey Demonstrates Exceptionally High Jewish Commitment of Pardes Graduates

Pardes alumni recently participated in a survey conducted by Hebrew University of Jerusalem sociologist Prof. Steven M. Cohen and Judith Schor, CUNY doctoral student in social personality.

The analysis compared alumni of Pardes with specially designed sub-samples of the National Jewish Population Study 2000-01.

In reflecting on the findings, Professor Cohen remarked, "The Pardes experience is clearly a critical way-station on the route to extraordinary Jewish growth by scores of highly talented and motivated young Jewish adults, year after year. They emerge unusually committed to raising Jewish families, studying Jewish texts, involvement with Israel, serving the Jewish community, and maintaining a life-long commitment to Jewish learning and growth.

Schor commented, "As a former Pardes student myself, I was particularly gratified to see the strong evidence of people my age developing as strong, committed Jews, before, during, and after the Pardes experience."

"Over the years we knew that those who have had the experience of learning Torah in Pardes' Beit Midrash gain a deepened connection to studying, knowledge and Israel and bring their Jewish understanding to their work, their relationships, families and communities. Now we have the statistical data to back this up," stated Ruth Cummings-Sorensen, Pardes Israel Board Chair and Pardes Alum.

The full analysis and methodology can be viewed at www.alliancedata.org.il

Pardes notified alumni by e mail about the survey. If you are not receiving Pardes e mails, please send your updated contact details to info@pardes.org.il.

bullet Survey Comments

Pardes was an amazing place for me to deepen my engagement with Judaism, mostly a place for me to really learn and develop a relationship with Jewish texts. I already came to Pardes with a love of Judaism and a commitment, Pardes offered me an opportunity to engage the tradition in a powerful and new and empowering way.

Pardes was a valuable experience for me and contributed to my decision to get a dual degree in Jewish Communal Service and Social Work, rather than just a social work degree. thank you. this was the single most influential Jewish experience I have had. I am immeasurably grateful to pardes for all it has given me.

Pardes: Thank you for providing me with an experience that facilitated exponential personal growth.

At Pardes I felt the most alive, stimulated and happy I have ever felt.

Great program. Just being in Israel is a big part of it--though it's hard to separate..

I greatly appreciate the education that I received at Pardes and would consider going back for another program.

I have already discussed my experiences in the program with the professional leadership of the program. The only message I would send is one of encouragement and persistence-there are far too few programs of this sort and the need is truly vast. The number of "illiterate"/disconnected Jews is extraordinary in the US and anything to help people understand the complexities of Judaism is invaluable in my opinion.

I have the highest respect for the Pares Institution. While my attitudes towards religious observance have evolved over the years I feel fortunate to have been a participant at Pardes

I loved my Pardes experience. I look back upon it and feel inspired.

Pardes - It was excellent. I wish I could do it again.

Pardes changed my life in so many ways. It gave me everything Jewish, especially knowledge and amazing friends. But with that comes new burdens and concerns for the Jewish people. Sometimes knowledge itself is anxiety producing. Before Pardes I did not know one Hebrew letter from the next. I basically only knew not to eat on Yom Kippur, to have matza on Passover, and to light a menorah on Hannukah. That's it. I never paid attention to Israel news or American Jewish news. Everything is different now. Sometimes harder, but mostly better.

Pardes changed my life positively forever and most of my friends in New York I know from Pardes. Years later, we have continued our community here. Thank you!!

Pardes was truly a transformational experience in my life...I am forever grateful!

Pardes... 25 years later, still one of the most important experiences in my life!!

Pardes: It is hard for me to remember how I was Jewishly before attending Pardes. Pardes opened my eyes to the beauty in Judaism.

Pardes: on the right track! I benefited and want to see others benefit from this excellent program.

Thank you - I definitely appreciated my summer at Pardes, and it enriched my Jewish experiences.

This program was the most important experience of my Jewish life. As a rabbi, I am constantly grateful for the foundation I received at Pardes.

It's been six months since I left Pardes and I learned much much more than I hoped and even more, I was given the opportunity to connect to religiously oriented Jews and was given basic skills in connecting to the Jewish community that are essential to my realizing my desire to be part of the religious Jewish community. It also reminded me of the importance of staying connected and continued learning which shapes my weekly Jewish practice. Much Thanks and much love.

Pardes had a deep impact on my life. I thought I was going only to get study skills (I had been observant for years already) and I found I was asking deep questions about G-d and the Jewish people. I still keep up my connection with Pardes and the teachers and feel privileged to be associated with the institution.

Pardes -- I loved it and can't wait to go back next year!

Pardes: Please continue to be the inspiring place you have always been.

Pardes was a great experience.

Pardes- An absolutely incredible program that still resonates with me.

Pardes experience was an excellent program an I appreciate the frequent and well communicated opportunities for Alumni in the US.

My time at Pardes was a fabulous, life-shaping year, thanks.

Pardes - a wonderful program which lived up to all the positive things I had been told about by others. I only regret that family responsibilities make it unlikely that I will be able to study there again.

Being in the Pardes program remains one of the high points of my spiritual life. Not a Shabbos goes by when I don't think about it as I study with my chevruta. Thank you and keep up the amazing work -- G-d willing, I'll be back to visit in the next year or so!

Pardes Elul Program: it's a wonderful experience for me and I'd love to spend at least a full year in Machon Pardes, unfortunately it's a financial question!! Thanks a lot!!

Pardes: I think that the Director, Dr. David Bernstein models leadership that is both strong and committed to a vision and flexible when it comes to student initiative. Teachers are also extremely helpful and caring. I have grown a lot during my time at Pardes

You're doing important work. Keep it up.

Pardes: I feel deeply grateful to your program on a wide variety of levels. It is where the seeds of my Jewish commitment as an adult were planted; it is where my now-wife did her first stint of Jewish learning; and ultimately your program, particularly with regard to its effect on my wife and on our relationship, that I credit for the fact that I am now, g-d willing, on the way to building a vibrant, traditionally-engaged, Jewish family. What more can I say?

I have very fond memories of my time at Pardes. An excellent educational institution...

Pardes was a breeding ground for my religiosity, spirituality, and self development. This program's foundation that through Jewish texts, values, ritual and tradition has guided me toward an enriched life and an enriched ability to give to others. I struggled with much of what I was learning at Pardes, but feel truly blessed for what this foundation has provided me in my life today. Thank you to the teachers and staff of Pardes for such a wonderful gift.

Pardes is an incredible program, run by caring intelligent people who treat each individual as if they were the most important person there. They have created an incredible open environment for people to learn and make friends and become more connected to Judaism.

My year at pardes was the most fulfilling, rewarding and meaningful year of my life. My dream is to return to live in Israel and to study at Pardes again. My closest friends are from Pardes. My most meaningful learning and prayer experiences were at Pardes. It is an awesome place.

Pardes was exactly what I needed it to be when I was most religiously vulnerable. It gave me the tools to live as an active member of the Jewish community and not to feel like some inferior member of the family because my Jewish education until that point wasn't up to par. I'm not at all the same person I was when I was a student at pardes; I'd like to think I've found a more middle-ground place in which to exist, but I wouldn't have had the confidence or the skills to make that choice for myself without Pardes. Thank you for giving me those tools.

Pardes- Loved it! Thank you so much for making Pardes the wonderful place it is.

I only studied 1 week at pardes, but it was a wonderful experience, I wish I could study there more. thank you.

This program was so rewarding on religious and spiritual levels. It also broadly increased my political awareness regarding Israel. Overall, the program rekindled the flame of Judaism in my heart, and I will never forget the teachers and people that I met.

Pardes--a transformation experience for me, Jewishly and personally. My life has not been the same, thanks to Pardes!

Pardes- I had an excellent experience studying at Pardes, and hope to be able to return in the future.

Pardes - As I am begin a career as a rabbinic educator I am very grateful to the solid foundation that I received at Pardes.

Pardes- I loved my year at Pardes.

Pardes- the program was excellence due to the type of knowledge the teachers and chevruta generates. Therefore, I would be very interested in engaging in similar activities with other alumni via a web site or chat-like service. If you charge an annual fee, this could be a good source for additional revenue. Unfortunately, the email service does not come close to the experience of studying at Pardes.

They were devoted, committed and had endless patience and love of what they were doing and of the students.

Pardes - Great Program!

Pardes has an exceptional program, staff, student body, and mission. My year at Pardes changed the course of my life, and I am forever grateful for my time there.

Pardes faculty were wonderful. I felt very comfortable there, even with my mixed up and convoluted background. Faculty accepted me "as is" and helped me move forward from there. It was a very positive experience, and I frequently recommend Pardes to other friends.

Studying at Pardes was a life transforming experience and I credit Pardes for the fact that I am religiously observant today.

Pardes Institute: The entire summer was a wonderful experience. It enhanced my connection to Israel and the Jewish people. Thank you for everything.

Pardes changed my life. As a result of Pardes, Judaism became much more meaningful to me and largely defines who I am.

It was a good year for me. The most important part for me was studying the texts and getting the feeling that I am building my own personal understanding of Judaism. The weak part for me was the social aspect. I was shy and young and not being American I felt unconnected.

Pardes is a terrific program. If I had the time, I would go back again for more Jewish study. I loved it, and I had a wonderful time. I am not religious, and I never will be. Still, I found the program intellectually engaging and accepting, and I strongly support your efforts.

Spending two years with Pardes gave me the tools to be an informed and tolerant secular Israeli. Although I have chosen to not lead a religious lifestyle, my husband and I hold a strong respect for tradition and plan to teach our children life-cycle and Shabbat rituals (which I learned mainly at Pardes).

The tools that I gained in learning texts have served me past my two years and now I can look up the finer points of Halacha on my own. As the two years went on, however, and I became basically the only non-Orthodox person in my classes. The spirit of the Ba'al Tshuva movement is very strong in the upper classes and it was very interesting to watch formerly secular/ Reform students become zealots. I distanced myself more and more from the Pardes community; as increasingly we didn't share the same goals - I had come to learn, not be transformed. Looking back several years later, however, I see that Pardes was really the only place for me to get the tools I desired and be taken seriously, despite not choosing to walk in the path of my teachers. The staff is extremely supportive and the academic level (as Hebrew comprehension progresses) demanding and rewarding. Thank you Pardes.

Pardes: Thank you for helping me fall in love with Judaism and being Jewish!

Pardes - it was a great year for learning about our tradition and studying texts. I am happy I had the chance to do it.

Pardes Summer Program is hard to improve on.

Participating in Pardes radically and positively transformed and deepened my relationship to Judaism, Israel, God, and the Jewish people. I am forever grateful for the experiences I had. Pardes was grounding. Like laying the groundwork for a stable and healthy long-term relationship.