The aim of the Pardes Advanced Scholars Program (Kollel) is to facilitate the journey from an advanced level towards becoming a Talmid Hakham and a Jewish thinker. The Pardes Advanced Scholars Program provides a forum for men and women to become Torah leaders, regardless of their chosen profession. The Advanced Scholars Program is the apex of the learning pyramid at Pardes, and as such infuses the entire institution with a culture of creative learning and dynamic growth.

Advanced Scholars have the opportunity to take top-level classes, primarily focusing on methodology, in a number of disciplines. Participants are afforded flexibility to pursue their own Torah interests in the Pardes Beit Midrash. Some Advanced Scholars are pursuing Semikha. Syllabi and suggested reading lists in a number of disciplines are available, to provide structure while allowing independent study in fields in which participants are yet to gain proficiency. Advanced Scholars select at least two topics over the year, and give Habura presentations in these fields. This opportunity facilitates the gaining of a rounded Torah education and ensures Advanced Scholars have sound knowledge in various disciplines. Advanced Scholars can also participate in other classes offered at Pardes, including Hassidut, Scribal Arts, etc..

Advanced Scholars are expected to provide guidance and leadership in the Beit Midrash, setting the tone of Hatmada and Hiddush in learning. Through giving classes to peers and to the wider Pardes student body, Advanced Scholars develop text and educational skills so that participants become more capable of offering Torah opportunities, initially to the Pardes community, and later to their own communities.

Kollel of 2009/5769

Raphael Dascalu studied in the Pardes Kollel for three years (2006-2009). Prior to coming to Pardes he studied at Yeshivat HaKibbutz Hadati, and at the Havruta program in Hebrew University. He holds a BA in philosophy, comparative religion and classical Hebrew from Sydney University, and a MA in Comparative Religions from Hebrew University. Next year Raphael will be starting his PhD in Judaic Studies at the University of Chicago.

Aleš Koukal studied in Pardes for four years, the last three in the Pardes Kollel. Originally form the Czech Republic, Aleš holds a MA in Comparative Religion from the Prague Charles University, and is currently pursuing his PhD there as well.

Joshua Schwartz studied in the Pardes Kollel for the year of 2008-2009. Joshua grew up in Albany, New York, and graduated from the Joint Program at JTS and Columbia in 2008 with degrees in Religion, Bible and Talmud. Upon gradation Joshua studied over the summer at Yeshivat Hadar. Joshua has worked at various Jewish summer camps and served as an education intern at Jewish Funds for Justice. Joshua will start his doctoral studies at NYU in Hebrew and Judaic Studies.

Haggai Resnikoff studied in the Pardes Kollel for two years (2007-2009). He is a masters candidate at the Hebrew University Talmud department. He has a Yeshiva background from Yeshivat HaKibbutz Hadati in Ein Tsurim and a BA in History from U.C. Berkeley. He is presently interested in examining the halakhic attitudes and sources of Sefer HaSheiltot.

Debbie Jacobson-Maisels studied in the Pardes Kollel during the year of 2008-2009. Debbie is a graduate of the Pardes Educator's Program ('01-'03) and later taught at Chicagoland Jewish High School. Debbie is very interested in the intersection of Jewish learning, self reflection and healing, and has worked in several frame works that promote those values. Originally from London, Debbie and her husband, James (Pardes Faculty), made aliya, and live in Israel today.

Yosef Rosen studied in the Pardes Kollel during the year of 2008-2009. He received his B.A in Philosophy from Yeshiva University and is currently finishing a M.A in Jewish Thought at Hebrew University. His field of focus is medieval Kabbalah and its hermeneutical techniques of rereading Biblical and Rabbinic images. He is presently focused on finishing his thesis, “Constructions of the Feminine in Rabbinic and Zoharic Rain-Myths”, and conducting manuscript research on the Zohar for Ronit Meroz at Tel Aviv University. He hopes to begin a PhD in 2010.

Noah Molline studied in Pardes for two years, and this past year he was a Kollel fellow. Noah holds a BA in International Relations, Religion and Judaic Studies from George Washington University. Originally from Chicago, Noah, last year made aliyah, fulfilling a long time dream, next plans to serve in the IDF next year.

Sophie Rapoport graduated from the Pardes Educator's Program ('09), and next year will be teaching at the Heschel High School in New York City. Sophie also taught in the 2008 Pardes Summer Program. Sophie graduated in 2007 from MIT, where she studied mathematics, minored in music, and served as a two-term Hillel President. Sophie also studied for two summers at Yeshivat Hadar.

Livia Lavine studied in the Pardes Kollel during the spring semester of 2009. Born in Palo Alto, California, Livia Levine studied in Migdal Oz at the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Livia taught introductory Talmud classes at Penn Hillel and Akiba High School. After receiving her B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics she worked in management consulting in New York. Recently Livia has studied at the Graduate Program in advanced Talmud at Yeshiva University. Currently she is pursuing her PhD in Business Ethics and Legal Studies as a Class of 1939 Fellow at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.