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Join us in Jerusalem June 29 to July 3
The Pardes Executive Seminar is geared to business executives,
professionals and community leaders who wish to combine the experience
of visiting Israel with an immersion into the study of classical Jewish
sources.
The Pardes Executive Seminar provides the opportunity to
discover the relevance of these ancient texts, within the inspirational
setting of Jerusalem.
"Last year's seminar surpassed even our highest expectations. Each lecturer was more impressive than the last, the tours were excellent, and getting to know the other participants was a pleasure. We'll be back!"
Debbie and Chaim Abramowitz, Executive Seminar 2007
"A must do week for the serious adult learner - with world class teachers, ancient texts and good old fashioned fun!"
Marlin Barad, Pardes Executive Seminar 2006, 2007
The Lives, Loves and Legacy of King David:
From Shepherd of the Flock to Shepherd of the Nation
During King David's dramatic life, he defeated Israel's enemies and laid the foundation for the city of Jerusalem, the expanded kingdom of Israel, and the Temple. He also became the paradigm for the Messiah. As a leader of unequaled stature, King David faced romantic temptation, political intrigue, public atonement and family rebellion, paralleling the challenges of modern political leaders.
David, a young shepherd boy "ruddy with beautiful eyes" (Samuel I 16:12), was an unlikely candidate to replace the broad-shouldered King Saul. David's anointment by the prophet Samuel eternally alters David's life and the future of his people. David goes on to succeed as a warrior, demonstrate his consummate abilities as a statesman, play music, dance ecstatically before the Ark and compose unequalled psalms of praise to God.
Encountering classical texts in dialogue with modern political and historical analyses, we will explore David's transformation from humble shepherd to national leader and the timeless personal, political and religious issues involved:
- Power, Politics, Family Ties and Corruption - Has anything changed since ancient times?
- Fathers and Sons, Husbands and Wives, Lovers and Rivals - What does David's legacy teach us about relationships?
- Michal, Batsheva and Jonathan - How do we understand David’s many loves?
- Jerusalem - Is it still the political and spiritual capital of the Jewish people?
- The Sword and the Book - Are they complementary or contradictory?
- Can one "get the job done" while upholding Biblical ethics?
Excursions include a visit to Dr. Eilat Mazar's recent excavations in Jerusalem's City of David and to the nearby Elah Valley where David defeated Goliath.
Join us for an exciting week of exploration at the Pardes Executive Seminar,
as we confront these and other questions and responses.
The Pardes Executive Seminar is planned for both the beginner student, and
for those with Hebrew knowledge and experience with texts.
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Dates
Sunday, June 29 to Thursday, July 3, 2008
Optional Shabbaton July 4-5, 2008
Program
Click for Program Schedule
Featured Guest Speakers
Admissions Page
Courses
Each day's learning will include Beit Midrash Havruta study, classroom
teaching, and group discussion. No previous Jewish text study is
required.
Mornings will be devoted to the exploration of biblical narratives and
rabbinic sources that reflect on the difficult situations that we must
deal with at so many junctures in our daily lives. Using the Pardes
study method, we will see how our Jewish heritage deals with issues of
importance in our individual lives. Afternoons will offer speakers on
modern historical and current issues related to the Seminar theme.
There will be several special evening programs.
How We Study: Pardes pioneered the renewal of Havruta - the classic
style of rabbinic study - for the contemporary age. Unlike the formal
classroom setting of "frontal teaching," Pardes is alive and vibrant
with the give-and-take between participants. In groups of two's and
three's, you will learn to grapple with the texts, with careful guidance
from Pardes master teachers.
Our learning sessions together are interactive and dynamic, with
participants contributing from their own diverse experience to the study
of the texts of our tradition.
Faculty
The Educational Coordinator of the Seminar this year is Rabbi Meir
Schweiger, who has led many past Seminars. Meir is the mashgiach ruchani
(spiritual guide) of Pardes, and has been a full-time teacher here for the
last 27 years, teaching Chumash, Mishna, Talmud, and Halacha.
Rabbi Daniel Landes, Director and Rosh HaYeshiva, BA (Philosophy) Yeshiva
University; MA (Jewish Philosophy and Talmud) Bernard Revel Graduate School;
Rabbinic Ordination Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva
University.
Rabbi Landes has been a faculty member of the Simon Wiesenthal Center,
Yeshiva University of Los Angeles, Loyola Law School, prominent think tanks
such as The Rand Corporation and major Jewish educational institutions such
as the Brandeis Bardin Institute and CLAL. He has also been a long term
faculty member for the Wexner Heritage Foundation and the UJCY Young
Leadership and is known for his struggle to create Jewish unity. He has
written widely in the area of social ethics, theology and mysticism and is
the Jewish law commentator for the recent series My People's Prayerbook, a
multi-denominational effort
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield is the Director of the Pardes Educators Beit Midrash
Program. He holds an M.A. from Harvard in Medieval and Modern Jewish
thought, and received his ordination from Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel. He
was Director of Judaica at the JCC of Cleveland and instructor at the
Cleveland College of Jewish Studies for many years. He also serves as
Director of Education of the Nesiya Institute.
Admissions Page
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