While most of our students are from North America, students from Australia, Belgium, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Poland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, the UK and the Ukraine have also attended.

Students are encouraged to bring the wealth of their diverse life experiences and religious backgrounds to their studies, and share them in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

Here's what our students have to say about Pardes:

Intellectual and Personal Growth

“The greatest lesson I learned at Pardes is that there is room for multiple contradictions and truths within Jewish text. This new perspective has allowed me to relate to my Judaism in a new way.”
Shirah, Silver Spring, Maryland, Pardes Year Program

“I never thought – I never imagined – that I could learn so much in one year. I learned more this year than I knew there was to learn before coming. Now I have a very strong foundation for continuing to learn on my own and even more – to live a Jewish life.”
Rebecca, Burke, Virginia, University of Virginia, BS in Commerce, MA in Accounting, Pardes Year Program

“I didn’t expect that Jewish learning could be so fun and fulfilling! I look forward to another year of personal growth as a Pardes Fellow.”
Ewa, Poland, Director of Marketing, Pardes Year Program

“I came to Pardes with many questions and I will walk out of Pardes with questions. The difference is that as I leave I have newfound skills to know where to look for the answers and the knowledge to expect many different, even conflicting responses.”
Matthew, Los Angeles, California, UCLA, BS Chemistry, Pardes Year Program

“At Pardes I have learned that the most inspiring and invigorating part of learning is exposing complexity, not resolving it. The diverse student body at Pardes makes this task all the easier. My goals for learning have shifted dramatically as my focus has turned from finding answers to asking questions. I look forward to returning to Pardes next year as a Fellow to continue what I now understand is the lifelong pursuit of Jewish learning and Jewish knowledge.”
Ziva, Boston, MA, NYU, BA in Political Philosophy

“Before coming to Pardes, we struggled with where to place ourselves on the “map” of Jewish practice. As our home community is very polarized – either you are very religious or you are secular – we didn’t know where we fit in. Through learning in a serious yet open environment, we now feel comfortable and confident in forming our own decisions and making a place for ourselves in whatever community we may find ourselves in the future.”
Liann, Financial Analyst and husband Dan, Wine Business Manager, Toronto, Canada, both Pardes Year Program

“Pardes gave us amazing friendships, a deeper connection to our tradition, a positive exposure to religious practices and the wonderful experience of living in the land of Israel – a modern, thriving Jewish State. Pardes impacted so many areas of our lives that we are re-thinking many of our post-Pardes plans in order to accommodate our new interests and Jewish choices.”
Jenny, Denver, Colorado, Tax Consultant, and husband Max, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Structural Engineer, both Pardes Year Program

“Even though I had very little exposure to traditional Jewish texts, Pardes gave me an opportunity to participate in an environment that was scholarly, reverent, and rooted in tradition. Jewish texts that I thought I'd never have an opportunity to study seriously, now occupy a central place in my thinking. Spending a year at Pardes was also a perfect introduction to living in Jerusalem.”
Luke, Candidate, MA in War Studies, King's College, London, Pardes Year Program

“I appreciate the struggle and debate on topics such as God and Torah. This type of ongoing discussion has helped solidify my own notions of faith.”
Daniella B, Los Angeles, University of Massachussetts at Amherst, Pardes Year Program

"I've never studied anything like Gemara before and it really appeals to my type of intellect. It's like a puzzle, making it very rewarding to learn."
Rachel K, Wilmington, Delaware, Barnard College, Pardes Year Program

“As a student entering Pardes with only very limited experience in Jewish textual study, one of the most important and exciting lessons I came away with is the vast amount and richness of Jewish texts. While I gained a fantastic introduction to Jewish textual learning during my year at Pardes, I left with the satisfaction and excitement of knowing what in fact I do not know: how many primary sources, commentaries and scholarly works are out there to explore, study and learn from.”
Aaron, Pardes Year Program

“Pardes provided me with an opportunity to do the wrestling that I needed to do with tradition, and with text. As a result, I feel like I have a much more honest and deep relationship with both the tradition and with Torah.”
Jordan, Pardes Year Program

“At Pardes, I felt empowered to grapple with difficult subjects and that I was given tools to help me make informed choices. I left inspired to continue learning, knowing that I had only scratched the surface of a well of tradition. I can only hope that I will make learning at Pardes a permanent part of my life, as there is no end to what can be gained from this truly exceptional institution.”
Leslie, Pardes Year Program

“I went to Pardes hungry to learn. I felt welcome there and I felt that all were welcome there. I immediately noticed the wealth of knowledge to learn at Pardes, and when I left I felt massively enriched and inspired by the experience of being there. My time at Pardes will never leave me. And I can't wait to go back for a second helping.”
Mickey, Pardes Year Program

For every step I've taken on my Jewish journey this year, Pardes has challenged me to take five steps more – but at the same time has given me the skills, support and confidence that I need to achieve my goals.
Abbi W, London, Pardes Year Program

“It was fascinating to take a fresh look at the Haggadah – instead of the same old text I started to see new possibilities, new ways to read the words. I am so excited for my husband and I to lead our own Seder this year, now that I have a new perspective and new tools as a Seder leader.”
Sarah R, Lake Forest, California, San Diego State University, Pardes Year Program

"What I received at Pardes makes my life as a Jew more complex, arguably more difficult, undeniably much richer."
Sara S.
Pardes Year Program

"I would not be a full-time Jewish educator if it hadn't been for my transformative experience at Pardes. I credit Pardes with giving me the tools I needed to take my learning to the next level and make a career out of Jewish education."
Eliyahu K.
Pardes Year Program

"What has impressed me the most about Pardes is the breadth of both the faculty and the study body. In this sense Pardes is not so much an 'institution" as it is a sort of ingathering: a collection of diverse perspectives on Jewish texts, politics and spirituality. This allows for the kinds of autonomy and flexibility that inspires honest approaches to living serious Jewish lives."
David K.

"Inspiring, refreshing, challenging, frustrating, serious, Godly, holy, exhilarating and real! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Mordechai C.

"I came to Pardes to immerse myself in traditional Jewish learning in an open, non-coercive environment. I'm finding what I'm looking for - intellectually stimulating classes with some of the best teachers I've ever had, and fellow students from a variety of backgrounds learning and growing to get."
David R.

"Pardes has opened the door to Jewish texts in a positive, accessible way. Learning at Pardes is exciting, challenging and engaging."
Rebecca S.

"Pardes provides me with a challenging intellectual atmosphere, the space to grow in my observance at my own pace, an honest approach to the texts that form the basis of our Jewish law. I absolutely love learning here."
David S.

"Taking classes in Torah cantillation and scribal arts has rounded out my textual Torah learning with experiential learning. Not only can I chant from the Torah at morning tefillah (prayers), but I know the feeling of my own hand writing Hebrew letters on parchment."
Alicia R. is from Maryland
Barnard College, BA

"Learning Talmud with a havruta (learning partner) is one of the most challenging and invigorating educational experiences I've ever had. My havruta is part supporter, part challenger, part teacher, part student and above all else a friend. Meeting another person over a text and helping each other to navigate and understand the words is a dynamic and beautiful experience."
Laurie H. is from California
Stanford University, BA

"As a professional in the North American Jewish Community, I felt it was important to find a deeper connection to Judaism and discover more about learning on my own. My experience at Pardes has not only given me tremendous personal satisfaction, but new skills and resources for my career."
Rae R.
University of Rochester, BA
Columbia University, MA

"I am often surprised by how much I've grown this year, both as a scholar of Jewish texts and as an individual. I'm tackling Gemarah, Halachic Responsa, Midrash. --Sources I'd previously thought impossible for me to penetrate."
Evan W. is from Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin, BA

"The learning at Pardes is exactly what I was looking for. As a liberal Jew, it was essential for me to find a place where I could explore the sources of my tradition in a coed environment that is neither coercive nor judgmental. I can incorporate what I have learned into my daily life in the way that suits me."
Adam K. is from New York
Harvard University, BA

"One of the things I like about Pardes is its multifaceted approach to Jewish learning. This year I am taking classes in Women and Mitzvot, Modern Zionism, and Hebrew Calligraphy in addition to learning Bible, Midrash and Mishnah. I feel like I am developing a rich internal mosaic of what it means to be a Jew."
Sara H. is from Colorado
Yale University, BA

Faculty