The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Strengthens Faculty with Five New Additions

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The Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies is proud to announce the appointment of five distinguished faculty members, marking an exciting phase of growth and development in line with its strategic plan. These additions further strengthen Pardes’s commitment to delivering transformative Jewish education and fostering a vibrant and inclusive community.

“Because Pardes students create such a vibrant learning environment, we are blessed with one of the most stable, all-star faculty in the Jewish world,” said Rabbi Dr. Meesh Hammer-Kossoy, Director of the Pardes Year Program. “Our long-standing faculty is as dedicated to Pardes as Pardes is to them. Our continued growth creates welcome opportunities to add young energy and varied perspectives to our sage teaching faculty.”

Meet the new faculty members below:

Haim Shalom

Rabbi Haim Shalom is an alumnus of the Pardes Year program, and received rabbinic ordination from HUC-JIR in Jerusalem. Haim has served as a congregational rabbi in the UK and Jerusalem, and holds degrees in Jewish History, Middle Eastern Studies and Jewish Education. As a member of the Pardes faculty, Haim will be serving as the new Director of Israel Studies, and looks forward to teaching his favorite subject of Aggadata (Rabbinic Folklore) alongside his Israel-related duties.

Learn more about Haim Shalom.

Matthew Anisfield

Rabbi Matthew Anisfeld is an alumnus of the Pardes Kollel, and recently received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Hadar. In addition to studying at Pardes, Matthew studied at Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa. Matthew lives in Jerusalem with his wife Beth where he works as a Jewish educator and community organizer for Pardes, the Fuchsberg Center, and Hadar.As a member of the Pardes faculty, Matthew will be teaching Talmud and Halakha.

Learn more about Matthew Anisfield.

Rafael Polisuk

Rafael Polisuk moved to Israel from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and studied at the Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav. He co-founded and led the Beit Midrash groups initiative of B’nei Akiva Israel, teaching and empowering young Torah leadership around Israel. Rafael is a passionate social and spiritual activist on the Religious LGBTQ front, and will be teaching Mishnah at Pardes while studying for rabbinic ordination through Yashrut.

Learn more about Rafael Polisuk.

Rivkah Wietchner

Rivkah Wietchner is a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Maharat, a graduate student at Bar Ilan University, and a member of the Israeli Rabbinate Network at the Hartman Institute. Rivka also holds an MA in Theory and Policy of Art from Bezalel Academy of Art. Hailing from Har Bracha, Israel, Rivka now lives in Jerusalem, where she works towards making Torah more relevant to our postmodern culture by bringing together cultural theories and deep Torah study. While teaching at Pardes, Rivkah will be working towards rabbinic ordination through Yashrut.

Learn more about Rivkah Wietchner.

Yitz Muroff

Yitz Muroff is an alum of several part-time and hourly programs at Pardes and has studied at Yeshivat Maale Gilboa, Yeshivat Hadar, and Drisha. Yitz studied English Literature at Cornell University and worked with Kivunim and Ramah Israel. Yitz brings a queer approach and seeks to find deep spiritual meaning within texts that are often considered detached and technical. 

Learn more about Yitz Muroff.

The appointment of these five new faculty members exemplifies Pardes’s commitment to excellence in Jewish education. Their expertise and passion will further enrich the learning experiences and enable Pardes to serve and inspire learners of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs.

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The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (www.pardes.org.il) is an open, inclusive, diverse and intellectually challenging Jewish learning community based in Jerusalem with programs worldwide. Pardes cultivates a life-long love of Jewish learning, the Jewish people and Israel. Pardes inspires engagement in Jewish life — as communal and spiritual leaders, educators and active participants.

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation

Start date: ASAP

We are seeking a charismatic, creative, and action-oriented Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation to lead this initiative. This individual will play a key role in bridging the gap between the immersive Jerusalem-based Pardes experience and the ongoing life-long learning opportunities we offer in North America.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Implement and Iterate Alumni Engagement Strategies:
    • Enhance the current “menu” of opportunities for Pardes alumni to both “give” to
      and “receive” from, Pardes.
      • Give: Empower alumni to take action, create initiatives, and leverage
        Pardes as a platform for leadership and innovation.
      • Receive: Encourage alumni to engage in continued learning through
        classes, retreats, Shabbatonim, cohorts, and other programs.
    •  Ongoing internal evaluation of efficacy of strategies and implementing iterative
      updates to enhance outcomes.
  • Program Development and Management:
    • In collaboration with the wider team, develop and implement ideas for online and in person classes, including holiday programs, one-off shiurim, and limited series.
    • Oversee the execution of programs including but not limited to: email
      correspondence and registration, coordinating with marketing, Zoom production,
      and post-program evaluation.
    • Ensuring cross-departmental collaboration specifically with the engagement and
      development teams
    •  Serve as the project manager for select alumni cohort learning programs,
      ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes.
  • Community Building and Leadership:
    • Foster strong, relational connections with alumni, encouraging their active
      involvement in the Pardes community.
    • Identify and cultivate connections with key alumni leaders. Lead efforts to inspire alumni to take on leadership roles within their communities, promoting Pardes’ values and educational mission.
    • Cultivate and steward and existing external partnerships with organizations and
      initiatives as it relates to our Pardesnik engagement and activation work
  • Alumni Coaching and Mentorship:
    • Provide coaching and mentorship to alumni interested in developing initiatives, such as micro-grants or local events, and support them in realizing their ideas. This may include group coaching within cohorts.
  • Targeted Recruitment and Outreach:
    • Engage in focused recruitment and outreach efforts to involve specific alumni in relevant Pardes offerings.
    • Collaborate with the wider team to manage recruitment for various programs,
      including necessary follow-up and evaluation.

Qualifications:

  •  Proven experience in alumni relations, community engagement, or a related field.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and maintaining relationships.
  • Creativity and initiative in developing new programs and strategies to engage alumni.
  • Passion for Jewish learning and a deep connection to the mission of Pardes.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Willingness to travel as needed to engage with alumni across North America.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Pardes alumna
  • Experience working in Jewish education or community leadership.
  • Familiarity with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and its programs.
  • Based in New York City

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience: $70,000-$85,000
    100% health insurance coverage for the employee (dependent coverage available)
  • 403b retirement plan with Nationwide with up to 5% contribution by employer
  • Paid time off & Paid holidays (Jewish and secular)
  • FSA
  • Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Remote and hybrid working option and flexible hours
  • Opportunities to travel domestically and to Israel to collaborate across the team
  • Opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and growing organization with a meaningful mission.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and passion for this role. All applications should be sent to Assistant Director of Programs at Monica at monica@pardes.org.

Cover letters should answer the following questions

  • What makes you passionate about this role and work?
  • What concrete professional or personal experiences have prepared you best for this role?
  • What is one project, strategy or initiative that this job description stimulates in you?
  • How do you ensure great teamwork and successful collaboration?
    PLEASE NOTE:

Applications are due by October 8th and interviews will be the week of October 28th. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Pardes North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all organizational facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.