Each year, we are filled with pride as we witness Pardes alumni stepping into Jewish leadership with wisdom, heart, and vision. This spring, we celebrate and honor the many Pardes alumni who were ordained as rabbis across a range of denominations and seminaries. Their achievements represent years of deep learning, community commitment, and spiritual growth—and we are thrilled to have accompanied many of them along their journeys through their time in the Beit Midrash at Pardes.
These newly ordained rabbis bring with them the values of Pardes: a love of Torah, a dedication to open and inclusive learning, and a belief in the power of Jewish tradition to shape meaningful lives. They will go on to serve in congregations, schools, campuses, and communities around the world, carrying with them the sacred work of mahloket l’shem shamayim—argument for the sake of heaven.
We are honored to share their names and ordination institutions below. Mazal tov to each of them, and may their Torah continue to illuminate the world.
Pardes Alumni Ordained in 2025:
ALEPH
Elizheva Hurvich (Summer 2020)
Academy for Jewish Religion NY
Rachel Blumstein Posner (Year 1994-1996)
Academy for Jewish Religion California
Jenni Asher (cantorial) (Summer 2017)
Hebrew College
Deborah Joyce Anstandig (PCJE 2007-2009)
Willemina Anna Davidson(PCJE 2022-2024)
Akiva Nelson (Year 2021-2022)
Sarah Casey Pollack (Year 2013-2014, Fellows 2014-2015)
Matthew Schultz (Year 2022-2023)
Beni Summers (Year 2022-2023)
Jewish Theological Seminary
Lara Rodin (PCJE 2018-20, Hourly 2022-2023, WLI 2023)
Claire Shoyer (Year 2019-2020)
Leo Baeck College
Dr. Hannah Altorf (PLS summer 2023, MM fellow 2024)
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Larry Adam Ginsburg (WLI 2019)
Chloe Simcha Zelkha (Year 2021-2022)
Yeshivat Harel
Sara Laya Heller (PEEP 2021-2022)
Sara Levy-Stevenson (Kollel 2020-2022)
Yeshivat Maharat
Sofia Freudenstein (hourly 2023-2024)
Arielle Krule (Summer 2014, 2020)
Luz Toff (Summer 2019, 2020, WLI 2021)
Chana Even-Chen (Year 02-03)
Emily Singer (Kollel)
Jamie Kuperman-Schwartz (Year Program 2015-2016, Fellow 2016-2017, Kollel 2019-2020)
Sara Tova Brody (Summer faculty)
Rachael Gelfman Schutz (Year Program 2003-2004, 2004-2005)
Aleiza Salzberg Yizhar (Summer faculty)
If we have missed anyone who was ordained this year, please let us know—we would love to include you in this celebration!
To all those ordained this year and in years past: thank you for leading with compassion, courage, and curiosity. Pardes is proud to be a part of your story.