Celebrating Pardes Alumni Receiving Rabbinic Ordination in 2025

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.

 

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.

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