Jerusalem, Israel — In a historic ceremony this week, the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies celebrated the laying of the cornerstone and cement pouring for its new home in Pardes Heights, an ambitious project that will redefine the Talpiot district as a hub of education, culture, and community life.
The event was attended by Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion, who personally added cement to the foundation, underscoring the city’s deep commitment to the Talpiot Master Plan and the transformative role of Pardes in Jerusalem’s future.
“This building, located in the heart of Jerusalem, stands as a symbol of Pardes’s deep commitment to this city – not just as a physical place of learning but as a living center of Jewish identity, meaning, and dialogue,” said Leon Morris, President of Pardes Institute. “Beit Keren represents more than a physical expansion; it is the heart of our mission made visible. This beautiful new home will house not only classrooms but the next generation of Jewish leaders”.
Joel Weiss, Executive Director of Pardes in Israel, emphasized the building’s role as a cultural hub as well as a learning institution:
“The Pardes Institute, through its new campus, will be an integral part of the daily life of Jerusalemites. Beyond the classrooms, which will always be open to the city’s residents, the new auditorium will host cultural events for the neighborhood, and the gallery—dedicated to Jerusalem artists—will turn Pardes into an open public space: a cultural hub that invites the people of this city to come in, see, and experience the beauty within these walls.”
The new 32-story Pardes Heights building, developed in partnership with NBS and Mimushim, is a flagship project within the Talpiot Master Plan, which envisions more than 8,000 new housing units, extensive public and cultural spaces, and pedestrian-friendly connections to the light rail. Pardes Heights will house the new Beit Keren campus, spanning 5,500 square meters on the first five floors, including a beit midrash, state-of-the-art classrooms for hybrid learning, a tranquil learning garden, and the first 250-seat auditorium in the area.
Mayor Lion praised the project as “a true symbol of the Jerusalem Municipality’s policy for this area,” affirming the city’s support for the initiative.
The new building will not only expand Pardes’s reach to students from across the globe but also embed Pardes more deeply in Jerusalem’s cultural life, making it a beacon of Jewish learning, creativity, and community engagement for decades to come.
