Mahloket Matters Fellowship

We live in a moment of unprecedented breakdown in civil discourse.

Yet, our Jewish tradition upholds the principle that constructive disagreement for the sake of heaven (Mahloket L’Shem Shamayim), is not only imperative but the holy work needed to repair what can feel like irreconcilable differences that permeate within our Jewish communities. Guided by the belief that Jewish texts and their diverse interpretations can empower us to engage more constructively in disagreements today, Pardes North America (PNA) has launched its second year of the Mahloket Matters Fellowship. 

The Fall 2023 Mahloket Matters Fellowship

This Fall, Pardes North America will be running three new cohorts of the Mahloket Matters Fellowship starting October 10. Apply today!

The fellowship will consist of two essential components:

  1. Group Study & Individual Mentorship – Fellows will learn Pardes’s renowned Mahloket Matters curriculum and be given individual mentorship by PNA. Each fellow will receive a generous stipend of $400 for their time and participation in these sessions.
  2. Communal Action – As part of their participation in the fellowship, fellows will be asked to transpose the inspiration and learning into a community engagement initiative (in a way that balances local creativity and a handful of globally established metrics) for their communities back home. Each fellow will receive a $400 community engagement fund to support the development of their own communal MM study groups and/or community engagement initiatives inspired by MM learning. For more information, please click here for the requirements.

By participating in the MM Fellowship, fellows will:

  • Receive both professional mentorship and financial support
  • Immerse in highly relevant Pardes Torah they can then use to serve their own Jewish communities back home
  • Become a critical voice in a movement to help foster respectful dialogue across NA
  • Join a strong network of colleagues 

Pardes North America is offering three cohorts of the Mahloket Matters Fellowship.

  • Clergy Cohort with Rabba Shani Gross – Designed for current and future rabbis and cantors working in synagogues or communal settings.
  • Alumni Leadership Cohort with Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield – Designed as a special PNA opportunity for Pardes Alumni who live in North America. 
  • Community Leaders Cohort with Rabbi Jessica Minnen – Designed for current and emerging Jewish volunteer leaders.

Each cohort will meet once per week. 

Class will be between 9:30 – 11:00 AM PST / 12:30 – 2:00 PM EST / 7:30 – 9:00 PM IST

Clergy Cohort: Tuesdays –  10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/28, 12/5
Alumni Leadership Cohort: Wednesdays – 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/29. 12/6
Community Leadership Cohort: Thursdays – 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/5 

For any questions please contact Monica Kleinman, Pardes North America Programs Associate, at monica@pardes.org.

Apply today for our Fall 2023 Cohorts!
Meet Past Fellowship Cohorts

Fellowship Faculty

Rabbi Leon Morris

Rabba Shani Gross

Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield

Sefi Kraut

Rabbi Jessica Minnen

Rabbi Jonathan Leener