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) is launching a new Mahloket Matters Fellowship.
Over the course of 8 sessions, fellows will meet to study the adapted Mahloket Matters (MM) material in-depth as a group. This Fellowship will consist of two distinct cohorts, each of which will consist of ten fellows:
Educational Leadership (Cohort 1) – Designed for Rabbis and Jewish Educators currently working in the Jewish professional field.
Volunteer Leadership (Cohort 2) – Designed for current and emerging Jewish volunteer leaders. The ideal candidate for this cohort will target leaders in business, civic and Jewish leaders representing influential social networks.
Are you ready to actualize the power of difference in your community? Read more about the Fellowship below and Apply Today!
We often think of disagreements as an unfortunate aspect of life. Yet, in the tradition of the Mishnah and Talmud, mahloket (debate) is a vital tool to generate discussion, critical thinking, personal growth, and the deepening of relationships. Through the study of Jewish texts and social psychology, we will distinguish between different types of disagreements and explore why good people may have diametrically opposing views on moral issues. In an age when civil discourse is on the decline and demonization of the other has become common practice, it is crucially important that we find the courage to productively engage people with whom we disagree.
In each class of the Mahloket Matters series, we will explore a constructive disagreement revolving around a tension between competing values. In addition to taking a deep dive into the specific topic of each shiur, the broader goal of the Mahloket Matters series is to become adept at considering an issue from multiple perspectives and to recognize the conflicting values, needs, perspectives, and concerns of each side. Ultimately, we hope these experiences will help us cultivate a culture of constructive disagreement and debate within our community and in the world at large.
The fellowship will consist of two essential components:
By participating in the MM Fellowship, fellows will:
Session Hours:
9:00 am – 10:30 am PST
11:00 am – 12:30 pm CST
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
Sessions: (All sessions will meet virtually, and most sessions will take place on Tuesdays with 2 exceptions):
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
Session 6
Session 7
Session 8
Post Curriculum Sessions:
All applicants must be living in North America (Canada, the U.S., or Mexico) to participate in the fellowship.
Educational Leadership (Cohort 1):
Applicants must either be working as a Jewish educator or rabbi in a Jewish community (defined as a Jewish organization, synagogue or other Jewish institution).
Volunteer Leadership (Cohort 2):
Applicants must be appointed as/hold a volunteer leadership position in a Jewish community (defined as a Jewish organization, synagogue, Federation or other Jewish institution).
Click Here to Nominate a Candidate
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The final deadline to submit your application is January 15.
