Pardes Day School Educators Program + Yeshivat Maharat Semikha

Program Description

The Pardes Day School Educators Program (PEP) – training outstanding Jewish studies teachers for day schools since 2000 – is a vibrant and innovative two-year program in Jerusalem that combines intensive text study at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies with a Master of Jewish Education from Hebrew College.

Yeshivat Maharat educates, ordains, and invests in passionate and committed Orthodox women who inspire, support and lead dynamic Jewish individuals and communities.

The Pardes-Yeshivat Maharat Joint Program trains outstanding clergy who are invested in day school teaching and leadership. Within this collaborative arrangement, the two years at Pardes count towards one year of rabbinical studies at Yeshivat Maharat, making the joint program a five-year rabbinical studies and Masters program instead of a six-year endeavor.

The Pardes Day School Educators Program includes core components of the Pardes Year Program, plus: holistic pedagogical training and education courses preparing teachers for the 21st-century Jewish studies classroom; customized Hebrew language ulpan with Ulpan Or; student teaching at Jewish day schools for one month each year in North America; seminars on text and context, spirituality and Tefilah in Jewish day schools, and Israel education; one-on-one mentoring with expert teaching coaches; career coaching, job placement assistance and alumni support.

The Yeshivat Maharat rabbinical program includes advanced study of Halakha, Talmud, Pastoral Counseling, Leadership and a range of advanced professional training classes and experiences, preparing students to enter Jewish communal leadership as clergy of synagogues, schools, campuses, camps, communal institutions and health care facilities.

Graduates of PEP+Yeshivat Maharat earn a Master of Jewish Education with a Concentration in Jewish Day School Education from Hebrew College, a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and Semikha from Yeshivat Maharat.

  • Separate online applications to Pardes, Hebrew College and Yeshivat Maharat
  • An official transcript of academic records from all colleges and universities
  • Placement tests for Hebrew language and text levels
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal essay
  • Interviews with each institution

Post-Program Commitment: Graduates of the PEP+Yeshivat Maharat program commit to working in a North American Jewish day school for a minimum of three years upon completion of the program.

The Pardes Day School Educators Program+Yeshivat Maharat Semikha is highly subsidized. Benefits include:

  • Pardes tuition fully funded for two academic years (includes all courses, field trips and special programs)
  • Ulpan tuition fully funded
  • Living stipend of $1,200 per month while in Israel
  • Student teaching in North America each spring, travel and housing expenses funded
  • Yeshivat Maharat is completely subsidized and includes a yearly $12,000 stipend for full-time on-site students while at Yeshivat Maharat
  • Hebrew College tuition partially subsidized

The information on this page does not represent a funding guarantee for any current or future PCJE or Pardes student. All accepted PCJE students sign individual contracts with Pardes that confirm program dates, obligations, funding amounts and stipulations for the repayment of funds should program obligations be unmet. Please note that PCJE is not fully funded. As such, PCJE students that receive grants, scholarships or fellowships from other organizations must make reasonable contributions from these funds towards PCJE program costs. In some cases, Pardes coordinates such payments directly with the relevant organizations, institutions or programs; in other cases, the students themselves will need to coordinate these payments. Please address any questions to PCJE staff.

BA with above-average GPA, advanced experience with Jewish text study and Hebrew language, some experience in teaching or experiential education.

To find out more, contact aviva@pardes.org.il.