I came to Pardes looking for a balance between two things that I care a lot about: text study and social justice. Both are passions that I can trace back to Judaism, so I thought I’d try to solve the problem at the roots—and go to yeshiva! Working as a Social Justice Fellow while I’m here has given me a chance to engage with the greater Israeli community and as well as all the different facets of Pardes as I study. While I haven’t found the perfect balance yet, it’s been a tremendous gift to have the time here to really engage with the texts that formed the cornerstones of both interests. Additionally, the diversity of the student body means that I’m learning just as much (if not more) outside the classroom as in it, which in some ways is the most important lesson of all.
