The Pardes Israeli National Holidays Collection is dedicated to two heroes who lost their lives
defending their people while serving in the Israel Defense Forces:
– Daniel Haas z”l, brother of Pardes staff member Joanne Barth, who was killed during the First Lebanon War.
– Yakir Yamin Hexter z”l”, nephew of Pardes faculty members Michael Hattin and Yaffa Epstein, who was killed in the ongoing war with Hamas. (Listen to Michael Hattin’s shiur dedicated to Yakir)
This year, Yom Ha’Atzmaut feels like a reckoning with essence. The word atzmaut shares its root with etzem, meaning “bone” or “essence.”
True independence begins with political sovereignty, and then is expressed through the long, painful and glorious work of becoming who we are meant to be. A verse that has sustained me on that journey this year is: “The righteous shall flourish like a palm; they shall grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon” (Psalms 92:13) The palm flourishes because of its bitter environment, making sugar to balance the salt in its soil, producing the sweetness of dates. So too, the righteous transmute suffering into growth, drawing the savor of life from its seemingly indigestible moments.
I have seen this as my children’s generation has served with self-sacrifice while celebrating life harder with each loss. The cedar thrives not because life is easy, but because it is rooted—its energy given to long-term growth. It adds rings of wisdom and strength no matter what each year brings. I feel this truth in my bones watching the people and the land grow together in the face of crisis and uncertainty.
May we merit to embrace struggles not as threats to our essence but as invitations to uncover it. May we become righteous enough to meet bitterness with sweetness. And may we find the quiet strength — rooted in a faith that life is growth – to ascend toward the full stature of who we are meant to be.
Mike Feuer
Pardes Faculty
The following selection of Torah passages, essays, and thought pieces on Israel and Zionism have been compiled by Pardes faculty member Rabbi Jon Leener alongside guiding questions to inspire personal reflection and spark meaningful conversation:
Don’t miss out on more inspiring Torah content!
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Start date: ASAP
We are seeking a charismatic, creative, and action-oriented Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation to lead this initiative. This individual will play a key role in bridging the gap between the immersive Jerusalem-based Pardes experience and the ongoing life-long learning opportunities we offer in North America.
Key Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Benefits:
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and passion for this role. All applications should be sent to Assistant Director of Programs at Monica at monica@pardes.org.
Cover letters should answer the following questions
Applications are due by October 8th and interviews will be the week of October 28th. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
Pardes North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all organizational facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.