Collection
Join Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and guests each week for a thoughtful and engaging podcast discussion of the weekly Torah portion.

Each week, Zvi will be joined by a guest for a deep dive into the text, unraveling the wisdom nestled within each Torah portion, exploring its timeless relevance, and uncovering contemporary insights.

Whether you’re a seasoned Torah scholar, an inquisitive seeker of knowledge, or simply someone looking for inspiration and wisdom, Pardes from Jerusalem provides you with thought-provoking conversations, invaluable lessons for personal growth, and deeper insight into Jewish texts.

Tune into this Pardes podcast for a creative, personal and brave journey as Zvi and guests leave no stone unturned in seeking to bring out meaning and significance from each Torah portion. In this collection, you will find sources connected to the podcast, designed to help you deepen your listening experience and explore the topics further through textual study.

About Pardes
The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies is a vibrant institution dedicated to making classical Jewish texts accessible to all. Through immersive, text-based learning in a Beit Midrash environment, Pardes invites students to engage deeply with Torah, Talmud, and other foundational Jewish texts. Rooted in the belief that Jewish learning is a journey of personal discovery, Pardes fosters an environment where each learner can find their own path in the texts. Based in Jerusalem, with programs around the world, Pardes encourages a lifelong love of Jewish learning and a deep exploration of one’s identity through the lens of Jewish tradition.
www.pardes.org.il/pardes-from-jerusalem-the-weekly-torah-portion-talk/
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Vayera 5785: Justice and Mercy
Vayera includes the destruction of Sodom, a sinful city. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores a selection of what Midot Sodom might have been, and discusses how we can learn from the sins of Sodom
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Noah 5785: Navigating Stormy Waters
Noah tells the story of the ark and the destruction of humankind. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores the significance of prayer, utilizing Hassidut as a lens to examine various prayer practices.
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Sukkot 5785: Vulnerability and Joy
Often, Sukkot feels like a holiday foreign to modern life, where agriculture is no longer the center of our society. The Pardes Parsha Podcast emphasizes the great joy and great vulnerability of sukkot, and discusses how the two emotions can complement and contradict each other.
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Vayeshev 5786: Grief and Bad Decisions
Vayeshev details the favoritism and complicated family dynamics within Yaakov's household. The Pardes Parsha Podcast contemplates how grief might have affected Yaakov's actions, changing his son's relationships for the worse.
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Yom Kippur 5785: Forgiveness and Growth
The Pardes Parsha Podcast discusses the challenges that come with Yom Kippur following a year filled with such pain, and offers a lens of gratitude instead of anger to find meaning during the prayers of the holiday.
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Nitzavim-Vayelich 5784: Empowering Leadership
Nitzavim Vayelich includes the nomination of Joshua to be the Israelites next leader. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores Joshua's development as a leader and discusses the importance of empowerment and support in professional and personal relationships.
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Ki Tavo 5784: Collective Responsibility
Ki Tavo details the rituals Bnei Yisrael will practice when they enter Israel. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores the shared destiny of the Jewish people, and the importance of accepting living with blessings and curses.
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Vayishlach 5768: Living the Struggle
Vayishlach recounts Yaakov's return home and confrontation with his past. The Pardes Parsha Podcast considers what Jewish people today can learn from Jacob's struggles, spiritually and psychologically.
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Beha'alotcha 5784: Trumpets and Transitions
Beha’alotcha begins the transition from Sinai to entering the land of Israel, detailing various ritual practices. The Padres Parsha podcast discusses the various uses and symbolism of the trumpets in Beha’alotcha in context of the Torah.
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Behar 5784: Feet on the Ground, Eyes on the Mountain
Behar introduces the laws of Shemittah and Yovel, focusing on sacred cycles of rest for the land and society. The Pardes Parsha podcast explores these commandments as a framework for justice, spiritual renewal, and communal responsibility.
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Vayetze 5768: Struggle and Becoming
Vayetze tells the story of 20 years of Yaakov's life. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores a key character trait of Yaakov and discusses personal growth and incremental change.
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Ki Teitzei 5784: Compassion and Limits
Ki Teitze is a Parsha filled with many mitzvot, both new and repeated. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores the implications of the Mitzvah of sending away the mother bird, and shares various insights on the commandment.
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Shoftim 5784: Righteous Leadership
Shoftim details a legal system with important checks and balances. The Pardes Parsha Podcast discusses the importance of leadership and explores different attitudes towards monarchy in Jewish liturgy.
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Pinchas 5784: Passion and Faith
The Parsha tells the story of Pinchas' reward for his intervention that saved much of Bnei Yisrael. The Pardes Parsha Podcast closely reads the Torah to figure out the specifics of Pinchas' reward and the lesson of moderation and passion in the torah portion.
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Korach 5784: Leadership and Rebellion
The Parsha tells the story of Korach's rebellion against Moshe. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores midrashim about the wives of the rebels and discusses the lessons we can take away to leadership today
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Chukat 5784: The Paradox of the Red Heifer
Chukat details the ritual of the Red Heifer. The Pardes Parsha Podcast discusses rational and seemingly irrational laws in Jewish text.
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Shlach 5784: Unexpected Twists
Shlach recounts how the Israelites lost their chance to go into Canaan just as they stood at its threshold. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores the demoralized Israelites and their tshuva, and acceptance of not knowing what the future will bring.
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Ekev 5784: The Light in Every Mitzvah
The word Ekev itself offers a world of spiritual enrichment. The Pardes Parsha Podcast discusses a variety of Hassidic sources surrounding the word Ekev and how to explore mitzvot as a way to enrich your life.
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V'etchanan 5784: A Legacy of Fire and Hope
In V'etchanan Moshe delivers one of his final speeches to Bnei Yisrael. The Pardes Parsha Podcast discusses how the seemingly stern speech has an underlying message of encouragement and hope.
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Naso 5784: Counting on Eachother
Naso includes the census of the Levites and a repetitive account of the sacrifices brought by the heads of the tribes. The Pardes Parsha Podcast explores the tension between modern individualism and community, as well as the tendency for community to strengthen in hard times.
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