Photo courtesy Pardes

In a collaboration that will significantly expand opportunities for future Jewish day school educators, the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and Hebrew College have partnered in the Pardes Educators Program for aspiring educators.

The partnership was announced in January by President David M. Gordis and Rabbi Daniel Landes, director of the Pardes Institute.

"We are not asking what is best for our respective institutions, but the more relevant question, 'What is best for our shared students?' and taking it a step further to ask, 'What will be best for our students' students?'" says Landes. "Both Hebrew College and Pardes wish to respond to the challenge together."

The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies offers men and women of all Jewish backgrounds the authentic study of classic Jewish texts in a bet midrash hevruta partner-learning environment. Founded in 1972, Pardes offers a year program for university graduates as well as Educators, Summer and Advanced Scholars learning programs.

The Pardes Educators Program, now in its sixth year, will include Hebrew College courses in Jewish studies and Jewish education, advanced Hebrew text study in the Pardes Beit Midrash and mentored teaching internships in North America. In return for generous subsidies and living stipends provided by The avi chai Foundation, participants make a three-year commitment to teach Jewish studies in day schools in North America. Pardes Educator Program courses offered by Hebrew College will be conducted via live videoconferencing, Web-based study, visiting professors and seminars at Hebrew College. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive a Master of Jewish Education from Hebrew College and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from Pardes.

"Both institutions have a commitment to this program," says Dr. Harvey Shapiro, Dean of the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education, who played a key role in developing the partnership with leaders at Pardes and Hebrew College. "This program will offer the best of an Israeli experience and the American experience Jewish educators need, as their eventual work will be in a Jewish day school in North America."

The Pardes Educators Program was developed with and is funded by The AVI CHAI Foundation, which also funds Hebrew College's NETA Hebrew language teacher professional development and training program.

Both transdenominational in nature, Hebrew College and Pardes have much in common through their commitment to serious text study and spirituality and through their shared goal of drawing on advanced Jewish learning to make a difference in the Jewish world. This mutual agenda allows for a coherent, coordinated Educators Program curriculum, enhanced by the fact that each institution includes teachers and students who are alumni of the other.

"A robust future for Jewish life is dependent on a strong and Jewishly committed and knowledgeable community both in Israel and in the Diaspora," says Gordis. "The best way to achieve that is when Israeli institutions and Diaspora institutions work together in partnership to train leadership for the Jewish future, and that's what this collaboration is about."

For more information, visit hebrewcollege.edu/shoolman or contact Kate Nachman, Admissions and Recruitment Manager of Academic Programs, at 617-559-8610 or knachman@hebrewcollege.edu.

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