Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Expanding Access to Deep, Accessible Torah Learning 

Pardes North America dramatically expands access to transformative Torah learning experiences within intimate communities across North America. It sees Jewish learning as a powerful tool helping participants access Jewish ideas, communities, and rituals that improve lives, strengthen relationships, and build a better society. 

Small Group Program: Pardes Pioneers 

Pardes is launching the second cohort of Pardes Pioneers, empowering Pardes alumni across North America—particularly those who are not professional Jewish educators—to become grassroots educators creating relational learning circles rooted in the Pardes approach to Torah study. 

Building on its successful 2024-25 pilot with 18 alumni launching circles across the U.S., Pardes faculty are developing comprehensive facilitator guides for two core courses: “Living the Jewish Calendar Cycle” and “Living Jewishly in a Democracy.” Each Pioneer participates in six training sessions led by Pardes faculty and IYUN partners, then facilitates an eight-part monthly learning series for 8-15 participants. 

Pardes’s approach to Jewish wisdom emphasizes sophisticated yet accessible engagement with traditional texts

Comprehensive Support System 

Pioneers receive ongoing mentorship, optional enrichment sessions, and $500 stipends for food and hospitality, ensuring groups can focus on learning rather than logistics. The program culminates in a late spring/early summer 2026 retreat—an immersive Shabbaton bringing together Pioneers and selected participants from their small groups for community-wide connection and celebration. 

This model leverages Pardes’s strength in embedded partnerships, alumni activation, and diverse public learning offerings, creating a sustainable network of grassroots Jewish education that extends far beyond traditional institutional boundaries. 

Deep Learning, Broad Impact 

Pardes’s approach to Jewish wisdom emphasizes sophisticated yet accessible engagement with traditional texts, making Torah study both intellectually challenging and personally meaningful. Its Small Groups maintain this standard while adapting to diverse community contexts and participant backgrounds. 

The Pioneers program represents Pardes’s commitment to democratic Jewish learning—training passionate alumni to create the kind of intimate, transformative learning experiences that have defined Pardes education for decades, now reaching new communities and participants who might not otherwise access intensive Jewish study. 

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