When thinking of traditional inheritance, we often think of the firstborn as being the main heir, and in many ways the Torah confirms this, yet throughout the book of Bereishit we see the script being

Israel requested that the International Committee of the Red Cross visits our brothers and sisters who are held hostage in Gaza. Do we have precedents in the annals of Jewish history for visiting capt

Can the pains of the past be overcome, opening the way for relationships to heal and be redefined? - In this week's parsha, we witness the emotional reunion between the sons of Israel, with Yosef reve

Was there ever a time that our people left a hostage in captivity? For this episode, we travel to 13th century Germany. - Credits: Rabbi Levi Cooper - Pardes Faculty

What might Yosef's story, so full of pain yet hope, teach us about maintaining our own faith during difficult times? - During these challenging times, many feel themselves torn between a desire to sta

What can the mitzvah of yibum, Levirate marriage, teach us about making difficult decisions and personal growth? - In this week's episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr.

In the previous episode, we learned that, despite the importance of the mitzvah of redeeming captives, there are exceptions to the rule, specifically when it comes to paying exorbitant ransoms. Howeve

What can a fraught meeting between brothers teach us about our own instincts? The events of October 7 shattered the worldview for many of us, and can cause us to approach how we understand the Torah d

What might Ya'akovs nocturnal revelation teach us about how to approach darkness? - As we continue to pray for the safe return of the hostages and yearn for better days ahead, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield a

At what point are we unable to commit to the obligation of redeeming captives? - The Maggid of Melbourne continues his exploration of the mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim, discussing when exceptions to our o