Rabbi Alex Israel teaches Bible at Pardes. Born and raised in London, he holds degrees from London School of Economics, the Institute of Education London and Bar-Ilan University. Alex studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion under Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Rav Yehudah Amital, and gained Rabbinic ordination from the Israeli Rabbinate.
Alex has taught for twenty years in many top Jerusalem Yeshivot and Midrashot. He is also a volunteer for Tzohar, a group that seeks to bridge the gaps between religious and secular communities In Israel. Alex lives with his wife and 4 children in Gush Etzion.
Bereishit takes us from Creation to God’s decision to destroy the world. From “Tov” – a world filled with good – to “Ra” – a world in which evil prevails. How do we get there? In this podcast, Alex Israel…
Tanakh, Torah, Bereishit (Genesis), Bereishit, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
Sukkot 5783 – Sukkot and the Secret of Jewish Happiness This podcast is a republication of last year’s Sukkot special. Why is Sukkot described as the “Season of our Rejoicing”? What is the objective of sitting in the Sukka? What…
This week’s parsha depicts four modes of administration in ancient Israel. What are these four centers of societal leadership, and how do they interact? How does our parsha give us room to consider our own political climate? What does this…
Tanakh, Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy), Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast, Shoftim
Parashat Balak: The Outsider’s View Description: Parashat Balak narrates the strange tale of a foreign seer who is hired to curse the Israelites but is compelled by God to bless them. What is this story doing in the Torah? It…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Balak, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
Parashat Bamidbar 5782: Heavenly Jerusalem, Earthly Jerusalem. A Shiur for Jerusalem Day and Bamidbar Description: In Celebration of Jerusalem Day, we study Psalm 122 and its dreamy depiction of an ancient Jerusalem pilgrimage. We reflect on the makom (place/space) and…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Bamidbar
Parashat Kedoshim 5782: “Be Holy!” How? Description: The Torah instructs the Jewish people to “Be Holy!” But how might that be performed? In this podcast, Alex Israel discusses three approaches to this question, considering the question of withdrawal from and…
Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Kedoshim, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
Pesach 5782: Three Keys to Freedom – Three Features of the Seder Description: What are the key elements of free life? This podcast identifies three features of the Exodus, also manifested in the Seder rituals, and proposes that these can…
Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast, Jewish calendar, Pesach, Tanakh, Torah
Parashat Vayikra 5782: Calling. Listening. Giving. Description: This week, Rabbi Alex Israel discusses some of Rashi’s opening remarks to Vayikra highlighting some critical spiritual messages for our fast-paced world. Please let us know your comments and thoughts about the podcast, write…
Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast, Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Vayikra
Parashat Mishpatim 5782: God and Government Description: Is our public discourse too aggressive? Are our public institutions vulnerable to attack? In this class, Alex Israel addresses a verse (22:27) in Parashat Mishpatim which warns of attacks on Government figures. Why…
Tanakh, Torah, Shemot (Exodus), Mishpatim, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
A dialogue between traditional commentary and modern literary analysis illuminates II Kings’ historical, political, and religious themes.
A dialogue between traditional commentary and modern literary analysis illuminates I Kings’ historical, political, and religious themes.