Aviva Lauer is the Chief Education and Educational Training Officer at Pardes. Originally from Silver Spring, MD, she has lived in Israel for over 30 years. Aviva holds a Masters in Jewish Studies, with a specialization in Midrash, from Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.
Aviva has decades of experience in curriculum development, classroom teaching, school administration and educational consulting. She served as the head of the department of Jewish Studies at Immanuel College, London, preceding her joining Pardes in 2009. Aviva is an avid Anglophile, and also speaks elementary Arabic and Yiddish.
What if Moshe couldn’t see that the people had already grown up? In this episode, Parshat Pinchas takes center stage as Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer delve into the powerful juxtaposition of two pivotal moments in Bamidbar 27: the bold…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast, Pinchas
The focus and message of some Jewish holidays is crystal clear. On Pesach, for example, we highlight the dichotomy of slavery and freedom. And so, at my seders growing up we remembered not only that our forefathers were slaves in…
Jewish calendar, Tu Bishvat
How do words of encouragement shape Joshua’s leadership and the future of the Jewish people? In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer explore Parshat Vayelech, focusing on the leadership transition from Moshe to Yehoshua. Join them and dive into…
Tanakh, Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy), Nitzavim, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
How do we navigate leadership challenges and personal ambition in times of crisis? In this week’s episode, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Aviva Lauer delve into Parsha Korach, exploring leadership and rebellion within the context of the Jewish people’s journey through…
Tanakh, Torah, Bamidbar (Numbers), Korach, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
At least in Israel, maybe this is the one year to let it go. A few weeks into the war, when the young adults I work with were feeling the need to process the dark, topsy-turvy world falling down all…
Jewish calendar, Israel National Holidays, Yom Hazikaron
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 flipped, with the younger sibling…
Tanakh, Torah, Bereishit (Genesis), Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast, Vayechi
How are we able to live in the past, future and present all at the same time? Aviva Lauer, Director of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators, joined Zvi to discuss Devarim and Moshe’s opening speech for the final book…
Tanakh, Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy), Devarim, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast
During a holiday where there is both darkness and light, where we retreat indoors and shine brightly from the windowsill, go on a journey with Pardes North America to find meaning in the discord within our tradition. Night 7* –…
Jewish calendar, Chanukah
Parashat Emor 5782: The Jewish Year Cycle, Emor-Style Description: While the Torah lists our holidays several times throughout the five books, there is something special about the way it’s done in this week’s parasha. Find out what that is by…
Tanakh, Torah, Vayikra (Leviticus), Emor, Podcast series, Pardes Parsha Podcast