header
header

Vayetze 5785: Finding the Makom

How does the Torah guide us to create sacred spaces in moments of transition and uncertainty?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Rafael Polisuk explore Yaakov’s profound journey in Parshat Vayetze. Together, they delve into Yaakov’s encounter with the “Makom”—a sacred space where the displaced patriarch begins to find his grounding. Through this narrative, they examine themes of divine presence, the holiness of place, and how spiritual moments sustain us through challenges.

Featuring:
Rabbi Rafael Polisuk – Pardes Faculty
Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Rafael J. Polisuk

Rabbi Rafael J. Polisuk teaches Talmud, Tanakh and Jewish Thought at Pardes. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rafael made aliyah and studied at Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav. Rafael co-founded and led the Seed Beit Midrash initiative of Bnei Akiva Israel, helping cultivate young Torah leadership communities throughout the country. He received rabbinic ordination in 2024 through the Yashrut Semikha initiative led by Rabbi Daniel Landes.

Rafael is deeply engaged in social and spiritual activism, with a particular focus on LGBTQ inclusion within the Orthodox community. A believer in rigorous and vibrant Torah learning as the moral and spiritual center of Jewish life, he works to foster greater belonging and tolerance through a Torah-rooted approach.