Mahloket Matters

We are living in a moment of unprecedented breakdown in civil discourse. The inability to communicate and engage in constructive discussion has caused significant pain and dysfunction, and it is showing up at work, at schools, on the streets and in our families.

Utilizing Jewish wisdom and social psychology, the Mahloket Matters methodology seeks to foster a renewed discourse that heals divisions and offers our communities – and the world – a path forward.

The Mahloket Matters Teens Curriculum

Integrating Jewish text study with Social-Emotional Learning is vital for equipping students with cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal skills to navigate conflicts.

The Pardes Center for Jewish Educators offers a unique curriculum for high school and upper middle school students, utilizing Mahloket Matters materials. This curriculum comprises three adaptable units, complete with an educator’s guide, editable student workbook, and editable slides.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEENS CURRICULUM

The Israel Educator Fellowship

This program equips Jewish educators with the skills and confidence to facilitate open, nuanced conversations about Israel. Fellows join a dynamic cohort for immersive learning, text study, and practical skill-building, gaining tools to navigate polarization and foster thoughtful dialogue with their students and communities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

Bring Mahloket Matters to Your Community

Bring the transformative Mahloket Matters methodology to your community! From one-time sessions to multi-part courses, we tailor content to your group’s needs, exploring Jewish texts, social psychology, and practical tools for constructive disagreement. Perfect for synagogues, educators, leaders, and more—available online or in-person. Ready to inspire meaningful dialogue? Learn more about our offerings

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The Mahloket Matters Fellowship

Mahloket Matters Fellows join exclusive cohorts, studying Jewish texts and social psychology alongside peers to acquire essential skills for navigating challenges and nurturing relationships. Alongside mastering the Mahloket Matters methodology, fellows partake in communal action, applying their knowledge to encourage civil discourse within their own communities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

What is Mahloket Matters?

Mahloket Matters, founded by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth in 2008, grew from his vision of transforming Jewish text study into a training ground for navigating contemporary disagreements. While teaching at Pardes, Daniel began using close readings of classical sources and exploration of opposing commentaries as a model for constructive dialogue. This approach evolved into Mahloket Matters, a movement that has reached over 23,000 people through fellowships, workshops, and curricula for teens, educators, clergy, synagogues, and community leaders.

In Jewish tradition, mahloket—debate or disagreement—is not something to avoid but a sacred path to wisdom and connection. The sages of the Mishnah and Talmud saw it as essential to deepening understanding and strengthening community. Mahloket Matters carries this wisdom forward, combining Jewish text study, social psychology, and practical conflict resolution skills to foster open, empathetic engagement across differences. Using Pardes’s disagreement protocol, participants learn how to disagree with humility, curiosity, and integrity in order to spark individual growth, strengthen relationships, help solve problems, and build a more compassionate world.

Meet Our Faculty

Rabbi Deborah Anstandig is Educational Director of Engagement at Pardes. A graduate of Yeshiva University and Harvard Graduate School of Education, she was ordained at Hebrew College in 2025. Deborah has taught at SAR High School and The Heschel School, and served communities in the Boston area. She is passionate about teaching Torah that addresses contemporary challenges.
Rabbi Deborah Anstandig
Jerusalem, Israel
Kelly Cohen is Senior Program Director at the Center for Experiential Jewish Education at Atlanta's Marcus JCC. With experience in camps, day schools, synagogues, Federations, and Israel travel, she brings a wide-ranging perspective to Jewish education. She previously served as North American Director of Education for the Diller Teen Fellowship. Kelly holds an MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and a BA from Brandeis in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies.
Kelly Cohen
Atlanta, GA
Rachel Dingman is Senior Director of Jewish Enrichment at BBYO International. She supports teens, advisors, and staff in creating meaningful Jewish experiences. Rachel leads Shabbat programming at BBYO's International Convention and serves as Lead Educator for the Chapter Leadership Training Conference. Her work focuses on infusing tradition into chapter life and developing innovative approaches to teen engagement.
Rachel Dingman
Philadelphia, PA
rabba shani gross
Rabba Shani Gross is Senior Education Advisor at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She was previously Assistant Director of Education NA at Pardes and Director of the Silicon Valley Beit Midrash. A graduate of Yeshivat Maharat and a Wexner Fellow, Shani fosters inclusive Jewish learning. She lives in San Francisco with her husband Chaim and their three sons.
Rabba Shani Gross
San Francisco, CA
Zvi Hirschfield teaches Talmud, Halakha, and Jewish Thought at Pardes and is a faculty member of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. He holds a BA from Columbia and studied at Harvard and Yeshivat Har Etzion, with rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He previously worked at the Cleveland JCC and the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, and contributes to curriculum design and educator training at the Nesiya Institute.
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield
Jerusalem
Sefi Kraut is Director of Mahloket Matters at the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. Since 2004, she has taught Judaic Studies in the U.S. and Israel. She co-created "Mahloket Matters Teens," a curriculum integrating Jewish text with social-emotional learning, and leads fellowships and workshops for educators, leaders, and clergy across sectors.
Sefi Kraut
Jerusalem
Rabbi Jessica Minnen is a writer, ritualist, and Senior Education Specialist with Momentum. A former Rabbi in Residence at OneTable, she teaches widely and consults on Jewish learning experiences. She was ordained by JTS in 2013 and is an alumna of Pardes, Paideia, and Washington University. Jessica lives in Denver with her child and dog.
Rabbi Jessica Minnen
Denver, CO
Jonah Peretz-Lange is Manager of Curriculum Design at Moving Traditions, developing engaging Jewish resources for families and youth. A former educator and Talmud tutor, he holds a master’s in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and has studied at Hadar and Pardes. He lives in the Hudson Valley with his family, two cats, and a love of gardening and reading with his toddler.
Jonah Peretz-Lange
Beacon, NY
Rabbi Dr. Daniel Roth taught at Pardes for over twenty years, where he founded and directed the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution, the Mahloket Matters Projects, and the 9Adar: Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict. He continues his affiliation as Director Emeritus, adjunct faculty member, and consultant for Mahloket Matters. Daniel now directs Mosaica, an Israeli NGO advancing community mediation and dialogue. His work centers on networks of religious mediators who help prevent and resolve crises across Israel, the Middle East, and beyond.
Daniel Roth
Jerusalem, Israel
Rabbi Brent Spodek is a Faculty Associate Fellow for Pardes North America and has led Beacon Hebrew Alliance since 2010. Recognized by the Forward and Newsweek, he is a Hartman Senior Fellow and Schusterman Fellow. He was previously with AJWS and B’nai Jeshurun. Ordained by JTS, he holds a master’s in philosophy and lives in Beacon with his wife, Prof. Alison Spodek Keimowitz, and their two children.
Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek
Beacon, NY
Monica Kleinman is Assistant Director of Programs for Pardes North America. She was ordained at HUC-JIR in 2014 and earned a Master’s in Education Administration from Xavier University. Monica is dedicated to helping others find personal meaning in Judaism. She lives in Overland Park with her husband, Rabbi Jon Kleinman, their son Jacob, and their beagle Rosie.
Rabbi Monica Kleinman
Overland Park, KS

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation

Start date: ASAP

We are seeking a charismatic, creative, and action-oriented Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation to lead this initiative. This individual will play a key role in bridging the gap between the immersive Jerusalem-based Pardes experience and the ongoing life-long learning opportunities we offer in North America.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Implement and Iterate Alumni Engagement Strategies:
    • Enhance the current “menu” of opportunities for Pardes alumni to both “give” to
      and “receive” from, Pardes.
      • Give: Empower alumni to take action, create initiatives, and leverage
        Pardes as a platform for leadership and innovation.
      • Receive: Encourage alumni to engage in continued learning through
        classes, retreats, Shabbatonim, cohorts, and other programs.
    •  Ongoing internal evaluation of efficacy of strategies and implementing iterative
      updates to enhance outcomes.
  • Program Development and Management:
    • In collaboration with the wider team, develop and implement ideas for online and in person classes, including holiday programs, one-off shiurim, and limited series.
    • Oversee the execution of programs including but not limited to: email
      correspondence and registration, coordinating with marketing, Zoom production,
      and post-program evaluation.
    • Ensuring cross-departmental collaboration specifically with the engagement and
      development teams
    •  Serve as the project manager for select alumni cohort learning programs,
      ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes.
  • Community Building and Leadership:
    • Foster strong, relational connections with alumni, encouraging their active
      involvement in the Pardes community.
    • Identify and cultivate connections with key alumni leaders. Lead efforts to inspire alumni to take on leadership roles within their communities, promoting Pardes’ values and educational mission.
    • Cultivate and steward and existing external partnerships with organizations and
      initiatives as it relates to our Pardesnik engagement and activation work
  • Alumni Coaching and Mentorship:
    • Provide coaching and mentorship to alumni interested in developing initiatives, such as micro-grants or local events, and support them in realizing their ideas. This may include group coaching within cohorts.
  • Targeted Recruitment and Outreach:
    • Engage in focused recruitment and outreach efforts to involve specific alumni in relevant Pardes offerings.
    • Collaborate with the wider team to manage recruitment for various programs,
      including necessary follow-up and evaluation.

Qualifications:

  •  Proven experience in alumni relations, community engagement, or a related field.
  • Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and maintaining relationships.
  • Creativity and initiative in developing new programs and strategies to engage alumni.
  • Passion for Jewish learning and a deep connection to the mission of Pardes.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Willingness to travel as needed to engage with alumni across North America.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Pardes alumna
  • Experience working in Jewish education or community leadership.
  • Familiarity with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and its programs.
  • Based in New York City

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience: $70,000-$85,000
    100% health insurance coverage for the employee (dependent coverage available)
  • 403b retirement plan with Nationwide with up to 5% contribution by employer
  • Paid time off & Paid holidays (Jewish and secular)
  • FSA
  • Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Remote and hybrid working option and flexible hours
  • Opportunities to travel domestically and to Israel to collaborate across the team
  • Opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and growing organization with a meaningful mission.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and passion for this role. All applications should be sent to Assistant Director of Programs at Monica at monica@pardes.org.

Cover letters should answer the following questions

  • What makes you passionate about this role and work?
  • What concrete professional or personal experiences have prepared you best for this role?
  • What is one project, strategy or initiative that this job description stimulates in you?
  • How do you ensure great teamwork and successful collaboration?
    PLEASE NOTE:

Applications are due by October 8th and interviews will be the week of October 28th. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Pardes North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all organizational facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

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