Talmud of America

Jewish Wisdom on the Declaration of Independence

In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, Pardes faculty bring Torah into conversation with the Declaration and explore freedom, equality, responsibility, and purpose through a Jewish lens.

Timed for July 4th and the season surrounding it, this is an invitation to engage with Independence Day not only with celebration, but with learning. Bring it to your Shabbat table, your holiday programming, or your community gatherings and discover how Jewish texts can deepen the meaning of American ideals.

At a time of deep division and uncertainty, this project invites something different: a space for thoughtful study and meaningful conversation.

13,000+ Copies Distributed!
Thank you for the incredible response. Our complimentary print run has been fully distributed. Download the booklet and educator resources below.

Get the Free Booklet

What This Is

Talmud of America is a collection of short, powerful commentaries on key phrases from the Declaration, written by Pardes faculty and rooted in classical Jewish texts.

This is the Pardes approach: rigorous, text-based, and pluralistic. We do not read texts to confirm what we already believe—we read to be challenged by them.

This project does not attempt to Judaize the Declaration. It treats it as a serious text that demands interpretation.
As the project frames it, the Declaration is not a conclusion, but a beginning.

Enjoy essays including:

  • THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL by Rabbi Rahel Berkovits
  • LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS by Yiscah Smith
  • PRUDENCE AND THE RIGHT OF REBELLION by Leah Rosenthal
  • OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, AND OUR SACRED HONOR by Dr. David Bernstein

Teach This: Educator Resources

Bring Talmud of America into your classroom, synagogue, or community with ready-to-use materials designed in the Pardes style of active, discussion-based learning.

What This Is

A Talmud of America is a collection of short, powerful commentaries on key phrases from the Declaration, written by Pardes faculty and rooted in classical Jewish texts.
This is the Pardes approach: rigorous, text-based, and pluralistic. We do not read texts to confirm what we already believe—we read to be challenged by them.
This project does not attempt to Judaize the Declaration. It treats it as a serious text that demands interpretation.
As the project frames it, the Declaration is not a conclusion, but a beginning.

Enjoy articles including:

  • “THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL” by Rabbi Rahel Berkovits
  • “LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS” by Yiscah Smith
  • PRUDENCE AND THE RIGHT OF REBELLION by Leah Rosenthal
  • OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, AND OUR SACRED HONOR by Dr. David Bernstein

Teach This: Educator Resources

Bring this into your classroom, synagogue, or community with ready-to-use materials designed in the Pardes style of active, discussion-based learning.

Perfect for:

  • July 4th programming and civic holidays
  • Sermons and divrei Torah
  • Camp activities and experiential education
  • Family Torah study and Shabbat tables
  • Adult learning and community conversations

Included:

  • 4 Participant Source Sheets aligned with each essay
  • 4 Facilitator Guides with framing and facilitation tips

Works for:

  • Synagogues and JCCs
  • Schools and Hillels
  • Summer camps
  • Adult learning groups
  • No extensive prep required—just open, read, and start a meaningful conversation.

Why Pardes

At Pardes, Torah is a living conversation. It thrives on argument, nuance, and multiple perspectives.

This project brings that method into the civic sphere.

What happens when we apply Jewish learning to American ideals? The result is not easy answers, but deeper questions, sharper thinking, and more meaningful engagement with both traditions.

Meet the Faculty

Rabbi Rahel Berkovits
Senior faculty member at Pardes, Rabbi Berkovits has taught Mishnah, Talmud, and halakha for over two decades. She is a leading voice on women and Jewish law and lectures widely in Israel and internationally.

Yiscah Smith
A Pardes faculty member and spiritual educator, Yiscah teaches Jewish contemplative practice and spiritual texts. She is also a mentor and meditation guide, known for helping students connect Jewish tradition with personal spiritual growth.

Dr. David I. Bernstein
Dean Emeritus of the Pardes Institute, Dr. Bernstein led the institution for over two decades. A scholar of Jewish education, he has played a central role in shaping Pardes’s approach to rigorous, open, and pluralistic learning.

Leah Rosenthal
A member of the Pardes faculty, Leah Rosenthal is a Talmud scholar and educator who specializes in close textual analysis and cultivating critical, discussion-based learning in the Beit Midrash.

Choose the Resource That’s Right for You

More than 13,000 copies of Talmud of America have already been shared with individuals, synagogues, schools, camps, Hillels, and community organizations across North America.

The complimentary print edition has now been fully distributed, but you can continue to access the complete project free of charge.

Available Options:

  • Digital Booklet (PDF) — Download the complete Talmud of America booklet for personal study, teaching, or community learning.

  • Educator Guide — Facilitation notes, discussion prompts, and participant source sheets designed for classrooms and group study.

  • Share the Project — Invite your community, congregation, or organization to download and use these free resources.

     

Made possible with support from:

Where Talmud of America Is Making an Impact

Talmud of America is reaching audiences through educational partners, community organizations, and media outlets.

eJewish Philanthropy
Article feature

‘Talmud of America’: Pardes parses Declaration of Independence like a Jewish text.

Read more →

Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Article feature

A Jewish way to mark the 250th: A close reading of America’s ‘sacred’ texts.

Read more →

Civic Spirit distribution
Partnership

A special edition of Talmud of America is being distributed to Civic Spirit’s community of educators and schools.

Learn more about Civic Spirit →

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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