ENGLISH CORNER, CON LINDA JIMÉNEZ – This week’s trivia question: To which countries outside of Israel has Pardes taken student groups?

The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies is an open, inclusive, diverse and intellectually challenging Jewish learning community based in Jerusalem with programs worldwide. The Institute cultivates a life-long love of Jewish learning, the Jewish people and Israel. Pardes inspires engagement in Jewish life as communal and spiritual leaders, educators and active participants. An important part of their mission is to provide an open, inclusive, diverse and intellectually challenging environment which engages all Jews in the study of classic texts and ideas of their heritage.

Dr. Levi Cooper is a teacher, author, and community leader who is originally from Australia and now lives in Tzur Hadassah, Israel. He holds an LL.B., LL.M. and Ph.D. from Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Law , and is a member of the Israel Bar Association. 

Dr. Cooper is a faculty member of the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies, where he teaches Midrash, Talmud, Rambam, and Hasidism. He lectures extensively on the topics of law and Halakhah, Jewish spirituality and Hasidic thought. He has authored articles on Judaic studies and prepared educational materials for use in high schools. He also volunteers as the spiritual leader of Kehillat HaTzur VeHaTzohar in Tzur Hadassah, a mixed religious and secular neighborhood outside Jerusalem.

Known as the Maggid, or itinerant preacher, of Melbourne, since 2015, Dr. Cooper has had a popular ongoing podcast series, called “A Shot of Torah”, where he shares bits of his research, learning, and teaching. He also publishes a column in the Jerusalem Post.