Pardes Institute of Jewish StudiesBeit Midrash Program Application 2027-2028

Applicant Information

Salutation

First name

Middle name

Last name

Date of birth

Email

Have you previously used a different name when interacting with Pardes?

YesNo

Former first name

Former last name

Have you previously participated in an in-person Pardes program?

YesNo

Program(s) and year(s)

This helps us ensure that our records are accurate.

Application Selection

Which Pardes program are you applying for?

Beit Midrash Program Application Information

Thank you for applying to the Beit Midrash Program!

Before you begin: Check the “Save my progress and resume later” box so you can return to your application. We recommend doing this first.

Your application will be complete once we have received:

Two formal letters of recommendation
A recent headshot (JPEG)
An unofficial transcript, if you have been a student in the past four years
Your resume
A non-refundable $50 application fee

A link to pay the application fee will appear after you submit this form.

Spring Mini Program Application Information

Thank you for applying to the Pardes Spring Mini Program.

Before you begin: Check the “Save my progress and resume later” box so you can return to your application. We recommend doing this first.

Your application will be complete once we have received:

One formal letters of recommendation
A recent headshot (JPEG)
An unofficial transcript, if you have been a student in the past four years
Your resume
A non-refundable $50 application fee

A link to pay the application fee will appear after you submit this form.

Elul Program Application Information

Thank you for applying to the Pardes Elul Program.

Are you a returning Beit Midrash (formerly Year/Semester) Program alum? If you participated in the Beit Midrash Program within the past three years, you do not need to complete this application. Please contact registrar@pardes.org.il directly to register for Elul.

Before you begin: Check the “Save my progress and resume later” box so you can return to your application. We recommend doing this first.

Your application will be complete once we have received:

One formal letters of recommendation
A recent headshot (JPEG)
An unofficial transcript, if you have been a student in the past four years
Your resume
A non-refundable $50 application fee

A link to pay the application fee will appear after you submit this form.

Program Details

Which term are you applying for?

Do you plan to study full-time or part-time?

Would you like to extend your stay beyond the official session dates?

YesNo

Proposed end date

Course(s) you are applying for

Include the level and teacher, if known.

Personal Details

Preferred first name

Hebrew name

English letters only

Gender

Pronouns

Country of citizenship

Passport number

Marital status

Partner's last name

Partner's first name

Children’s ages

If applicable.

Contact Information

Mobile number

WhatsApp number

If different from mobile number. Please include country code.

Home phone number

Please include country code

Permanent address

Street Address

City

State/province

US and Canada only.

Postal code

Country

Current address
Complete this section only if different from your permanent address.

Street Address

City

State/province

US and Canada only.

Postal code

Country

Current address valid until

Parent Information

Parent 1

Salutation

First name

Last name

Occupation

Employer

Mobile number

Home phone number

Email

Street Address

City

State/province

US and Canada only.

Postal code

Country

Parent 2

Salutation

First name

Last name

Occupation

Employer

Mobile number

Home phone number

Email

Street Address

City

State/province

US and Canada only.

Postal code

Country

Higher Education

Not all universities and colleges are listed on the drop-down menu. If your school does not appear, please select "other" and add your school.

Undergraduate education

Undergraduate institution

Undergraduate institution - other

Undergraduate institution location

Undergraduate field of study

Undergraduate field of study - other

Undergraduate degree

Undergraduate degree - other

Undergraduate start date

Undergraduate end date

Undergraduate education comments

Graduate education

Graduate institution:

Graduate institution - other

Graduate institution location

Graduate field of study

Graduate field of study - other

Graduate degree

Graduate degree - other

Graduate start date

Graduate end date

Graduate education comments

Employment

Current full-time employment
If applicable.

Employer

Position

City

State/province

Country

Start date

End date

Previous full-time employment
If applicable.

Employer

Position

City

State/province

Country

Start date

End date

Please upload a CV later in the application form for additional employment history.

Are you currently working as a Jewish professional?

YesNo

Special skills, awards, or interests

Professional goals

Languages other than English or Hebrew

Affiliations and Experiences

Past communal involvement helps us better understand your background and experiences. Please share any involvement that is relevant to you.

You can add multiple entries by clicking “Add another response” at the bottom of each section.

Organizational Involvement

I have an organization involvement to report:

YesNo

Organizational involvement

Organization name

Jewish student organization

Jewish student organization - other

Hillel name

Name of school

Education level

Jewish learning institution

Name of camp

Name of camp - other

Youth group

Youth group - other

Describe your involvement

Years of participation

City

Country

State/province

Start date

If you do not know the exact dates of involvement, please put the first of the month (i.e. 05/01/2006).

End date

Comments

Israel Experience: Visits, Study Abroad, Organized Programs

I have an Israel experience to report:

YesNo

Program type

University

University - other

Area of study

Program

Program - other

Position

I.e. participant, staff

Start date

End date

Synagogue / Minyan

I have a synagogue / minyan to report:

YesNo

Synagogue or minyan

Synagogue / minyan name

Rabbi's name

Affiliation

Affiliation - other

City

State/province

Country

Comments:

Financial Assistance

Are you eligible to receive Masa Israel Journey funding? (See www.masaisrael.org for details.)

YesNo

Are you planning to apply to Pardes for financial aid? (See separate Financial Aid application form.)

YesNo

Are you planning to apply to Pardes for a fellowship? (See separate Fellowship application form.)

YesNo

Essays

Please draft in a separate document and then copy into this form. Note that your response is an important part of the application process.

Describe the various ways in which you express your commitment to Judaism. (350 - 800 words)

Tell us a bit about you. Please explain why you want to participate in this program and what you hope to gain. (350 - 800 words)

Describe your motivations for seeking admission to Pardes and engaging in a year/semester of Torah learning. (350 - 800 words)

Describe the influences that you consider most formative of your current world view and goals. (350 - 800 words)

Health and Wellbeing

An intensive experience in a new environment may trigger physical or mental health challenges. Pardes appreciates your honesty in sharing your history and any accommodations that might be supportive.

Please indicate if you have a history of challenges and/or ongoing concerns in any of the following areas:

Physical healthLearningEmotional/psychologicalSocial

Please elaborate on any accommodations that could best support you:

Are you presently taking any medications?

YesNo

If yes, please list:

Required Documents

Please upload the following documents in order to complete your application.

Photograph/Headshot

Please choose a photo you feel comfortable sharing in our student directory. (jpg, jpeg, and png are the only supported file types.)

Resume/CV

Recommended but not required if you are completing your undergraduate degree. (File type must be pdf.)

University Transcript

University transcript (if you have been a student in the past four years). (File type must be pdf.)

If you are unable to upload the documents to this form, please send them by email to registrar@pardes.org.il.

Remember, your application will not be complete without the necessary supporting documents.

Recommendations

Recommendations should be from individuals who can testify to your seriousness as a student as well as your personal character and commitment to your Jewish identity. Typical recommenders include: supervisors, professors, rabbis, or professionals at Jewish or other organizations with which you have been involved. Please do not submit recommendations from personal friends or relatives.

Beit Midrash Program: Two recommenders required
Spring Mini and Elul Programs: One recommender required

(Please note: you must contact your recommenders personally to request a recommendation. Pardes does not make the request.)

Letters of recommendation can be submitted:

Online: Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies - Recommendation Form (https://www.tfaforms.com/248415)
By email: registrar@pardes.org.il

Please provide the details below from whom you will request recommendation(s).

Recommender 1

Salutation

First name

Last name

Organization

Position

Email

Recommender 2

Salutation

First name

Last name

Organization

Position

Email

How did you hear about Pardes?

We appreciate your specificity, both to help us in our recruitment, and so that we can say thank you. Please check all that apply.

Educator/Jewish professional first name

Educator/Jewish professional last name

Position

First name of alumnus/alumna who referred you

Last name of alumnus/alumna who referred you

First name of Pardes representative who spoke or visited

Last name of Pardes representative who spoke or visited

Name of the Israel program

Please provide details

Confidentiality

Getting to know our students is important to us, and that means we often investigate applicants beyond the formal application. Often that includes speaking with people in our common networks who may or may not have been mentioned in your application. If you wish to keep the facts of your application to Pardes confidential, please indicate this here.

Yes, please keep confidential that I am applying to the Pardes Beit Midrash Program.

Additional Information

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Optional. Please share any additional information that you feel would be helpful as we review your application.

Application Submission and Payment

Thank you for submitting the Pardes Beit Midrash Program Application form. A completed application includes:

two formal letters of recommendation
resume (optional if you are currently completing an undergraduate degree, but very helpful)
transcript (unofficial is fine) if you've been a student within the past four years
photo
payment of $50 application fee

Thank you for submitting the Elul application form.

A completed application includes:

one formal letter of recommendation
resume (optional if you are currently completing an undergraduate degree, but very helpful)
transcript (unofficial is fine) if you've been a student within the past four years
photo
payment of $50 application fee

Thank you for submitting the Spring Mini application form.

A completed application includes:

one formal letter of recommendation
resume (optional if you are currently completing an undergraduate degree, but very helpful)
transcript (unofficial is fine) if you've been a student within the past four years
photo
payment of $50 application fee

Please pay the non refundable application fee of $50 here.

We will notify you within two weeks if your application is not complete.

Completed applications are forwarded to the Director of Admissions for review. Decisions concerning acceptance are made on a rolling basis, usually 4-6 weeks after an application is completed.

If you did not attach your resume, transcript, or photo to your application, please scan and send to registrar@pardes.org.il.

You should request a letter of recommendation from individuals who can testify to your seriousness as a student as well as your personal character and commitment to your Jewish identity. Typical recommenders include: supervisors, professors, rabbis or professionals at Jewish or other organizations with which you have been involved. Please do not submit recommendations from personal friends or relatives. Here is the link to the recommendation form as well as a paragraph that we ask you to include when requesting a recommendation.

Instructions to recommender:

Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies (www.pardes.org.il) is a religious and academic institution of higher Jewish learning that caters to Jews of all backgrounds and knowledge levels. Successful students must be capable of deciphering difficult texts with a partner in the study hall and contributing appropriately and insightfully in seminar-style classes. They will also be mature adults who will be valued participants in a close-knit Jewish community. Because Pardes does not generally give grades or tests, students must be self-motivated, reliable, and serious. Recommenders should describe their relationship with the potential student and their assessment of the applicant's abilities and character, with special attention to their academic and interpersonal skills particularly as they relate to the demands of Pardes study.

(Please note: you must contact your recommender personally to request a recommendation. Pardes does not make the request.)

If you have any questions concerning the application process, contact Hodaya Levi at registrar@pardes.org.il.

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Thank you for applying to the Hourly Program.

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