Vayeshev 5784: Growth and Responsibility

Posted by Pardes Faculty on December 6, 2023
Topics: Bereishit (Genesis), Torah, Pardes from Jerusalem, VaYeshev

What can the mitzvah of yibum, Levirate marriage, teach us about making difficult decisions and personal growth?

In this week’s episode of Pardes from Jerusalem, Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman unpack the complicated family dynamics of Yehudah, his sons, and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. As the only mitzvah in the Torah that allows one to “opt-out”, Levirate marriage provides an opportunity to examine the Torah’s perspective on making choices that lead to personal growth. With this in mind, Daniel and Zvi find new perspectives on the story of Yehuda, a character who develops in real-time.

Credits: Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Dr. Daniel Reifman – Pardes Faculty

About Pardes Faculty

Contributions from several members of our faculty

Keep Learning

Toldot 5786: Words That Shape Worlds

Posted by Pardes Faculty on November 18, 2025

Chayei Sarah 5786: Life after loss

Posted by Pardes Faculty on November 9, 2025

Vayera 5786: In Service of Faith

Posted by Pardes Faculty on November 3, 2025

Lech Lecha 5786: Seeing the Fire

Posted by Pardes Faculty on October 26, 2025

We value your privacy

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept", you consent to our use of cookies.