About the Course

How should we respond when the world is not the way we want it to be? When should we accept reality, and when are we called to challenge it and pursue change?

In this two-part series set to follow the American midterm elections, we will explore classic Jewish texts that offer frameworks for navigating disappointment and criticizing the systems we depend on without giving in to cynicism or despair. Together, we will develop a deeper, more nuanced appreciation for discerning when to accept, when to act, and how to remain hopeful and constructive even in polarized times.

DATES: Thursdays, Nov. 5 and 19, 2026 TIME: 9:00–10:15 AM Pacific / 12:00–1:15 PM Eastern / 5:00–6:15 PM UK / 7:00–8:15 PM Israel

What to expect in this course:

Closed Captioning will be available for this course.

  • Class style

    Lecture

  • Participation

    Questions in chat
    Q&A time at the end

  • Source sheets and materials

    Will be sent in reminder email and will be shown on-screen during the session

Meet your teacher

Zvi Hirschfield

Faculty

Zvi teaches Talmud, Halakha and Jewish Thought at Pardes. In addition, Zvi is a faculty member of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators and has been training and mentoring Jewish Educators for over ten years in Tefilah in educational settings, critical issues in modern Jewish thought, and Israel education. Zvi holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University and did graduate work at Harvard University in Medieval and Modern Jewish Thought. He studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel and has rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He was the director of Judaica at the JCC of Cleveland and an instructor at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies for many years. He also serves as a curriculum writer and is involved in staff training for the Nesiya Institute. His wife, Dina, is a faculty member of the Hebrew University School of Public Health, and they have four children.

Ready for a way to face a disappointing world without losing hope?

Register now to discover thoughtful Jewish frameworks for deciding when to accept a dissatisfying reality – and when to challenge it.