Limmud Festival 2018

Limmud Festival 2018 – Tuesday 13:20

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93 Queen

Linda Berkowitz  Shonna Levin  UK Jewish Film Festival 

Orange 13

Introduced by Linda Berkowitz and followed by a discussion and Q&A with Charlie Lewin and Shona Levin, this fascinating documentary follows a group of Jewish Orthodox women from Brooklyn trying to create the first all-female volunteer ambulance corps in New York City. (86 mins)

Borderline Israel II: the futility of borders - children encounter the Israel-Palestine divide (2 of 3)

David Newman 

Orange 10

This 40-minute film follows the separation fence between Israelis and Palestinians and focuses on the reaction of young children from both sides on the impact of having a wall built in their midst. It reflects the mirror images felt by young people on both sides for their "enemy" on the other side.

Ethiopia: What makes this place and its Jews so special?

Rosalind Schogger 

Yellow 22

Israel’s political discourse claims that there are now less than 9,000 Jews, who wish to leave Ethiopia. Even before they arrive in Israel, these olim are encouraged to leave behind their ancient, pre-Talmudic Jewish identity. What is life really like for Jews in Ethiopia and what happens to the new immigrants, once in Israel?

British Jews opposing the occupation

Robert Abrams  Nina Morris-Evans  Daniel Eisenberg 

Red 1

In this session, we will explore what ideas, texts and experiences have motivated a group of young British Jews to take an active stand against Israel’s fifty years of occupation. Come and hear about how the pursuit of justice and human dignity has unfolded throughout 2018 and what the future holds.

I am Bat-el - An inspirational comedy show

Bat-el Borenstein 

Yellow 24

I am Bat-El - an inspirational show watched by over one million people - unfolds Bat-El’s exceptional, uncompromising journey to self-fulfillment life-wise and love-wise; with loads of self- humor, great songs, dances, and other surprises. Bat-El is a little person, 48 inches tall.

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Intro to mussar - developing an attitude (3 of 3)

Monique Mayer 

Green 25

Gratitude is a vastly underrated character trait and it can help us to counter other traits such as negativity and jealousy. In this session we will use a variety of methods to nurture the trait of gratitude.

Israel's dysfunctional asylum system

Ruvi Ziegler 

Red 5

The session explores the legally precarious status of Eritrean & Sudanese asylum seekers defined by Israeli law as ‘infiltrators’, a charged term dating back to 1950s Fedayeen. It argues regularisation of asylum in Israel, including recognition in primary legislation of refugee, asylum-seeker, and complementary protection statuses, is long overdue.

Limmud book club: Focus by Arthur Miller (3 of 4)

Shoshi Ish-Horowicz  Aviva Dautch 

Red 9

This stand-alone session is a chance for book lovers to share insights. We will discuss our favourite extracts, characters and theories - for those who've already read the book and those who haven't but want to find out more. Today's choice is playwright Arthur Miller’s first novel, exploring anti-semitism and the rise of fascism in 1940s America.

Oscar Hammerstein III: Garnering American Acceptance Through Double-Couple Musicals

Stuart Hecht 

Blue 34

Working alongside Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers, Hammerstein made use of a double-plot motif to gradually introduce ethnic (aka Jewish) characters onto the mainstream Broadway stage. This established the standard Broadway musical form as portraying an inclusive America.

Pontifical Palaces, Mud Huts and the Kingdom of Heaven

Jeremy Lawrence 

Yellow 23

This year I had the privilege of participating in a roundtable at the Vatican and visiting the Tzedek initiatives in Ghana. While global chessed or doing good should need no scriptural justification, halachic underpinnings of Tikkun Olam add value to our inspiration and contribution. What does Halacha bring to the Sustainable Development Table?

Scandals, vandals and angels – the sculptor Jacob Epstein

Steve Miller 

Orange 11

Was the artist Jacob Epstein a wild experimenter or a conventional portrait sculptor, Jewish through and through, or more touched by the Christian tradition, internationally important or rather tame and prosaic? We will look at many of Epstein’s works, especially his monumental sculptures, and try to form our own understanding of the man.

Study an eye-opening passage of Talmud with the Chief Rabbi

Ephraim Mirvis 

Orange 15

“You’re embarrassing me!” Grapple with scenarios in which the issues of human dignity and upholding the letter of the law come up against each other. Which one should be our priority?

Taking up the timbrel! Jewish women in the forefront of social organisations

Leah Golan  Amira Aharonovich  Sigalit Freeman  Shelley Kedar 

Red 7

An honest conversation about what makes NGO’s a preferred place of work for women; work-life (non)balance; the best and funniest experience as women part of senior managements.

The first (and forgotten) Messiah

Joshua Garroway 

Orange 12

Shabbatai Tzvi, David Reubeni, Jesus of Nazareth - these are the names Jews often associate with failed messianic bids. Israel's very first messiah is little known, however, possibly because the Bible's editors tried to cover it up. This presentation examines the mysterious Zerubbael, who tried to restore the kingdom of David in the late 6th c. BCE.

The Israeli constitution and the Nation-State Basic Law – a beginner’s guide: 2011-2018 (3 of 3)

Robin Moss 

Purple 31

In July the Knesset passed a new "Basic Law", the Nation-State Law. It was and remains controversial. To really understand it, we need to zoom out. In this series we'll explore the Israeli constitution. Like the UK it isn't codified, but beyond that the comparisons end. Today, the turbulent history of and debate over the Nation-State Basic Law.

“The Middle East is Funny”: explore Israeli history through comedy

Benji Lovitt 

Orange 14

It has been said that throughout our history, Jews have laughed to keep from crying. In a country which has experienced its share of ups and downs, Israel has developed its own unique brand of humour. Benji tracks the changes in Israeli society through classic movie, TV, and comedy clips.

The Nation of Islam and antisemitism in the US

Nadine Epstein 

Red 2

As a young reporter in Chicago, Epstein broke an important story about Muammar Gaddafi’s $5 million gift to the Nation of Islam. Epstein will discuss the history of the group and how Nation of Islam continues to feature in modern antisemitism in the U.S. – and has impacted new American movements such as the Women’s March and Black Lives Matter.

The only Jew on the Caribbean island

Hannah Gaventa 

Blue 33

As IsraAID's Country Director for Dominica, Hannah lives on a small island in the Caribbean. With her team of Israeli and Dominican experts they are working to help the island become 'climate resilient' after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Hear about a unique partnership between UNICEF & IsraAID as they support vulnerable communities after natural disasters.

The power of storytelling

Judith Stanton 

Red 3

What power does story telling have and what responsibility so we have to tell stories? Come and hear more about Tzedek's work, as well as some of the inspiring, unbelievable and beautiful stories of development and empowerment from our partners. Hear stories first hand from the Ben Azzai 2018 cohort, live in West Bengal, India.

Who wrote the Zohar?

Harry Freedman 

Red 4

The Zohar first appeared, out of nowhere, in 13th century Castille. Traditionalists believe it had been written 1,100 years earlier by Shimon bar Yohai, while others argue that it was a forgery by Moses de Leon. New theories are now being suggested, but what does the evidence really say? Based on my book, Kabbalah: Secrecy, Scandal and the Soul.

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Is Hinduism avoda zara (idolatry)?

Alon Goshen-Gottstein 

Red 6

There is a knee-jerk Jewish reaction that considers Hinduism to be idolatrous. Recent developments in Hindu-Jewish relations allow us to revisit this assumption. In fact, it is time for us to consider what we mean by avoda zara in the first place. Hinduism allows us to revisit and to revitalize one of our most important (and misused) categories.

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