Limmud Festival 2019

Limmud Festival 2019 – Sunday 21:45

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Barbra Streisand in 'The Way We Were' (1973) - watch and discuss!

Irene Wise 

Blue 34

Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford lead as star-crossed lovers: can a Jewish left-wing idealist be content with a bright but happy-go-lucky WASP? Together, we shall discuss the politics and closely analyse scenes from the movie. Great actors, interesting script, Hollywood anecdotes and fabulous original song – what more could you want?

Becoming Electra: a queer mitzvah

Isla van Tricht  Guy Woolf 

Yellow 24

A heart-warming and original one-woman drag show about a queer Jewish girl trying to find her voice. With show-stopping songs and comical, compelling storytelling, BECOMING ELECTRA: A QUEER MITZVAH is a show like no other: exploring what happens when Jewish and queer cultures collide.

Can the Torah REALLY be that exciting?

Graham Newman 

Orange 12

Surprising facts about Hebrew letters and words. What are the secret codes and Gematria. How do the Talmud and Midrash fit into the picture. Amazing discoveries, many that needed computers to find. Lots of shocks and intrigue. The WOW factor may help explain why even intelligent people can study the books for 70 years and not get bored. OK for all levels.

Don't mess with the Israelis

Aaron Benderski 

Red 4

Israelis in film and on TV today are often portrayed as rugged Mossad agents, counter terror specialists and hummus loving veterans. But that was not always the case, together we will go back and see how the portrayal of Israelis changed over the years- in what way, and why? And how different is it from the Israeli portrayal of themselves?

Earth Judaism: a Shema@Limmud session (1 of 3)

Jonathan Wittenberg 

Orange 11

In this climate emergency, what does the Torah teach about trees, and what do trees teach about Torah? Texts from Bible, Midrash and mysticism lead us to the immediate urgency of replanting forests and to plans, via Eco Synagogue, other UK groups and worldwide, to motivate us to play our part in planting.

Freedom of pulpit: are there limits on what a rabbi can say?

Gabriel Kanter-Webber 

Green 25

Does a rabbi violate their congregation’s trust by saying radical things? Do they violate that trust by NOT doing so? Are they a representative of their congregation, or do they speak their own mind? This session will explore the principle and limits of the “freedom of pulpit” to which a rabbi is traditionally entitled.

Immigration and disability: two postgraduate theses from the University of Leeds

Sam Brady  Susy Goldstone 

Yellow 22

Both deciding to research British Jewish history for their Masters theses, Sam and Susy have decided to join forces and present their projects in one session (so neither feels left out). Sam will be exploring disability in the early 20th-century Leeds Jewish community, whilst Susy explores the immigration of 17th-century Sephardim to London.

Why eat when you could drink?

Harry Lampert 

Purple 31 (Bar)

Ever looked at your favourite food and thought hmmm I wish I had a version of that which I could drink? No? Oh well. This session will introduce you to the exciting world of Jewish cocktails (pickle brine not included). Come along to learn how to turn some classic celebratorh foods into cocktails and discover the tricks to creating your own blends

Israeli party

Oded Gvaram 

Red 1

You've never been to a party like this - an Israeli party with pop music and Israeli pop, snacks and surprises from Israel.

Is "Stay and Fight" dead? Is there any case for Jews and their allies to stay in the Labour Party?

Luke Akehurst 

Orange 14

Luke Akehurst, director of We Believe in Israel and former Labour NEC member, plus other speakers with differing perspectives on leaving or staying in Labour.

"It's just a pin prick!" The law and experience of Hatafat Dam Brit

Roderick Young 

Yellow 21

When I was born my mother refused to circumcise me. When I was three I needed circumcision for medical reasons, proving that God has a sense of irony. When I entered rabbinical school I discovered that my circumcision wasn't kosher and that I needed to "draw blood for the Covenant." How and why did I do it and what does Jewish law say about it?

Love Island, R. Kelly and the art of being relevant

Rachel Vogler  Ilana Hutchinson 

Red 6

A session for movement workers and educators. Let's talk about how to use informal education frameworks to create meaningful learning spaces for our young people. Educating on consent, gendered violence, healthy relationships and #MeToo doesn't have to be mission impossible. Let's build a specialised toolkit to take back to your organisation.

Moses and superman: what superheroes teach us about Judaism and what Judaism teaches us about superheroes

Jordan B Gorfinkel 

Red 7

Veteran Batman editor and JewishCartoon.com & "Passover Haggadah Graphic Novel" creator Gorf compares and contrasts the “source texts” for Moses and Superman, resulting in an astonishing conclusion: superheroes exist because of Torah. Join Gorf for this super-fun and insightful energetic presentation.

Populism, Brexit and the future for European Jews

Sheila Gewolb 

Orange 13

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is the UK affiliate to the European Jewish Congress. Join the Board of Deputies Senior Vice President and the European Jewish Congress to hear about key political trends in Europe, the impacts and challenges for European Jews today and future hopes for European Jews post Brexit.

Purity, kashrut and sustainability

Deborah Williger 

Red 3

Purity and impurity are ambivalent constructs that can be harmful and beneficial. Total purity means death, while life requires exchange, variety and mixture. All living organisms are characterized by impurity in genetic make-up and cultures. The purity rules of kashrut aim for connection with the divine, with nature, with others and with oneself.

 Williger-2019-CrossCurrents.pdf

Small Islands: Big Challenges - why this is a Jewish concern

Clive Lawton 

Red 2

In January 2019, the Commonwealth Jewish Council launched a campaign called Small Islands: Big Challenges, seeking to raise concern about the environmental issues facing small island nations round the world. What was our thinking and were we right? What's it got to do with a Jewish organisation? Come and argue - or find out why you agree.

Two fires, one burning house

Shais Rishon 

Orange 10

As an inevitable consequence of history's cyclical nature, global Jewry once again must contend with rising antisemitism. But, in our multicultural and intersectional world of today, what does antisemitism mean? When is it and when isn't it? And how does race - of either of its victims or its perpetrators - play into the paradigm?

What now for the Jews of Ethiopia?

Sybil Sheridan 

Red 5

Will there always be Jews in Ethiopia? The answer to this question is complicated. It includes tales of persecution and devotion, prejudice and sleight of hand. While Israel keeps promising aliyah, the numbers of Jews in Ethiopia just keeps growing. Who, what and why are they still there?

Working toward unemployment: when is long-term long enough in international development?

Tamar Lazarus 

Blue 33

The question of sustainability sits at the heart of humanitarian response and international development work. While a humanitarian aid agency like IsraAID brings vital resources during a crisis and accompanies communities on the road to recovery, continued intervention without a responsible exit plan can be ineffective – and even make matters worse. This session will explore when, in humanitarian aid, is it time to exit?

Moshiach! Now!

Daniel Lichman 

Green 27

We are in dark times of climate crisis and political extremism. When responding to the crisis of Nazism in their own times mid-twentieth century European Jewish thinkers Emanuel Levinas and Walter Benjamin turned to Jewish theologies of messianism to redeem their historical moment. Can we do the same?

So you want to be a rabbi!!! Is that really a job for a Jewish girl or boy?

Danny Newman 

Blue 32

If you think you might be interested in becoming a rabbi, please join Danny Newman, a rabbi and recent alumnus of Leo Baeck College Rabbinical School, for a confidential discussion and Q&A on what it's like to be a rabbinical student and a rabbi in the UK.

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