Blue 33
How has Jewish tradition over the decades addressed the issue of women saying Kaddish and what are the implications for modern Jews? What are the practical experiences of women saying Kaddish in the Orthodox world?
Green 27
Today, Jews of all denominations are struggling to answer their children who ask, “Why Judaism?” Many of the strategies used to pass on our religious culture place much more weight on emotion than reason (especially guilt!). Drawing on lessons from philosophy, social studies and Jewish sources, this session will suggest a different path to follow.
Arguing for Arguments (for Jewish Commitment and Continuity).pdfRed 3
We will evaluate the character and career of Bar Kokhba. Who was he? What was his name? Was he a false Messiah? What were his relations with the Rabbis and the Christians? What was the reason for the revolt and his defeat? Did his defeat change Jewish history? And is he the cause of many of our current problems?
Main Bar
We'll spend three minutes per book, and you'll leave inspired with new book ideas. If you have a book of Jewish interest to recommend, come and "sell" it and ideally read a short extract but don’t exceed the time limit! Sandra will open with two contrasting reads: a novel of 1892 and a history book by the daughter of an Israeli who spied for the Soviet Union.
Red 6
Sex and gender-based violence is a feature of all conflict and genocide, but is rarely discussed in relation to the Holocaust. This session explores Jewish women's experiences of sexual oppression in the Shoah, with insight into why this has been hidden from our collective memory, and our responsibility, post #metoo, to tell their stories.
Green 26
Cyber technology determines our life-style and is embedded in our homes. The delicate balance between our personal freedom and our security are determined by regulatory frameworks around global surveillance technologies. We need to be educated and empowered. The presentation of ‘Truth’ and ‘Evidence’ is a crucial and Judaic ethical investigation.
Orange 10
On Purim 2014 Jesus asked me... Wait! That sounds a bit too much, let me start again: a magazine of Catholic culture proposed me to write a column where I had to find a food each month that derives from a religious alimentary law (Jewish, Christian or Muslim). It went so well that it became a book, my first. I'll share stories, images and, of course, recipes.
Red 1
Danny founded HaMakom 10 years ago and soon after had a chance encounter with a Jewish Buddhist monk at Limmud 2009. Come and learn about the Jewish Mindfulness Meditation retreats we organise and share your own spiritual practices. Let's bring back spiritual and contemplative practice back into the mainstream Jewish community!
Blue 34
What is the attraction of Freemasonry to Jews? Why are there so many Jewish Freemasons, who have included chief rabbis in their number? This meeting is designed to be an introduction to Jews in Freemasonry for the uninitiated, and an opportunity for Jewish brethren to share what they see in the fraternity.
Orange 11
Israel has been transitioning from a social welfare economy to an economy based on neo-liberal principles. The Torah commentary of mid-19th century Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch contains a clear, and perhaps radical to some, vision of socio economic justice. We will apply Hirsch's commentary to the modern Israeli context.
Texts on Socioecomomic Justice for Limmud 2019.docOrange 12
This second session will apply the framework of "institutional racism" to the Labour Party and events that have happened in recent years. Now that Corbyn is standing down can Labour be rid of antisemitism? A two-part analysis of this difficult question by the lawyer who helped report Labour to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Yellow 23
There are seven kinds of giants in Torah and Og was the last of them. Noah let him huddle on the Ark, Abraham slept in his tooth and Moses was terrified by him. The life and legend of this strange creature have something to teach us about being human today. The role of history and mythology in Torah will also be addressed.
Paul Silver-Myer Michael Shire
Green 25
Acknowledging 2,000 years of negative perceptions of Jews and money, we shall explore how we can respond from our heads and from our hearts so we can both reflect our feelings of genuine discomfort and be able to ensure we maintain Judaism’s positive values towards money. Please come and join the conversation between us, our texts, and our values.
Red 4
Known to Limmudniks as an educator, Aviva Dautch is also an award-winning poet. In this session she will read from her work and explore her creative influences, from those who have appeared in this series of lectures (Bernhardt, Cahun and Golding), to Roth, Amichai and Ha’Levi, asking what it means to perform Jewish identity in the modern world.
Raymond Simonson Moriel Rothman-Zecher Rachel Rose Reid Neta Weiner
Yellow 24
How does art inspire activism and activism complicate art? What is the balance between inspiration and agitprop? Is creativity compromised by political engagement or deepened by it? Join three artist-activists to explore the interplay of these spheres and how to create both meaningful art and material change
Peta Pellach Abigail Morris Jake Herman _ UK Jewish Film
Orange 13
Alice Shalvi is a living legend. Re-annotated Alice reveals Alice at 90, recovering from her husband’s death. Alice is still fighting for peace, women’s rights, and a just society. She reflects on her regrets, reveals her undiminished appetite for music and literature and, above all, her enormous capacity for friendship.
Yellow 22
Israel is currently host to more than 30,000 asylum seekers, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan. The extremely low recognition rates of the Israeli asylum system (less than 1%) make it nearly impossible to be recognized as a refugee and granted the rights that refugee status brings.
Red 7
In the past few years the Jewish community has come a long way in integrating transgender individuals within our community. Today, all major Jewish denominations besides Orthodoxy are openly accepting trans and GNB individuals. However, socially there is still a long way to go. We will explore firsthand accounts of Jewish trans individuals.
Red 5
There's a lot of racism in the world. Like, a whole lot. Lucky for you, you're going to receive a super-awesome set of Jewish guiding principles to help you navigate and address it all, while having fun, no less! Come to this session if you'd like a glimpse into the leading edge of Jewish racial justice work. (Part 1 enhances but isn't required).
The Leo Baeck Education Center Haifa
Orange 15
Maor Snir and the Leo Baeck High School, Haifa, delegation will explore the challenges of Israeli society. Through dialogue and active programming we aim to understand one another and learn to live together peacefully. In this session we hope to hold an open conversation for people of all opinions.
Red 2
Sources in the Mishnah and Talmud occasionally mention the types of work that Jewish women once conducted outside the home, but rarely have scholars considered evidence from other sources. This session will examine evidence from painted inscriptions, as well as rabbinic texts, to consider Jewish women's working lives outside the home in antiquity.