Limmud Festival 2019

Limmud Festival 2019 – Wednesday 16:00

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3,000 years of history in an hour

Ian Gamse 

Orange 11

Divrey hayamim – or “Chronicles” – is one of the Bible’s least-studied books. The opening would be almost as interesting as the telephone directory (remember them?) if there were any numbers. But persevere. And perhaps we’ll discover a purpose – even a hidden magic – in the book.

 2019.12.25 Chronicles.pdf

"Coexistence My Ass": a work in progress

Noam Shuster 

Red 7

Be the guinea-pig audience for award-winning comedian Noam Shuster's hour-long show in development, "Coexistence My Ass". This trilingual set delves into Shuster's upbringing in the only village in Israel designed for Arabs and Jews to live together, and makes light of her professional career as a peace activist.

Day of the Dead in Mexico: Aztecs, skulls, colour, music, and a Jewish community in between!

Sharyn Bistre Dabbah 

Purple 31 (Bar)

In Mexico the Day of the Dead floods the streets with colourful ofrendas (altars). Mexicans celebrate this ancient tradition to remember their departed ones. Learn a bit about the history and cultural background of this holiday and how the Mexican Jewish community experience this day.

From Moses to Greta - leadership lessons for facing up to climate change: a Shema@Limmud session

Mirele Goldsmith 

Orange 10

Climate change is a new problem that the Torah doesn’t say anything about. But people have not changed much since ancient times, so there’s plenty it can teach us about how to respond. We’ll explore lessons from the story of Moses to overcome fear, inspire hope, and be a part of the solution. We can make it to the promised land!

Holy sewage: what happened to the Jordan River?

Gidon Bromberg 

Blue 33

The Jordan River is holy to half of humanity. Despite its cultural significance conflict has turned the river into little more than an open sewer. This session will discuss EcoPeace’s water diplomacy efforts in the region with a focus on the Jordan River.

Hyper-fluid and hermetically sealed: the transnational life of Satmar Hasidism

Amos Schonfield 

Blue 34

Following the Holocaust, Satmar Hasidism was reduced to all but a handful of followers. It has since grown to become one of the largest Hasidic sect in the world. Speaking to current and former Satmarers, I researched how Satmar Hasidism has been able to reproduce itself as interlinked, insular communities and the problems this creates.

Jewish cartoon workshop

Jordan B Gorfinkel 

Blue 32

Can you draw a stick figure? Write words? Tell a story? Of course you can, which is why Batman creator Gorf wants you at his fun and unique structured workshop, guaranteed to get every participant creating a cartoon on Jewish themes, stories and values. Spoiler Alert: this is not a childish art class; rather, a hands-on modern communication primer.

Judaism and tattoo culture - a chavruta session

Joanne Monica Kanarek 

Red 5

The Jewish world has a longstanding aversion to tattoos. Even among largely secular Jews, the taboo against body ink remains powerful. The connection with the Holocaust further complicates this. Led by a heavily tattooed Jew herself, this chavruta session will dive into the questions, discussions, and myths surrounding Jews and their tattoos.

 Tattoos and Judaism Havruta Session -jk.pdf

Modesty manipulated - what's driving the obsession with skirt lengths?

Sally Berkovic 

Red 3

The unabashed obsession with a woman’s body, her dress, hair and demeanour has unleashed a travesty of rabbinic power. Arguably, this increased focus on modesty is a response to changes such as an unprecedented level of women’s textual study and their increased spiritual, political, activist and communal leadership roles. Lots of images included.

 Modesty - Limmud - Sally Berkovic December 2019 0.1.pdf

Neo-Nazis who love Israel: Unpacking the alliance between the far right and the modern state of Israel

Yael Shafritz 

Red 4

From Israeli flags at EDL rallies, to Netanyahu embracing Orban, the growing alliance of global fascism clearly welcomes the state of Israel. Yet this same alliance is responsible for a huge increase in antisemitism. What does it mean for Jewish safety when those who are inciting violence against us claim they "love Israel” as political cover?

Paying poor people for their kidney

Robby Berman 

Green 25

Most people think it is immoral to pay a poor person to sell their kidney. But does this belief survive reflection? Come participate in a fascinating audience debate and learn the issue from both sides and see perhaps if you will change your mind about this life-saving issue.

Poland's "Lucky Jew"

Michael Rubenfeld 

Green 26

Canadian theatre producer and performance maker, Michael Rubenfeld, made a play about exploring his Polish roots with his mother. Now he lives there. In this session, Rubenfeld will talk about the show that led to him now living and creating art in Poland and why he thinks Poland is one of the most important contemporary Jewish spaces in the world.

Rebels on the bimahs: rabbis who spoke against apartheid

Irwin Manoim 

Red 2

Jews were prominent among the outspoken white opponents of South African apartheid. Most were secular Jews, communists and liberals. Some went to jail for their beliefs. But what of the rabbis? Relatively few spoke out, and those who did, found themselves in trouble with the authorities - and with their own congregations

The Year in Scandal

Ben Crowne  Abi Symons  Jacqueline Nicholls 

Orange 12

Where even to begin with 2019? From the White House to Golders Green, from the front page of the Times to the back pages of Private Eye, every week seemed to bring fresh disgrace on the Jewish people. Join us to remember what we hope everyone else will forget...

Tzitzit? Why knot!

Paul Freedman 

Red 8

Fun on the fringe. Tassels from Torah and Talmud – a holy reminder for anyone. We’ll have a quick look at some texts connected with those ritual knots and fringes that catch your eye, then tie our own rainbow tzitzit to take home. A beautiful reminder of your time at Limmud, oh and of the mitzvot of course! (Any gender - no strings attached.)

Young Limmudniks - hip-hop dance

Elisa Orenstein  Leanne Orenstein 

Red 1

If you love to dance, join our energetic hip-hop session. Suitable for both beginners and those who would like to show what they already can do! (Age 8 - 12).

You shall vaccinate your children

Yszi Hawkings 

Green 27

The number of avoidable disease outbreaks has increased around the western world in recent years due to a decrease in vaccination rates. Explore what Judaism and Jewish values, especially those of tikkun olam and pikuah nefesh, tell us about our duty to vaccinate against disease and our responsibilities towards the health of others.

Horrible (Jewish) histories!

Michie Yana-Berger 

Red 6

Well we all know that famous series on Vile Victorians and Rotten Romans--but WHERE ARE THE JEWS? We answer that nagging question with our own production of the Jewish version, premiering at Limmud. Featuring horrid Talmudic stories, special guest chef Jamie OyLiver, and of course Stupid Deaths. We may be hammy, but we guarantee it's kosher!

 Horrible Jewish Histories skit source.pdf

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what defines beauty after all?

Sara Kupfer 

Yellow 22

What does beauty really mean? How do we use this word in a world that tries to narrow its meaning? Join Sara for an interactive mother-daughter discussion as we explore the definition of "beauty," and walk away with a custom mirror designed exclusively for you by your loved one. (Session opened to all girls and women.)

A passage to Israel: E.M. Forster and the Jews

Roderick Young 

Red 9 (Boulevard)

The author of "A Passage to India", "Howards End" and "A Room with a View" was never antisemitic, unlike many of his contemporaries. The central character of his second novel was an extraordinary Jew. In 1939 he wrote an essay entitled "Jew Consciousness" in which he ridiculed antisemitism. Come and explore the Jewish aspects of my literary hero.

The Covenant: Why I am a Traditional Jew in the 21st Century

Joseph Dweck 

Orange 15

Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi of the S & P Sephardi Community, will share why he believes Judaism to be even more relevant today than any other time in history, and how it influences his life, spiritual path, and religious teaching.

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