Limmud Festival 2023

Limmud Festival 2023 – Monday 14:20

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Left antisemitism - from Labour under Jeremy Corbyn to Gaza

Louise Ellman 

Red 1

Louise will discuss her personal experiences of fighting the left antisemitism that drove her out of the Labour Party and ask whether the current protests on Gaza are antisemitic anti-Zionism.

A tale of two tribes: is Jewish unity in Israel achievable?

Michael Rainsbury 

Red 2

Is the Jewish unity we have seen recently built to last, or a temporary necessity? If the latter, can religious and secular Jews put aside their differences and embrace one another as equal partners? By exploring Torah sources, we'll propose a model for Jewish unity and contemplate how this could help heal Israel's deep societal wounds.

How the potty trained us

Shawn Shafner 

Orange 10

From communal Roman toilets to the queen who banished the bowel movement, this musical comedy lecture unearths how current sanitary practices came to be, and how they threaten our health, the environment and 36% of the world still living without safe toilets. Join a revolution pushing for change from the bottom up, and proudly declare, 'I’m a pooper!'

War and Gender - The Current War Seen Through a Gender Lens

Yael Yechieli 

Red 4

This is the first major Israeli war that women are serving at the highest levels - and tragically the war in which there are the highest number of female victims. However, women are absent from key decision-making spaces, whether that’s in the halls of the Knesset or at security briefings. 5050, an organisation fighting for equal gender representation at every level, demands that women are fairly represented.

Off the grid: how to reclaim your world

Michael Hattin 

Red 3

Our tradition has much to say about humanity's responsibility for the welfare of the planet; we will consider the matter through the lens of one of our most precious observances - the Shabbat. As we explore the essence of Shabbat - through Biblical, Talmudic and Midrashic sources - we will find that we need a 'Shabbat sensibility' more than ever.

 Pardes - Limmud - 2023 - Off the Grid.pdf

The problem of evil and the cost of the solution

Ben Fromson 

Yellow 21

Surprisingly, there is more to say! How can one believe God to exist or be worthy of worship when horrendous evil exists? Most religious Jews don't know how to answer this problem, leaving seekers dissatisfied. Rather than fobbing you off, this session will explore solutions and give a method for how to progress the debate, whatever side you're on.

Titanic and other ice breakers

Oli Davidson 

Red Bar/Lounge

'Say your name and an interesting fact' is, in fact, very boring. Build your repertoire of ice breakers for Zoom, in person and hybrid, for small teams and huge gatherings, quick ones and more focused ones. We'll break the ice so many times, we'll end up a group of very well-acquainted people gathered in a puddle. Pickaxes not required.

What is the future of Holocaust education

Michael Pollak  Rachel Century  Helen Stone 

Orange 15

A panel presentation with Rachel Century (Holocaust Memorial Day Trust), Helen Stone (G2G) and Michael Pollak (Yad Vashem UK). The discussion will focus on how we can best educate new generations of students as the availability of survivors diminishes. How can we recreate the urgency and immediacy of their testimony?

What starting a Jewish Festival Book Club taught me about Jewish festivals and book clubs

Yoni Stone 

Red 7 - Brightsmith

This year, I have had the honour of starting a Jewish Festival Book Club, powered by a Limmud Microgrant. Join me for a discussion of how this came about, how it works and, most importantly, what I've learned from it. Forgive me if I use this as an opportunity to source book recommendations for future sessions.

What your child wishes you knew about autism (also for friends, siblings or autistic individuals)

Ariella Boyd 

Red 5

Despite one of the stereotypical traits of autism being 'black and white thinking', the autism spectrum is anything but. We will explore what the autism spectrum looks like (hint: it's not a line), how it may present itself, and what you can do to understand it better. This is a safe and welcoming space, where nobody will be judged.

A shtetl called Tel Aviv

Samuel Rosenberg 

Orange 12

During the formative years of Tel Aviv, a multitude of Chasidic rebbes made the deliberate choice to establish their 'courts' within the city. In this session, we will delve into the rich Jewish history of Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew city. With Shmuel Rosenberg, who himself was born into a Chasidic family in Tel Aviv.

Zine and mask making

Blue 34

Join us in the Wellbeing Hub for your daily boost, and time to unwind. We will be creating 'zines, and decorating masks. There will be lots of creative mediums for you to explore. This is a great chance to meet new people in a low-pressure environment. Everyone is welcome at this session, which will run for two hours. You can join anytime

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