Limmud-Oz 2015: Full Schedule

09:30 AEST

Jewish education - extrinsic or intrinsic?

How do we strengthen Jewish identity and community engagement through education? This session will explore biblical, historical and modern examples of connection to Jewish life in order to answer this question. At a time when one's Jewish identity is seen as an increasingly personal topic, Jewish education can be used both to spark an internal desire and to connect one to the larger Jewish People. Various sources of personal motivation will be explored to see how we can engage more people to Jewish life and community.

Presenters

Talya Wiseman

Talya Wiseman is the Coordinator of Student Leadership and Development at Moriah College. She has worked extensively in both formal and informal Jewish education and Jewish young adult engagement. Wiseman holds a master's degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew University. She regularly... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 09:30 - 10:30 AEST
Alumni room

Society Today

10:45 AEST

Maimonidies' Thirteen Principles of Faith: The Final Say in Jewish Thought?

Orthodox Jewish thought is often defined by Maimonidies' Thirteen Principles of Faith which appear in his Commentary on the Mishnah. But is this the case historically? This session explores the limits of orthodox theology by considering arguably the religiously most sensitive of the principles, the 8th principle, 'The Torah in our hands is identical to the Torah that was given by God to Moses'. We will look at Rabbinic texts, medieval commentators and more contemporary orthodox scholars to see to what extent this principle has been accepted as dogma and whether there is any room within the tradition for a more flexible interpretation.

Presenters

Shaun Jackson

Shaun Jackson is a solicitor and has a keen interest in Jewish thought and Jewish History.He is the Programming co-chair for Limmud-Oz 2015.

Sunday June 7, 2015 10:45 - 11:45 AEST
Alumni room

Jewish Thought

12:00 AEST

Jews in Egypt

Egypt is the most heavily populated (90 millions) Arabic/Muslim country located next to the State of Israel. Most Jewish people know that Jews lived for 400 years in ancient Egypt until they left under the leadership of Moses. However, few Jewish people are aware that Jews also have a more recent heritage connection with Egypt, occupying prominent roles and enriching Egyptian culture in various ways -despite a number of challenges. The purpose of this session is to demonstrate how Jews in the Diaspora can enhance the culture wherever they live and to provide an example of their responsibilities away from the Promised Land. This session is dedicated to "The Jews in Egypt".

Presenters

Hamdy Boulis

Dr. Hamdy Boulis is an Australian citizen who migrated from Egypt three decades ago . He has been a General Practioner for 29 years in a multicultural area in Sydney. Hamdy was contemporary to the major wars between Egypt and Israel as he lived in Cairo and had first hand experience... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 12:00 - 13:00 AEST
Alumni room

Memory & History

13:30 AEST

What is Jewish Astrology?' or 'Do Jews actually acknowledge the Zodiac?'

The Bible, Talmud and code of Jewish law suggest the constellations are G-d’s channel through which spiritual forces flow through to the world. According to the Sefer Yetzirah, the month in which you are born indicates a potential strength you can develop or a difficult flaw you can overcome. This session on Kabbalistic astrology examines our individual tendencies and provides guidance to how and when we can refine ourselves during the cycle of the Jewish year.

Presenters

Deborah Bauer

Deborah (aka Devorah) Bauer teaches Media & Radio Broadcasting at TAFE and presents on Soul Traveller Radio- http://soultravellerradio.com/. She writes for Sage Magazine - http://bit.ly/1CgISFW and has taught Astrology at Nature Care College. Deborah weaves ancient symbolism, Kabbalah... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 13:30 - 14:30 AEST
Alumni room

Jewish Thought

14:45 AEST

Breaking new ground in medical research: Israeli and Australian collaboration

Israel and Australia have some of the best medical research minds in the world and AUSiMED is an organisation that brings these researchers together, arranging and fundraising for collaborative medical research between both countries. AUSiMED is also the first charity in Australia that will soon be offering a model of fundraising called Venture Philanthropy where Foundations can get their donations potentially repaid with interest if a research project has commercial success. The CEO from AUSiMED will describe examples of this collaborative work in breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart and prostate cancer.

Presenters

Roz Kaldor-Aroni

CEO, AUSiMED Ltd

Roz Kaldor-Aroni is CEO of AUSiMED, a not-for-profit organisation that fundraises and facilitates medical research collaborations between Israel and Australia. Prior to this, Roz was a General Manager at Telstra. responsible for the commercial arrangements of all Telstra’s large... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 14:45 - 15:45 AEST
Alumni room

Society Today

16:00 AEST

Men's Circle

We all need to be heard - this group work worked at Limmud UK, and we seek to attract men with a willingness to speak their authentic voice..
Let's explore what might develop among like-minded people in a respectful environment.

Presenters

Danny Beran

Danny Beran enjoys real conversations. He has enjoyed much ‘men’s work’ which, despite 'pieces of paper' in medicine, finance and most other areas, is not nearly as satisfying as encouraging others to be themselves in a safe environment. This is a forum to 'meet', but not workshop... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 16:00 - 17:00 AEST
Alumni room

Society Today

17:15 AEST

Israel Nippers - Saving Lives!

Too many Israelis drown on Israeli beaches and waterways. Our program saves Israeli lives. Australian Friends of Life Saving Israel Inc. has initiated a strategic alliance between Surf Life Saving Australia and Hazalah Yamit Yisrael (ישראל ימית הצלה), also known as Life Saving Israel, to launch an Israel Nipper program across the beaches of Israel. Our iconic Australian Life Savers are training Israeli lifeguards to run an all new innovative Israel Nipper program, based on our Australian precedent, that will resonate through Israeli society. By including not only Jews but Israeli Arabs we have also successfully breached cultural barriers in a way never before achieved. Possibilities are endless.

Presenters

Mike Gencher

Mike Gencher. Inspiring business consultant and trainer, known as "the Business Lifesaver", almost famous actor, Director AFLSI, Vice President and ex Nipper Director Bondi Bathers Surf Life Saving Club

Doug Hawkins

Doug Hawkins. VP AFLSI, Life Saver and Nipper Trainer dynamo, Director of Nippers, Sydney Branch of Surf Life Saving Australia, ex Nipper Director of Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and Filmmaker.

Steve Rubner

President Australian Friends of Life Saving Israel. Much experienced Jewish and Zionist communal leader. Boring Chartered accountant, some time resident of Israel and founder and chairman of Hazalah Yamit Yisrael (Life Saving Israel).

Sunday June 7, 2015 17:15 - 18:15 AEST
Alumni room

Society Today

18:30 AEST

The Shabbat Manifesto

More than the Jewish people have kept shabbat, shabbat has kept the Jewish people' - Ahad Ha'am

In this session we will re-examine text, halacha, and our contemporary reality, to reach our own creative understanding of what a meaningful and relevant shabbat observance could look like in the context of our 21st century lives. Come with big ideas and an open mind!

Presenters

Eden Brender

Charlotte Gillespie

Charlotte grew up as an active member of the Progressive community through Beit Shalom Synagogue. In 2014, she received an Australia Day Commendation for Excellence in Language and Culture. Charlotte has a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Adelaide and is currently federal... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 18:30 - 19:30 AEST
Alumni room

Jewish Thought

19:45 AEST

Who Cares About Anti-Semitism?

Really. Who Cares? There seems to be a mini-industry of researchers, analysts and publicists, an ever-expanding conference circuit, a growing portfolio of fine pronouncements. Yet how many Jews would act differently if there was no antisemitism. How many non-Jews go beyond platitudes? It is a good time to have a robust discussion, and Jeremy Jones, who is Australia's best-credentialed researcher and analyst of, and campaigner against, antisemitism is looking forward to hearing your views.

Presenters

Jeremy Jones

Writer, public speaker, dialogian, researcher, photographer, traveller, Pentecost Islander initiate, Australian Human Rights Medal Winner, Australian representative at UN meetings and Asia/Pacific Dialogues, Multicultural Advisor, anti-racism activist, cartoon character on Japanese... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 19:45 - 20:45 AEST
Alumni room

Society Today

21:00 AEST

The Science of Faith of Doubt

I love the story of Genesis. On the 5th day the fish and birds were created. The scientist in me wonders how this creative act could have been realised. Were these creatures made out of nothing? How would The Creator approach this technical challenge, the scientist in me asks. In my art I also try to bring the fish and bird back together using genetics and other scientific principles as my guide.

Presenters

Steven Durbach

(aka Sid Sledge)From 1995 to 2008 I worked as a scientist lecturing and doing research in the genetics of bacteria and viruses…. spending most of my time at the University of the Witwatersrand and since then I have been working as a fulltime artist… Selected Group Exhibitions... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2015 21:00 - 22:00 AEST
Alumni room

Arts & Creativity

09:30 AEST

The Jewish Predicament

With their emergence from the ghetto at the beginning of the 19th century, Jews have faced stark choices in matters of identity and their relations with non-Jews. These choices have been most affected by new forms of an old hatred they hoped they had left behind. Holding onto their identity while navigating the modern world has been difficult and at times, almost impossible task. Right now, these difficulties are brought into sharpest focus by the way some Jews respond to the difficulties faced by the Jewish state. This predicament, which I will call the Jewish predicament, should be understood for it may define the future of our people.

Presenters

Chuck Volpe

Retired South African businessman recently emigrated to Sydney. Served in many capacities in the South African Jewish community including chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Theodor Herzl school, The South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the Jewish Media Council. I have presented... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2015 09:30 - 10:30 AEST
Alumni room

Jewish Thought

10:45 AEST

Who Knows Two? Jewish meditation and sound healing for the month of Sivan

This is your invitation to open to a guided meditation with the refined vibrations of quartz crystal bowls. Experience deep relaxation and gentle soul nourishment. Inspired by the Tanakh, Midrash, The Zohar, Sefer Yetzirah and more, this is a very different take on the special energy of the month of Sivan, and the coming Shabbat, Shelach Lecha. No pre-requisites

Presenters

Sue Beecher

Sue Beecher teaches Kabbalah Meditation in Sydney and Melbourne. Psychologist and social worker, Sue focuses on meditation, personal and spiritual development, and stress management. Her passions include helping people discover how to live more authentic, conscious and deeply connected... Read More →

Toni Whitmont

For many years, Toni has been exploring the relationship between spiritual practice and energy in Kabbalah, meditation and various healing modalities.Increasingly focusing on creating sacred sound experiences, she is currently studying crystal sound therapy and is delighted to discover... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2015 10:45 - 11:45 AEST
Alumni room

Jewish Thought

12:00 AEST

Music and Kabbalah

Where is the intersection between the mystical, the emotional and the musical? Come and explore some of the basic mystical concepts of creation, revelation, redemption, Tsimtsum, yam hamelech, Ein Sof, and the Sephirot as explored through music from our liturgical and folk traditions. From Lecha Dodi and Raza Deshabbat through Kol Adonai and the Kedushah, our liturgy and folk music is steeped in mystical concepts and metaphors.We will explore some of these and listen to a rich variety of musical examples depicting the mystical through the sublime music of both Sephardic and Ashkenazi repertoire.

Presenters

Michel Laloum

Cantor Michel Laloum was born in Belgium, raised in Australia, and has worked and studied in Israel, New York, Hong Kong and France. Laloum was ordained in 2001 by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and has featured in concerts and scholar/artist in residence... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2015 12:00 - 13:00 AEST
Alumni room

Arts & Creativity

13:30 AEST

Traces of the Past in the Present

This workshop will use experiential methods to explore traces of the Holocaust in our present lives.The approach to be used provides permissions and safety for the expression of deeply felt and long-standing ‘self-stories’ – surfacing and transforming these to allow people to ‘move on’.It will create a space where we surface, articulate and explore what our needs are to a richer fulfilment of our individual potentials and our multi-generational relationships – and where we can clear matters that needed clearing as individuals.The Talmud says a man can be anything that he chooses but he cannot help what he chooses. The past is in the present.
Please note this is a double session that runs from 13:30-15:45.

Presenters

Colleen Guray

Colleen is the owner of Soft Skills Australia , and builds the links between organisational and personal development inthe business work She uses dramatisation, role playing and attention to language. These will be used in the workshop to assist forensic examination of individual... Read More →

Tom Schwarz

Tom is a professional Consulting Facilitator and Adaptive Leadership catalyst - as the Principal of Kinnogene (Aus) p/l he works through a deeply reflective facilitative stance in the ANZ and Asia Pacific Region to bring about transformation to individuals, groups and organisations... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2015 13:30 - 15:45 AEST
Alumni room

Memory & History

16:00 AEST

Mobilizing for Soviet Jewry: The Australian Story

Located at the edge of the Diaspora, Australian Jewry played an integral and at times innovative role in the campaign for Soviet Jewry. The community’s leadership operated at two levels: the political level which included lobbying key Australian politicians; and at the grass roots level, supporting efforts to highlight the plight of Soviet Jewry. Her presentation will be based on the book she has written on this topic with Sam Lipski.

Presenters

Suzanne D. Rutland

Suzanne D. Rutland, OAM is Professor in the Department of Hebrew, Biblical & Jewish Studies, University of Sydney. She has published widely on Australian Jewish history. Her most recent written with Sam Lipski is Let My People Go: The Untold Story of Australia and Soviet Jews, 1959-1989... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2015 16:00 - 17:00 AEST
Alumni room

Memory & History

17:15 AEST

Rozana - A Project of Hope

On both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a generation of youngsters are growing up without any direct contact with each other. There is however one sector, where every minute of every day Israelis and Palestinians interact as teams of carers looking after patients is the hospital sector. Project Rozana, an Australian initiative, was born out of hope; the miracle of life returned to Rozana Sawalhi who fell nine storeys from her apartment near Ramallah and who was treated at Hadassah Hospital. The Project is committed to building bridges for a better understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.

Presenters

Ron Finkel

Ron Finkel has been the President of Hadassah Australia since 2004. He is the Managing Director of Momentum Ventures Limited, a leading Australian Venture Capital firm. In addition to his role with Hadassah, Ron is the President of AUSiMED Limited and Chair of the Arava – Australia... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2015 17:15 - 18:15 AEST
Alumni room

Israel & The Middle East