Limmud NY 2014: Full Schedule

2:30pm EST

Developing Jewish Leaders

How do people develop into capable leaders of Jewish organizations and initiatives? In this session we'll examine some of the key principles, processes and practices of effective leadership development. Subsequently, we'll consider how these practices might apply in different settings (start-ups, federations, synagogues, etc.), populations (staff, volunteers, rabbis, etc.) and career stages.

Presenters

Linda Rich

Linda Rich is a consultant and executive coach specializing in leadership development. Now focused on the Jewish world after years in the corporate sector, Linda has delivered workshops for CLAL, Hazon, JTS Rabbinical Training Institute, Rockland Jewish Initiative, and UJA-Federation... Read More →

Friday February 14, 2014 2:30pm - 3:45pm EST
Glen II

Social Justice

8:45pm EST

Judaism Unbound: Love

Blending genetic differences is biologically healthy, and fostering cultural differences is important for many families. Yet Judaism, like other religions, has sought to limit intermarriage in order to preserve group identity and our distinctive religious norms. As the percentage of Jews with at least one non-Jewish parent continues to climb, how do we understand the blending of religious identities? What are the best strategies for promoting a vibrant and robust Jewish identity?

Presenters

Danny Nevins

Danny Nevins is Dean of the JTS Division of Religious Leadership, including its Rabbinical School, Cantorial School and Center for Pastoral Education. He serves on the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards and has written numerous legal opinions for the Conservative... Read More →

Friday February 14, 2014 8:45pm - 10:10pm EST
Glen II

College & High School Identity & Global Culture Spiritual Practice Text & Thought

11:45am EST

Why a Vibrant Diaspora is a Zionist Imperative

The early Zionist movement sought for all of the world's Jews to re-congregate in our ancestral homeland. Come learn why that perspective has passed its time and why vibrant Jewish communities around the world are integral for Israel's future.

Presenters

Gidi Grinstein

Gidi Grinstein is the Founder and President of The Reut Institute and author of Flexigidity: The Secret of Jewish Adaptability. Gidi previously served as Secretary and Coordinator of the Israeli Delegation for the Negotiations with the PLO between 1999-01 under Prime Minister... Read More →

Saturday February 15, 2014 11:45am - 1:00pm EST
Glen II

Identity & Global Culture

2:00pm EST

Judaism Unbound: Prayer

How do we reconcile the inclusive and exclusive strands of our liturgical tradition? When a Jew attends a non-Jewish worship service, or a non-Jew worships with Jews, what should be the boundaries for participation? Does it matter which faiths are involved?

Presenters

Danny Nevins

Saturday February 15, 2014 2:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Glen II

College & High School Identity & Global Culture Shabbat Spiritual Practice Text & Thought

5:15pm EST

Freedom of Marriage in Israel: Blessing or Curse? The Right to Marry in Israel and Its Consquences

This session will examine:
-The right to marry in Israel and around the world (using Hiddush's unique online map)
-The divergent religious Jewish treatment of the status and legitimacy of civil marriages (including growing Orthodox support for civil and non-Orthodox marriage in Israel)
-The current proposals for freedom of marriage in Israel; civil marriage vs. civil unions
-The right to marry in Israel and its impact on Israelis, Jewish peoplehood, and world Jewry

Presenters

URI REGEV

President & CEO, Hiddush - Freedom of Religion for Israel

Uri Regev is one of Israel's most prominent rabbinic advocates for religious pluralism. He serves as president of Hiddush: Freedom of Religion for Israel, a non-partisan, trans-denominational Israel-Diaspora partnership for religious freedom and equality. He has led many of the... Read More →

Saturday February 15, 2014 5:15pm - 6:15pm EST
Glen II

College & High School Identity & Global Culture Israel

8:15pm EST

A Biblical Cover-Up: A Sad Case of Torah That Never Gets Transmitted

The Book of Judges is often neglected because it represents one of the most dysfunctional and painful chapters in Jewish history. Found within this confusing and perplexing text is a cover-up of epic proportions to conceal what happens when a people loses their way. This session contains applicable and vital lessons not just for today, but also our children's Jewish community of the future.

Presenters

Charlie Savenor

Charles E. Savenor serves as the Director of Kehilla (Congregational) Enrichment for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). He also served as the lead programmer for the Centennial Celebration in October 2013. Charlie blogs on parenting at www.familyinorbit.com and at... Read More →

Saturday February 15, 2014 8:15pm - 9:15pm EST
Glen II

Identity & Global Culture Jewish History Spiritual Practice Text & Thought

9:30pm EST

Jews Wrestling with Meat: Ritual, Ethics and the Marketplace

How can Jews navigate the marketplace of ideas and consumer choices concerning meat eating? Not only delve into our tradition to understand the rituals and ethics addressing meat consumption, but also explore the complicated issues of our modern food chain. We will discuss these issues from both Halakhic and liberal frameworks. Omnivores and vegetarians welcomed. Join Rabbi Mary Zamore, editor of The Sacred Table, and Devora Kimelman-Block, CEO and Founder KOL Foods.

Presenters

Devora Kimelman-Block

Devora is the founder and CEO of KOL Foods, a sustainable, grassfed, kosher meat business. Before founding KOL Foods, Devora had a vegetarian kitchen for 14 years. Devora, her husband Jason, and four children are founding members of Eastern Village Cohousing, an award winning LEED... Read More →

Mary Zamore

Rabbi Mary L. Zamore was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute ofReligion in 1997. A graduate of Columbia College, New York, she has also studied at Yad Vashem and Machon Pardes. An active writer, Rabbi Zamore is the editor of and a contributing author to The Sacred... Read More →

Saturday February 15, 2014 9:30pm - 10:45pm EST
Glen II

Identity & Global Culture Social Justice Text & Thought

10:00am EST

Where Have All the 'Pursuers of Peace' Gone!? Bringing the Rodef Shalom Back, from Text to Today

Throughout Jewish history, there were individuals known in their communities as rodfei shalom (pursuers of peace) who modeled themselves after ˜Aaron Rodef Shalom" by loving and pursuing peace between individuals, families and communities. This session will explore what it meant to be a rodef shalom in Jewish text and history, as well as what the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution is doing to bring these rodfei shalom back into Jewish identity and communities today.

Presenters

Daniel Roth

Daniel Roth is director of the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution, where he also teaches courses that integrate text study with conflict resolution. He holds a PhD from Bar Ilan University's Program for Conflict Resolution, where he is on the faculty, writing about... Read More →

Sunday February 16, 2014 10:00am - 11:15am EST
Glen II

Identity & Global Culture Israel Jewish History Social Justice Text & Thought

11:30am EST

Torah: Human and Divine

The Human Dimension of the Divine Revelation
Utilizing both classical sources (Talmudic and medieval) and modern scholarly analysis, we will establish that the Torah has a human history. At the same time we will argue that the Torah is Divine and that we are bound by its teachings. This session is an effort to demonstrate how to integrate critical, historical, and textual scholarship with traditional learning and to affirm a contemporary notion of God that is both inspiring and humbling.

Presenters

Chaim Seidler-Feller

Chaim Seidler-Feller recently celebrated his fortieth year of working with students and faculty as the Executive Director of the Yitzhak Rabin Hillel Center for Jewish Life at UCLA, and is currently the Director Emeritus. He was ordained in 1971 at Yeshiva University, and has been... Read More →

Sunday February 16, 2014 11:30am - 12:45pm EST
Glen II

Jewish History Text & Thought

1:45pm EST

Rediscovering Ahad Ha'am and His Zionism of Values

The establishment of the State of Israel constitutes only a partial fulfillment of the goals of Zionism. Zionism also aimed at renewing the Jewish people and propelling them to constitute a model society. Yet, Zionist discourse has, over the past decades, been stuck in a political mode and has become largely irrelevant, even to those who are passionate supporters of Israel. This seminar proposes to reinvigorate that discourse.

Presenters

Chaim Seidler-Feller

Sunday February 16, 2014 1:45pm - 3:00pm EST
Glen II

Identity & Global Culture Israel Jewish History Text & Thought

3:15pm EST

Writing Using Your Jewish Food Voice

Food blogger Michael W. Twitty will lead a workshop about how to write your own personal food memoirs and how to use this as a means of opening the mouths and minds of learners in your community, from teenagers to seniors. This is an idea take-away class! Drawing on his unique insider/outsider approach to Jewish food, Michael will read examples from some of his essays and will encourage participants to share a paragraph of their own personal food writing.

Presenters

Michael Twitty

Michael W. Twitty is a culinary historian and Jewish educator focusing on both African-American and Jewish food and their relationships to their respective folk cultures. His website is the first blog devoted to preserving historic African-American foods and foodways, and chronicles... Read More →

Sunday February 16, 2014 3:15pm - 4:30pm EST
Glen II

Arts & Performance College & High School Identity & Global Culture

5:45pm EST

Bible Players Adult Comedy Show

(Relatively clean, but rife with innuendos, high school age +)
Aaron Friedman, named "Funniest Jew in NY" by The Jewish Week, performs award-winning stand-up comedy. And he is joined by Andrew Davies, playing whacky songs, characters and hilarious Hebrew mistranslation! See more at www.TheBiblePlayers.com

Presenters

Bible Players

Aaron Friedman and Andrew Davies, both products of Solomon Schechter Day Schools and Ramah Summer camps, formed the Bible Players in 2011 in NYC. Through comedic scenes and improv games, this Torah Comedy Troupe brings mitzvot and ancient stories to life, with hilarious results! They... Read More →

Sunday February 16, 2014 5:45pm - 7:00pm EST
Glen II

Arts & Performance

9:15pm EST

No Bars: When Jewish Prayer Is Like a Dropped Call: Poems, Songs, and Texts on Prayer That Connects

Drawing on poetry, Israeli songs, and insightful texts from Tanakh, Talmud, and the Siddur, this interactive session will look at prayer from the perspective of what we seek when we pray, recognizing how hard it can be to feel connected. We'll pay attention to the emotional postures that can set us up for connected prayer.

Presenters

Joel Alter

Joel Alter is Director of Admissions for JTS's Rabbinical and Cantorial schools, where he shepherds new leaders of the Jewish people. During his 16 years in Jewish day schools as a teacher, rabbi, and administrator, Joel helped articulate pluralistic school culture. A commitment to... Read More →

Sunday February 16, 2014 9:15pm - 10:30pm EST
Glen II

College & High School Spiritual Practice Text & Thought

9:45am EST

It's Not Right, but It's Okay: A Characterization of Wisdom and Halakha

What happens when our vision for an ethical world conflicts with Jewish law? We will explore the stories of Yehuda and Tamar and of Ploni Almoni (from the Book of Ruth) to see how the Jewish tradition reconciles these challenges.

Presenters

Rachel Rosenthal

Dr. Rachel Rosenthal is a David Hartman Center Fellow whose research focuses on the intersection of Talmud and pedagogy. She received her PhD in Rabbinic Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where her dissertation focused on how rabbinic analysis of the case of the stubborn... Read More →

Monday February 17, 2014 9:45am - 11:00am EST
Glen II

Text & Thought Social Justice

11:15am EST

Who Is a Jew? A Multi-Dimensional Study: A Biblical, Halachic, Legal, and Political Survey

In this text-based session, we will trace the explosive question of "Who is a Jew" from its Biblical origins all the way through recent conversion battles in Israel's Knesset. This question has yielded complex legal and political dilemmas in Israel, and has been a divisive force in Israel-Diaspora relations. Learn about the issue from someone who has been on the front line of this battle.

Presenters

URI REGEV

President & CEO, Hiddush - Freedom of Religion for Israel

Monday February 17, 2014 11:15am - 12:30pm EST
Glen II

College & High School Identity & Global Culture Israel Jewish History Social Justice Text & Thought