Yom Limmud 2022: Full Schedule

Learn and laugh with us on Sunday 11 September – BOOK TICKETS HERE!

Enjoy schmoozing and catching up in person with your Limmud community and international guests!

9:15am AEST

Doors Open

Sunday September 11, 2022 9:15am - 10:00am AEST

10:00am AEST

Israel's mother tongue has a father

The life of Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the father of Israel’s mother tongue is a fascinating and uplifting story of one man’s quest – you may say, obsession – to awaken the Hebrew language which had been in a deep slumber for centuries. Why is this genius revered by millions and reviled by perhaps even more?

Presenters

Sue Hofbauer

Sue is a retired language teacher who is a keen student of history and politics, especially as they relate to Israel and the Jewish people in general. She is a member of a group of like-minded people, all members of Emanuel Synagogue, who are keen to research topics of interest to... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 4

Everything Israel, Presentation

10:00am AEST

Digging up your roots - The Joys of Genealogy

Genealogy, or family history research, can take you down a rabbit hole of records and relatives to reveal unexpected connections. Come and learn how you can get started on this satisfying search for your family's unique story. Learn how to uncover unlikely heroes, captains of industry and resilient relations who overcame the odds to settle in Australia. Jewish genealogy presents unique challenges with name changes, shifting borders and of course, the tragedy of the Holocaust. But today we have an incredible range of digital tools and resources available to help track and trace our families through time and space. There is so much to be found in the many records that exist, although it is a challenge. Join this session to find out more - but be warned, it's addictive!

Presenters

Dani Haski

Dani works as a professional teleprompt operator and has had an extensive career in the entertainment industry, having worked in design and production roles across film, TV and theatre. Dani began researching her family history over 15 years ago and has roots in Poland, Galicia, Lithuania... Read More →

Barbara Simon

Barbara and Dani are the President and Vice President respectively of the Australian Jewish Genealogy Society. For over 30 years AJSG has been helping Australians with Jewish heritage research their family history. Barbara has always been interested in family history and over the... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 8

History and Memory, Workshop

10:00am AEST

Not a people apart: the Jews of India

Jews thrived and flourished without persecution on the Indian sub-continent for more than 1,800 years. Little is known of their religious and cultural lives in the broader communities in Australia, or indeed, outside the major Indian cities. Even less is known of the generosity of the people that enabled the five Jewish communities and their synagogues to thrive without persecution. India's synagogues date from the 16th century and are some of the oldest in the Commonwealth.

Presenters

Angelica Jacob

Angelica Jacob is a published non-fiction writer. Her most recent work is Finding Home - Memoir of a Jewish Girl, about growing up Jewish in Bombay. She has also worked as a staff reporter of The Australian. Angelica is currently doing postgraduate research in the representation of... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 7

History and Memory, Presentation

10:00am AEST

Mysterious energy points and self-development: Kabbalah meditation and mindfulness

In this session you will have the chance to learn techniques of Jewish meditation and mindfulness based on teachings from the Zohar. In particular a section of this text called Tiqunei ha-Zohar. We will explore a number of questions, including: What is the symbol of the Tree of Life? What are the mysterious energy points, called Sephirot? How can these be useful to us in meditation and self-development? Join Orna and Nadav for this fascinating expose, with rare translations of this ancient text. This session is open to people of all levels of experience and knowledge.

Presenters

Orna Triguboff

Orna is passionate about the connection between Kabbalah and spirituality. Orna is the founder and principal facilitator of the Neshama Life organisation. She has been awarded a doctorate in Kabbalah from Sydney University, specialising in the Kabbalah of Rabbi Isaac Luria of Safed... Read More →

Nadav Kahn

Nadav is an Israeli-born, Australia based APRA award winning songwriter. His first band was signed to major label EMI music, leading him to tour the world with various collaborative & solo projects, releasing 12 albums to date. Over the last 20 years, Nadav has spent extensive time... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 6

Mind Body and Soul, Workshop

10:00am AEST

A conversation about Artificial Intelligence: society, ethics and the world of smart(er) computers.

Join us to discuss the current state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in society. What does “ethical” AI mean? Can AI be biased? What would it take for AI to make the world more fair, more egalitarian and humane place, and can AI actually help us get there?

Presenters

Yoash Dvir

Yoash is the CEO of Technion Australia, a for-purpose organisation dedicated to helping Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in its vision to be among the top ten science and technology research universities in the world. Before moving to Sydney, Yoash worked as a corporate... Read More →

Alicia Vidler

Alicia is a PhD candidate through the Engineering Faculty at UNSW Sydney. Her research focuses on applied AI, including mechanism design for financial markets and explainable AI more broadly. Alicia has over 20 years of trading and finance experience across Europe, the US and Asia... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 5

Society and Politics, In Conversation

10:00am AEST

The shidduch & the shlep: lessons from Jewish international marriages

She's from Bondi, he's from somewhere far away. International marriages are not unfamiliar to Australian Jews. How unique is this phenomenon in the broader Jewish world and what can we learn from it? This session will explore recent research on Australian marriages, specifically Hasidic, and their link to themes of Jewish continuity and survival in the Diaspora.

Presenters

Dovi Seldowitz

Dovi is a PhD candidate through the Sociology faculty at UNSW, studying the development of women's leadership in the Hasidic community. Dovi also serves as the Project Manager at B'nai B'rith's Courage to Care program.

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 2

Society and Politics, Presentation

10:00am AEST

Rosh Hashana and the urgency of time

The key contemporary message of Rosh Hashana is that our time is finite and we need to live with a certain kind of “calm urgency”prioritising what we want to get out of our lives in whatever time is remaining. Perhaps our greatest need as human beings is to live purpose-driven lives, where we can feel what we did, and how we behaved, where we have mattered to those around us – whatever relationship they had to us. What kinds of changes do we need to make, to our schedules; to our goals and to our relationships, in order to begin to move in the direction of a fully meaningful existence? In this session we will explore how these themes are revealed in the Jewish New Year prayers and how to use certain spiritual exercises to create a renewed self.

Presenters

Elliott Malamet

Elliott is the co-founder of Living Jewishly, a non-denominational digital platform based in Toronto that hosts conversations and events meant to draw out the core existential meanings of Judaism and of a spiritual life. The Living Jewishly website is full of blogs, podcasts and classes... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
Room 3

Text and Tradition, Presentation

11:15am AEST

CANCELLED - How to be funny on the internet: Jewish humour in a world of memes

How does making online jokes for your friends turn into a very public hobby, job offers, and having a small army of followers who send you dreidel-themed waffle makers? And more importantly, how can we harness Jewish humour in the Instagram and TikTok age as a successful educational tool? Reluctantly-insta-famous Shoshana (JewishMemesOnly) will take us through these questions and maybe, just maybe, we’ll learn how to make memes along the way.

Presenters

Shoshana Gottlieb

Shoshana is a writer and Jewish educator based in Sydney. She has spent the last two and a half years posting silly jokes on the internet and getting recognised for it on the streets of Jerusalem. Shoshana has an honours degree in Creative Writing from UTS, a certificate of Advanced... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Room 5

Arts and Culture, Presentation

11:15am AEST

The Healer

The Healer is a suite of 6 animations which investigate the diversity of Jewish life in Europe before 1939, through animation and music. This session will include a viewing of the animations, a Q & A with artists David Asher Brook and Steven Durbach regarding their artistic process.

Presenters

Estelle Rozinski

Estelle is a multi-media artist, educator and curator. Estelle’s curatorial role began in 2012 showcasing diverse Jewish artists working across various media as part of the Shir Madness Music Festival. From 2015 to 2017, Estelle’s work as a curator focused on the theme of tikkun... Read More →

David Asher Brook

David is an Australian visual artist working in painting, tapestry and video art. He has been a four-time finalist in the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, as well as a finalist in The Blake Prize, Salon des Refuses, Paddington Art Prize, and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Artist... Read More →

Steven Durbach

Steven started his professional life in South Africa as a scientist studying the biology and evolution of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Since moving to Australia in 2008 he has worked full time as an artist. Steven’s work is underpinned by science, particularly affected... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Room 8

Arts and Culture, Presentation

11:15am AEST

A story of Israel in five songs

The story of Israel is a story of a society in which, with each passing year, more and more voices are heard, more stories are told, more traditions are remembered and these traditions are given new expression. All this can be heard in the astonishing Israeli songbook. This session will explore a few short songs that describe some huge and enduring changes the country has undergone before our eyes.

Presenters

Noah Efron

Noah chairs the Program on Science Technology and Society at Bar Ilan University, where he teaches and writes about the tricky intersections of science, technology, religion and politics. Noah also hosts The Promised Podcast on TLV1, helped to found a political think tank named Shaharit... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Room 2

Everything Israel

11:15am AEST

At the crossroads of Sephardic, Mizrahi and Russian-Speaking worlds: the history and culture of Bukharian Jews

Join us for a cultural and historical exploration of Central Asia's ancient Jewish community, Bukharian Jews. We will discover the ways in which Bukharian Jews have developed their multifaceted and rich culture through both a deep connection to their Jewish identities and a dynamic interaction with the dominant and changing societies surrounding them.

Presenters

Ruben Shimonov

Ruben is an educator, community builder, and social entrepreneur who is passionate about Jewish diversity. He previously served as Director of Community Engagement and Education at Queens College Hillel. Currently, Ruben is the National Director of Sephardi House and Young Leadership... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Room 7

History and Memory, Presentation

11:15am AEST

PANEL: Challenging the stereotypes around mental illness and wellness

All the statistics reveal that Australians, and the entire global community, have suffered record levels of anxiety and depression over the last couple of years. Mental health professionals are closing their books to new patients as the demand soars. How can we understand what is happening in society and what can we do to support our own mental health and that of our loved ones and our community more generally? A panel of experts, with decades of experience in the field, will provide insights and ideas through discussion with each other and all Limmud participants.

Moderators

Amanda Gordon

Amanda has been a practicing Clinical and Health Psychologist based in Edgecliff for more than three decades. In this time, she has supported hundreds of couples to enhance their relationships, uncovering joy while mending rifts and engendering trust and respect. Amanda is a past... Read More →

Presenters

Michoel Gourarie

Michoel is the founder and director of BINA, a large organisation dedicated to adult Jewish education. He is a passionate educator and speaker. Michoel lectures on a wide range of topics, with a special emphasis on personal growth, self-development, meditation and mental health from... Read More →

Brandon Srot

Brandon is a registered counsellor and psychotherapist working in private practice in Potts Point. For over 10 years, he has worked (and continues to work) with individuals and couples to navigate trauma, anxiety, grief and loss and to re-establish wellbeing, meaning and safety in... Read More →

Leah Malamet

Leah is a registered Clinical psychologist, she holds a masters in clinical psychology from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on attachment theory and the psychology of religion. Leah has provided psychological assessment, treatment and... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Uni Bar

Mind Body and Soul, Panel

11:15am AEST

Confronting the Jewish education system: build your own Jewish day school

Are you ready to put your Shabbat table opinions into practice? Join us for a practical workshop on the challenges of Jewish day school education at the coalface, where YOU and an enterprising board of directors will be in charge of starting your very own Jewish day school.

Presenters

Benjamin Ezzes

Benjamin holds a Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary) degree from the University of Sydney, with First Class Honours in Jewish education. He has been teaching Jewish Studies and History for seven years, first at BJE and now at Moriah College. Benjamin grew up in Sydney and was involved... Read More →

Carolyn Steinman

Carolyn has taught from University to Kindergarten across two continents and 4 cities. She has taught both General and Jewish Studies and is currently the Jewish Strategist at Moriah College and an aspiring blogger at the Times of Israel. A passionate Zionist, she plans to make Aliyah... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Collab Space 1

Society and Politics, Workshop

11:15am AEST

In conversation: where are the upstanders?

As antisemitism and other forms of hatred continue to reach unprecented levels, educators may be struggling to keep those forces out of their classrooms. Creating safe learning environments where allyship and upstanders are the norm takes work. In this session Liza and Julia will discuss why being an upstander is so challenging, especially for youth, and some steps parents and educators can implement to make a positive difference for a more inclusive and compassionate world.

Presenters

Liza Wiemer

Liza is an award-winning educator with over 25 years of teaching experience. Her crossover novel, The Assignment, was published by Delacorte Press and has received numerous honours, including being named a 2021 Sydney Taylor Notable Book. To date, The Assignment has also been published... Read More →

Julia Sussman

Julia is the co-founder and CEO of Youth HEAR: Holocaust Education And Remembrance, an organisation dedicated to mitigating hate in society by connecting young adults with the memory of the Holocaust. Julia is also a Director on the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the National Council... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
Room 6

Society and Politics, In Conversation

12:15pm AEST

Lunch

Lunch available for purchase

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:15pm - 12:45pm AEST

12:45pm AEST

Mourning together: Reflections on Yom HaZikaron

After 10 years of holding a joint memorial ceremony every Yom HaZikaron, this session will explore the many reactions to the controversial joint Israeli-Palestinian ceremony, opening the room for questions and reflections on the meaning of grief and memory in times of war.

Presenters

Ittay Flescher

Ittay is the Education Director at Kids4Peace Jerusalem, an interfaith movement for Israelis and Palestinians and the Jerusalem Correspondent for Plus61J Media. He also frequently teaches on gap year programs about the identity, narratives and cultures of the people who call Jerusalem... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Room 5

Everything Israel, Presentation

12:45pm AEST

Discovering the Cairo Geniza

Described as the "single most complete archive of a society anywhere in the whole medieval world", the Cairo Geniza project started over a century ago. It is through the deciphering of thousands of crumpled fragments of paper, papyrus and vellum, using the latest in modern technology, that we have been able to peer into the private lives of Jewish scholars, such as Maimonides and Judah Halevi, but also of everyday Jews, living around the Mediterranean Sea during the Middle Ages.

Presenters

Margaret "Micky" Perlman

Micky retired from her role as a research pharmacist six years ago and has since followed her passions which include Israel, social justice and hiking or cycling through the great outdoors. She kick-starts her week on a Monday morning with a cup of coffee and a hearty discussion around... Read More →

Sue Hofbauer

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Room 4

History and Memory, Presentation

12:45pm AEST

Replace inner turmoil with oneness and quietness

In today’s fragmented and fast-paced world life seems like a speeding treadmill, with constant pressures and competing priorities. How do we slow down, become more present and connect deeply to our inner self and to those around us? Learn the tools of inner calm and peace during this session with a Jewish perspective on mindfulness and stress management with tools for living life with inner calmness and purpose.

Presenters

Michoel Gourarie

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Room 2

Mind Body and Soul, Presentation

12:45pm AEST

The Jewish origins of neurodiversity

The concept of “neurodiversity” has gone global over the past decade. Neurodiversity inclusion policies are increasingly being adopted in the Northern Hemisphere at every level of government, business, service providers and more. Now, the concept is beginning to be recognised in Australia. Few, however, know that the concept was coined in the late 1990s by Judy Singer, while writing a sociology thesis at UTS. Until now, Judy has not publicly discussed how the concept is rooted in her experiences as a Jew, both personally and politically. In this session, Judy will unpack some of the concepts and controversies in the neurodiversity discourse, and relate how her personal story has shaped her work.

Presenters

Judy Singer

Judy is proud to be descended from generations of Hungarian rabbis, teachers, lawyers, professionals – and their wives, who might well have been so much more in more enlightened times. Judy coined the term Neurodiversity in her 1998 sociology honours thesis at UTS, Sydney. She intended... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Room 7

Mind Body and Soul, Presentation

12:45pm AEST

Wrestling with God

Dive into the story of Jacob and explore the implications to our lives and potential transformation available to us all.

Presenters

Donna Jacobs Sife

Donna has been involved with Judaism as a teacher, performer, writer and contemporary interpreter with regards to creative, spiritual and ritualistic expression for 30 years. She has taught on Jewish story and Bible in the Melton Adult Education Program UNSW, lectured in Sacred Story... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Room 6

Mind Body and Soul, Presentation

12:45pm AEST

Living in an upside-down world: finding meaning in complex times

Living in an Upside-Down World is the debut work of Ralph Genende, one of Australia’s most pre-eminent rabbis and community leaders. Based on over twenty years of writing, this anthology examines the many crises and challenges of the 21st century – from polarisation to asylum seekers, from loneliness to climate change. Ralph also offers wise reflection on the moral and ethical tasks we all must face. In this intimate conversation with his collaborator and publisher Dashiel Lawrence, Ralph will discuss his abiding preoccupations, together with the many influences on his work and thought.

Presenters

Dashiel Lawrence

Dashiel has been writing and researching Australian Jewish life for 14 years. He has edited, published and contributed to multiple books for academic and general readers. He is Executive Director for Plus61J Media.

Ralph Genende

Born in Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa, Ralph is a Modern Orthodox rabbi. For more than three decades he has led Jewish congregations in Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne, including one of the city’s largest congregations, Caulfield Hebrew Congregation, until 2021. He is Principal... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Room 8

Society and Politics, In Conversation

12:45pm AEST

PANEL: Navigating the Aged Care system

We've all heard that the world's population is ageing. And our Sydney Jewish community is ageing at an even faster rate. But what does this mean for you and your family? Bringing together some of our community's leading minds in ageing, across a variety of relevant organisations, we will discuss what they have learned from their shared wealth of experience on the front lines of aged care. What does ageing currently look like in our community? How are we responding to current need, and planning for the future? What could ageing look like in ten, twenty or thirty years, and what practical steps can we take to bring this dream vision of growing older to life? And what should we be doing, as individuals and families, to ensure that we have the best possible journey through ageing?

Moderators

Melissa Levi

Over a decade ago, Melissa embarked on a career as a Clinical Psychologist specialising in older people's mental health and dementia. She describes it as one of the richest sources of fulfilment in her life. Melissa has come to know that while every family’s story is unique, they... Read More →

Presenters

Robert Orie

Robert is the CEO of Montefiore, a not-for-profit charitable organisation providing residential aged care, home and community care services and retirement living. He has held senior management positions in the aged care sector for more than 35 years. During that time he has developed... Read More →

Mark Avraham

Mark has been a practising social worker since 1998, with a career spanning child care, disability, mental health and refugees. He is currently working for JewishCare in the Community Aged Services team, whose aim is to support the aged community, including Holocaust survivors, to... Read More →

Tamar Krebs

Tamar is all about doing dementia differently. In 2011, Tamar founded Group Homes Australia, an innovative dementia and ageing small scale model. She attended 62 meetings, 38 presentations, was rejected 37 times before she found the right people to support her vision. In a career... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Uni Bar

Society and Politics, Panel

12:45pm AEST

Bam!# Boom!#! Pow%$! - arguing as a creative act

Arguments are often avoided. They can be scary, caustic and hurtful. However, arguments can also be healthy, thoughtful and life-giving. In this session, through a careful and interactive study of Jewish texts, including from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, we will explore how arguments can contribute to ourselves and to our society

Presenters

Abi Dauber Sterne

Abi is the co-author of Stories for the Sake of Argument. She has worked in the United States and in Israel as an educator and organisational leader for more than 20 years. Abi was the founding director of Limmud NY, has served as VP for Jewish Education at Hillel International and... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 12:45pm - 1:45pm AEST
Collab Space 1

Text and Tradition, Presentation

2:00pm AEST

The Urban Farmers guide to shmitah in your garden

Top soil is our most valuable resource and it is eroding away quicker than the mini-bagels at kiddush. In this session we will delve into the current situation of our agricultural system, how it is impacting the world around us, and unpack what ancient Jewish wisdom has to say about it.

Presenters

Mitch Burnie

Mitch is the founder and director of Adamama Jewish Urban Farm Project, the first of its kind in Australia. He is an experienced food grower, informal educator and fermenter. He has been running the farm for three years, connecting sustainability, Jewish tradition and community. Mitch... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Collab Space 1

Arts and Culture, Presentation

2:00pm AEST

Why I believe in Israel's future: a father's story

When I was our kids' age, more or less, my then-girlfriend-now-wife and I left one life we were destined to live in America, and took on a different life in Israel. There were years when I wondered if I had done wrong by my kids, bringing them up in a place of conflict, uncertainty, division and all the rest. Attitudes towards Israel around the world grew more hostile, and I despaired. Lately, though, I have lost my talent for worrying about Israel. Though lots of people seem to think that Israel has declined over the decades, the opposite is true. I have seen Israel become a more decent society, more open-hearted and open-minded. In this session I will describe some of the many ways Israel has become more ‘menschlich’ through the years, and why I am confident that our future there will be better still.

Presenters

Noah Efron

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Room 4

Everything Israel, Presentation

2:00pm AEST

CANCELLED - The power of oneness: making your relationship work for you

To merge or not to merge? Enforced COVID lockdowns, working from home, not being able to travel have created more time together for many couples, yet divorce rates and marital unhappiness are soaring. How are we to remain our own person whilst living in a loving relationship? There are things we must do to nurture our relationships and this session will give you some take-home ideas.

Presenters

Amanda Gordon

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Room 8

Mind Body and Soul, Presentation

2:00pm AEST

KAPOW! Krav Maga and self-defence

In this very interactive session, we will learn several basic techniques for how to defend yourself from an opponent coming from the front, and also learn a few nice holds. Come wearing comfortable clothes!

Presenters

Dror Baraam

Dror has a Brazilian Jiu Jitzu Blue Belt and is a Hebrew teacher at Moriah College. He was a Staff Sergeant in the IDF Airforce. Dror is a committed learner and enjoys positive teamwork.

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Club Bar

Mind Body and Soul, Workshop

2:00pm AEST

PANEL: What do we do when religion meets politics?

This panel will explore politics and religion from the perspective of a NSW parliamentarian and representatives of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. The panel will focus on the intersection of politics and religion, including the IHRA definition of Anti-Semitism and the recently-debated Religious Discrimination legislation.

Moderators

Josh Swift

Joshua holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science Hons and a PhD in molecular oncology from UNSW and is currently in the final year of an executive MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management. He has been a Deputy and member of the Education Committee at the Jewish Board of Deputies... Read More →

Presenters

Darren Bark

As the Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Darren is an accomplished professional with experience leading senior multidisciplinary teams and collaborating strategically and effectively with stakeholders. After working in the IT and legal sectors, Darren worked... Read More →

Julia Sussman

Marjorie O'Neill

Marjorie was elected in 2019 to State Parliament to represent the Eastern Suburbs in the Seat of Coogee and is the first female to ever be elected to represent this Seat. A former Waverley Councillor where she was Chair of Surf Life Saving Committee as well as the Safety Advisory... Read More →

Scott Farlow

The Hon Scott Farlow MLC was elected to the NSW Legislative Council in March 2015, representing the Liberal Party of Australia. Scott currently serves as the Government Whip in the Legislative Council, with significant responsibilities in the coordination and operation of the Chamber... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Uni Bar

Society and Politics, Panel

2:00pm AEST

The dilemmas confronting Jewish youth: what comes first, our Judaism or our humanity?

Through social media, progressive activism, political polarisation and rampant individualism, young Jews around Australia are grappling with the relevance of their Jewish roots. When humanistic values are so powerful in shaping individual behaviour, it can feel as though there is little room left for Jewish identity as a guiding force in young people’s lives. But this does not have to be the case. By revisiting the powerful history of youth movements, reformulating our conception of Jewish identity and reshaping Jewish institutions, we can reclaim the participation of young people in our beautiful religion, tradition, and culture

Presenters

Avishai Conyer

Avishai is the mazkir (chairperson) of Netzer Sydney, the global youth movement of the Progressive Jewish and Reform Zionist community. He is studying Law and PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics) at UNSW while working as a youth educator and b'nei mitzvah tutor for Emanuel Synagogue... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Room 5

Society and Politics, Presentation

2:00pm AEST

Conversion: easy for Ruth, hard for us

The original Jewish text pertaining to conversion details a very straight forward and welcoming process of learning and acceptance right off the bat. During this session we will discover and discuss what has happened over the course of time and why it has led to a much more onerous process to welcome converts into the Jewish people.

Presenters

Rafi Kaiserblueth

Rafi is a world traveler, having spent time in the United States, Argentina, Israel, and the United Kingdom. He was born in Puerto Rico and is married with 3 children. Rafi was ordained in 2010 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and has dedicated his rabbinate to making... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
Room 6

Text and Tradition, Presentation

3:15pm AEST

Can Israelis and Palestinians share Jerusalem in peace?

In this session, Ittay will share his reflections about the complex identities of Jewish, Muslim and Christian residents of Jerusalem through his experience as the Education Director at Kids4Peace, an interfaith youth movement in Sheikh Jarrah.

Presenters

Ittay Flescher

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Room 2/3

Everything Israel, Presentation

3:15pm AEST

Sydney Jewish Museum: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

The Sydney Jewish Museum opened its doors in 1992 and we will celebrate our 30th birthday in November. Aviva will discuss the Museum then, now and our plans for the future. The presentation will also include information regarding the wonderful Holocaust survivors who were the founders of the Museum, some of whom are still volunteering 30 years later.

Presenters

Aviva Wolff

Aviva is the Operations and Events Manager of the Sydney Jewish Museum, where she has worked for 12 years. She is passionate about the Museum and hopes to be involved well into the future. In her previous life, Aviva worked as Operations Manager of a large construction company in... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Room 5

History and Memory, Presentation

3:15pm AEST

Jewish dances of universal peace

In this uplifting session, Ben-Zion will share his thoughts on Jewish dances of universal peace as a spiritual practice and their application to healing and peace making. These dances are prayers and will be accompanied with guitar. Through demonstration, Ben-Zion will introduce the movements, the words and the music accompanying the dances. These are participatory dances for those who wish to dance but session attendees are welcome to just sing along or watch.

Presenters

Ben-Zion Weiss

Ben-Zion is a community educator in social ecology, meditation, yoga, Sufism, drama, ESOL, cross-cultural conflict and non-violence training. Ben-Zion has lectured at university and his PhD is on anti-racism drama education. He has written books, chapters, papers on creativity, education... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Club Bar

Mind Body and Soul, Workshop

3:15pm AEST

PANEL: Abortion, should Jews be for or against?

The American about face on abortion - what should Jews think about it? Do about it? This panel of diverse views will provoke debate and rethinking on this polarising issue.

Moderators

Viva Hammer

Viva is partner in a major Washington law firm where she advises on political strategy and international tax policy. Her book Child Desire interviews mothers of large families to shed light on why women do - and increasingly don't - have children nowadays. Viva has launched and leads... Read More →

Presenters

Gad Krebs

Gad was born to a traditional family in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1997 he and his entire family moved to Sydney where he studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Information Systems), at UNSW. It was during this time that he decided to explore his Jewish roots and spent time... Read More →

Dr Susan Warchaizer

Susan is an obstetrician-gynaecologist in the centre of Israel. She received her medical degree from Tel Aviv University Sackler, completed her training in the United States and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She has practised in Princeton, New Jersey and many other... Read More →

Dr Lynn Townsend

Lynn is an enthusiastic Obstetrician Gynaecologist. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Sydney and was awarded the Royal North Shore Medal during her final year. Lynn also holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiology from the University of... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Uni Bar

Mind Body and Soul, Panel

3:15pm AEST

Bridging divides: a response to the Sydney Festival Boycott

The boycott of this year’s Sydney Festival by the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement shocked and saddened many of us. Local violinist Ben and festival organiser Nawfel, who fled Iraq as a refugee in 2005, were particularly aggrieved by the activists’ claims that the Sydney Festival had been rendered “culturally unsafe” on account of the Israeli Embassy agreeing to fund one show. Ben and Nawfel published an op-ed in The Sydney Morning Herald opposing the boycott and the politicisation of art, and have since been engaged in building cultural bridges between their communities. This is their story.

Presenters

Ben Adler

Ben is a Sydney-based Jewish Australian violinist and the son of an Egyptian refugee. He has lectured in music at UNSW, and has performed with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Ben currently leads klezmer fusion band CHUTNEY and the Nomad String Quartet. He also plays regularly at... Read More →

Nawfel Alfaris

Nawfel is an Iraqi-born Australian Mandeaen who arrived here as a refugee in 2005. He works in the pharmaceutical industry. Nawfel is passionate about organising cultural events that introduce ethnic diversity to mainstream Australian society.

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Room 7/8

Society and Politics, Presentation

3:15pm AEST

Jewish approaches to cancel culture: ancient wisdom for modern problems

Is the dynamic of cancel culture on social media a tool for social justice or a destructive force in society? In this session we examine a range of Jewish texts and what they have to say about shame, dignity, and calling out bad behaviour and how these lessons from our tradition can be applied to deal with modern dilemmas.

Presenters

Judith Levitan

Judith is a community educator and lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the field of social justice. She currently works at Legal Aid NSW, where she uses human-centred design to innovate and improve legal services for disadvantaged people. Judith was also recently appointed... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Room 6

Text and Tradition, Presentation

3:15pm AEST

Yom Kippur: second chances and a successful 'forgiveness scene'

What should be our attitude towards people who have hurt us? Does Judaism believe that they should be easily or automatically forgiven? What if it is emotionally difficult for us to do so? How do we know when others have sincerely repented their wrongdoing? What if they do not apologise or we think the apology is insincere? Does religion create an unfair expectation that we should forgive people who have injured us? And what about a more serious betrayal such as adultery? Can one atone from that? Does Judaism believe in second chances? What are the elements of a successful “forgiveness scene”? This session will address how one begins the work of forgiveness, not as an occasional piece of drama, but as a daily life skill.

Presenters

Elliott Malamet

Sunday September 11, 2022 3:15pm - 4:15pm AEST
Collab Space 1

Text and Tradition, Presentation

4:30pm AEST

Composing from the heart

Over the past two years, Sam has worked on exploring history via young voices through his work with the Sydney Children’s Choir, which commissioned him to compose a suite of choral works. The pieces explored the universal themes of remembrance, coexistence, love, loss and peace. Each piece has a specific connection to the Holocaust and Sydney's Jewish community. Sam will share his deeply personal compositional journey and process of writing his works, which included the uncovering of an undiscovered family artefact from pre-war Germany in the Jewish Museum’s archives. This gave him the chance to connect to his great-grandmother, whom he never had the chance to meet, for the first time through her poetry, which Sam then set to song. Sam will discuss other inspirations behind the works (spoiler alert: Eddie Jaku’s book is one of them!), and working with the Sydney Children’s Choir and the Sydney Jewish Museum to bring these works to life.

Presenters

Sam Weiss

Sam is an emerging composer for film, television and media, saxophonist, conductor and musical director based in Sydney, Australia. Sam has honed his compositional craft through studying a Bachelor of Music (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce degree at UNSW and a Master of Arts: Screen... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Room 4

Arts and Culture

4:30pm AEST

Stories for the Sake of Argument: how to argue about Israel!

In this workshop, we will learn several frameworks for robust conversations. Through reading fun, quirky short stories from the newly-published book Stories for the Sake of Argument, we will discuss the complexities that arise in Israel, ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the relationship between religion and State, to the place of refugees in our homeland.

Presenters

Abi Dauber Sterne

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Room 6

Everything Israel, Presentation

4:30pm AEST

Feldenkrais: Awareness through movement

Through principles from the Feldenkrais Method we will explore some movement strategies and discover how each person's unique ways can be transformed, potentially into that playful way we used to move when we were younger! The Feldenkrais Method was founded by Moshé Feldenkrais, a Ukrainian-Israeli engineer and physicist, and it is a system of physical exercise that aims to improve human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement. By becoming aware of how you move, you gain choices – and not just choices in the way you stand up, sit, walk or reach for a glass, but choices about how you live in the world. Along with this comes opportunities to be curious, experimental and to choose painless, perhaps even pleasurable, interactions and ways of moving.

Presenters

Margaret Kaye

Margaret has been teaching the Feldenkrais Method of Movement for over 20 years. She is a certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, assistant trainer, and member of the Australian Feldenkrais Guild. She has run an active practice since graduation from the Melbourne Feldenkrais Professional... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Room 2/3

Mind Body and Soul, Workshop

4:30pm AEST

A spiritual approach to combating antisemitism

We cannot let antisemitism define our Judaism, but we cannot ignore it either. As direct memory of the Holocaust fades and as Jews today experience more hate crimes than any other group, Jewish communities around the world are wondering whether the patterns of past centuries are returning.. This session takes a Jewish spiritual approach to combating antisemitism. We can fight hate with hope and stand tall against antisemitism with positivity, purpose, and plenty of Jewish pride.

Presenters

Eli Feldman

Eli is the Chief Minister of Newtown Synagogue, in Sydney’s inner west. In addition to that role, Eli is the Jewish Chaplain to Sydney University, UNSW and Macquarie University. He is also Chairman of the Young Adult Chabad Benevolent Society, which has been providing a range of... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Room 7/8

Society and Politics, Presentation

4:30pm AEST

Debating The Final Solution?

Author Liza Wiemer found herself in the small US town of Oswego, New York, where a teacher had given school students an antisemitic assignment. The assignment required the students to pretend they were Nazis and advocate for the Final Solution of the Jewish Question. This incident hit the news and went viral. What transpired afterward led Liza on an incredible journey, helping to make a profound difference to help stop antisemitism in schools across the US and beyond. Liza will share behind-the-scenes information, research, and why this book is helping to change Holocaust education, connecting the past to what is transpiring in society today.

Presenters

Liza Wiemer

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Room 5

Society and Politics, Presentation

4:30pm AEST

PANEL: The power of multi-faith and cultural alliances to tackle climate change

In this panel session you will hear the perspectives of Aboriginal, Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist leaders who are working to mobilise their communities to advocate for bold climate action. The panelists will share teachings from their traditions that inspire their work, the challenges they encounter, and the power of alliance to effect change. Participants will learn about the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and other initiatives that build alliance and amplify community voices to address the most pressing issue of our time.

Moderators

Michal Frankel

Michal is the Community Conservation and Social Impact Manager at Greening Australia and serves on the board of the Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens. She is a volunteer with the Jewish Sustainability Initiative in Sydney and has been involved in a variety of Jewish environmental... Read More →

Presenters

Bruce Shillingsworth

Bruce is a First Nations artist and rights activist. The Muruwari and Budjiti man has been prominently campaigning for just management of the Barwon-Darling River System which is an “ecosystem in crisis”. "The old knowledge that our old people have had for thousands and thousands... Read More →

Byron Smith

Byron is a Christian ecological ethicist living on unceded Gadigal land with his wife Jessica and their two children. Byron has fifteen years’ experience in pastoral ministry with local churches, and received honours degrees in theology, philosophy and literature. His PhD in theological... Read More →

Fahimah Badrulhisham

Fahimah is a Muslim living on unceded Bidjigal country. She is a registered architect and runs her own architecture practice that focuses on energy efficient, low carbon buildings. She is also the lead anti-coal organiser at Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC... Read More →

George Mordecai

After serving as the cantor at congregations throughout the USA, George returned to Emanuel Synagogue. He weaves his rich cultural heritage into his work as both a cantor and performer plus has over 20 years’ experience in building community. He is well known to many in the community... Read More →

Mari Rhydwen Roshi

Mari Rhydwen Roshi teaches at the Zen Group of Western Australia but lives in Sydney where, following her retirement from full-time work as a linguist specialising in Aboriginal languages, she started Contemplative Rebels, an Extinction Rebellion Group that meets to sit in silent... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Uni Bar

Society and Politics, Panel

4:30pm AEST

Why the South Koreans are studying Talmud

Join Deb for a high-energy, engaging session about how the Talmud became a best-seller in South Korea. A fascinating journey from America to Japan to South Korea. Enjoy a taste of Talmud and why we should be as excited about our rich heritage of learning as our South Korean friends are!

Presenters

Deb Levy Friedler

Deb is the new Rebbetzin of Kehillat Masada on Sydney's North Shore, working alongside her husband Rabbi Natti Friedler. She is known for her warm and engaging speaking, teaching and facilitation. Deb was born in New Zealand and is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. She has... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
Collab Space 1

Text and Tradition, Presentation

5:45pm AEST

Honour your father and mother: supporting our aged community as a career and a mitzvah

With an ageing population supporting our elders is a growth area in the care economy. Many tireless and hardworking compassionate professionals work with this care group and more are still needed to meet the increasing care needs. JewishCare is one organisation supporting the aged community to live at home. This presentation gives a professional perspective on how we do this, interwoven with a personal story about why one might choose to work in the aged care sector.

Presenters

Mark Avraham

Sunday September 11, 2022 5:45pm - 6:45pm AEST
Room 4

Mind Body and Soul, Presentation

5:45pm AEST

Mystical spirituality through a Jewish lens

This session offers an experiential opportunity to engage body, mind and spirit in the pursuit of connection to the “one behind the many”. This session will work through a textual study of the seminal Kabbalistic work, the Zohar, as well as singing bowls meditation, movement, poetry and prayer. No prior experience necessary; an open-hearted curiosity is helpful.

Presenters

Kim Gotlieb

Kim is a psychotherapist and spiritual seeker who has studied Jewish Renewal and led a range of services and teachings, including at Limmud, as well as teaching bar and bat mitzvah students. He has studied a range of spiritual approaches, including Vipassana meditation, yoga and a... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 5:45pm - 6:45pm AEST
Room 2/3

Mind Body and Soul, Workshop

5:45pm AEST

Holocaust Education: How some assignments fuel antisemitism and what we can do to make a positive difference

As the author of The Assignment, Liza Wiemer has done extensive research into Holocaust education, revealing and stopping numerous inappropriate assignments that promote antisemitism and other forms of hatred, including in schools. Through her work, she is helping educators and students connect the past with what is transpiring in society today. In this session, Liza will share behind-the-scenes information, the broad impact these assignments have on the world, and how her novel is changing parents', teachers’, and students’ perspectives, empowering them to be upstanders for a better world.

Presenters

Liza Wiemer

Sunday September 11, 2022 5:45pm - 6:45pm AEST
Room 6

Society and Politics, Presentation

5:45pm AEST

PANEL: Sharing Interfaith, Afghan, Muslim, Jewish perspectives on September 11

How can we counter the primal call for collective retribution and foster social cohesion in Australia? Focussing on the September 11 attacks and what they represented significantly for all worldwide, this panel will facilitate the discussion surrounding lived Afghani experiences and the efforts of interfaith outreach here in Australia since the devastating 9/11 attacks. As organisations such as the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and Together for Humanity and Affinity delve deeply in to interfaith relations and outreach, this session will also explore recent efforts taken by humanitarian outreach organisation, the Massoud Foundation, who are committed to fostering an enduring relationship between Australians and the people of Afghanistan.

Presenters

Zalman Kastel

Zalman is the National Director of Together For Humanity. Rabbi Kastel was raised in the ultra-orthodox Hasidic tradition in the racially divided Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, New York. He saw the world through the lens of his absolute tradition and the narrative of his community... Read More →

Shahri Rafi

Shahri is a Sydney based lawyer and originally a Tajik from Afghanistan. Shahri came to Australia around 14 years ago as a student to pursue her Masters degree at UTS. After completing her MA, she continued her legal education and pursued a Juris Doctor degree which qualified her... Read More →

Bilal Waheed

Bilal is the founder and executive director of the Massoud Foundation Australia. He has been supporting newly arrived refugees from Afghanistan and advocating for those seeking humanitarian protection. He has had a strong focus on girls’ education including facilitating online education... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 5:45pm - 6:45pm AEST
Uni Bar

Society and Politics, Panel

5:45pm AEST

Sephardic, Mizrahi & LGBTIQ+: lifting our stories out of the margins

How have LGBTIQ+ experiences been represented in Sephardic-Mizrahi cultures? What are challenges that Sephardic-Mizrahi Queer Jews have faced in finding spaces that fully embrace their identities? We'll explore these questions and then focus on the creation of a grassroots movement that has provided a vibrant and much-needed community at the intersection of LGBTIQ+ and Sephardic-Mizrahi life.

Presenters

Ruben Shimonov

Sunday September 11, 2022 5:45pm - 6:45pm AEST
Room 5

Society and Politics, Presentation

5:45pm AEST

Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits: faith as a fellowship; Judaism as a non-mystical religion

Rabbi Dr Eliezer Berkovits was one of the most influential, prolific and creative Orthodox theologians of the twentieth century. He based his ideas about religion on the concept of fellowship between humanity and God. This is the reason why Berkovits defined Judaism, and indeed all authentic religion, as being non-mystical. This session will explain why.

Presenters

Benjamin Elton

Benjamin is from Manchester and after Cambridge and London Universities spent seven years in the British Civil Service. He trained for the Rabbinate in New York and has been the Chief Minister of The Great Synagogue since 2015. He and his wife Hinda have two children, Lizzie and... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 5:45pm - 6:45pm AEST
Collab Space 1

Text and Tradition, Presentation

6:30pm AEST

Dinner

Dinner available for purchase

Sunday September 11, 2022 6:30pm - 8:00pm AEST

7:00pm AEST

An evening of music and entertainment

Join us for an evening of entertaining music, dancing and possibly even more discussion!

CHUTNEY is a Sydney-based ensemble of passionate, talented musicians who play their unique brand of world music with crisp-as-a-cucumber melodies and the taste of cultural fusion. A dash of klezmer, a splash of funk, some middle-eastern vibes, not to mention shmultz and the odd blues notes, and you have CHUTNEY. On stage, everything is allowed: expect jazzy improvisation jams to high-spirited melodies that will surprise you. They come together for a spicy blend of sounds that will make your body dance and your ears sing.

The Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) is proud to present a sneak peek at their 2022 program: the first episode of the hilarious award-winning Israeli series 'Bloody Murray'. Winner of the Best Comedy Prize at Series Mania, the series centres on best friends and roommates Murray, a film lecturer specialising in romantic comedies, and Dana, a gynaecologist, as they navigate the often messy tangles of love and life.

The first three episodes will play at JIFF, screening at Ritz Cinemas, Randwick and Roseville Cinemas from October 25.

The full JIFF program will be revealed on September 16 at www.jiff.com.au

Artists

CHUTNEY

JIFF

JIFF, the Jewish International Film Festival, is the home of the most comprehensive selection of Israeli and Jewish-themed films in Australia. The films premiere in cinemas at our annual three week film festival. JIFF is building on the long and proud 30-year history of Jewish film... Read More →

Sunday September 11, 2022 7:00pm - 9:00pm AEST
Main Stage

Arts and Culture, Music & Entertainment