LIMMUD NZ 2013: Full Schedule

Take a look at our interactive programme! You can view it as a grid, as a list, or in detailed format. Hover over the session name to find out who is presenting it. Children’s programme all day Sunday - view the programme. You can connect your Facebook account and tag the sessions you’re interested in and see what your friends are going to! Browsing on a smartphone? Click here to download a mobile web app version of the programme and take it with you on the Sunday!

1:00pm PDT

The Heritage of all Israel

Location: School Hall
This session covers similar ground to Ruth Calderon’s famous maiden Knesset speech demonstrating that Torah learning is for everyone regardless of background or religious affiliation.

Presenter/s

Ruth Calderon

Ruth Calderon is an Israeli academic (with a PhD in Talmud) and a politician. Until recently she was best-known as the founder of ALMA, the "Secular Yeshiva" which seeks to make Jewish culture & Torah learning available to secular Israelis. After her election to the Knesset in 2013... Read More →

Saturday August 10, 2013 1:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
1

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

2:55pm PDT

Freedom of Expression versus anti-Semitism: A Case for Censorship?

Location: Room 152
Freedom of expression is commonly understood as a pivotal human right and, particularly in Western democracies, one that is often protected at the cost of many other societal values. This can have interesting and problematic consequences when faced with anti-Semitic expression. This seminar will discuss the balance between expression and censorship, both in theory and practice, in seeking to understand how best to respond to anti-Semitic expression in the 21st Century.

Presenter/s

Liora Bercovitch

Liora has spent her entire 21 years involved as a member of the Christchurch Hebrew Congregation. She is in her final semester of a LLB(Hons) & BA majoring in Political Science. Liora was involved with Habonim Dror as both a chanicha and madricha, including working as Rosh South Island... Read More →

Saturday August 10, 2013 2:55pm - 3:55pm PDT
1

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

4:05pm PDT

The Mystical Origins of Hasidism

Location: Room 145
Hassidism, the Eastern European piety movement, has profoundly influenced the character of Judaism today. It first emerged in the eighteenth century by combining elements of the Jewish mysticism with folk culture and religion. We will examine the emergence of this highly diverse movement – the history and elements of its theology. The hour will be spent learning through a selection of texts leading us from early mysticism to the era of the Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of Hassidism.

Presenter/s

Brent Gutmann

Rabbi Brent Gutmann serves as the newly appointed Rabbi of Beth Shalom Congregation. He received his rabbinical ordination (Smicha) from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati earlier this year. Rabbi Brent’s rabbinical thesis studied the philosophy of Emmanuel... Read More →

Saturday August 10, 2013 4:05pm - 5:03pm PDT
3

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

10:15am PDT

"Dance me to the children who are asking to be born”: Jewish ethical considerations of IVF

Location: Room 149
For many Jewish couples I.V.F is the only way to "be fertile and multiply". During the session we will deal with the possible ethical complications and the ways that modern and traditional Judaism solves them, the roll of rabbinic leadership in the fast evolving medical discourse and the tension parents experience between the medical and the religious discourse.

Presenter/s

Adi Cohen

Rabbi Adi Cohen is the Rabbi of Temple Sinai, the Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation. He was previously the Rabbi of Brit Olam, a Progressive Jewish congregation in Kiryat On, Israel. He has also taught law and Jewish ethics at Metro West High School in Ra'anana, and worked... Read More →

Jill Gutmann

Jill Gutmann recently arrived in Auckland with her husband, Rabbi Brent Gutmann, and daughter Daria. She holds a Masters degree in Jewish bioethics from Hebrew Union College (HUC) in Cincinnati and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine... Read More →

Sunday August 11, 2013 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
3

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

1:30pm PDT

Modern solutions for the Agunah

Location: Room 152
The Ketubah is the most important legal Jewish document that a man can sign; his wife becomes consecrated to him, and the husband accepts an obligation to take care of his wife. In order to terminate this relationship, the husband must give his wife a get. In years past, Jews were self-governing and the Beit Din could exercise its authority to influence members who did not carry out their duties. This is not the case today. Michelle Gezentsvey-Lamy will look at several halachic sources on a Jewish divorce, the giving of the get, and her personal journey before her marriage. Part of the documentary ‘Women unchained’ will be screened.

Presenter/s

Michelle Gezenstvey-Lamy

Born in Venezuela, Michelle immigrated to NZ in 1985. She has a PhD in Psychology which examined the role of the individual in ethnocultural groups, comparing Jewish, Māori & Chinese continuity. She was awarded a Lady Davis Post-Doctoral Fellowship at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem... Read More →

Sunday August 11, 2013 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
4

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

1:30pm PDT

The Significance of the Red Thread: workshop session

Location: Room 155
A workshop exploring the imagery of the red thread; controversial status of amulets as seen in the relationship between folk practice and traditional Jewish legal authorities.

Presenter/s

Jacqueline Nicholls

Jacqueline is a London-based fine artist who uses art to explore and challenge traditional Jewish ideas in untraditional ways. Jacqueline has used many different media and craft techniques - drawings, print, embroidery, tailoring, paper-cutting, knitting - to express the concepts... Read More →

Sunday August 11, 2013 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
2

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

2:45pm PDT

Why be Jewish? Q&A for Teens

Location: Room 152
Have you ever found yourself the only Jewish teenager in class?. Ever wondered "why should I be different?", why do we read Hebrew from the wrong side of the page?", who do we talk to when we pray? An open session for you to ask all the questions that you never asked but for which you always wanted an answer. Mendy Goldstein (a Chabad Rabbi) and Adi Cohen (a Progressive Rabbi) invite you to engage in an informal conversation about Judaism and your Jewish identity.

Presenter/s

Adi Cohen

Mendy Goldstein

Rabbi Mendel Goldstein is the Director of the Raye Freedman Library, responsible for library's cultural and educational community development initiatives. He is a graduate of the Rabbinical College of America and qualified as a Rabbi in Melbourne, Australia. Rabbi Goldstein lectures... Read More →

Sunday August 11, 2013 2:45pm - 3:45pm PDT
4

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

4:00pm PDT

Substance or nonsense? A Jewish approach to social media

Location: Room 155
More than ever we're spending more time in front of a screen: on blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. With a tap or swish of a finger, any person can discover and even create new worlds. Do social media technologies restrict, disrupt or enrich the messages and content we are exposed to? What should the Jewish approach be to the integration of social media into our everyday lives? Run by the leaders of Habonim Dror and Bnei Akiva, this interactive session will explore our engagement with new media through two different ideological prisms, using personal and youth movement experiences.

Presenter/s

Sarah Livschitz

Sarah is Rosh Auckland Ken (head of Habo in Auckland) for 2013. She went on Shnat Hachshara in 2011, and is now studying Management and Education at the University of Auckland.

Sunday August 11, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
3

Jewish Thought-Philosophy

4:00pm PDT

The Symbolism of the Magen David

Location: Room 152
Come and hear about the historical evolution of the Magen David from a pagan symbol to its adoption by King David. Learn about the relationship of the Magen David to the pyramids and see a fantastic video on the place of the Magen David in Jewish history from King David’s time up to our generation!
Explore the connection between the Magen David and modern Hebrew Letters.

Presenter/s

Hadas Carmy

Hadas Carmy was born in Israel and worked with the Israeli Labour Union (the Histadrut) as an Employees Advisor before entering the IT field in which she works today. She has a special interest in human and organisational Behaviour. And currently works as a SAP Senior Business... Read More →

Sunday August 11, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
4

Jewish Thought-Philosophy