Limmud OZ + NZ Online 2020: Full Schedule

In order to have access to this event in its entirety, BOOK TICKETS HERE!
You will receive more information on accessing sessions in the days leading up to the event.

Please be aware that all times are scheduled according to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Should you wish to visualise the schedule in your local time zone, see the "Timezone" button on the right hand side.

For a selection of published works by Limmud presenters, click here.

8:00pm AEST

Wait......you are an ORTHODOX woman Rabbi? How does that work?

CLICK HERE TO ENTER ZOOM ROOM 2
In this session Judith will discuss developments in Orthodox women’s spiritual leadership. She will also recount her personal journey towards smicha (rabbinic ordination) and what she plans to do next.....

Speakers

Judith Levitan

Judith Levitan is a lawyer with over 15 years experience in the field of social justice. She is a member of the Jewish Alliance Against Family Violence, represents the Jewish community at interfaith events, runs women’s tefilah services and teaches batmitzvah. She was recently conferred... Read More →

Saturday June 6, 2020 8:00pm - 9:00pm AEST
ROOM 2

Modern Jewish world

12:00pm AEST

Urban farm tour: connecting roots

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See what's growing and why at Adamama. We will take a tour through the farm, stopping along the way to discuss all the different touch points of Jewish culture, history and tradition.

Speakers

Mitch Burnie

Mitch is the manager of Adamama, Sydney's first Jewish Urban Farm. He is an alum of the Adamah fellowship in the US.

Sunday June 7, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST
ROOM 9

Modern Jewish world, Cool for Teens!

7:30pm AEST

Confused identities: Sir Peter Gluckman in conversation with Professor Paul Moon

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Join Professor Paul Moon and Sir Peter Gluckman in conversation about confused identities, confused involvement and a confused trajectory. “Identity & Involvement” volume 111 is a community history, launched to mark the Auckland Hebrew Congregation’s 180th anniversary. Over 120 community members contributed. Sir Peter will discuss his own contribution and views on identity and involvement.

Speakers

Peter Gluckman

Sir Peter Gluckman : Director, Koi Tū: Centre for Informed FuturesChair of the International Network of Government Science Advice, president-electof the International Science Council; global leader on science-policy, diplomacyand society interactions. Formerly a paediatric researcher... Read More →

Paul Moon

Paul is the author of several books on New Zealand history, which have been published by some of the biggest international publishers, including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Bloomsbury. He has researched Treaty claims, has appeared in local and international media.

Sunday June 7, 2020 7:30pm - 8:30pm AEST
ROOM 14

Modern Jewish world

7:30pm AEST

What’s in store for Jews in South Africa?

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Join Adam Mendelsohn as he analyses data from a new national study, and considers the present and future of the South African Jewish community.

Speakers

Adam Mendelsohn

Adam Mendelsohn is a historian of Jews in English-speaking lands and author of The Rag Race (an award-winning history of Jews and shmattes). Adam, who has a PhD from Brandeis University, directs the Kaplan Centre at the University of Cape Town, which studies South African Jewry... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2020 7:30pm - 8:30pm AEST
ROOM 10

Modern Jewish world

8:30pm AEST

Haredi Society and the Future of World Jewry

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During the past four decades the Haredi community has grown exponentially in Israel and the Diaspora. They have become a powerful political and social force while at the same time sinking into a cycle of poverty. Some prefer to remain behind the walls of the self imposed ghetto, while others seek to study and to integrate into the work force. For many, modernity and technology constitutes a threat while for some it is seen as an opportunity. What are the challenges facing this community as they seek to maintain hard core traditions in the face of technology and modernity?

Speakers

David Newman

David Newman is professor of Geopolitics at Ben-Gurion University in Israel, where he founded the Dept of Politics and Government and served as Dean from 2010-2016. He is currently researching the role of Lithuanian rabbis in twentieth century Britain. In 2013 he was awarded an OBE... Read More →

Sunday June 7, 2020 8:30pm - 9:30pm AEST
ROOM 11

Modern Jewish world

10:00am AEST

2020 in the United States: how the Jewish vote is changing and why it matters

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Ron Kampeas, the JTA's Washington bureau chief, explains why the Jewish vote may matter in November: the swing states (Florida, again!), the Israel policy, and the rise of the far-right. What's happening on the Democratic left and what about Bernie Sanders? What does Donald Trump mean when he talks about "very fine people"? What's the buzz at American Shabbat dinners, and at the JCC (when the JCCs reopen!)

Speakers

Ron Kampeas

Ron Kampeas is JTA's Washington Bureau Chief. He worked previously at The Associated Press, where he spent more than a decade in its bureaus in Jerusalem, New York, London and, most recently, Washington. He has reported from Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Bosnia and West Africa. While... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
ROOM 3

Modern Jewish world

11:00am AEST

Jewish AND: multiple identities for a vibrant Jewish future

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The last generation has seen increasing examples of being Jewish AND … Intermarriage, adoption and conversion have all transformed what it means to "look Jewish". What would it mean for the Jewish community to be truly open to multiple ethnic, cultural, or religious identities in one family, or even one person?

Speakers

Adam Chalom

Adam Chalom (pronounced “shalom” à la française) is Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism and Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in suburban Chicago. He has led conferences on young adult children of intermarriage, Jews... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2020 11:00am - 12:00pm AEST
ROOM 2

Modern Jewish world, Cool for Teens!

12:00pm AEST

Hasidic Yiddish on the internet

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Social media and communication apps have become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives. The same trend can be seen in the Hasidic community, including the spread of Hasidic blogs and forums, WhatsApp groups, and Telegram channels. In this session, we will consider the role of Hasidic Yiddish on the internet today, as well as the impact of online communication on the language itself. Familiarity with Yiddish is a plus but is not required.

Speakers

Isaac Bleaman

Isaac L Bleaman is assistant professor of linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on contemporary Yiddish-speaking communities in the United States. Isaac received his PhD in linguistics from New York University and his Master's in Yiddish studies... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST
ROOM 5

Modern Jewish world

6:30pm AEST

The Jews of Melbourne: views from abroad

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Rivke Margolis and David Slucki have recently moved to Melbourne from North America. Rivke arrived from Canada and David returned after nearly seven years in the United States. Together, they are embarking on a major project investigating the history of Melbourne’s Jewish life and culture. Please join them as they discuss their initial impressions of Melbourne Jewish life in 2020, and their vision for a project documenting its unique and vibrant cultural scene.

Speakers

David Slucki

David Slucki is an author and historian based in Melbourne, Australia. He is the Loti Smorgon Associate Professor in Contemporary Jewish Life and Culture in the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, Monash University From 2013-2019, he was an assistant professor in Jewish Studies... Read More →

Rebecca Margolis

Professor Rebecca Margolis is Director and Pratt Foundation Chair of Jewish Civilisation at Monash University. Her research deals with migrant Jewish culture, notably the ways in which Yiddish language and culture has evolved over the last century. She is currently working on a project... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2020 6:30pm - 7:30pm AEST
ROOM 9

Modern Jewish world, Cool for Teens!

7:30pm AEST

Communal resilience and the ultimate pivot

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We have all been talking about what has happened over the past few months, but now is the time to begin a forward focus look at what our communal Jewish landscape could look like. Whether it is philanthropy, support for Israel, cultural activities, or education – the world as we knew it has changed, and now we have the opportunity to shape the world we would like to see.

Speakers

Yigal Nissel

Yigal Nisell is JNF Australia's Education Shaliach.Arriving in Australia in 2015, Yigal’s vision is to infuse a love and understanding of Israel through JNF. Yigal uses education and outreach programs in Jewish day schools and holiday camps, to demonstrate the tangible contributions... Read More →

Sue Meltzer

Sue has been an Educator for over 30 years, both in teaching and management roles.The last 5 have been as the Principal of Kadimah School in Auckland New Zealand.Kadimah is state integrated school, we are state funded but we are able to keep our special character. This is a unique... Read More →

Tracie Olcha

Tracie Olcha is CEO at the Australian Jewish Funders (AJF), the network of Jewish donors inspiring effective philanthropy and strengthening community. Driven by Jewish values, the AJF aims to provide a space to enhance and nurture strategic philanthropy, explore philanthropic best... Read More →

Alon Meltzer

Alon is the Director of Programs at Shalom and Rabbi of Or Chadash Synagogue. He is studying a PhD in Law and has several degrees focusing on different passions. He loves to cook, paint, and learn. Father of 3 girls, he is a staunch Orthodox Feminist.

Stephen Chipkin

Three countries (South Africa, England and Australia)Four universities (Wits, Cape Town, Cambridge and UNSW)Four careers:Law (Freehills)Investment Banking (Ord Minnett/JP Morgan)Banking (Investec Bank Australia)Community (NSTE, Masada College and JCA) Current Community roles:President... Read More →

Monday June 8, 2020 7:30pm - 8:30pm AEST
ROOM 10

Modern Jewish world

11:00am AEST

Varieties of Yiddishism for the 21st Century

CLICK HERE TO ENTER ZOOM ROOM 17
Rokhl Kafrissen came to Yiddish as a young adult in college in the late 1990s. In the intervening two decades, the Yiddish world has changed and grown in some surprising ways. Today, interest in Yiddish comes from many places, and with many kinds of politics. Join Rokhl as she reflects on her own journey to Yiddish and what she sees as the future for Yiddishism.

Speakers

Rokhl Kafrissen

Rokhl is a journalist and playwright in New York City. She spent many years as a supertitle operator for New York's lively Yiddish theater scene, an experience which planted the seed for her new play, Shtumer Shabes. Her ‘Rokhl’s Golden City’ column covers new Yiddish art and... Read More →

Sunday June 14, 2020 11:00am - 12:00pm AEST
ROOM 17

Modern Jewish world