Limmud NY

Your nametag will indicate if you have purchased a lunch. Welcome to Limmud NY!

Asking forgiveness of people we may have aggrieved is a core principle in Judaism, and is central to a developmentally useful process leading up to Yom Kippur. But interpersonal issues and squabbles are complex. We will study two Talmudic texts that present a basic framework, and analyze the motives and circumstances of the Talmud’s Biblical proof text about Joseph’s brothers asking him for ‘forgiveness.’ This will help us to better understand the process and what we can hope to achieve through it.

Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference is a 37-minute film exploring the triumph of the human spirit. Surrounded by enemies, Israelis have turned a desert into a flourishing, productive society. Hosted by former Harvard lecturer Tal Ben-Shahar, the film examines the core character strengths of the Israeli people. Following the film, there will be a discussion about Israel's history and accomplishments with Naomi Vilko, board member of JerusalemOnlineU.com and creator of the film.

Look around you: how many things do you see that record images, video, or sound? Most of us carry phones that record video. Let's take advantage of that by capturing the wonderfully rich world of Limmud NY. After a brief discussion of video blogging tips & tricks, participants will be set free to record any part of the Limmud NY experience that catches their interest. We will reunite on Sunday to share experiences & footage, which will be edited into a brief video shared with Limmud NY.

From Roman Vishniac to Diane Arbus, Jews have long been a major force in the world of photography, particularly in the genres of documentary and photojournalism. In this session, we will look at the work of several 20th-century and contemporary photographers through the lens of Tikkun Olam to explore how they used image making in pursuing this central Jewish value. Please bring your smartphone or a camera.

Every year, people go for a physical checkup. We get our teeth and cars checked annually. But when was the last time you went for a “spiritual checkup”? This session is the cornerstone workshop of Ayeka (Center for Soulful Education) and demonstrates the new paradigm of Soulful Education by focusing on sources from the Torah and Rav Kook and using our minds, hearts, and experiential exercises.

The entire Limmud NY 2013 community will join together for the first time at this not-to-be-missed welcoming event. Discover who is at Limmud NY this year; learn, laugh, raise your voices and be ready to challenge yourself as we embark on this four-day journey together. At the close of the program, everyone who wishes to will have the opportunity to light Shabbat candles in front of Ballrooms C and D.

Join Brian as he leads an inspiring Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service complete with melodies everyone can enjoy, from the most traditional to Shabbat songs of today. Brian will accompany the service with piano and percussion. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

We will pray the Friday night Shabbat Service filled with the melodies of Shlomo Carlebach. Aaron Leibowitz will teach, connecting our hearts, minds and souls to the prayers. Note: Seating is separate by gender.

Come join us in a joyful celebration of Shabbat. Based in music, meditation, and teachings, this Carlebach-style service will be accessible to all. Note: There will be mixed gender seating and instruments will be used.

More than just a laugh, improvisation is about living life with an open mind, listening to your partner, and going for the opportunity. Got a problem that needs solving? Why not try improv instead of those pills or affirmations? Grab a couch and let’s listen, improvise, apply and breathe. Improve with improv.

Leonid Feldman was a passionate leader in the Communist Youth movement – Komsomol. He was a patriot of his country who wanted to spread communism all over the world and destroy American imperialism. During his college studies, he received an “A” in Scientific Atheism – a mandatory subject in every Soviet university. Today, Feldman is the first and only Soviet-born Conservative Rabbi in America, serving a pulpit in West Palm Beach, Florida. This session will explore this remarkable transformation.

In 2000, I was sued for libel in the UK by Holocaust denier David Irving. The trial lasted 12 weeks and demonstrated how deniers twist and fabricate history. London’s Daily Telegraph wrote that the trial did “for the new century what the Nuremberg tribunals or the Eichmann trial did for earlier generations." The New York Times wrote that the trial "put an end to the pretense that Mr. Irving is anything but a self-promoting apologist for Hitler." We will explore this legal battle from forensic, historical, and personal perspectives.

How might the Biblical laws of shemittah (sabbatical year) bring meaning to our lives today? Join young Jewish farmers to delve into ancient texts that prescribe a year of rest for the land and for those who care for it. Learn about the Jewish Environmental movement's project to combat climate change while supporting sustainable communities. Presented through the Green Hevra: A New Coalition of Jewish Eco-Projects.

Interested in good company and stimulating conversation? Welcome to Friday Night Connections. With several themed conversations to choose from, facilitated by some of our top presenters, this is a GREAT way to  end your Shabbat meal while meeting new people. 

Stephen Tobolowsky performs true stories from his book The Dangerous Animals Club and from his podcast and radio program. These are frequently hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, always thought-provoking stories that often center around Jewish principles and thought. Beginning with a short story, he will then tell his story The Afflictions of Love.

Purim is probably the most absurd event in the Jewish calendar—a tale of pimping and drunkenness, assimilation and improbability. The book on which it’s based hardly sounds biblical, God does not get a mention, and the hero and heroine are not really people we would want to recommend to our children. So, given its implausibility what, if anything, can it teach us?

Tisch (Yiddish for Table) is the Hasidic custom of gathering around a table to share songs, words and drinks- all of the kind that warm up the inside. Prepare yourself to experience the best of Shabbat and Limmud NY all wrapped up in one joyous and uplifting session. Note: Alcohol will be available at the Tisch for participants who are 21 years of age and older.

If your clothes are frequently spattered with paint, this meetup is for you. Art amateurs, professionals, enthusiasts, and everyone in between is invited to meet each other here and to continue on to the Tisch as a group.

Meet other college students while (hopefully) avoiding all talk of midterm stress!  Socialize and explore what Limmud has to offer you, then continue on to the Tisch together as a group.

Advocates for causes Jewish and not are invited to connect informally during this session. Explore what Limmud has to offer you, then continue on to the Tisch as a group.

Current and aspiring writers, bloggers, and beat poets are invited to socialize and meet in this session. Discuss your favorite thesaurus, then continue on to the Tisch together as a group.

Every day (yomi) people across the Jewish world are learning a page of Talmud (daf) with the aim of completng the entire Talmud in seven years.  This global movement started in 1923 and has captured the imaginations pf thousands.  Everyone is encouraged to attend, from first timers to those following the current Daf Yomi cycle.  Today is Tractate Shabbat, daf (page) 136.  

Sit with someone new! Breakfast is a great time to meet new people at Limmud NY!

A slow and selective 90 minute service, including meditation, study, and conversation, this service will meet minimal Halachic (legal) requirements, making allowances for study and tefilah (prayer) enhancement. At the conclusion, participants are invited to join a minyan (prayer group) of their choosing for the Torah service and musaf (conclusion of Shabbat services).  Separate seating with no mechitza (divider). 

This traditional minyan (prayer group) will provide an inspiring prayer service with traditional liturgy and Carlebach Melodies. Men will lead services and women and men will pray together in a traditional and spirited environment. Note: No amplification or musical instruments will be used in this service. Seating will be separate by gender and with a mechitza (partition).

Modeled after Kehilat Shira Chadasha in Jerusalem and Darkhei Noam in Manhattan, this service aims to provide opportunities for women to participate within a traditional service with a mechitzah (partition). Both men and women will lead parts of this joyous and spirited service in the "Carlebach" style. Note: No amplification or musical instruments will be used in this service, and seating is separate by gender.

Join NYC educators Saul Kaiserman, Matt Check & Emily Walsh for Tot Shabbat! Tot Shabbat is geared for the “pre-k” population.  The interactive service includes Shabbat songs, dancing, prayers, interactive storytelling and more!  All are welcome to join in! Parents should accompany their children. 

Our sages teach us to pray in a language we understand. The original Reform service was in the vernacular, but over the years it has incorporated more & more Hebrew, even when many congregants do not understand the words they are praying. 

In this service, we will use mainly the English portions of “Mishkan T’Filah,” the Reform prayer book. Torah and Haftarah will also be read in English.  Afterward, there will be time to discuss the experience of a service conducted in English. Seating will be mixed gender, and both men and women will lead. 

"Religious experiences" don't always occur in religious spaces. They only require love, awe, intensity, and wonder. Epiphanies occur everywhere, whether you are in a mountaintop monastery or holding a tiny plastic cup in a hotel lobby at a Shabbat drinking meditation. Meditation is being firmly in the present, paying attention, and allowing yourself to plug in to your source. This meditation is for any child or adult who's looking for a way to playfully infuse holiness & intention into Shabbat.

NEW THIS YEAR: two-shift lunch. Eat lunch first and go to a 12:15 session OR go to a 12:00 session and eat lunch at 1:15.  There will be fresh food put out for the second shift at 1:15.  You are also welcome to take a boxed lunch to any session.

Jewish Innovation: widely discussed, but little understood. In this session we will explore both halves of the phrase both conceptually and practically: What has it meant to innovate in Jewish history and tradition? Which models of innovation are portable to the present? How does innovation work in practice? And how is the contemporary Jewish community true to these past paradigms?

At first consideration, it seems nearly impossible and unimaginable to contemplate eliminating the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony as a milestone event in the Jewish lifecycle. However, with some exploration of the history of the ceremony, an examination of the current crisis in post-B’nei Mitzvah drop-out, and consideration of how Jewish education could be drastically better without it, you too will understand why eliminating this ritual might be good for the Jewish people.

How did a small organization of Orthodox synagogues dominate the kosher food industry? And how did kashrut, to which only a minority of Jews in the US even adhered, become a multi-billion dollar business? The OU played an important role in shaping the new industry, beginning with placing its heksher on the first can of Heinz baked beans in 1923. This session explores how eating as a Jew in the US has radically changed from the turn of the 20th century to the turn of the 21st.

In this session we will read some well known Talmudic stories including the famous "Oven of Akhnai." Through close-reading we will explore the emotional lives of the Rabbis described, and ask what the Talmud (rabbinic writings) may be imparting by presenting us with such complex personalities.

Feminist scholars and readers alike are often appalled by the violence directed toward the wanton wife, Israel, for her misconduct against her beloved, loyal husband, G-d, in Ezekiel 16. In this session we will examine the problematic husband/wife metaphor with an eye for the sadomasochistic trope used by Ezekiel. How do contract and covenant bind G-d to Israel? Is the power play gender-essentialist? Is it a part of the exchange of trust at the core of Jewish theology? Come and see.

Our family stories do more than remind us of special moments in our children's lives; they help us understand the choices we make as parents. In addition, being parents connects us to our own childhood experiences. Join us for a reflective conversation about the moments that make us laugh, cry and take our breath away.

Children's book author Amy Meltzer will read aloud from her two pictures books, The Shabbat Princess and A Mezuzah on the Door (a selection of the PJ Library). She will be delighted to answer questions about how a story becomes a book and the many steps along the way.

Shed your inhibitions, bond, reflect and laugh. This Improv workshop focuses on Israel with an honest and hilarious way to discuss all those hard to reach issues. You’ll be stimulated, transformed and laugh all the way through it. Learn about yourself, the rules of improv and Jewish Peoplehood.

The zemirot are our folk music, yet their allusions--from the depths of our tradition and experience--are lost on many lay Jews. Jonathan is writing an English commentary on zemirot (above title) to unlock the secrets understood by their original audiences. Come and learn, and get “turned on” to enjoying these zemirot at your Shabbat meals!

The next sabbatical year, or shemittah, comes in 2014. This biblical-era practice has always been focused on the land of Israel, with no formal application in the Diaspora. But as the Jewish food movement has taken off in recent years, everyone from farmers to sustainable consumers have turned to shemittah as a model for a more humble, sustainable agricultural practice. We will look at a range of sources concerning the application of laws specific to the Land of Israel to the lands of the Diaspora.

This session will focus on using meditation as a tool for personal wellbeing and connecting or reconnecting Jewish educators with their own Jewish spiritual practice, which often (and ironically) gets lost while working in Jewish education. This session will also explore possibilities for adapting Jewish meditation exercises and practices for the classroom. Taught by leading Jewish meditation teacher, Alison Laichter, who loves teaching kids, tweens, and teens how to meditate, especially in a Jewish context, and whose favorite testimonial comes from Josh, a twelve-year-old hebrew school student: “This is a revolution!”

The loss of a loved one throws the world into chaos, for mourners and for the people who surround them. Whether you've been through a loss in your family, or you've recently tried to comfort someone who has, come for some open, honest talk about what may help, finding humor in unexpected places, and how today’s Jewish community (and you) can use technology and personal interactions to support those who grieve. (In memory of my mother, Shulamith z”l.)

Doesn't it seem like religious beliefs are always playing 'catch up' when it comes to human sexuality, sexual orientation and gender? Perhaps you have discussed these topics with your local rabbi, but when was the last time you learned about them from a rabbi, a priest and an imam? Join these three educators and faith practitioners in a serious conversation about where religious education meets human instinct. These three teach together regularly at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.

The traditional egalitarian service features spirited singing of the traditional liturgy with leadership and participation by both men and women. Note: No amplification or musical instruments will be used in this service. There will be mixed-gender seating.

This traditional minyan (prayer group) will provide an inspiring prayer service with traditional liturgy. Men will lead services, and women and men will pray together in a traditional and spirited environment. Note: No amplification or musical instruments will be used in this service. Seating will be separate by gender.

Do you have a favorite teaching? Something that hit you like a ton of bricks when you heard it? Became the lens through which you see the world? Maybe you have a personal take on a piece of text or tradition that you want to share with others but just never had the chance. This session is open to all. Torah, prayer, traditions and values are all on the table for this session of short (3-5 minutes), dynamic teachings. Show up, sign up and teach or come to hear fellow Limmudnyks share words of wisdom.

For all that is hard about prayer, blessing is remarkably easy. Fundamentally, blessing is about seeing and responding.  Mostly, it requires just the rudiments of spirituality: wonder, humility and gratitude. This interactive text study session draws from both more and less familiar passages in Torah, Midrash and the Siddur (prayerbook). All texts will be provided in Hebrew and English. We’ll learn about a little insight that’s also a big idea.

We will explore how Jewish tradition, from the Rabbinic period onward, has grappled with the issue of dementia and how we respond to it, for better or worse.

For many Jews, your pet is like a member of the family. So can you sit shiva for Fluffy or Fido? We'll explore what Jewish sources say about our relationship with companion animals. Pet-free types, as well as animal lovers, are encouraged to attend.

Queen Esther is often held up as the most powerful of Jewish women, for, after all, she was a Queen! But what were Esther's tools in becoming queen? What tools were at a woman's disposal in Biblical time and are these tools positive or negative? We'll look at some of the Biblical and Rabbinic sources on Queen Esther and attempt to understand if and how Esther can be a positive role model for us today. The session is open to all, and sources will be available in both English and Hebrew.

What is a person pledging when s/he converts to Judaism? How is it possible that even among Orthodox authorities, all of whom base their rulings on the same texts, debates rage about what makes a conversion valid? The reason, we’ll see, is that in ruling on conversion, rabbis are actually defining not only “WHO is a Jew?” but “WHAT is a Jew?” We’ll look at several Orthodox responsa to see that even Orthodox authorities disagree about the fundamental question: what does it mean to be a Jew?

The Shabbat experience wouldn't be complete without the mellow and meditative "Third Meal" made popular by the Kabbalists. Join composer and story teller Rabbi Yehoshua Engleman for a melodious, spirit filled gathering and light meal.

As the relationship between Israel and America -- and between Israeli and American Jews -- has shown recent signs of strain, Eli Valley's comics have explored the conflicting goals, priorities and value systems of the two communities.  In this session, we will read several of Eli's comics in hevruta style (in partnership) and discuss the issues they raise about Zionism, diaspora life, Jewish values and the meaning of Jewish pride and Jewish sovereignty today. Note: we’re using the term “hevruta” very loosely.

The 99% versus the 1% in the USA. Mass social protests in Israel. Greece and Spain in deep crisis. All developed nations are facing the challenge of inclusive growth, in an era of growing social gaps between the haves and the have-nots. The remedy for this crisis depends on having resilient, vibrant and prosperous communities. This is where the Jewish legacy of community and institution-building has a unique value proposition to Israel and the world.

Although Yiddish has been designated an endangered language by UNESCO, Orthodox Yiddish-speaking communities have multiplied at unprecedented rates, and Yiddish classes have spread world-wide. In recent years, the media has painted Yiddish as a language breathing its last, but also notes its current revival. This session will give a brief history of the Yiddish language since World War II, an overview of who is using Yiddish today, and ideas for keeping it vibrant well into the future.

In this decisive hour for Jewish-Christian relations each community is also struggling with its complex relationship to Israel. What do current initiatives contribute to this new reality and where are we lost? The Jewish thinkers Martin Buber, Abraham Joshua Heschel and Emil Fackenheim all argued --in different ways-- for the significance and possibility of a mutually redemptive relationship through text study. What is needed in our time?  

The Soviet Jewry movement is considered by most experts to have been the most successful accomplishment of the American Jewish community. It resulted in arguably the largest migration of Jews in history, as Russian Jews became Israeli, American, and German citizens. The cry “Let My People Go!” was victorious. This session will deal with the second part of that famous demand of Moses: while Jews from the former Soviet Union have become good Americans, have they become good Jews?

Austria has come a long way in recognizing its moral and historical responsibilities during World War II, and has a growing interest in emphasizing the Vienna’s Jewish heritage. Reflecting on a recent trip to Vienna, this session will explore the importance of Jews engaging in an active dialogue about the country’s difficult and historic issues and their contemporary resonance in today’s political landscape. 

This class will serve as an introduction and a compliment to the class I'll be teaching with Joe Septimus on R' Kook's 'Fourfold Son'. 
We will learn a remarkable text from R' Nachman of Breslov on the meaning of 'Na'aseh V'nishma'/We will do and listen'. This classic expression of obedience and covenantal commitment, is read by R' Nachman as broad rule governing life in general and the spiritual life in particular. 'Na'aseh V'nishma' is for R' Nachman a call to spiritual humility and ambition simultaneously; an invitation to a life of seeking and continual growth. We will augment this Hassidic master with texts from other philosophers to support R' Nachman. No prior text knowledge required. Bring an open heart and an open mind. 

Judaism has a long history of meditation and contemplative practice as a way to cultivate compassion, personal transformation, and connection. We will cover the basics of Jewish meditation with instruction, exercises & discussion. The session is open to people with all levels of experience, and is designed to offer a broad introduction to Jewish meditation, teachings, & contemplative practice. Come if you are interested in deepening your practice, Jew-ing it up, or finally learning how to sit still.

A special time just for families with young children who wish to eat a little earlier.

Warm your body and soul at this sweet and lively Havdalah (closing Shabbat) event. We will celebrate the community we have built together over this Shabbat and transition into the second half of Limmud NY, and a new week!

Have a blast with old-time Israeli folk dances. We will remember what it feels like to dance all night on kibbutz with dances from that era. Beginners especially encouraged. We will teach most of the dances before we dance them.

Yehoshua Engelman’s concerts are “inspiriting food for the soul and heart.” He is a rabbi, teacher, psychotherapist and composer, and to date has produced 4 albums of original musical compositions for Bible verses, Jewish liturgy, and modern Israeli poetry. His music is sung widely by adults and youth in homes, synagogues and schools, and has opened avenues to a new generation of composers of Jewish music. 

Starting in the late 1930s young Jewish women picked up cameras and began to walk the streets of New York, providing us with vivid images of the city from their own gendered perspective. This illustrated lecture takes us back to mid-20th century when a camera gave women a license to stare. What they saw and pictured presents a very different version of New York City than the popular versions in the press and on the silver screen. Please bring your smartphone or a camera.

This year, YOU are invited to be one of Uncle Bob’s “extraordinary everybodys” on Uncle Bob’s Limmud New York Variety Show. Come with your beloved talents, or those that have previously been unknown. Bring your animals, kazoos, casseroles, comic book collection, musical instruments, and yoga poses. On The Uncle Bob Variety Show, you will be welcomed heartily and join a proud lineage of guests who have been Bob’s cutie-pies since 2008!

Recent events in Israel, and ensuing mixed responses by North American Jewish leaders, have raised the question of whether there remains any Jewish consensus on major political issues. In the absence of such a consensus, a polarizing communal conversation has emerged. In this session we will ask: what are the core values that might govern a conversation between Jews in North America and Israel? What do Jews around the world 'owe' each other? Does a time of crisis change things? And how can we create a more ethical communal conversation?

The later strata of the Zohar contain remarkable texts that have greatly impacted Jewish mysticism. In this talk, David Solomon, who is working on a first English translation of Tiqunei HaZohar, will contextualize and review some of the major themes of this influential book, and discuss the challenges of its deciphering. This is a talk for those interested in understanding deep-level kabbalistic perspectives—on exile, redemption, history and how to restore humanity—through a primary source. 

Picture yourself in the Garden of Eden, the source for all things organic: fruits, vegetables and plants, plants, plants. Welcome to ARTspace, the place where creation happens. Come create your part of this Limmud NY community banner project. All are welcome. Truly.

Have you always enjoyed listening to voices singing in harmony? Now you can join the choir yourself! Join Brian as he helps to create an instant chorus to sing Jewish songs in 2, 3, and 4-part harmony. Some experience reading music is recommended but not required. For ages 14 and up.

In the 1930’s, Coca Cola was becoming a national phenomenon. While it was not certified kosher, it was being consumed by the Jewish community. Coke desperately wanted to be available to all, so they contacted Rabbi Tobias Geffen, the rabbinic authority of the South. Discovering that Coke wasn’t kosher, he took a creative and heroic approach to resolve the situation. 

This session will review some of the foundations of successful innovation and connect aspiring innovators with one another and peer mentors developing their own and joint initiatives. In this workshop, we will discuss how to leverage Jewish innovation and social entrepreneurship in your work. We will explore how your values and vision relate to the global landscape of Jewish innovation today, and then use them to clarify your mission, outcomes, and strategies, both individually and collectively.

Using his 'Trial' comic as springboard, Eli will share the inspiration for much of his work: a romanticizing of pre-war European Jewish culture as embodied in the fantasies of Franz Kafka. Eli will provide commentary on several of his comics in light of those idealized eras: the absurdist hallucinations, the wellsprings of noir, and the recurring urge to capture an authentic Jewish cultural tradition.

Alicia Jo Rabins (voice, violin, looping pedal, guitar) and Aaron Hartman (bass) bring the ladies of Torah to life with original indie-folk songs in the voices of Miriam, Judith, Lilith, Tamar, and other women from Jewish texts. Alicia's classical violin training, love of folk and indie music, and background as a poet combine with her years of Jewish text study to offer an intimate and lyrical window onto the surprisingly relevant lives of these ancient women.

This session was made possible by funds from The Covenant Foundation.

Ever wondered what it would look like if you crossed Limmud NY with TED (the popular conference which brings inspiring speakers together to give "the talk of their life" in 18 minutes or less)? Here is your chance to find out! Launched at Limmud Conference UK last year, JDOV has now come to this side of the pond. Join us as Shoshana Boyd Gelfand hosts four inspiring speakers to each give the Jewish talk of their life. Previous talks can be found at www.jhub.org.uk/jdov.

Moving to a new country is not just different scenery or people: it means starting over. From La La Land LA to Holyland Jerusalem, a new immigrant explores her trials and tribulations through storytelling, comedy sketches and improvisation. The path not taken is just the beginning. Learning how to step out of line, fake an accent, and grab bureaucracy by the balls is where this story continues.

Bring your tape recorders, smartphones, and musical instruments. Together we will sing through all of the Shabbat Zmirot (table songs), sharing and recording as many different melodies for each of them as any of us can conjure.  At Limmud NY last year, we made it through the hymns for Friday night.  This time we will begin with the Shabbat lunchtime zmirot. Come chant, recollect, and learn!

Jews in the Western fantasy tradition have a complicated yichus (pedigree). In this session, we'll learn about the character of the Magic Jew in the Medieval Fantasy tradition, and how the master project of redeeming the monster in the Modern Fantasy traditions has never satisfactorily come to terms with these eldritch motifs, even as they've been invoked by the master storytellers of Tolkien and Rowling. Will it ever be possible to bridge the Yiddish and Christian fantasy traditions?

Everybody dance now. 

This traditional minyan (prayer group) with mechitza (divider) will provide a prayer service with a traditional liturgy. Men will lead services, and women and men will pray together in a traditional and spirited environment. Note: Seating is separate by gender.

Sit with someone new! Breakfast is a great time to meet new people at Limmud NY!

The centerpiece of this late Shaharit at 8:30 am will be a creative and collaborative Amidah prayer. You will explore the themes of this daily 19-part prayer before inserting your own personalized requests. This inspirational service will use a full-color Siddur lined with color photos, illustrations and diagrams of the service. It will feature discussion and a debrief for educators. Participate at your comfort level or come just to observe! (Open to middle schoolers through adults.)

Chanting, breathing, stretching, movement, body tapping… We will stand in a circle and follow the sequence of weekday morning service, focusing on the body, emotion, and intention, up to the climax of individual silent prayer.

No Yoga experience or fitness is necessary. Transliterations will be provided for those who want to follow the chant but do not know the Hebrew.

Every day (yomi) people across the Jewish world learn a page of Talmud (daf) with the goal of completng the entire Talmud in seven years.  This global movement began in 1923 and has captured the imaginations of thousands around the world.  Everyone is encouraged to attend, from first timers to those following the current Daf Yomi cycle.  Today is Tractate Shabbat, daf (page) 137.  

We will demonstrate use of the arts in deciphering Talmudic passages by teaching the structure of the Talmudic argument through the arts. Understanding that structure is the key to enabling students become active participants in Talmud study rather than passive recipients. Various artistic modes, such as visual arts and circus arts, will be used to demonstrate the extensive possibilities available. Come make a mural, build a pyramid, build up your pedagogical toolbox, and learn Talmud.

Jump into rhythm and motion! Parents and grandparents, tots and preteens, it’s Mishpacha in Motion family dance. Explore a Jewish tale through dance, music, and creative interpretation. This lively class blends creative movement with Jewish themes to produce an energetic alternative Jewish learning experience. Mishpacha in Motion is about families learning, grooving, and making new friends together.

The coming of age of Jewish baby boomers initiated an era of Jewish identity politics that intersected with, and occasionally diverged from, those convulsing American society. We will discuss how feminism, Israel and Zionism, the Soviet Jewry movement, the Holocaust, intermarriage, multiculturalism, and debates on sexuality and gender, shattered a consensus that had taken hold in the postwar decades. We will look at a number of key texts from these decades. 

This session is based on my new book, ten classic debates in Jewish history, Judaism's Great Debates:  Timeless Controversies from Abraham to Herzl.  We will examine the case study of the debate between Geiger, Hirsch and Frankel that gave rise to modern denominational Judaism.

Arthur Kurzweil, author of Kabbalah for Dummies and The Torah for Dummies, offers twenty essential Kabbalistic principles that can make a huge difference in a person's life. These abstract spiritual ideas at the core of Jewish belief are embedded within Judaism. Learn what they are and how you can embed them in your own soul and in the souls of your children.

In this session, we will address a fundamental question: what kind of book is the book we call the Torah? Is it a storybook or a legal text? Is it to be read like any other text, or does it have its own set of rules? And did it apply to a particular time and place, or does it apply to every time and place, including ours? We will look at different approaches to these questions from within Jewish thought.

Ever wondered what it would look like if you crossed Limmud NY with TED, (the popular conference which brings inspiring speakers together to give "the talk of their life" in 18 minutes or less)? Here is your chance to find out! Launched at Limmud Conference UK last year, JDOV has now come to this side of the pond. Join us as Shoshana Boyd Gelfand hosts four inspiring speakers to each give the Jewish talk of their life. Previous talks can be found at www.jhub.org.uk/jdov.

I discuss my experience on the game show Jeopardy, and how learning Tanach helped me be a two-day winner.

This session was made possible by funds from The Covenant Foundation.

Learn how to: figure out which nonprofit (or business) you should start; identify and learn from potential customers at zero or minimal cost; learn from the parallel experiments that your competitors run; and learn how to run experiments at a minimum cost to yourself. Video and slides from a recent similar presentation at http://www.teten.com/market-research/.

Pickling and fermenting is at the heart of Old World Jewish food, whether through the wine we drink on Shabbat, the pickles we eat with our pastrami sandwiches or the borscht we enjoy. Come learn about vegetable preservation’s critical role in Eastern European Judaism and why continuing the tradition is so important. You’ll learn how to make your own pickles and will take away a jar of soon-to-be sour dills. DIY pickling is not just practical; it can be a radical act of cultural reclamation.

It is often assumed that a Halachic approach to prayer need fully embrace the traditional liturgy. The reality is that for most people this is not working. Rav Aaron will share experimental liturgical formats he has been playing with that may offer a solution. Discussion and experiential workshop.

Last chance to contribute to our Garden of Eden community felt banner. We will be wrapping it up with the birds and the bees. And the fleurs and the leaves. And the yous and the mees. All are welcome.

Can you tell the story of your Jewish life in six words? Since 2006, Larry Smith has been asking people to submit life stories in exactly six words on SMITHmag.net & SMITHteens.com—and millions have. Larry will tell the story of how Six-Word Memoirs became an accidental internet phenomenon and bestselling books series and invite you to take the Six-Word challenge yourself. We’ll share Six-Word Memoirs and enjoy game-like six-word challenges, with prizes for the best short-form scribes.

Come make a mural, build a pyramid, build up your pedagogical toolbox, and learn Talmud! We will use the arts to decipher the structure of the Talmudic argument. Understanding that structure is the key to enabling students become active participants in Talmud study rather than passive recipients. Various artistic modes, such as visual arts and circus arts, will be used to demonstrate some of the many possibilities.

People cite the high costs, the lack of time, the inadequacy of the teachers … and all of these may be true, and yet: Were we to solve all these problems, we still would not be addressing the real dilemmas intrinsic to the endeavor of Jewish education. We will look together at sociological research and philosophical theories from the past century leading to one inescapable conclusion: Jewish education can and does work, when we aren't afraid to let it!

While many startups dream of scaling up through growth, others find balance in mergers or downsizing. Hear the stories of four very different 21st-century Jewish startups - Hazon, Jewish Meditation Center of Brooklyn, JewishGPS, & Haggadot.com. How are they sustaining themselves? What programs and projects have supported them along the way? How have their organizational structures changed? What advice do they have for new startups considering growing, merging, reorganizing, or even sunsetting?

Jewish comedy used to rely on some reliable themes: overbearing mothers, henpecked fathers, thrifty businessmen, gullible gentiles, and spoiled daughters. But what happens to humor when Jews become less distinctive as a community and lose their “outsider” status? Join us for a panel conversation with some keen observers and commentators on the state of Jewish humor.

Through a short text study of Yehuda Amichai's poem "The Jews," we will look at the ideas that are central to the Peoplehood concept. We will then try to create a future picture for the Jewish People as we want and hope to see it, reflecting the diversity of ideas that will be represented in the room, and also taking into consideration the Israeli perspective, which I have been studying and am interested to receive feedback on.

Is it possible to “teach” spirituality? What are the ingredients that nurture spiritual growth? How can one access and exercise spiritual intelligence? This session will explore these questions through an in-depth reflective observation in the writings of poet, singer, songwriter and author Leonard Cohen, and uncover creative pedagogues that help access the world of spiritual development.

How should Israel treat Gaza? Should Israel recognize Palestinian statehood? How should Israel view the so-called 'Arab Spring' and what about Iran? Israel is now facing unprecedented adversity and extreme volatility, as it comes to shape in the national security outlook. This session will offer a bird's-eye view of some of Israel's key challenges and will discuss possible courses of action. No simple questions. No simple answers.

It's all about you - for 15 minutes anyway! This session will provide a dedicated space for participants in small groups to present a challenge they are experiencing and for the Limmud NY support network of peers to offer advice. As seen at ROI Community events, each person present will have a chance to focus on his/her challenge and to offer advice to others.

This session will begin with a look at some traditional (and surprising) commentaries on the Seder with an eye towards the emphasis on children. We will then look at a series of engaging ideas to make even the youngest participants tellers of the story. From stick puppets to Elvis Presley we will look at ideas that will keep them from asking “When do we eat?” No artistic or musical ability necessary... just a desire to make Seder memories for future generations!

We will look at the least studied pre-temple sacrifice of the Bible: Noach’s sacrifice upon disembarking on dry land (Gen 8:20). We will use the pathos of Noah’s post-traumatic behavior and God’s reaction to his sacrifice as a prism through which to consider our own most intimate moments with, and offerings to, God.

Sit with someone new! Lunch is a great time to meet new people at Limmud NY.

In this unique improvisation comedy workshop with an Israeli twist, participants will learn the rules of improv through dynamic games and acting methods. The workshop will foster creativity and boost confidence while allowing students to discuss Israel, Judaism and everything in-between in an honest and hilarious way.

Most Jewish musicians play the Jewish wedding circuit sometime in their career. Some never escape. In this presentation of a work-in-progress, Brian Gelfand presents songs and stories inspired by his experiences playing Jewish weddings. He uses these experiences as metaphors to explore what it means to be an artist in the Jewish community, and how one balances the joys and pressures of belonging to this community with the urge to be a unique and creative individual.

Whether at Jewish summer camp or a bar mitzvah party, don't you wish you knew the steps to some of those fun looking Israeli dances like "Zodiak" and the "Turkish Kiss?" Well now is your chance to learn some of the most fun line dances around. All levels welcomed.

Midrash, classically defined as brief texts that fill in the Torah’s narrative gaps, can also be understood as a creative interface between Torah stories and our lives. In this text study and writing session, we will encounter stories of women from the Torah together and then spend some time alone, finding the relevance of these ancient tales and bringing them to life in our own voices. Bring a pen and paper (or guitar, colored pencils or any other artistic medium you choose)!

This session was made possible by funds from The Covenant Foundation.

Jews of various stripes use subtle variation in language to signal their textual knowledge, denomination, ancestral origin, and orientation toward Israel. This talk describes the range of Jewish American English – from the addition of a few Yiddish words among Jews with weak connections to organized Jewish life to the “Yeshivish” of strictly Orthodox Jews, filled with Yiddish, Hebrew, and Aramaic words and Yiddish grammatical influences.

This session will explore the halakhic (Jewish legal) and hashkafic (ideological) considerations regarding the handling and reporting of incidents of child molestation in camps, schools and other community settings, and the steps that need to be put into place in order to prevent and address this issue in the future.

Welcome to sex ed for grown-ups. Seven Wells reframes sex education for adults as a spiritual practice, a culture of conversation and action inspired by reflection, discussion, and engagement with the Jewish wisdom tradition. Join us as we explore the program, share in a model workshop, and learn more about becoming Seven Wells participants or facilitators in your community. Please note: This session is a safe space for learners 18 years of age or older.

Talmud for beginners. In this session, you will receive a crash-course on how the Talmud was assembled over time and became an intergenerational dialogue. We will then learn a sugya (discussion) on the development of the Hillel’s Sandwich step in the Pesach (Passover) Seder as we apply our new skills. If time allows, participants can choose other short discussions on Pesach to explore in hevruta (partners) with word lists, charts of rabbis and study aids.

Most of us prefer not to contemplate our own mortality. We do, however, like to laugh about it, listen to music about it, and watch movies that do it for us. There is no issue that stirs up as much emotion as death and dying. At this stimulating presentation you will laugh, cry, and ponder the meaning of life…and death. Come take a multi-cultural, multi-media romp through Olam Haba (the next world) with Bruce Birnberg, a medical educator who heads Stein Hospice in New Jersey.

Join us for this Coffee Break to learn more about career options in the rabbinate, Jewish education, Jewish studies, the cantorate, and in general, careers in the Jewish non-profit sector. Joel Alter and Abby Eisenberg, JTS Admissions directors and alumni, will be on hand to share with you all the details about JTS study and career training in these incredible and rewarding fields.

Describing the human form as a 'sacred vessel' was pivotal to the development of Kabbalah. Using photography, we will create an installation in ArtSpace, focusing on the relationship of Adam Kadmon (primordial man) to the Tree of Life at the center of the Garden. Please bring your smartphone or a camera.

Lively klezmer music by leading local (Middlesex County, Central NJ) klezmer ensemble with dancing led by internationally-renowned Yiddish dance master Steve Weintraub. Tsu fil Duvids (Yiddish for "Too many Daves") klezmer ensemble consists of Dave Goldfarb, Dave Schiff, Dave Schlossberg, Rob Lowe, Asher Siebert, Bill Selden, Beverly Novick, and Jill Bloom.