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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can you tell the story of your Jewish life in six words? Since 2006, Larry Smith has been asking people to submit a Six-Word Memoir on SMITHmag.net and SMITHteens.com—and millions have. Six-Word Memoirs have become a teaching tool, a powerful way to spur self-expression, ease communication and break the ice. Larry will explain how short storytelling can be help get to the essence of anything—and invite everyone to share their six words on Jewish life.
Food historians believe that people have been preserving lemons since the first century. Joan Nathan will share the history of this citrus pickle, discuss the cultures that treasure them, and provide tips on how to incorporate this ancient ingredient into your modern kitchen. She will also teach you to make your own, surprisingly simple preserved lemons at home.
Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East coast last fall and millions of lives were upended and thousands of Jewish children faced changed realities in the aftermath of the storm. This workshop will use Gertie, the feisty 9-year-old Jewish heroine of the novel When the Hurricane Came, to uncover both Jewish and psychological truths about developing resilience, including the importance of family, faith, friends, and the magic of tikkun olam, striving to make the world a better place.
Created as an agricultural settlement in far east Russia in 1928, Birobidzhan, the capital of the Jewish Autonomous Region, was intended as a viable Soviet Jewish homeland. Jews the world over supported this project. Yiddish (with Russian) was designated the official language. But Jewish religious observance was discouraged; Jewish identity radically diminished. Born and raised there, Nikolai Borodulin brings the story of Birobidzhan to life with memories, rare video footage, and photographs.
Ta'anit Esther, the fast on the 13th day of Adar to commemorate Queen Esther's fast in the Bible, has recently been reclaimed as Yom Ha'agunah, The Day of the Agunah (Chained Woman). An “agunah” is a woman who wants to divorce her husband but is trapped in her marriage because he denies her permission; she is unable to remarry. This session will explore the ramifications of Jewish divorce in both civil & Jewish law, and how we can help Jewish women who are trapped. Sources will be available in both English and Hebrew.
David will present a systematic and efficient method to optimize yourself and find, evaluate, and sign the deal with the person you are going to marry. If it worked for him, it will work for you. His process is based on two models: the biblical story of how Isaac met Rivka, and the search process used by investment bankers and institutional investors to find attractive investments. You can see a detailed preview of this talk at http://www.teten.com/marriage/.
When historians write about this period of American Jewish history, they will name it the era of transition. This session will explore the various mega and micro trends that are defining the contemporary American Jewish community and what we can expect in the future.
The Limmud NY Board requests your company in recognition and appreciation of Limmud NY volunteers. Volunteers devote their time and energy to making this conference a reality and deserve a toast along with our gratitude. This reception is open to conference volunteers, friends, family and anyone who wants to celebrate and emulate them! Come by to find out about volunteer opportunities for the 2014 conference.
Dust off your Hebrew skills and play a game, shoot the breeze or make new friends at this fun and informal Hebrew mixer! We will start with a 15 minute "crash course" for those who want a quick refresher of basic social vocabulary. Be prepared to make mistakes–we will salute your efforts, help you regain your footing, and emerge enriched! Note: all Hebrew levels are welcome as long as you are committed to preserving a safe space for Hebrew learners to experiment and grow.
"A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff" is a chamber-rock opera written and performed by Alicia Jo Rabins with a live band. The piece explores Madoff's infamous scam through personal stories, interviews with people who played a part in the story, and the lens of Jewish and Buddhist thought. In this session, Alicia will perform live songs from the piece, screen excerpts from its sold-out premiere at Joe's Pub in November 2012, and lead a discussion about where finance, ethics, and mysticism intersect.
This session was made possible by funds from The Covenant Foundation.
In today's world, many of us choose to represent who we are using social media as a platform. How do we tell our stories? In this session, we will draw inspiration from the creation narrative in Genesis and photograph our own creation stories using smartphone apps. Please bring your smartphone or a camera.
We’ll explore the tension between Jewish “peoplehood” – supporting Israel and rallying around Jewish crises – and Jewish activism in universal causes like hunger and poverty. Are groups like American Jewish World Service and phenomena like “Eco-Torah Tours of Costa Rica” signs of a healthy Jewish community or symptoms of its decline?
A staple protein for a majority of the world, pork is frustratingly taboo for the Jews. Why is pork the most well-known and adhered-to Jewish food prohibition? The meat has played a central role in American and European cuisine, alienating Jews for centuries. Yet recently, Jewish chefs have found bacon to be an object of culinary inspiration. This session explores the relationship between Jews and pork, and the fixation among contemporary Jewish gourmands and thinkers on the “other white meat.”
What’s funny in Israel? What makes an Israeli laugh and why? Do you think it’s funny too? Explore the world of present-day Israeli comedy through videos of top Israeli comic writers, Israeli citizens, and comedy sketches from the Israeli English-speaking comedy troupe, Hahafuch.
The session will explore three activities for personalizing the Passover story. We will start with tips for writing your own Haggadah, using examples of text and artwork from Haggadot.com. Next, we will imagine possibilities for an alternate seder plate, replacing traditional items on the seder plate with objects or symbols that represent Passover in our current lives. Finally, we’ll tell our own stories by drawing "maps" (or timelines, diagrams, illustrations) of our personal Passover journeys.
With so many problems in our world, how can we most effectively promote justice? We'll start with text study on our obligation as Jews to pursue justice. Then we'll explore opportunities to put these principals to use through our actions as consumers, citizens, philanthropists and global travelers. Be ready to leave this session with your personalized action plan for increasing the justice quotient in the world.