Sessions
Session 1 10.30 - 11.30
Jenny Goldfried Amswych
Cobham
100 Blessings a Day: Finding the Holy in the (Seemingly) Mundane
All too often we go through our days without noticing the inherent holiness in the world around us. We can learn to experience and acknowledge God's marvels through the practice of blessings. In this session, we will look at texts that talk about blessings, examine some unusual blessings and experience the art of creating spontaneous blessings.
Malcolm Weisman
Lawrence
1000 Years of Anglo-Jewish History in 45 minutes
A quick summing of salient aspects of Anglo-Jewry from 1066 to 2007.
Irving Taylor
Barnes
Medical Ethics, Cancer & Maimonides
Maimonides is recognised as an outstanding philosopher and theologian whose religious writings are constantly referred to after 800 years. In addition he was the most eminent physician of his day and wrote ten outstanding medical textbooks. This combination allowed an exceptional insight into medical ethics which are relevant today. He also described a number of malignant diseases which will be discussed in the lecture.
Clive Lawton
Lees
What Time Is It?
We just changed our clocks and watches last night and now it's a new time. Jewish practice ignores clocks and watches and uses the sun to decide on the time. And with Purim, Pesakh and Easter all playing games with each other this year, it's worth considering too whether we can be entirely confident about the calendar as well. In this session, Clive will explore the oddities of time and how we measure it, drawing on his extensive knowledge and expertise of the world's calendars and time systems.
Mark Levene
PG22
Jews and Climate Change
This session will be seeking to find out what you think about climate change. Conversely, it will be proposing why this issue is the one which determines whether Judaism has, or has not, any real contemporary value - not just for ourselves but for the entirety of the human species.
Brian Nathan
PG10
The Jewish Contribution to Popular Music in the 20th Century
A wide-ranging overview of Jewish composers, lyricists and performers who made remarkable contributions to popular music in the 20th century within the western world. With particular emphasis on a number of notable personalities in the first half of the century and with recorded examples.
Session 2 11.40 - 12.40
Anna Roth
PG22
Janusz Korczak - Champion of the Child
I will talk about Korczak's upbringing, his various careers and how he changed the lives of thousands of children through his revolutionary work. I will touch upon details of life in the Warsaw Ghetto as it is integral to the story.
Stephen White
Barnes
Napoleon, The Jews and the Great Sanhedrin
Napoleon Bonaparte's attitude to the Jews of Europe was confused, to say the least, as demonstrated not least by his attempt to rally Jewish leaders to The Great Sanhedrin. It started with disaster, and ended with disaster. Stephen's session will outline the motivations, the political intrigues, the farce and the catastrophe. If it had happened in 2008 it would be in the Drama Documentary of the Year. Great Fun.
Eric Moonman
Cobham
Israel at 60
Away from the parades, the concerts and the balloons, what does the 60th Anniversary opportunity provide for Israel and Jews in the Diaspora? Israel at 60 hardly tells the whole story of the 5000 years of the Jewish Commonwealth.
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Lawrence
Wine and Wisdom: Rashi and His World
'Rashi says' ... but who WAS Rashi? Come and find out more about his family, his life, his opinions - and why he's quoted all the time. We'll take a look at some of his fascinating responsa (answers to questions) to open up a window into his world.
Dena Coleman
Shelley
Jewish Schools; desirable or divisive?
Do Jewish schools reinforce our children's identity at the expense of providing them with the opportunity to learn about the wider, non-Jewish society in which they live? Does the existence of Jewish schools deprive non-Jewish children of the opportunity to meet and get to know their Jewish peers? Are Jewish schools desirable or divisive?
Marcus Freed
PG10
Introducing BibliyogaTM: The Kosher Sutras
BibliyogaTM is a powerful method for accessing spirituality through the body. This introductory session is for people who have never experienced Bibliyoga. Wear loose clothes and prepare to stretch your mind as we explore traditional Jewish sources in a way that you have never experienced before. Bibliyoga is safe, fun, dynamic, energising, uplifting, healing, nourishing, challenging and open to complete beginners as well as experienced yogis. All ages are welcome.
Session 3 1.00 - 2.10
David Simmons
Lawrence
Some Jewish Contributions to Photography
The initial inventions and development of photography were not by Jews, but once photography existed Jews became involved in every aspect from the technical to the art and practice; from Albert Einstein to the humblest holiday snapper. This talk covers examples from a pioneer travelling Daguerrotype photographer in Australia to a recent up and coming photography graduate who has exhibited at the Ben Uri Art Gallery in London. It is illustrated with many examples of photographic art and of technical contributions and covers the background to the works with brief analyses.
John Reeves
Shelley
Hungarian Jewry - Past and Present
Hungary is the home of some 100,000 Jews, the third largest community in Europe. The speaker will take us on a journey of an amazing community with Jewish presence there as early as the 3rd century CE. We shall hear about immigration from the east ("Unterlanders") and the west ("Oberlanders"). Emancipation and the "Law of Reception. The parting of the ways: orthodox and neolog. Prosperity, achievement and assimilation. Persecution, German occupation, the "Arrow Cross" movement and the annihilation of 650,000 souls. How did it happen? After the War liberation or communist oppression? Is the present anti-Semitic trend political or traditional? What about the "Jewish PM", David Irving and the Reform Church, the "Arpad Flag" and the marching of the "Magyar Garda"? Do you want to hear about the fear of the Hungarian Jew and about a generation that discovers its identity? Do you want to tour in the Jewish folk region of Hungary visiting Chassidic Courts and virtual communities? What about the challenges facing the present communal leadership? Israeli investors and significant Israeli investment in Hungary - why? Hungarian Jew or Jewish Hungarian? Is there a future for Hungarian Jewry within a vanishing European Diaspora? Intriguing questions accompanied with some lively musical DVD presentation.
Simon Goulden
PG10
Israel Off the Beaten Track
Many of us travel to Israel and perhaps visit the same tourist sites each time. But we may not know that just a short distance away from us there are dozens of fascinating sites and locations just waiting to be visited, each with an eye-opening history. Simon will take you on a 'virtual tour' of Israel, easily accessible by car or foot, but just ‘off the beaten track'. We guarantee that your trips will not be the same again.
Bernard Jackson
Cobham
Why is the Agunah problem so difficult?
This talk builds on the work of the Agunah Research Unit of the University of Manchester, which is seeking a "global" solution to the problem of the wife refused a get by her husband despite the finding of a rabbinic court that he ought to grant it. Rather than offer an easy (or complex) solution, this talk (backed up by illustrative texts) seeks to explain and evaluate the reasons (historical, technical, ideological, political) why modern poskim deny that they have the authority to implement any of the solutions which have been proposed.
Aubrey Newman
Barnes
When Memory Turns Into History - Challenges for the Next Generation of Holocaust Scholarship
Much teaching of the Holocaust has been based upon contact between students and survivors. That has been very effective in the past but the issue is rapidly becoming one of there being no survivors with whom students can interact directly. Professor Newman will discuss how far that personal contact can be replaced by film or recording, and what challenges that presents for the teachers.
Rebecca Gross & Conflict Relief
Lees
The Arab, The Jew and The Chicken
A new, original and fast-paced comedy sketch.
Session 4 2.20 - 3.20
Songs of Eden
Shelley
Musical Journey to the Mystical Core of Judaism
Join us for a unique experience within the ancient mystical tradition of the Kabbalah - a meditation to harmonise the energies of the body and soul, and a performance which expresses universal energies in sound, facilitating a deeper and more expanded state of consciousness.
Elkan Levy
PG10
Jews Fighting Jews: American Jewry and the Civil War 1861-1865
The American Civil War was the first great conflict of modern times, and the most significant event in the shaping of contemporary America. In both North and South, Jews eagerly rushed forward to join their fellow citizens, while Rabbis on both sides mobilised the Bible to support opposing ideologies. Jews reached high political office as well, and by the end of the war American Jewry was more deeply integrated into US society
Gerald Normie
Barnes
The Streets of Jerusalem
The street names of Jerusalem encapsulate not only the history of the Jewish people in the land of Israel but also that of Jews throughout the world. This talk will give insights into why particular names were chosen and we will also look at the history and stories which lie behind some of the more well known streets.
Neil Amswych
Cobham
The Shema is Not a Prayer
Prayer is an incredibly difficult activity, for which we usually have little training. We teach our communities to recite pages and pages from our prayer books, but few people leave a prayer service having actually prayed. This session looks at the difference between reading and praying and is for anyone who would like to get more out of a prayer service. No Hebrew knowledge is necessary.
Leonard Steinberg
Lees
Jewish Life in Britain
At the end of the 1939-45 war, the Jewish population of Britain, swollen by immigration, was about 450,000. Now the population is down to under 300,000. I will examine what this means in terms of religion, facilities services, and charity giving, and try to explain why the smaller communities are being badly affected in their activities. I would like to show how charitable support, both at home and in Israel, is essential and I will give examples of the ways in which some communities have reacted to falling numbers.
David Solomon
Thomas Hardy
The Whole of The Tanach in One Hour
Using his unique 3-dimensional presentational technique, David Solomon provides a comprehensive overview of the entire Tanach (The Bible). Each book is placed in its historical context and its major themes explored, with the emphasis on the transition from the mythology of ancient Israel to the objective reality of Jewish History. Audiences are literally able to see where King Solomon existing historically in relation to Samson and Delilah, Ezekiel or Moses, while also learning some of the key ideas that emerged from the world's most influential text.
Session 5 3.30 - 4.20
Jaclyn Chernett
Lawrence
Music Of The Soul - The Energy Of Jewish Prayer
Is the Synagogue the place where we get our most spiritual experiences?. Chazan Jaclyn Chernett, the first woman in the UK to be ordained as a cantor, explores, discusses and shares some of the most beautiful and poignant chants of the Jewish people. She explains what has motivated her to do the innovative work she is now involved with.
Ivor Weintroub
PG22
35 Years On: Some Reflections on the Causes of the Yom Kippur War (October 1973)
We will reflect on the state of the IDF following the 1967 war and the Bar-Lev line - whether it was a proper defence. Why was there no pre-emptive strike? We will take a look at the politicians' view. Was Israel caught unprepared through overconfidence? This will be a consideration, within 50 minutes, of why 5th October 1973 was inevitable.
Adrian Jesner
Cobham
The Mysterious ‘Cup of Elijah': Its Origins, Reasons & Customs
The 'Cup of Elijah' is a feature of the traditional Seder that has fascinated both children and adults for centuries. Its mysterious nature has provided ample room for speculation about its true meaning and origins. In this lecture Rabbi Adrian Jesner will trace the custom (and its reasons) from its earliest documented source (late Middle Ages). He will explore the development of this custom as it evolved from a somewhat curious ritual practised by few Jews until today when it is an almost universally celebrated custom.
Geoffrey Shisler
Barnes
Prophesying in the Synagogue - The History of the Haftara
After we've completed the regular weekly Torah reading, we read a chapter or so from the prophets every Shabbat and Yom Tov, but do you know why? Who decided that we should, who chose the portions and what determined their selection? When was it instituted? What do the words Maftir and Haftara actually mean? (You may be surprised!) In this session Rabbi Shisler will examine this fascinating topic as well as the Berachot before and after its recitation. We shall discover the external influences that played their part in the construction of the liturgy that we take for granted.
Rina Wolfson
Shelley
Me, Masorti and Marriage
I will be talking about my personal journey from Orthodoxy to Masorti Judaism, and looking at the Kol Nefesh community in particular. What is Masorti Judaism - and why are more and more young people and families moving towards it? I will also talk about the revolutionary "Brit Ahuvim" or "Lovers Covenant", which is growing in popularity in the US, Israel and now the UK. What is it? Why are couples choosing to marry this way? How does it contribute to the Agunah debate? And will it affect our children's chances of attending a Jewish school?
BBYO Presents
Thomas Hardy
Training Your Parents
Session 6 4.30 - 5.30
David Solomon
Lees
The Whole of Jewish History in One Hour
Come and experience the talk that has been exciting and inspiring audiences around the world. David Solomon's innovative and dynamic overview of Jewish history is a performance that will leave you inspired, informed and wanting more. In this extraordinary lecture, David literally maps out the unique scale and amazing contours of Jewish History around the audience, providing a framework that is accessible to people with any level of knowledge. The Whole of Jewish History in One Hour covers everything from the origins of the Jewish People, up the present day - and beyond - in one continuous narrative. Audiences have raved about the talk, declaring that is has rekindled a love of and passion for Jewish History and has moved them to pursue their own journey of discovery. The talk is not only entertaining... it's real teaching. If you've ever wanted to get a hold on how the details of Jewish History really fit together then come and hear one of the world's most exciting and original teachers speak on what is perhaps the most important topic in the Jewish world today.