Thursday 11:30 - 12:40 (Morning Intensive)

Scriptural Reasoning - Islamic and Jewish Ethics of Sacred Reading (4 of 4) Muhammad Al-Hussaini Arts - Ensemble
A Conversation with a Turkish Diplomat Kerem Kiratli , Ned Temko Ram 1
'The Wisdom of Love': Philosophy, Religion and the Talmud in the Thought of Emmanuel Levinas (4 of 4) Tamra Wright Ram 3
Symbolic Reading of the Torah (2 of 2) Herzl Hefter Ram 4
Have Fun with Hebrew (4 of 4) Nurith Cohen Ram 5
Addictive Melodies (2 of 2) Gabby Dagan Ram 6
Philanthropy Uncut: Is Philanthropy a Lifestyle Accessory for the Rich or a Serious Vehicle for Social Change? Charles Keidan Rootes Chancellors 1
Scandals of the Talmud: the Stories They Wouldn't Teach You in Cheder (4 of 4) Yaffa Epstein Rootes Chancellors 3
Limmud Book Club: David Grossman's 'To the End of the Land' Aviva Dautch , Limmud Conference Social Events Team SU Pool Room
Limmud International Surgery (5 of 5) Limmud International Team SU Terrace Bar
Trans Wishlist Judith Levitt , Maxwell Zachs Sci 1
Shlichim on Israel: Talking the Tough Stuff (4 of 4) Eyal Goldman , Daphni Leef , Elad Yonatan Malka , Shimrit Matzliach , Daniel Zweig Sci 2
The Luckiest People in the World - a Run Through Jewish History (4 of 4) Clive Lawton Sci 3
Windows to Israeli Society Through Literature (4 of 4) Rachel Korazim Sci 4
From Madoff to Strauss-Kahn: Why People Sin - the Psychology (2 of 2) Daniel Goldfarb Sci 5
Half the Community - Waiting in the Wings: Women's Tefillah Groups and Bracha Parties (4 of 4) Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz Sci 7

Scriptural Reasoning - Islamic and Jewish Ethics of Sacred Reading (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Muhammad Al-Hussaini
Location: Arts - Ensemble
Tracks: Communities , Interfaith , Tanach/Text

Scriptural Reasoning is the fascinating practice of Jews, Christians and Muslims meeting to study their sacred texts in order to understand religious differences. Such interfaith activity does however raise important issues where both Jewish halachah and Islamic shari'a have for centuries maintained strict ethical laws around the handling, financing and reading of holy scriptures. This session explores these moral questions and takes a self-critical look at Scriptural Reasoning, and ethical challenges for interfaith scripture reading.

A Conversation with a Turkish Diplomat
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Kerem Kiratli , Ned Temko
Location: Ram 1
Tracks:

Limmud is delighted to welcome Minister Counsellor Kerem Kiratli. In conversation with Ned Temko he will talk about Turkish foreign policy, Turkish-Jewish relations and Turkish-Israeli relations and will be happy to answer questions from the audience.

'The Wisdom of Love': Philosophy, Religion and the Talmud in the Thought of Emmanuel Levinas (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Tamra Wright
Location: Ram 3
Tracks: Modernity , Philosophy

Emmanuel Levinas, one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, encouraged us to re-think the fundamentals of western thought and learn to see ethics as 'first philosophy'. What does that mean, and why is it important for Jews, philosophers, and students of Talmud? Today's session: an exploration of Levinas's contribution to post-Holocaust Jewish thought. Is Judaism irreparably ruptured by the Shoah?

Symbolic Reading of the Torah (2 of 2)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Herzl Hefter
Location: Ram 4
Tracks: Midrash , Psychology , Tanach/Text

A Model of Redemption We shall uncover the striking parallels between the story of Yaakov in the house of Lavan and the exodus from Egypt. The meaning of the stories resonate on the theological national and psychological planes.

Have Fun with Hebrew (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Nurith Cohen
Location: Ram 5
Tracks: Israel

Starter course for beginners, refreshers welcome! Four sessions of practical Hebrew in which to build a foundation of a beautiful and fascinating language. Learn useful words and phrases. Share this fun experience with friends and make new ones.

Addictive Melodies (2 of 2)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Gabby Dagan
Location: Ram 6
Tracks: Israel , Music Workshops , Spirituality

You'll learn inspiring melodies that blend modern Israeli music with addictive tefillot (prayers). We'll sing together these beautiful tefillot and you'll remain intoxicated by them for the rest of conference and beyond.

Philanthropy Uncut: Is Philanthropy a Lifestyle Accessory for the Rich or a Serious Vehicle for Social Change?
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Charles Keidan
Location: Rootes Chancellors 1
Tracks: Communities , Current affairs , Social Justice

Oscar Wilde once wrote that 'philanthropy has become the refuge of rich people who wish to annoy their fellow creatures'. With government spending cuts and increased social needs, can philanthropy make the contribution that the times demand and play a serious role in addressing social issues? As foundations take more active roles in social change, Pears Foundation Director Charles Keidan answers questions on whether philanthropy is ready and able to fulfil its promise to society.

Scandals of the Talmud: the Stories They Wouldn't Teach You in Cheder (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Yaffa Epstein
Location: Rootes Chancellors 3
Tracks: Age/Gender Issue , Current affairs , Tanach/Text

Female Torah Scholars?!? Shocking! The Talmud lists a few women who were exceptional in their day, in that they not only learned Torah, but taught as well! We will look at the stories told about them, and see if they are seen as positive or negative figures. We will also attempt to see how these stories have affected views on women's Torah study today.

Limmud Book Club: David Grossman's 'To the End of the Land'
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Aviva Dautch , Limmud Conference Social Events Team
Location: SU Pool Room
Tracks: Literature

This stand alone session is a chance for all book lovers to meet, chat and share insights. Dealing with one novel a day, we will discuss our favourite extracts, characters and theories - for those who've already read the book and those who haven't but would like to find out more. Today's choice travels through Israel's landscape, exploring the emotional ramifications of the political situation.

Limmud International Surgery (5 of 5)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Limmud International Team
Location: SU Terrace Bar
Tracks:

Any final questions before going back to your local Limmud group? Come along to speak to members of the Limmud International Team to discuss them or think about ideas you want to put into practice when you get home.

Trans Wishlist
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Judith Levitt , Maxwell Zachs
Location: Sci 1
Tracks: Age/Gender Issue , Communities , Sexuality

Judith Levitt and Maxwell Zachs present a Trans Wishlist - 5 steps towards the greater inclusion of Transgender and Gender Variant people in Jewish spaces. There are other sessions this year to discuss Halachot around Transgender people. This session is to discuss joyful ways of including Trans people in our communities. We invite you to join us for a friendly discussion.

Shlichim on Israel: Talking the Tough Stuff (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Eyal Goldman , Daphni Leef , Elad Yonatan Malka , Shimrit Matzliach , Daniel Zweig
Location: Sci 2
Tracks: Israel

The Jewish Agency representatives ('shlichim') in the UK, along with a guest from Israel, will debate issues on the minds of Israelis. Come hear what Israelis from different backgrounds think about what is going on in our homeland. Today we will be discussing social justice, with shlichim from different socio-economic upbringings and geographic areas in Israel, and Daphni Leef, a key leader of the recent rallies for social change in Israel.

The Luckiest People in the World - a Run Through Jewish History (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Clive Lawton
Location: Sci 3
Tracks: Diaspora , History , Politics

Over four sessions, Clive will look at different periods in Jewish history and seek to support his thesis that the Jews are the luckiest people in history. Enough of whinging. Time to be grateful!

Windows to Israeli Society Through Literature (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Rachel Korazim
Location: Sci 4
Tracks: Israel , Literature , Poetry

The Mizrachi Voice in Israeli Literature. Since the mass immigration of the 50th, Israeli literature is addressing issues of Jews from Moslem countries and their integration into its society. The long way, from early marginalisation to the assumption of strong voices of the present, is expressed in rich and creative literature. The session will offer critical reading of works by Nathan Alterman, Balfour Hakak , Shimon Adaf, Roni Somek, Ariela Azulai and others.

From Madoff to Strauss-Kahn: Why People Sin - the Psychology (2 of 2)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Daniel Goldfarb
Location: Sci 5
Tracks: Midrash , Modernity , Tanach/Text

If 'sin crouches at the door ... but you may master it' (Genesis 4:7), what in the human psyche determines when we 'master it' and when we don't? How does today's world, especially the Internet, affect the calculus? What does Judaism have to say about avoiding temptation and sin? Freud would have been impressed. Text study, discussion, no background necessary. Come even if you missed the first session.

Half the Community - Waiting in the Wings: Women's Tefillah Groups and Bracha Parties (4 of 4)
Thursday 11:30 - 12:40
Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
Location: Sci 7
Tracks: Age/Gender Issue , Modernity , Spirituality

In this intensive, we'll explore what the halachah says about women's performance of ritual commandments, and investigate how this plays out in practice, plus find out what is happening in the amazingly creative field of women's spirituality. Today we'll look at two women's communal rituals that have arrived in the UK in the last two decades, and use them to think about how women find their own path to the spiritual.

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