Limmud Conference 2012 - Webcasts
The following sessions from Limmud Conference 2012 can be watched on demand on the Limmud channel at livestream.com:
Back to the future: what does the Talmud have to teach us about the philosophy of time?
Samuel Lebens
I generally try to approach the Talmud in the hope that it can shed light on contemporary philosophical issues. In this case study, I hope to show that the Jewish legal tradition encodes fascinating conflicting insights as to the nature of time, and the significance of the future. The topics will be hard, but it should also be fun.
The banality of evil: horror and the Holocaust
Nathan Abrams
In this session, we'll explore the key horror films of the '60s, '70s and '80s to argue that secular Jewish agnostic directors used the genre to reflect on evil in a post-Holocaust world. Films include 'Rosemary's Baby', 'The Exorcist', 'The Omen', 'The Amityville
Horror' and 'The Shining.'
The Prophets (4 sessions)
Clive Lawton
Jews have tended to concentrate on the Torah so our knowledge of the prophets is often sketchy. In these sessions, we'll consider what a prophet does and explore five prophets, selected for their variety, based on a series that Clive's making for BBC Radio 4.
1. Samuel: In this session, we'll look at Samuel, the first prophet of the 'prophetic period'.
2. Elijah: This time, it'll be Elijah, unless he arrives beforehand
3. Jonah: In this session we'll look at two - the strangest of all, Jonah, and one of only two women called a prophetess in the Bible.
4. Isaiah: We'll finish off with the most reverberative of all the prophets, Isaiah, and consider why he (they?) made - and make(s) - such a splash!
A festival of firsts! Celebrating 40 years of rabbinic leadership with four first women
Laura Janner-Klausner, Naamah Kelman, Julia Neuberger, Jacqueline Tabick
Naamah Kelman, the first woman rabbi in Israel; Jackie Tabick, the first woman rabbi in Britain and Laura Janner-Klausner , the first woman Movement rabbi (Movement for Reform Judaism) will be in discussion led by Julia Neuberger, senior rabbi of West London Synagogue and member of the House of Lords, about breaking through the glass ceiling - the joys and the grazes along the way.
Israel's future: two states, one state or the status quo?
Daniel Reisel, Hannah Weisfeld
This session will explore the three main frameworks for the endgame of the Middle East conflict. Which opportunities does each present - and what are the costs? Are they workable in practice and which is more likely to safeguard Israel's future?
Tag meir: lighting the darkness
Arik Ascherman, Adam Ognall
'Price Tag' is the name extremists gave to their attacks on soldiers and Palestinians, burning of trees, and arson attacks and graffiti on mosques, churches, schools, and the homes of peace and human rights activists. Last Chanukah, a coalition of Israeli organizations initiated 'Tag Meir' (Light Tag), solidarity visits to cast light where dark acts have been carried out.
Jewish leadership on the line: staying alive at a Jewish communal organisation (1 of 3)
Samantha Clifford, Nicky Goldman, Daniel Reisel, Laura Janner-Klausner, Laura Marks
'To lead is to live dangerously.' True of the Jewish Community? Whether professional, lay leader or teacher, these practical sessions will show how you can exercise 'leadership on the line'. Join us for insightful analysis and commentary two of the innovative voices in community leadership as we discuss how those working in organisations ready for change can make a difference.
Hegel, Rav Kook and Rabbi Akiva - explaining Jewish history
Francis Nataf
A mystical view of tragedy and rebirth in Jewish history. To what extent was Rav Kook influenced by the views of Hegel and how are both approaches rooted in the mysterious statements of Rabbi Akiva.
Israel's African asylum problem: 'A cancer in our body'?
Jean-Marc Liling, Tammi Molad-Hayo, Adam Ognall, Nic Schlagman, Ruvi Ziegler
A discussion with NGO workers, lawyers and social activists about the refugee situation in Israel and Israeli society's reaction, response and treatment of
the refugee community.
Coming out as gay in Jewish music
My coming out this year debuted at #1 on OUT Magazine and made it to the front-page of CNN Entertainment, and definitely started buzz in the Jewish world. What I saw and learned from coming out as a Jewish entertainer, and what that has meant to me as part of the Jewish community and LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community at large.
Ten steps to understanding the phenomenon called Israel
Look at how expectations of and from Israel are affected by different conceptual understandings of what it means to be Jewish.
Does the Church of England still listen to Anglo-Jewry?
Toby Howarth, Natan Levy
This summer's Synod sparked a public debate between the Church of England and the Jewish community, with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbi involved. Why did ecumenical accompaniers to West Bank checkpoints cause conflict? What occurred at Synod? Where can we go from here? The Archbishop's Inter-Religious expert in conversation with the Interfaith Consultant for the Board.
Computerised bible criticism
Moshe Koppel
Are different strata of biblical literature stylistically distinguishable? The latest methods in computational linguistics will be brought to bear to answer this question. The theological implications (or lack thereof) of this work will also be briefly discussed. (This is an opportunity to get the inside scoop on a story widely reported in the press.)
