Limmud NY 2015: Full Schedule

NEW! To see programming for CHILDREN & FAMILIES, hover over tracks on the right side of the page or type "Children & Families" in the search box. Same for "College & High School."

1:45pm EST

Book Club: A Post-Zionist Tale in 1947?

Come read and discuss a powerful short story by the best Hebrew language author you've never heard of. We will use an English translation of the text.

Presenters

Jenn Altman

Jenn Altman fell in love with Limmud NY at first sight, during the craziness that was check in "the cold year." She has been an active volunteer, conference and programming chair, and is a current member of the Board and the Executive Committee. Her favorite parts of Limmud NY are... Read More →

Saturday February 14, 2015 1:45pm - 3:00pm EST
Westover

Identity & Global Culture

3:45pm EST

Judaism and Medicine: Beyond Bioethics

The history of Jews and medicine is as ancient and as rich as the history of the People of Israel itself. But is there a Jewish way to relate to medicine? This session examines the values at the core of medicine, and their impact on doctor and patient. Drawing on Jewish texts and contemporary thought and bioethics, we offer three models of the Jewish license to heal. Through study and sharing, we will explore the intersection of our Jewishness and our health. Practitioners and patients welcome!

Presenters

Yonah Hain

Yonah Hain is the campus rabbi of Columbia University. In his work, he guides the educational, interfaith and religious initiatives of Columbia/Barnard Hillel's robust Jewish community. Having previously worked at New York University, he is now in his ninth year as a rabbi on campus... Read More →

Saturday February 14, 2015 3:45pm - 5:00pm EST
Westover

Text & Thought, Identity & Global Culture

5:15pm EST

Three Mitzvot That Never Were and Never Will Be

The rebellious child, the afflicted house, and the city of apostates are commandments that are related to events that the Talmud describes as never having occurred, nor will they ever occur. What are the underlying themes that link these three commandments? What lessons do they teach us as theoretical models? What are the implications for understanding the human potential for rehabilitation and transformation? How do they inform our responsibility to insure that these realities never DO occur?

Presenters

Bill Liss-Levinson

Bill Liss-Levinson is a healthcare publishing executive, a member of the Board of the Jewish Book Council, and the CenterLight Health System, and has done pro bono consulting for various social service, healthcare, and educational organizations. Bill has a book forthcoming in 2015... Read More →

Saturday February 14, 2015 5:15pm - 6:15pm EST
Westover

Text & Thought

8:15pm EST

Judaism and Homosexuality

In light of modern changes in attitude regarding homosexuality, and recent controversy surrounding government legislation, explore the halachic stance on homosexuality with Chaim Rapoport, Ethics Advisor to the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. Rapoport combines an unswerving commitment to Jewish Law, teachings and values with a balanced, understanding perspective that Jonathan Sacks described as “blessed with grace, loving kindness and compassion.”

Presenters

Chaim Rapoport

Chaim Rapoport, a prolific author and scholar of Jewish law, has served as head of the Leeds Kollel, rabbi for the Birmingham Central Synagogue and Head of the Birmingham Rabbinic Board, and Rabbi to the Ilford Synagogue, Beehive Lane. In 1998 he was appointed as member of the Chief... Read More →

Saturday February 14, 2015 8:15pm - 9:30pm EST
Westover

Text & Thought, Identity & Global Culture

9:45pm EST

Pardes Meet Up

Saturday February 14, 2015 9:45pm - 10:45pm EST
Westover

10:00am EST

The Making of Tefillin

This session will explain how Tefillin are made, the different types of Tefillin housings, and all the structural aspects of Tefillin as well as the parchments that go into making them.

Presenters

Zerach Greenfield

Born in the United States, Zerach moved to Israel in 1980. He has served as a Shaliach (emissary) for the Jewish Agency. For the last thirty years he has been active as a Sofer STAM (scribe), writing, teaching, restoring and evaluating Sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls), tefillin and other... Read More →

Sunday February 15, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EST
Westover

Identity & Global Culture, Children & Families, College & High School

1:30pm EST

Write Your Own Talmud

Learn how to think like the rabbis by composing your own Talmudic sugya (argument). We will study the sugya as a poetic art form that combines reason and play, argument and digression, proof and suggestion. This session offers an opportunity to reflect on the wild nature of ancient rabbinic thinking and to make that style of thinking intellectually and therapeutically relevant. Thematic focus will be given to the question of what it means for Torah "to have seventy faces."

Presenters

Zohar Atkins

Zohar Atkins is a first-year rabbinical school student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He holds an AB in Classics and Judaic Studies and an AM in History from Brown. He recently completed his doctorate in theology at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship, where he wrote on Heidegger... Read More →

Sunday February 15, 2015 1:30pm - 2:45pm EST
Westover

Text & Thought

3:00pm EST

Israel of the Heart/Israel of the Mind

How do we speak with children (and ourselves!) about our complex relationship with Israel while still passing along our love affair with the Jewish state to the next generation? Through deep discussion and a text study of Israel's Declaration of Independence, we will delve into this important topic.

Presenters

Ami Hersh

Ami Hersh is the assistant director of the Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. He also serves as the Family Life Coordinator at the Orangetown Jewish Center. He was ordained as a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2012 with an MA in Jewish non-profit management and a second MA in Experiential... Read More →

Sunday February 15, 2015 3:00pm - 4:15pm EST
Westover

Israel Text & Thought

6:45pm EST

The Scribal Arts

This session will cover the writing of Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzot. What skills and tools are needed to be a Sofer (scribe)? See and touch samples to understand the intricacies as well as the simplicity of writing our most precious Jewish artifacts. Along the journey, hear anecdotes, history, and exciting stories, including how Greenfield saved fifty-four Sifrei Torah from destruction by Saddam Hussein.

Presenters

Zerach Greenfield

Sunday February 15, 2015 6:45pm - 8:00pm EST
Westover

Arts & Performance, Children & Families, College & High School

8:15pm EST

TuBishVanya: Creating a Tu Bishvat (Jewish Arbor Day) Uncle Vanya

Join the director and writer of 24/6: A Jewish Theater Company’s Uncle Vanya, as they share with you their process for creating 24/6’s unique Tu Bishvat adaptation of Chekhov’s classic. In conjunction with 24/6’s Sunday stage reading of Uncle Vanya, we will explore a scene in Chekhov’s original play, and how 24/6 went about adapting it for their Tu Bishvat Seder production of the play. Bring your love of theater and a willingness to act to this interactive session. Wallflowers welcome.

Presenters

Yoni Oppenheim

Yoni Oppenheim is the Co-Founding Artistic Director of 24/6: A Jewish Theater Company. He is a NY-based director, dramaturg, and teaching artist, who has worked in the US, Israel, and Norway. He has consulted for JOFA, Drisha Arts Fellowship, Theater Talk-PBS, and taught theater at... Read More →

Sunday February 15, 2015 8:15pm - 9:30pm EST
Westover

Arts & Performance, College & High School, Identity & Global Culture

8:30am EST

Tackling Tefillah: Is More 'Effective' Prayer Possible?

Are we "changing G-d's mind" when we pray? Take a new look at tefillah (prayer) through the thinking of Rav Kook and some contemporary commentary as well. Attendees at this session will receive a free gift from Koren Publishers!

Presenters

Yossi Pollak

Yossi Pollak is Director of Synagogue and School Outreach for Koren Publishers in the Northeast US. He graduated from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School and has served pulpits in Washington DC, New York City, and Westport, CT, as well as teaching in day schools in Brooklyn... Read More →

Monday February 16, 2015 8:30am - 9:45am EST
Westover

Text & Thought

10:00am EST

When the Tablets Shatter: Dementia in Rabbinic Literature and Theology

The painful reality of dementia in parents and teachers was as much a part of Talmudic life as it is for so many today. Drawing on Talmudic legend, modern journalism, and halacha, we will explore how Jewish tradition has responded to, portrayed, and even embraced dementia.

Presenters

Ben Greenfield

Ben Greenfield is Wexner Fellow, a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and an intern at the International Beit Din. Ben is currently a proud resident of the UWS Moishe House and a founder of the partnership Minyan Maarav.

Monday February 16, 2015 10:00am - 11:15am EST
Westover

Text & Thought

11:30am EST

Learn Torah Trope in One Hour!

Admit it: You have always wanted to try it, but it seemed like it would just be too hard. If you always thought that reading Torah was something that was only for experts, think again. In a single Limmud session, you will learn everything you need to know to get started learning how to chant your first Torah reading. You will learn how to chant the special musical alphabet known as ta'amei hamikra (trope), and you will leave with all the resources you will need to prepare your very first Torah reading.

Presenters

Michael Weis

Michael Weis is the cantor at the Brotherhood Synagogue in Manhattan. Originally from Chicago, he currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife Lisa and their two children, Jayna (5) and Shai (1).

Monday February 16, 2015 11:30am - 12:45pm EST
Westover

Spiritual Practice, Children & Families, College & High School

1:00pm EST

Baby Boomer Blues?

With so much attention paid to Next Gen and engaging young adult families with our Jewish communities, we have lost sight of the power and importance of the Baby Boomer generation. Learn about new research, including the B3 Baby Boomer Platform, showing how and why the Jewish world needs to fund and create exciting opportunities for this age cohort. Take away some practical suggestions and learn about Chai Mitzvah and other interesting adult engagement programs.

Presenters

Audrey Lichter

Audrey Lichter has been to Limmud for the past two years. Professionally, she was a Principal of Jewish Teen programs for over 20 years, and now is the Director of Chai Mitzvah, a Jewish engagement program for adults. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 36 years... Read More →

Monday February 16, 2015 1:00pm - 2:15pm EST
Westover

Identity & Global Culture