Limmud Oz Melbourne 2025

Many young people are struggling with their religious Jewish identity, leading to an increase in mental health issues and the risk of homelessness. Pathways is initiating programs for vulnerable religious teenagers, as well as religious parents with ‘questioning’ teens. Pathways has undertaken an independent Needs Analysis study into the mental health risks amongst Melbourne’s vulnerable Jewish youth and their families. Leah and Dassi will share the study outcomes and stories of our overlooked teens.

In 2024, the vast majority of non-Orthodox Jews - perhaps as high as 80% or more - once against voted against Donald Trump while the vast majority of Orthodox Jews - including over 90% of Haredim - voted for him. Why do the Orthodox support Trump so strongly, what is the history of Orthodox politics and identity that might account for it, and what does that say about the current nature and future of Orthodoxy itself?

Jews have been engaged with musical theatre in America for over 100 years. As creators, producers, presenters and artists, Jews have made many contributions. This session will present the early influence of Jews in American theatre with Show Boat and Oklahoma and then show how Jewish topics are part of Broadway from Fiddler on the Roof to Falsettos.

We know today that Kabbalistic ideas have totally remade Judaism and yet most Jews have only a cursory knowledge of what they teach. In this lecture, we will encounter the key theological innovations of the Kabbalah from the 13th century Zohar through 16th century Safed, including key insights on the nature of God, the soul, the Torah, and the purpose of mitzvot.

Since the 1970s Jewish music has changed significantly. Cantorial, klezmer and Yiddish songs were no longer the music for American-born Jews. Throughout the Jewish community, music developed creating an American sound to Jewish music. Orthodox, Reform (Debbie Friedman), Conservative (Safam) Jews created music expressing their Jewish experiences. The Klezmer revival of the 1970s covered new terrain with artists recording with a blend of styles. This session will show the creation of American popular Jewish music.