Limmud Oz Melbourne 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to the program for Limmud Oz Melbourne 2025!

Join us for an immersive weekend festival of Jewish ideas and culture, with >100 presenters and sessions to choose from.
From Ben-Gurion to bagels, Yentl to yoga, we always have something for everyone. Limmud is an opportunity for you to cultivate a personal Jewish experience and learn from presenters you might never come across otherwise.

Tickets are available here

9:30am AEST

The ABCD's of the future of Israel and Palestine: articulating four potential options for the future, and assessing the chances for each

Sunday June 8, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is enormously complex, and multiple ideas have been suggested for its future, but these ideas basically boil down to one of four distinct options, each of which begins with the letter A, B, C or D. No spoilers, but in the session, we'll uncover what those letters stand for, explore each of the options, consider their pros and cons, and look at the forces, both Israeli and Palestinian, pushing in each direction.

Speakers

Alex Sinclair

Alex Sinclair is an educational consultant and adjunct lecturer at Hebrew University. His first book, Loving the Real Israel, was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, and his debut novel, Perfect Enemy, was published in 2023. Undergraduate and graduate degrees from Balliol... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Everything Israel

10:45am AEST

Talmudic stories: from history to literature

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

For centuries, scholars viewed Talmudic stories as historical and biographical accounts of the sages' lives and deeds, forming the basis of rabbinic and Jewish history. Recently, however, researchers have adopted a literary approach, seeing these stories as closer to didactic fiction meant to teach morals and values rather than record events. This session will explore why scholars moved away from the biographical-historical perspective and the implications of this shift for our understanding of Talmudic history.

Speakers

Jeffrey Rubenstein

Professor, New York University

Dr. Jeffrey L. Rubenstein is Professor of Talmud at New York University. He received his B.A. from Oberlin College, his M.A. from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. from the Columbia University. His scholarship focuses on Talmudic stories, the development of Jewish law... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Text and Philosophy

12:00pm AEST

Arab citizens of Israel, a community in crisis

Sunday June 8, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

The Palestinian Arab minority of Israel has plunged into a double crisis in the aftermath of October 7. There’s an atmosphere of fear amid an ongoing crackdown against Arab citizens of Israel who speak out against the war, prompting self-censorship and fears of being jailed and losing their jobs, as some already have. And within their towns and cities an epidemic of homicides rages on, reflecting a rise in heavily armed crime organisations and years of systemic inequality.

Speakers

Dina Kraft

Dina Kraft is a journalist and co-author of the best-seller, "My Friend Anne Frank". She is Israel Correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, former opinion editor at Haaretz English, and co-hosts the podcast, Groundwork, about Israeli and Palestinian activists. She writes about... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Everything Israel

1:15pm AEST

From trauma to tomorrow: A look at Jewish and Israeli identity post-October 7th

Sunday June 8, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Jewish identity is often shaped by the Holocaust and other painful episodes of our history; October 7th has only increased the trauma that weighs upon us. How do we respond to trauma as a people? How do we liberate our collective narrative and self-understanding from its sociological and religious chains? We will study some classical and modern Hebrew texts and traditions to help us grapple with these questions.

Speakers

Alex Sinclair

Sunday June 8, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Modern Jewish world

2:45pm AEST

The narrative art of Talmudic stories

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

In this session we will study the narrative art of Talmudic stories, with close attention to structure, wordplay, irony, figurative language and the use of biblical verses. We explore how the Talmudic storytellers communicated their didactic messages and how stories relate to their Talmudic contexts, including the relationship between Talmudic law and story.

Speakers

Jeffrey Rubenstein

Professor, New York University

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Text and Philosophy

4:00pm AEST

Yiddish revolutionary and resistance songs

Sunday June 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Each Yiddish protest-revolutionary-resistance song we have is a rich sociological and historical document, an “ear-witness” to struggles long forgotten but nonetheless important to our cultural heritage.

Speakers

Tomi Kalinski

Yurele Tomi Kalinski is a Melbourne-born pianist, performer and teacher conducting a life-long love affair with mameloshn.

Mir Kumen On Choir

Reyzl Zylberman, a member of Mir Kumen On Yiddish choir since its inception, is Principal of Sholem Aleichem College.

Sunday June 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Arts and culture

5:15pm AEST

Big Macher Trivia: the Jewish-themed quiz

Sunday June 8, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Quizraelites: time to use your Yiddishe kop for Limmud Oz’s Jewish-themed trivia quiz! We'll have rounds on Judaism, Israel, Australian Jews and Jews around the world, with fun bonus rounds. In chad gadya, which three items come between the ox and the dog? Can you name the eldest daughter in Fiddler on the Roof? Create a team or we'll find teammates for you! The winning team will be crowned Limmud Oz's Big Machers for 2025.

Speakers

Dane Stern

Dane has two life passions – Limmud and trivia. He was previously on Limmud Sydney’s advisory board, co-chaired the Limmud Fest retreat and has appeared on three TV quiz shows. Dane chairs the Shoah Remembrance Committee at the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and works in data analytics... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

9:30am AEST

From the Jerusalem Talmud to the Babylonian Talmud: the reworking of stories and the Talmudic ethic of shame

Monday June 9, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Many rabbinic stories appear in multiple versions in different rabbinic compilations, sometimes with significant variations. Comparing parallel versions in the two Talmuds reveals differences in the values, cultures, and beliefs of the two rabbinic centers. In this session we will study stories from the Jerusalem Talmud that have little to do with shame and dignity and explore how the Babylonian Talmudic storytellers reworked them to emphasise this value.

Speakers

Jeffrey Rubenstein

Professor, New York University

Monday June 9, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Text and Philosophy

10:45am AEST

What’s new under the sun? Past, present and future explorations

Monday June 9, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Nearly twenty years ago, over thirty prominent Jewish Australians were asked to contribute an essay to a volume entitled New Under the Sun: Jewish Australians on Religion, Politics and Culture. The questions, themes and concerns explored around belonging, politics, seeking, memory and responsibility are as compelling now as they were then. Perhaps more so. Join a few of the original contributors as they look back, reflect on the present moment and project into the future.

Speakers

Sidra Moshinsky

Sidra Kranz Moshinsky is the newly appointed Director & CEO of the Jewish Museum of Australia. She is also a writer, researcher and educational leader, having taught and led at Jewish schools, and is a founder of the Jewish Educators Network. Sidra is a contributor to The Jewish Independent... Read More →

Julie Szego

Julie Szego is a freelance writer and an independent journalist who publishes on Substack.

Melissa Castan

Professor Melissa Castan is Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, at Monash University. She has over 25 years experience teaching, researching and publishing in Australian Public Law, Constitutional law, Human Rights Law, Indigenous Legal Issues and Legal Education... Read More →

Ralph Genende

Rabbi Ralph Genende OAM is the Interfaith and Community Liaison at the Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council. He is also Senior Rabbi to Jewish Care Victoria.

Monday June 9, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Modern Jewish world

12:00pm AEST

“I was not living until the day I began teaching”: A medieval Jewish woman explains to Moses Maimonides why she became a Bible teacher

Monday June 9, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

While living in Egypt, Maimonides received two letters: one from a disgruntled husband who wanted his wife to give up her job, and the other from his wife, who wanted Maimonides to understand how she became a Bible teacher and why the job meant so much to her. We will discuss what these letters tell us about Jewish daily life, including women and children’s experiences, and changing ideas about marriage and divorce.

Speakers

Alan Verskin

Alan Verskin is the Samuel J. Zacks Chair of Jewish History at the University of Toronto. He has held academic positions at Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Rhode Island. He researches the history of the Jews of the Islamic world, Ashkenazi-Sephardi... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

History and memory

1:15pm AEST

Why what happens in the West Bank never stays in the West Bank

Monday June 9, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Israel is conducting another post-October 7 warfront in the West Bank with military operations in refugee camps, cutting electricity and water lines, and launching air strikes, part of its “Iron Wall” campaign which has displaced some 40,000 people. Largely unchecked, settler violence has become routine against Palestinians. And for the first time, far-right settler figures hold powerful positions in the Cabinet, driving decision making that is impacting all Israelis, their security, and the country’s reputation around the world.

Speakers

Dina Kraft

Monday June 9, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Everything Israel

2:45pm AEST

Jillian Segal in conversation

Monday June 9, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Join Jillian Segal, the Special Envoy on Antisemitism, in conversation with Jacquie Seemann.

Speakers

Jacquie Seemann Charak

Jacquie is a lawyer at Thomson Geer in Sydney. She enjoys bringing her experience in employment/discrimination/sports/education law to Jewish contexts. Jacquie is currently Chair of Integrity at Maccabi Australia; a committee member of the NSW Jewish Educators of Tomorrow project... Read More →

Jillian Segal

Monday June 9, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Society and politics

4:00pm AEST

Postcard from Israel’s protest frontlines: the agony and fight of the hostage families and a nation

Monday June 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEST

MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Israel has been a nation in an almost constant state of mass protest for over two years. It began with the unprecedented wave of street demonstrations in wake of Netanyahu’s government plan to overhaul the country’s courts and after the October 7 attack, transitioned into emotional vigils and rage-filled marches demanding the return of the hostages in Gaza. After the second cease-fire collapsed, anti-war protests gained steam. What do these protests look and feel like from the ground? What have they accomplished and where are they going?

Speakers

Dina Kraft

Monday June 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEST
MG.04 - Room 7 (MPR)

Everything Israel