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

7:45pm AEST

Gala Concert: Me + 1 - Jewish songwriters

Saturday June 7, 2025 7:45pm - 9:00pm AEST

RG Hall - Room 12

Ari Wenig, Anita Lester, Rita Satch, Adam Starr, Jonathan Skovron and Shira Etzion will each sing an original song, and will also interpret a favourite song written by a Jewish composer.

Speakers

Ari Jacob

Ari Jacob is a writer and musician. He made Aliyah at the age of 22 and moved back to Melbourne 8 years later, where he now lives with his wife and step-son. Ari has released 6 albums and an original Kabbalah inspired musical, "Son Called Moon".

Shira Etzion

Shira is an 18 year old singer based in Melbourne. She has been singing and loving all music since she can remember. She has recently been writing some original music as she begins a new chapter of her music career.

Anita Lester

Rita Satch

Jonothan Skovron

Adam Starr

The MKS was created in 2024 to expand the knowledge and enjoyment of Klezmer music in the Melbourne community and Australia, and to make a global contribution to the Klezmer world.

Saturday June 7, 2025 7:45pm - 9:00pm AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Arts and culture

10:45am AEST

School band rocks

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

RG Hall - Room 12

Speakers

Adam Starr

The MKS was created in 2024 to expand the knowledge and enjoyment of Klezmer music in the Melbourne community and Australia, and to make a global contribution to the Klezmer world.

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Arts and culture

6:30pm AEST

Sunday concert: Me + 1 - Jewish instrumental music

Sunday June 8, 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm AEST

RG Hall - Room 12

Instrumentalists Josh Moshe, Yuval Eshcar, Rachel Moshel, Simon Starr, Adam Starr, Daniel Mougerman and Amy Zakar Banner will each perform an original composition as well as an interpretation of a favourite piece of Jewish music. Different combinations of musicians will be heard throughout the evening.

Speakers

Simon Starr

Simon Starr is a Melbourne musician who is passionate about Jewish music.

Amy Zakar Banner

Amy Zakar (violin) is a second-generation musician and educator of Hungarian/Transylvanian/Jewish descent. Born in New York, Amy played her first Catskills-Yiddish revue at age 8, and has taught instrumental music at KlezKamp, Klezkanada, and Yiddish New York. Amy performed with... Read More →

Rachel Moshel

Josh Moshe

Joshua Moshe is an award-winning saxophonist and composer based in Melbourne, known for his deeply expressive sound and genre-crossing sensibility. Raised in a Jewish family in South Africa and New Zealand, Joshua grew up immersed in both synagogue melodies and the jazz and rhythm-driven... Read More →

Yuval Ashkar

Yuval Ashkar’s music is a testament to his multicultural heritage, blending influences from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Europe. His profound connection to Middle Eastern traditions is reflected in his soulful compositions and performances.

Daniel Mougerman

Pianist/keyboardist and producer, Daniel Mougerman is one of Melbourne’s most in-demand musicians. He is the keyboardist for Melbourne favourites, The Bamboos, co-leads the 11 piece Afro-Cuban band, La Influencia and plays keyboards for a number of Melbourne arKsts including: Rita... Read More →

Adam Starr

The MKS was created in 2024 to expand the knowledge and enjoyment of Klezmer music in the Melbourne community and Australia, and to make a global contribution to the Klezmer world.

Sunday June 8, 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Arts and culture

12:00pm AEST

A collective voice: Ha`Lev`s musical response

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

RG Hall - Room 12

Join us for a moving one-hour session exploring the Ha’lev Choir’s formation and impact, especially in light of October 7. Through powerful visuals, personal reflections, live music, and a communal sing-along, we’ll celebrate resilience, hope, and the healing power of community. Featuring footage from Koolulam and the Ride to Bring Them Home rally, this heartfelt experience shows how music can unite and inspire.

Speakers

Tonia Plack Barolsky

Ha’Lev is a Melbourne community choir formed after the 7 October 2023 tragedy. It unites over 40 voices and hearts every Tuesday evening at Beth Weizmann. Led by Corey Fooks and Tonia Plack Barolsky, the choir blends music and healing. Ha’Lev performances include Federation Square... Read More →

Ha'Lev choir

Corey Fooks

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

Arts and culture

1:15pm AEST

Every Body: dissecting body image in the Jewish community

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

RG Hall - Room 12

A culture of feasting and fasting. Double portions for shabbat. A habit of anxious food hoarding passed down the generations. Religious injunctions to modesty. A Jewish nose. A Jewish tuchas. 'Body image' is already a minefield – but in Jewish spaces, it comes with its own set of complexities. From cultural expectations to communal pressures, how do these factors shape the way we see ourselves? Join a dynamic conversation about the unique challenges of body image in Australian Jewish communities and get an exclusive look into how The Jewish Independent's 2025 Every Body series dared to tackle the taboo.

Speakers

Ruby Kraner-Tucci

Ruby Kraner-Tucci is a journalist and assistant editor of The Jewish Independent. Her writing has appeared in The Age, Australian Jewish News and Broadsheet, among others. Ruby was awarded Multicultural NSW’s Best Report in Multicultural Media 2025, and named a Top 36 Under 36 Jewish... Read More →

Elon Gersh

Elon is a clinical psychologist who completed his Masters and PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Melbourne, where he also worked as a lecturer. He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in Seattle, Washington. Elon is currently a therapist and clinical director... Read More →

Jaimee Krawitz

At the age of 12, Jaimee personally struggled with an eating disorder. This journey inspired her to become a registered counsellor, psychologist and founder and CEO of Hide N Seek, a NFP dedicated to changing the language around eating disorders.

Tami Sussman

Tami is a Sydney-based creative with a background in comedy. She's the writer behind TJI's 'Sex and the Shtetl' column and co-host of the podcast Ashamed to Admit. Tami is the author of the Tiny Tradies series and So That Happened, plus a festival moderator, consultant, editor & workshop... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Mind body and soul

5:15pm AEST

Tryptich I: next generation musicians

Monday June 9, 2025 5:15pm - 5:45pm AEST

RG Hall - Room 12

Vocal students doing VCE Music at Bialik, King David, Mount Scopus and Yavneh will each be performing a song from their VCE repertoire, supported by a band consisting of Harley Kaufman (saxophone), Leo Sachs (guitar), Adam Sachs (bass), Osha Rubenstein Slesenger (keybaords) and Zach Banner (drums) led by Adam Starr (Music Director).

Speakers

Adam Starr

The MKS was created in 2024 to expand the knowledge and enjoyment of Klezmer music in the Melbourne community and Australia, and to make a global contribution to the Klezmer world.

Emmanuelle Fink

Emmanuelle is a passionate vocalist with nine years of experience, recognised through a Lyrebird nomination (Oliver!), performances with VOYCE (2022), and as a Scopus Idol finalist in 2023 and 2025.

Reuben Goldfarb

Reuben Goldfarb is a grade 11 student at the King David School, as well as an enthusiastic musician in over five musical ensembles. He also is lead singer in his own band, 'Funky Sediment'.

Anouchka Starr

Anouchka Starr is in her final year at Mount Scopus. She has been singing and dancing for many years, loving performing in school musicals, concerts and community events.

Shira Vorcheimer

Shira Vorcheimer is 18 years old, and a VCE Music student at Yavneh College. She has enjoyed singing since a young age and has had lessons for the past 5 years. Shira has a soulful style, finding her voice in R&B and Jazz genres.

Monday June 9, 2025 5:15pm - 5:45pm AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Arts and culture

5:45pm AEST

Tryptich II: Tisch!

Monday June 9, 2025 5:45pm - 6:15pm AEST

RG Hall - Room 12

Join Noam Sendor and Adam Starr for a powerful, participatory Tisch where everyone is invited to sing together. Traditional niggunim come alive with the backing of an extraordinary jazz band, creating a shared musical experience that blends soul, rhythm, and community in perfect harmony.

Speakers

Adam Starr

Noam Sendor

Noam Sendor is a rabbi at Blake Street Hebrew Congregation, high school teacher at Leibler Yavneh College, jazz singer and novelist.

Monday June 9, 2025 5:45pm - 6:15pm AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Arts and culture

6:15pm AEST

Tryptich III: Fifth of Nisan

Monday June 9, 2025 6:15pm - 6:45pm AEST

RG Hall - Room 12

Adam Starr to organise - playing as part of the concert

Speakers

Rachel Moshel

Fifth of Nisan

Step into the world of Fifth of Nisan, where klezmer collides with jazz inan electrifying fusion of old and new. Led by Rachel Moshel and featuring some of Melbourne’s finest musicians, Fifth of Nisan channels the spirit of Eastern European folk traditions while infusing them with... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 6:15pm - 6:45pm AEST
RG Hall - Room 12

Arts and culture