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

10:45am AEST

Writing life as a Jew

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Join Michael Gawenda in conversation about where his writing takes him these days and about the new readership that has found him.

Speakers

Michael Gawenda

Michael Gawenda is one of Australia’s best-known journalists and authors. In a journalism career spanning more than four decades, Michael has been a political reporter, a foreign correspondent based in London and in Washington, a columnist, a feature writer and an editor. He has... Read More →

Mandi Katz

Mandi Katz is a Melbourne-based governance professional in the financial services industry by day, and a Jewish community activist the rest of the time

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Modern Jewish world

12:00pm AEST

The politics of antisemitism

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Antisemitism – anti-Jewish animosity, rhetoric, and violence – has increased dramatically in recent years. At the same time, confusion over its definition has led to misunderstandings and, in some cases, cynical political exploitation of the charge. In this lecture, Joshua Shanes will review the history of antisemitism, the myths and lies that lay at its heart, with a particular focus on its contemporary political exploitation in the United States.

Speakers

Joshua Shanes

Joshua Shanes is Professor of Jewish Studies and Director of the Center for Israel Studies at the College of Charleston. He has published widely on modern Jewish politics and religion - as well as antisemitism and contemporary American politics - in a wide range of academic and popular... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Society and politics

1:15pm AEST

Step into our office: Three Jewish therapists explore the impacts of October 7th

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

How do Jewish therapists navigate the emotional, ethical and political dilemmas that have surfaced in therapy rooms since October 7th? In this intimate conversation, three therapists reflect upon the profound personal and professional impacts of that fateful day and what has followed. They explore shifting client dynamics, evolving therapeutic boundaries, and the complex emotional terrain they now face; offering insight into what it means to hold space for others while grappling with their own experiences.

Speakers

Vicki Gordon

Vicki Gordon OAM is a Clinical and Forensic psychologist whose career in the Children's Court Clinic and private practice spans 30+ years. Vicki also provides psychological support to the Victorian Disaster Network, to a range of Jewish organisations and lectures in trauma to medical... Read More →

Brandon Srot

Brandon is a Sydney-based psychotherapist who specialises in working with trauma, grief and loss, personal discovery and relationship therapy. He also facilitates leadership development journeys for individuals and teams across Australia and abroad.

Julia Blum

Julia Blum lives in Melbourne and is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and accredited mental health social worker, with 47 years of clinical experience, including 20 in private practice. Julia's interest in early trauma includes the impact of trauma as people get older, including Holocaust... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Everything Israel

2:45pm AEST

Jewish mindfulness

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Cultivating an intention of a ‘conscious way of being‘ within our very earthly life is at the heart of Jewish mindfulness. This was the Neo-Hasidic Zadeket Yemima Avital's understanding of our Tikkun. Yemima’s concept of Midah has a lot in common with the Buddhist term of equanimity. We will draw on the wisdom of the heart from this special woman through poetry and selected readings, and contemplate how this is helpful in painful times.

Speakers

Zohar Safra

I grew up in Israel during the 1980s in a progressive congregation. After living in Jerusalem, Spain, and Kili, I immigrated to Australia with my family in 2011. I live in the Northern Rivers, working as a registered nurse in palliative care and facilitating Yemima's study groups... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Mind body and soul

4:00pm AEST

Leonard Cohen: the greatest Jewish modern poet, singer and writer

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

The Jewish Museum of NY called Leonard Cohen the novelist, poet and singer-songwriter who inspired generations of writers, musicians and artists. He was an extraordinary poet of the imperfection of the human condition, offering means to be fully alert to the complexities and desires of both body and soul. He supplied melancholy observations on the state of the human heart, in songs like Chelsea Hotel, Suzanne, Bird on a Wire and Hallelujah.

Speakers

Helen Webberley

Helen lectured in history and art history (1625-1925) at a TAFE until retirement when Covid started. She still writes a history blog twice weekly and still helps history students (including the grandchildren) with their essays.Art and Architecture, mainly

Sunday June 8, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Arts and culture

5:15pm AEST

'Any requests for your favourite song?' David Rothberg - singer/keyboard player of Jewish and popular music

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

In this session, I will perform well known songs - Jewish and secular and I am happy to play (if possible ) requests of your favourite songs from my large repertoire.I will intersperse the playing with anecdotes about a lifetime of music performing - particularly in the aged care sector.

Speakers

David Rothberg

I am a keyboardist/singer of Jewish and Secular music with over 30 years experience playing in bands, duos and solo. My sister Laiya and I are frequent performers in our duo “Sibling Revelry”. I regularly play in aged care facilities and other venues with all styles from contemporary... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 5:15pm - 6:15pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Arts and culture

6:30pm AEST

Anne Frank's memory keeper: documenting the story of Hannah Pick-Goslar

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

A detailed description of what it was like to collaborate with Hannah Pick-Goslar on her memoir in the final months of her life. Hannah grew up next door to Anne Frank and was one of her closest friends, their families and lives in Amsterdam closely interwoven. It was Hannah who first discovered the Frank family had vanished from their home in July 1942 and the two girls had a chance, short-lived reunion in Bergen-Belsen.

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 6:30pm - 7:30pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

History and memory

10:45am AEST

Not in our community: addressing Melbourne’s Jewish youth homelessness

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

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.

Speakers

Leah Boulton

Leah is the Founder and CEO of Pathways Melbourne. Educated at RMIT and Harvard University (USA), Leah’s professional background is in advertising and PR. It was a young Heredi woman who wanted to rollerblade, attend university and avoid re-marrying, who inspired Leah to create... Read More →

Dassi Erlich

Dassi Erlich, Pathways Melbourne’s Youth & Family Programs Manager and Board Secretary, is a dedicated child safety advocate. Drawing from lived experience, she develops support programs for families and youth. As founder of the campaign against Malka Leifer, she has raised awareness... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Modern Jewish world

12:00pm AEST

Orthodox politics and religious identity in the 21st century

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

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?

Speakers

Joshua Shanes

Monday June 9, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Modern Jewish world

1:15pm AEST

Jews and musical theatre

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

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.

Speakers

Mark Kligman

Mark Kligman is the Mickey Katz Endowed Chair in Jewish Music at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He is Professor of Ethnomusicology, Musicology and Humanities. In 2020l he was appointed Director of the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience.

Monday June 9, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Arts and culture

2:45pm AEST

What are the core innovations of Kabbalah and how have they changed Judaism?

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

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.

Speakers

Joshua Shanes

Monday June 9, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Modern Jewish world

4:00pm AEST

Popular Jewish music

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

RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

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.

Speakers

Mark Kligman

Monday June 9, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm AEST
RG.03 (theatrette) - Room 10

Arts and culture