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Mount Scopus Kadimah Conference 2021 has ended
Welcome to Kadimah!

This conference is about taking your Jewish education to the next level. 

We’re moving forward, looking to the future, advancing our learning and pushing forward the conversation about what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life.

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Thursday, July 15
 

8:00am AEST

Year 12 Registration, Breakfast and Tefillah
Thursday July 15, 2021 8:00am - 8:45am AEST
H116
  Other

8:45am AEST

Year 12 Introduction
Thursday July 15, 2021 8:45am - 9:00am AEST
  Other

9:00am AEST

Year 12 Keynote address by President of the Zionist Federation of Australia
Speakers
avatar for Jeremy Leibler

Jeremy Leibler

Jeremy Leibler is the President of The Zionist Federation of Australia. He is a Partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler practising in commercial and corporate law and has served on the boards of numerous organisations within the Jewish community, including, the United Jewish Education Board... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 9:00am - 9:45am AEST
H126
  Keynote

9:15am AEST

Year 11 Registration and Breakfast
Thursday July 15, 2021 9:15am - 9:40am AEST
H116
  Other

9:45am AEST

Year 11 Introduction
Thursday July 15, 2021 9:45am - 10:00am AEST
H116
  Other

10:00am AEST

How to become a communal leader and why
Explore different forms of communal leadership and why everybody can be a leader. The session will discuss some of the intended and unintended benefits of becoming a leader and look at the qualities that make a good leader. Philip will share insights into leadership gained from sitting on the boards of some of our communities most important organisations.
Speakers
avatar for Philip Chester

Philip Chester

Philip Chester has been involved in Jewish communal life and Zionist affairs since he was 6 years old. He has been the National head of Betar, President of AUJS, President of Zionism Victoria and lastly, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia. Philip is a partner in the... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
H222
  Community and Identity

10:00am AEST

How to change the way we view women in Judaism
Women in Judaism are finding that the gap between their secular and Jewish lives is bigger than expected. What can be done to help women feel relevant, seen and included in orthodox Jewish spaces?
Speakers
avatar for Nomi Kaltmann

Nomi Kaltmann

Nomi Kaltmann is one of the founding members of the Women’s Orthodox Tefillah Group in Victoria. She is also the inaugural president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance in Australia. Nomi holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Liberal Arts as well as a Masters degree in Legal... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
HB36
  Community and Identity

10:00am AEST

How to pave your own Jewish path
This session will explore the challenges and triumphs of living a meaningful Jewish life. In conversation with Liv Sandler of Flying Fox, Ally will share her personal perspective - what she learnt from 10 years spent at a midrasha in Jerusalem, how Jewish education and spaces can be made more inclusive and why she has an issue with the word ‘disability’.
Speakers
avatar for Ally Factor

Ally Factor

avatar for Olivia Sandler

Olivia Sandler


Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
H237
  Community and Identity

10:00am AEST

How to save the world
We can only choose to save the world in this decade. Our grandparents did not have this choice, because they didn’t have the capital, technologies and understanding. And for your children, it will be too late. Make no mistake - this is the decade and we are the generation. Elinor will explore environmental issues through a Jewish lens.
Speakers
avatar for Elinor Hasenfratz

Elinor Hasenfratz

Elinor is a dynamic and incisive communicator with extensive background in both formal and informal education, including expertise across a range of specialist teaching areas. She is the former president of the Youth Environment Council of South Australia. Elinor is currently the... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
H226
  Community and Identity

10:00am AEST

How to understand the collapse of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process - CANCELLED
In the early 1990s, Israelis and Palestinians began a series of peace negotiations. What led to their failure, and what lessons can we learn from these negotiations? This session explores these questions, and many more.
Speakers
avatar for Dan Heller

Dan Heller

Dan Kupfert Heller is an award-winning teacher and historian specialising in the Arab-Israeli conflict. He teaches units on modern Israel at the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation in Monash University.

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
  Israel

10:00am AEST

How to solve modern ethical dilemmas using ancient Jewish wisdom - CANCELLED
This session will examine different Jewish approaches to modern day ethical dilemmas. It will look at the true story of how calling out a sexist joke led to a viral tweet and then threats of violence. We will discuss how to strike the balance between calling out bad behaviour and ‘cancel culture’ on social media. We will also examine the ethical questions associated with programming self driving cars in the face of fatal collisions or accidents. Whose life should be spared?
Speakers
avatar for Rabbanit Judith Levitan

Rabbanit Judith Levitan

Rabbanit Judith Levitan is a community educator and lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the field of social justice. She currently works at Legal Aid NSW where she uses Human Centred Design to innovate and improve legal services for disadvantaged people. She holds degrees in... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
  Philosophy and Spirituality

10:00am AEST

How to speak to my grandmother about the Holocaust
What does the future of Holocaust commemoration look like? What are the lessons young Jews need to hear? In this conversation with her grandson Samuel Herz (OC ‘17), Danielle will speak about her experiences and share how the Holocaust impacted her philosophy on life.
Speakers
avatar for Danielle Charak OAM

Danielle Charak OAM

Danielle has had a teaching career spanning more than sixty years, including teaching English to migrants, French at VCE, English and French in Israel and Yiddish at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Danielle also taught at Mount Scopus Memorial College in the ‘80s. She has... Read More →
avatar for Sam Herz

Sam Herz

Samuel Herz is a 2017 Scopus graduate and is in his 3rd year of a Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges degree at Monash University. He facilitates UJEB's Bar Mitzvah program and coordinates their extracurricular high school space. He has been involved at Hineni as the... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
H238
  Shoah

10:00am AEST

How to approach the toughest decisions you will make as a Jew
How do we add meaning to laws that are prescribed to us? As Jews, we are encouraged to question and search for connection, but it can be hard to find those answers in all sectors of Judaism. With the knowledge and experience we have today, is it ethically appropriate to continue some of our age old practices? Nom will explore these questions through a reflection on her experiences surrounding her son’s Brit Milah.
Speakers
avatar for Naomi Orelowitz

Naomi Orelowitz

Naomi Orelowitz is a mum of two and currently teaches English and Drama at Beth Rivkah Ladies College. She started her teaching journey at Mount Scopus in 2015 and currently runs a component of the Bat Mitzvah program.

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
H220
  Text and Tradition

10:00am AEST

How to keep Shabbat
A theoretical and practical session understanding the laws of Shabbat and learning how exactly to do it.
Speakers
avatar for Rabbi James Kennard

Rabbi James Kennard

Rabbi Kennard is the principal of Mount Scopus College.

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
H223
  Text and Tradition

10:00am AEST

How to run a society: merit or equality? - CANCELLED
What does Am Yisrael’s relationship with bread teach us about how to structure a society and allocate resources? In this session we’ll zoom in on some key stories from Tanach and unpack the values and lessons we can learn and apply to political philosophy today.
Speakers
avatar for Shula Lazar

Shula Lazar

Shula is the principal of Carmel School in Perth. Prior to that she was Deputy Principal and Head of Jewish Studies (Secondary) at Leibler Yavneh College. Shula has a Master of Education (Gifted and Talented), a Diploma of Education and a Bachelor of Economics. She has also completed... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am AEST
  Text and Tradition

11:00am AEST

Break
Thursday July 15, 2021 11:00am - 11:15am AEST
H116
  Other

11:15am AEST

How to critically analyse - Jewish representation in TV and literature
Representation and authenticity are the buzzwords of this century. How are Jews being represented by Jews? How is our reading or watching of these works affected by who we are? What does a work of art like 'Shtisel' tell us about ourselves even when we are not living the life of a Charedi Jew? An exploration of the tricky territory of representation in the wider world.
Speakers
avatar for Tali Lavi

Tali Lavi

Tali Lavi is a writer, critic, public interviewer and programmer of Melbourne Jewish Book Week. Her work has been published in 'The Saturday Paper', 'The Monthly', 'Australian Book Review' and 'Garden Among Fires: A Lockdown Anthology'.

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
HB40
  Arts and Culture

11:15am AEST

How to become Jewish
This session will prompt you to think about the whys and hows of becoming Jewish, what being Jewish means, and how actively choosing it is a lifetime’s pursuit.
Speakers
avatar for Ike Curtis

Ike Curtis

Ike graduated from King David in 2013. On a school trip to Israel two years earlier, he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah (aged 16) at the Kotel’s southern excavation. In the months after finishing VCE, he began an orthodox conversion to Judaism through the Melbourne Beth Din. He is now... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
H237
  Community and Identity

11:15am AEST

How to engage with the complex world of interfaith and multicultural organisations
Frances will share her journey of involvement as a representative of the Jewish community within the interfaith space of Victoria. The session will explore the highs and lows, the gratifications and fulfilments, as well as the disappointments and challenges that she has experienced. In addition, the session will address the topic of contributing to one’s own community and to the broader society.
Speakers
avatar for Frances Prince

Frances Prince

Frances Prince is an Executive Member of the JCCV. She holds the Multicultural and Interfaith Portfolio. She is a Board Member of the Jewish Christian Muslim Association and the Faith Communities Council of Victoria, representing the Jewish community. She is Vice-President of the... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
H238
  Community and Identity

11:15am AEST

How to unlock your soul's potential and find deep happiness
Timmy will describe her spiritual journey from Scopus wild child to Mikvah madam. She will explain how being frum is just as edgy as when travelling the world as a free spirit… but in a different way.
Speakers
avatar for Timmy Rubin

Timmy Rubin

Timmy grew up in Caulfield in a traditional though non-observant home. As a young adult, Timmy’s search for meaning took her around the world. Her journey led her via Goa, India to New York where she re‐discovered her Jewish roots. She is the Manager of the CMS Mikvah, and is... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
H226
  Community and Identity

11:15am AEST

How to understand Israel's history in one hour
What are the most important and significant historical events in the life of the state of Israel? Let’s use 50 minutes to do a crash course in Israel’s history.
Speakers
avatar for Matti Borowski

Matti Borowski

Matti has been a passionate Jewish educator for close to two decades. He completed his Law, Arts and Education degrees at Monash University and his Masters in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has spent many years living and learning in Israel and served... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
HB36
  Israel

11:15am AEST

How to approach suffering from a Jewish philosophical perspective - CANCELLED
If anyone says to you "THIS is Judaism's perspective on X" you know they're wrong – Jewish philosophers disagree on just about everything. In this session we'll explore divergent approaches to the age-old question of "why do good people suffer?" We're not going to come out with "the" answer, but with an understanding of the options that exist within a diverse philosophical tradition, and a sense of which is most satisfying for us individually.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Charak

Sarah Charak

Sarah is a law student, educator and coffee addict living in Bondi. She studied Tanach, Talmud and Jewish philosophy at Midreshet Lindenbaum and Nishmat in Jerusalem, and Drisha in New York. Sarah has worked in educational roles for Bnei Akiva, Limmud Oz, NSW ZYC and Or Chadash Synagogue... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
  Philosophy and Spirituality

11:15am AEST

How to find God in half an hour
An introduction to Jewish Meditation.
Speakers
avatar for Rabbi Noam Sendor

Rabbi Noam Sendor

Noam Sendor is an educator at Leibler Yavneh College and The Rabbi at Blake Street Hebrew Congregation. He is also the singer in the Alter Jazz Ensemble, a pioneering project with Adam Starr, which merges ancient Jewish melodies with Jazz and soul music. Most importantly, he is a... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
H222
  Philosophy and Spirituality

11:15am AEST

How to be a Jewish leader
A Jewish leader's reflections on Jewish leadership. This session will explore Jewish leadership values and styles through Tanach, particularly focusing on the leadership of Moshe Rabeinu.
Speakers
avatar for Rabbi James Kennard

Rabbi James Kennard

Rabbi Kennard is the principal of Mount Scopus College.

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
H223
  Text and Tradition

11:15am AEST

How to give up your Judaism - CANCELLED
This session will shed light on a part of our people’s story often overlooked. Let’s rethink everything we know about Hagar and explore how close she was to being a matriarch of the Jewish people. What can this story teach us about Jewish identity and responsibility?
Speakers
avatar for Shula Lazar

Shula Lazar

Shula is the principal of Carmel School in Perth. Prior to that she was Deputy Principal and Head of Jewish Studies (Secondary) at Leibler Yavneh College. Shula has a Master of Education (Gifted and Talented), a Diploma of Education and a Bachelor of Economics. She has also completed... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
  Text and Tradition

11:15am AEST

How to view consent and #metoo through a Jewish lens - CANCELLED
This session will explore questions such as: What do traditional Jewish texts say about sex, power, consent and relationships? What is their relevance in 2021, especially in light of the #metoo conversation in Australia and the revelations of Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins and Chanel Contos? How can we apply these ideas to create healthy, balanced and meaningful interactions and relationships?
Speakers
avatar for Rabbanit Judith Levitan

Rabbanit Judith Levitan

Rabbanit Judith Levitan is a community educator and lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the field of social justice. She currently works at Legal Aid NSW where she uses Human Centred Design to innovate and improve legal services for disadvantaged people. She holds degrees in... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 11:15am - 12:15pm AEST
  Text and Tradition

12:15pm AEST

How to discover Israel without leaving home
Israel has produced many great literary artists, whose works can provide a unique insight into the lives and perspectives of Israelis as they go from building a country, fighting wars and finding love. We will be exploring Israeli texts and learning how to use the texts to understand Israeli society.
Speakers
avatar for Eitan Meyerowitz

Eitan Meyerowitz

Eitan Meyerowitz is a Yavneh and Hineni graduate. He studies Occupational Therapy at Monash University and is a Jewish life educator at Leibler Yavneh College. He is currently the president of an all abilities theatre company 'Stars and the Moon.'

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
H220
  Arts and Culture

12:15pm AEST

How to unlock the soul through Hip Hop and Jazz
An experiential workshop exploring the connection between contemporary music and ancient Jewish spirituality.
Speakers
avatar for Rabbi Noam Sendor

Rabbi Noam Sendor

Noam Sendor is an educator at Leibler Yavneh College and The Rabbi at Blake Street Hebrew Congregation. He is also the singer in the Alter Jazz Ensemble, a pioneering project with Adam Starr, which merges ancient Jewish melodies with Jazz and soul music. Most importantly, he is a... Read More →
avatar for Adam Starr

Adam Starr

Adam Starr holds a PhD in Composition at the University of Melbourne and received Associate Representation with the Australian Music Centre at the same time. He also has a Masters in Composition for the Screen. Adam has scored 5 feature film scores, over 30 short films, music for... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
H226
  Arts and Culture

12:15pm AEST

How to fix a broken world as a Jewish kid from Scopus
The human captives in Nauru and PNG, threatened species (including Truth and Democracy), a planet that’s melting and burning, Australia’s First Nations - all call out to us for rescue. Why does a Jew care so much? Where do we start?
Speakers
avatar for Howard Goldenberg

Howard Goldenberg

Howard is a storyteller driven to share stories of a rich Jewish life in a rich stolen land. He runs slow marathons, practises medicine incity and outback, writes a blog and a bunch of books.

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
H222
  Community and Identity

12:15pm AEST

How to understand antisemitism in Australia
Jewish communities in Australia and around the world are facing ongoing antisemitism. It is the beast that refuses to die. This session explains how antisemitism in Australia is alive and well, and offers ways we can confront this clear and present danger.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Dvir Abramovich

Dr. Dvir Abramovich

Dr. Dvir Abramovich is The Israel Kipen Director of the Program in Jewish Culture and Society at The University of Melbourne, and chairman of The Anti-Defamation Commission. He is considered to be Australia’s leading spokesperson on antisemitism and racism. A much sought-after media... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
HB39
  Community and Identity

12:15pm AEST

How to find hope - the case for grassroots democracy and peace in Israel
Despite the social and political disarray that has corroded the fabric of Israeli society over the past decades, there are a growing number of communities quietly working to restore Israel to the path of peace and justice. In this session Gabe will draw on his personal experiences in the thick of things and share stories about people he has met along the way who are building a better tomorrow.
Speakers
avatar for Gabe Freund

Gabe Freund

Gabe grew up in Perth where he became a Zionist activist including through his work as a madrich in Habonim Dror. Since making aliyah in 2010, Gabe has worked on a number of social and educational initiatives that seek to breathe new life into the modern Zionist enterprise. Gabe is... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
H237
  Israel

12:15pm AEST

How to understand the history of the Arab/Israeli conflict
Go on an intense journey through ancient and contemporary history to understand the current situation in Israel. We will also look forward to what is needed to ensure Israel's future remains bright, secure and successful.
Speakers
avatar for Joel Burnie

Joel Burnie

Joel is the Associate Director of Public Affairs and Operations for the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council. Joel has been involved in the Australian Jewish Community for many years with roles including the President of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students and an office... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
HB36
  Israel

12:15pm AEST

How to think about Jewish thought
Aristotle, Maimonides, Hegel, Kook—if these names mean nothing to you now, after this session these four philosophers might be the people in history you most want to meet. Chaya will take a deep dive into Jewish philosophy by looking at examples of philosophers who were once considered radical and controversial by the religious Jewish 'mainstream'. If you are a philosophically-minded student, hoping to learn a little more about theism and the way Jewish thinking sits within the general philosophy of its time—this session is for you!
Speakers
avatar for Chaya Herszberg

Chaya Herszberg

Chaya Herszberg is a postgraduate law student at the University of Melbourne. Chaya holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Philosophy and Creative Writing. Chaya is active in the Australian Jewish community and loves thoughtful discussion and rigorous learning.

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
HB40
  Philosophy and Spirituality

12:15pm AEST

How to tie your shoes - and other musings on Halacha
When talking about Judaism, the word 'Halacha' is thrown around a lot. But what actually is it? While simply translated as "Jewish law", there are various ways to think about Halacha and the role it plays in framing a Jewish life. So how should we relate to Halacha in our day to day lives?
Speakers
avatar for Bati Maron

Bati Maron

Bati is a Melbournian who attended Leibler Yavneh College and Midreshet Harova. She is engaged in the worlds of Genetics, Jewish education, and meme making. Bati is a bogeret of Bnei Akiva. Her favourite lockdown activity is sleeping, and that's not actually unique to lockdown.

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
H223
  Philosophy and Spirituality

12:15pm AEST

How to respond to the pledge of 'never again' after the Shoah
After the Holocaust, the phrase ‘never again’ became a catch-cry for the world to rally against injustice and mass atrocity. And yet, in every decade since the Holocaust, crimes against humanity occurred on almost every continent. This lecture will examine the genocide in Rwanda and discuss the global consequences of this genocide. It will also explore how Israel has taken concrete measures to help the survivors, in particular Rwandan orphans, to overcome the aftermath of this horrific tragedy.
Speakers
avatar for Sue Hampel OAM

Sue Hampel OAM

Sue Hampel OAM is a well-known public speaker and lecturer. She holds a Masters degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies and serves as Co-President of the Jewish Holocaust Centre. Sue is currently an academic mentor to indigenous students and a teaching associate in the History faculty... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
H238
  Shoah

12:15pm AEST

How to ensure no one's voice is lost - CANCELLED
In a patriarchal world of intellectual elitism, one unnamed working-class woman in the Talmud stands out as a person of unusual intelligence and wit. She was a maid in the house of R' Yehudah HaNasi, the author of the Mishna. In this session we'll explore this "handmaid's tale", and discuss a critical question for modern Jewry: how can we make sure that no one's voice is lost?
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Charak

Sarah Charak

Sarah is a law student, educator and coffee addict living in Bondi. She studied Tanach, Talmud and Jewish philosophy at Midreshet Lindenbaum and Nishmat in Jerusalem, and Drisha in New York. Sarah has worked in educational roles for Bnei Akiva, Limmud Oz, NSW ZYC and Or Chadash Synagogue... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 12:15pm - 1:15pm AEST
  Text and Tradition

1:15pm AEST

Lunch and Mincha
Over lunch, take the opportunity to continue conversations with each other and our various guest presenters.

Optional Mincha will be happening at 1:45pm.
Thursday July 15, 2021 1:15pm - 2:00pm AEST
H116
  Other

2:00pm AEST

How to Jew it yourself
Hide the hummus and hold on tight to your shofar, because you're in for a wild Jewish ride. Follow Bram Presser as he spins out of control; from the Scopus back oval, to mosh pits and music festivals around the world, he licks cobras, picks fights with Adam Sandler, eats his weight in falafel and accidentally kills Israel's most beloved singer. When the dust settles, he descends into the dark recesses of Jewish history and comes up to tell the story. Jewish punk pioneer to multi-award winning author, this is the story of a Jewish life lived on the edge.
Speakers
avatar for Bram Presser

Bram Presser

Bram Presser is a semi-reformed punk rocker, recovering academic, occasional criminal lawyer, award winning author and two-time cartoon character.

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
H237
  Arts and Culture

2:00pm AEST

How to advocate for Agunot and work towards eradicating their existence
Jewish women are being increasingly exploited in religious divorce cases by husbands who refuse to give them a Jewish divorce or Gett. How do we navigate the inequalities of the process and free Agunot from marriages which are no longer viable?
Speakers
avatar for Esther Althaus

Esther Althaus

Esther Althaus established Perspective Financial Services Pty Ltd in 2003 and has become an award winning financial adviser who is actively involved in the financial advice community and her community promoting financial literacy, particularly to women. Esther is involved in various... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
HB39
  Community and Identity

2:00pm AEST

How to reconcile homosexuality and Modern Orthodoxy
Since Vayikra, it seems that Judaism has had it out for homosexuality, but does it really? Hear from Eitan as he discusses halachic and communal responses to the issue of homosexuality and shares his perspective.
Speakers
avatar for Eitan Meyerowitz

Eitan Meyerowitz

Eitan Meyerowitz is a Yavneh and Hineni graduate. He studies Occupational Therapy at Monash University and is a Jewish life educator at Leibler Yavneh College. He is currently the president of an all abilities theatre company 'Stars and the Moon.'

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
H220
  Community and Identity

2:00pm AEST

How to use innovation to mobilise the Jewish community into the future
Imagine a world where everyone’s ideas are valued, where risks are taken to support dynamic leaders and empower them to realise a vision of Judaism and Jewish life that is vibrant, meaningful and engaging. Social entrepreneurs connect with contemporary values to breathe new life into Jewish spirituality, ritual, tradition, and connection. If you have aspirations to be part of a movement of social activists and entrepreneurs this discussion is for you.
Speakers
avatar for Tracie Olcha

Tracie Olcha

Tracie Olcha is CEO at the Australian Jewish Funders (AJF), a membership organisation of Jewish social investors. AJF is the network inspiring effective philanthropy and strengthening community. Tracie works closely with the AJF network, philanthropic foundations and a multitude of... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
HB40
  Community and Identity

2:00pm AEST

How to navigate Zionist activism in the age of social media
Social media has transformed how we communicate with each other and access information. Communication is instant, and information is unregulated. This session will explore how we can develop our Zionist identity and navigate our advocacy within such a chaotic environment.
Speakers
avatar for Joey Wilkinson

Joey Wilkinson

Josef Wilkinson is 24 years old, studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science and Holocaust Education at Deakin University. Josef has worked as a crew member and board observer at the Reach Foundation. Josef joined the Australasian Union... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
HB36
  Israel

2:00pm AEST

How to rethink everything you’ve learned about Israel
Israel is different to different people, for some it is the occupier and for others it is the centre of the Jewish world. What type of Israel education have we had? How can Israel education shape the Israel we love or hate?
Speakers
avatar for Itzik Sztokman

Itzik Sztokman

Itzik Sztokman is the Executive Principal of UJEB. He is a passionate educator and has worked in Jewish Education for more than 20 years. Itzik started out as a youth worker before being drawn into teaching. He has held various positions at Mt. Scopus College as an informal educator... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
H238
  Israel

2:00pm AEST

How to think about our role in the world - CANCELLED
The Rabbis of the Talmud didn’t write philosophy, but midrash instead – what we might today call myth – an imaginative exercise in filling textual gaps. Together, we’ll explore one intriguing example: what happened during Moshe’s mysterious 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai? Why do the Rabbis imagine angels preventing the Israelites from receiving the Torah? And what does this say about their approach to the Divine-human relationship?
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Charak

Sarah Charak

Sarah is a law student, educator and coffee addict living in Bondi. She studied Tanach, Talmud and Jewish philosophy at Midreshet Lindenbaum and Nishmat in Jerusalem, and Drisha in New York. Sarah has worked in educational roles for Bnei Akiva, Limmud Oz, NSW ZYC and Or Chadash Synagogue... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
  Philosophy and Spirituality

2:00pm AEST

How to relate to Moshiach
This session will explore different ways to think about the idea of Moshiach and explore philosophical understandings of what the Messiah is.
Speakers
avatar for Rabbi Shamir Caplan

Rabbi Shamir Caplan

Rabbi Shamir Caplan has been at Mount Scopus since 2004, where he has been involved in both formal and informal Jewish Studies. Rabbi Shamir has rabbinic, pastoral, and educational duties in the College, and also serves as the Rabbi of Beit Aharon Congregation, which meets at GBH... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
H223
  Text and Tradition

2:00pm AEST

How to time travel using the Talmud - CANCELLED
The Talmud is a core Jewish text that has informed and influenced Jewish thinking and custom over millennia and up to today. There are 2760 pages of the Talmud. What can we find on ‘a daf’ (a page) of Talmud? In this introduction to the Talmud, we will ‘learn the daf’ - We will follow the arguments as they wind through the page and throughout Jewish history. We will also listen out for all the different voices that make up ‘the Talmud’ - both on and off the page.
Speakers
avatar for Rabbanit Judith Levitan

Rabbanit Judith Levitan

Rabbanit Judith Levitan is a community educator and lawyer with over 15 years’ experience in the field of social justice. She currently works at Legal Aid NSW where she uses Human Centred Design to innovate and improve legal services for disadvantaged people. She holds degrees in... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
  Text and Tradition

2:00pm AEST

How to understand prophecies of destruction
One of the greatest tragedies to befall our nation was the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem on the 9th of Av, which we will be commemorating over the weekend. This text-based shiur will look at the prophet Jeremiah, and his role in trying to prevent the Temple's destruction, as well as at the biblical relationship between Am Yisrael and Hashem based on the covenant with Avraham.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Winthrope

Sarah Winthrope

Sarah Winthrope graduated from Yavneh in 2016. She studied in Israel at Midreshet Lindenbaum. She is currently studying Medicine at Monash University, with an interest in bioethics.

Thursday July 15, 2021 2:00pm - 3:00pm AEST
H226
  Text and Tradition

3:00pm AEST

Sikkum
In small groups we'll debrief a big day of listening and learning. Hear from others about the sessions you missed and share thoughts and ideas about things that came up throughout the day. 
Thursday July 15, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm AEST
  Other

4:00pm AEST

Break and Snacks
Thursday July 15, 2021 4:00pm - 4:30pm AEST
H116
  Other

4:30pm AEST

Panel: The Future of the Melbourne Jewish Community
This session is optional, but we encourage you to please join us for what will be an exciting end to the day. Dinner will be served after the conclusion of the panel discussion.

Please make sure you have signed up for this session if you would like to attend.
Speakers
avatar for Mark Joel

Mark Joel

Mark Joel is the CEO of the Scopus Foundation. He is passionate about the importance of community.
avatar for Noa Shaul

Noa Shaul

After growing up in the public school system, Noa was inspired to spend a year in Israel on Shnat with Habonim Dror. She returned to Melbourne and spent three years as a committed madricha and mazkira of the movement. She then went on to serve as the chairperson of the Australasian... Read More →
avatar for Motti Blum

Motti Blum

Motti completed high school at Leibler Yavneh College before spending a year studying in Israel at Yeshivat Har Etzion. While studying Commerce at Monash University, Motti was a Madrich and then Merakez at Bnei Akiva. He went on to work at Mount Scopus College for 10 years in informal... Read More →
avatar for Miriam Munz

Miriam Munz

Miriam has been involved in Jewish education for over 45 years as a teacher, Deputy Head, and Principal in Jewish day schools. She currently works as a research associate in the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University and holds a position on the Zionist Federation... Read More →

Thursday July 15, 2021 4:30pm - 5:30pm AEST
H126
  Panel

5:30pm AEST

Dinner
Stay and shmooze over dinner after the conclusion of the panel.
Thursday July 15, 2021 5:30pm - 6:30pm AEST
HB32
  Other