LimmudFest 2013 | Limmud Atlanta + SE: Full Schedule

Welcome to Your Jewish Community

Limmud Atlanta + SE is a unique Jewish community: a place where the agenda is set by volunteers for volunteers – by you. LimmudFest is a place where you are encouraged to be creative, take risks: try new things. Everyone teaches and everyone learns. Everyone is responsible for the experience this weekend. You make it happen. That’s why there are no participants or volunteers at LimmudFest: instead, everyone is a volunticipant.

6:30pm EDT

LimmudFest Mixer, Pitch, & Shout

The theme of this year's LimmudFest is inclusion. We are all different, yet have many similarities -- after all, we've all chosen to come together for this special weekend. The game "Who's Here" will help us discover our commonalities and differences, plus begin to connect with each other. Next, LimmudFest leaders will share some of the weekend's highlights. Then, you'll be able to give a shout-out about your session or what you are most looking forward to over the weekend.

Friday August 30, 2013 6:30pm - 7:15pm EDT
Front Lawn

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

9:15pm EDT

Seyder Tekhines: The Forgotten Book of Women's Common Prayer

Tekhines are a unique genre of heartfelt "prayers" or "supplications" written in Yiddish (usually by men) exclusively for women. Tekhines were first compiled in the 17th century for Ashkenazi women who typically could not read Hebrew. Books of tekhines were widely circulated across Europe and women eventually got involved in publishing -- becoming translators, editors, copyists and even typesetters. Today their distinctly female voice has led scholars and feminists to rediscover, reinterpret and reimagine tekhines. In this session we'll learn their history, read some tekines in English, and if time permits, write our own!

Presenters

Nina Rubin

Content Creator, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Long time Limmudnik, proud leader of Limmud Atlanta + SE. Talk to me about market segmentation in digital communications, innovation in Jewish life, and defeating Donald Trump in November.Twitter: @ninarubinatl

Friday August 30, 2013 9:15pm - 10:30pm EDT
Library

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Tags Family, Spirituality

9:15pm EDT

Evolution of Israeli Folk Culture: Comprehensive Look at Evolution of Israeli Culture

CANCELLED. This session will explore how Israeli culture has developed in its own unique way. Attendees will learn how Israeli culture has became what we know today. Topics to be covered include the development of Israeli dance, music, and cuisine.

Presenters

Shira Belfer

Shira Belfer is a cantor, chaplain, and Jewish educator. She has sung for congregations, has taught Jewish educational programs for more than thirty years. Shira also has performed numerous Jewish life cycle ceremonies and has provided chaplaincy services throughout the New York... Read More →

Friday August 30, 2013 9:15pm - 10:30pm EDT
Lakeside Dining

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes. | Lecture, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes. | Updated, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Tags Cooking & Cuisine, Israel, Music

10:45pm EDT

Social Justice Discussion: Topic - TBD

Presenters

Rachael Bregman

Rabbi, Temple Beth Tefilloh

Rachael Bregman is the rabbi for Temple Beth Tefilloh in Brunswick, GA. Rachael earned Smicha at Hebrew Union College in New York as well as an Education Master’s from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has served as a chaplain candidate in the US Navy, studied at Pardes... Read More →

Friday August 30, 2013 10:45pm - Saturday August 31, 2013 12:00am EDT
Library

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required

9:30am EDT

D'var Torah Slam

Do you have a favorite teaching? Something that hit you like a ton of bricks when you heard it? Became the lens through which you see the world? Maybe you have a personal take on a piece of text or tradition that you want to share with others but just never had the chance. This session is open to all. Torah, prayer, traditions and values are all on the table for this session of short (3-5 minutes), personal teachings. Show up, sign up, or simply come to hear your fellow Limmudniks share words of wisdom. The more the Limmudier.

Moderators

Nina Rubin

Content Creator, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Saturday August 31, 2013 9:30am - 11:30am EDT
Library

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags Text Study

10:30am EDT

Forgive Me, Forgive Me Not I

MOVED... to Sunday, 1:45PM - 3:00PM in Mountainside Pavilion. Children will join at 2:30PM.

Forgiveness is a dynamic process that involves interplay of individuals whose intentions are as complicated as the spontaneous interaction between a moment in time and history. It is amazing how children, from a very young age, can learn how to give and receive forgiveness. They can learn from their mistakes and do teshuvah. They can become more caring members of the community, learn concrete ways to guide children to know themselves, learn from their mistakes and go through a complete teshuvah process without lectures, punishments, yelling, put-downs or arguments. We can create caring cultures with Positive Discipline and Jewish values.

Presenters

Janet Schatten

The Epstein School

For over 30 years, Janet Schatten has been involved in Jewish education including work with camps, afternoon schools and The Epstein School. She has an undergraduate degree from University of Texas in education and a Master's Degree from Siegel College.

Saturday August 31, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Lakeside Dining

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes. | Updated, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags Family, Text Study

2:45pm EDT

Death, Destruction, and Despair Await: The Dangers of the Mystical Encounter

With the popularization of kabbalah and meditation over the past two decades or so, the dangers inherent in mystical practice have widely been ignored. In this sessio,n we examine how Judaism traditionally has understood the dangers inherent in prying into secrets and then move to three events where mystical engagement led to destruction. These are: The story of the four sages who entered Pardes; Joseph Della Reina's (1418–1472) failure with his students to capture the king of demons in order to bring the Messiah; and the early death of Isaac Luria attributed in some traditions to his revealing secrets that should have remained hidden.

Presenters

Edward Queen

Director of the D. Abbott Turner Program in Ethics and Servant Leadership and Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, Emory University

Edward Queen is a faculty member at the Emory University Center for Ethics. An historian by training, Edward\'s avocational interests are the history of kabbalism, Jewish magic, Jerusalem, and esotericism. He is a long-time Limmudnik having been involved in Limmud Atlanta + Southeast... Read More →

Saturday August 31, 2013 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Lakeside Dining

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Noise Level Not overly loud
Preferred Venue No preference-NA
Tags Spirituality, Text Study

2:45pm EDT

Watch Your Mouth! Lessons from the Chofetz Chaim

"Sticks and stones may break bones but words can never harm me!" We've repeated this phrase many a time; however the truth may really be quite far from this. We all know how powerful words can be and how their sting can last far longer than any bruise from the proverbial stick or stone. Jewish law has much to say about how we can be more careful with what and how we speak so as not to inflict harm on others and do irreparable damage. We will be studying from the writings of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, otherwise known as The Chofetz Chaim.

Presenters

Elisheva Ingber

Elisheva Ingber is married to Rabbi Karmi, and lived in Jerusalem for 18 years raising their seven children. She has been teaching marital preparation courses for women for 15 years and in 1999, developed and directed the Ner LeElef women’s leadership training program. The Ingbers... Read More →

Saturday August 31, 2013 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Multi-purpose Room

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags Text Study

7:15pm EDT

The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies: Its Place in the Jewish World: Visions and Challenges of Jewish Leadership

This session will explore the place of Pardes, which created the first fully inclusive, diverse and egalitarian Beit Midrash for the study of classic Jewish text, in the Jewish world. The session will include Pardes's impact on the challenges of Jewish leadership.

Presenters

Michael Rosenzweig

President, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Currently (since October 2012) president and CEO of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. From 2009 to 2012, president and CEO of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. 2008 interim president and CEO of Hands On Atlanta. 2005 to 2007... Read More →

Saturday August 31, 2013 7:15pm - 8:30pm EDT
Library

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags American Jewish Culture, Inclusion, Jewish Organizations

7:15pm EDT

Would the Rabbis Reform Healthcare: The Affordable Care Act and Jewish Ethics

What is a Jewish approach to healthcare reform? Since the 2010 enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka: Healthcare Reform, Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare), seemingly everyone in America has issued an opinion on it. However, what would Jewish textual sources say about it? We'll look at a few very specific provisions of the law in light of a few diverse Talmudic sources, and then engage in lively, spirited (and civil) discussion.

Presenters

Stefanie Papps

Stefanie Papps is a policy analyst by trade, who earned a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California-Berkeley. When she's not immersing herself in the finer points of health and social policy, Stefanie is an amateur baker and certified... Read More →

Saturday August 31, 2013 7:15pm - 8:30pm EDT
Multi-purpose Room

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags Health, Politics, Text Study

9:30pm EDT

China and the West

After spending the summer lecturing and conducting research at Jiaotong University in China, Jeff Schatten will discuss the social and political trends taking place in China and what they mean for the West, with specific attention to the US and Israel. Topics will include a broad range of public policy issues including sparks of democracy, human rights, economic development, and military engagement.

Presenters

Jeff Schatten

Jeff Schatten is a business researcher at Georgia State University. His diverse research interests include organizational culture, business ethics and organizational behavior. Jeff was a management consultant for start-up enterprises in South Africa, worked in supply chain management... Read More →

Saturday August 31, 2013 9:30pm - 10:45pm EDT
Library

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes. | Lecture, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV Video only
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue No preference-NA
Special Instructions Private LCD/DVD MPR, 6' Screen
Tags Israel, Politics

11:00am EDT

99 Tips for Parenting: A World Obsessed With Obesity, Thinness & Eating Disorders

99 Tips for Parenting in a World of Food, Fat, Fear, & Fun is Ms. Celcer's pocket volume of tips to educate families with tots, tweens, and teens about their relationship with food and eating. She brings her extensive experience in the parenting profession to bear on the sometimes difficult issues surrounding food in the home. Discover how the unique dynamics of biology and psychology impact on hunger, dieting, body image, under-eating, overeating, and just eating. Designed to be a book that everyone in the family can read, this is a must-have for navigating our relationship with food in the family.

Presenters

Iréné Celcer

Iréné Celcer MA, LCSW

Iréné Celcer is a mental health professional and parenting expert with specialties that include eating problems and disorders, bullying, infertility, and third party reproductive assistance. She has extensive expertise in eating disorders, body image perceptions, and women's issues... Read More →

Sunday September 1, 2013 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Library

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV Video and sound required
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Special Instructions Private Flat Screen TV, DVD, Computer Hook Up. Wheelchair accessible space.
Tags Family, Health

1:45pm EDT

Forgive Me, Forgive Me Not I

Forgiveness is a dynamic process that involves interplay of individuals whose intentions are as complicated as the spontaneous interaction between a moment in time and history. It is amazing how children, from a very young age, can learn how to give and receive forgiveness. They can learn from their mistakes and do teshuvah. They can become more caring members of the community. Learn concrete ways to guide children to know themselves, learn from their mistakes and go through a complete teshuvah process without lectures, punishments, yelling, put-downs or arguments. We can create caring cultures with Positive Discipline and Jewish values.

This first session will be text study to explore the complexities of teshuvah and its effect on our personal growth. We discuss the question: are mistakes really an opportunity to learn? Adults are invited to observe and/or participate in an engaging session with children.

This session was made possible by a grant from The Covenant Foundation.

Presenters

Janet Schatten

The Epstein School

Sunday September 1, 2013 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT
Mountainside Dining

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags Family

11:00am EDT

Forgive Me, Forgive Me Not II

Forgiveness is a dynamic process that involves interplay of individuals whose intentions are as complicated as the spontaneous interaction between a moment in time and history. It is amazing how children, from a very young age, can learn how to give and receive forgiveness. They can learn from their mistakes and do teshuvah. They can become more caring members of the community, learn concrete ways to guide children to know themselves, learn from their mistakes and go through a complete teshuvah process without lectures, punishments, yelling, put-downs or arguments. We can create caring cultures with Positive Discipline and Jewish values.

This is the second session of two. In this session we will discuss how can we help our children/students incorporate teshuvah in their everyday lives. Educators and parents will learn about a process that helps children understand their roles and responsibility in conflicts that occur at home, school, camp and in the community.

This session was made possible by a grant from The Covenant Foundation.

Presenters

Janet Schatten

The Epstein School

Monday September 2, 2013 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT
Lakeside Dining

Interactive-Discussion, Shabbat Appropriate? Yes.

AV No AV required
Noise Level Lively Discussion
Preferred Venue Indoor Room
Tags Family, Spirituality