9.00-10.00am      10.15-11.15am      11.30am-12.30pm      12.45-1.45pm      2.00-3.00pm      3.15-4.15pm      4.30-5.30pm      5.45-6.45pm 

Monday 5.45 - 6.45pm

Moderate Islam: What is it? Where is it?
Adam Goodvach

Moderate Islam is a term used by many to counter terms such as Islamists of Fundamentalists. This session examines whether such a thing as "Moderate Islam" exists, where it may be and what it may believe. It puts it in the context of the Islamic world rather than the West who tend to view anyone as "Moderate" who condemns terrorism.

It's Beyond Dispute! - The relationship between Halacha and Civil Law
Jeremy Lawrence

Halacha requires that disputes between Jews are resolved in a Beth Din. What does that mean? Is it realistic? Why doesn't it always happen? What about the principle that "The law of the land is the law"? How does Halacha have a place in civil society? How do we prevent abuse? This session looks at conflict of law in contemporary society and dispute resolution within Halacha..

In Search of the Significant Other
Debbie Masel Miller

Through study of the Torah's account of the creation of the world's first man and woman, we will explore what the text teaches us about relationships, and how our mystic tradition draws from this teaching.

Finding the correct Hebrew accent
Joel Nothman

Multiple choice: (a) 'ibrith; (b) Ivrit; (c) Ivris; (d) Ivreet. Who should we ask to define correct Hebrew pronunciation: rabbis? Jewish day-school teachers? bible scholars? Israeli prime ministers? Jerusalem's Academy of the Hebrew Language? In exploring the sounds of Biblical Hebrew, we find that our prayers - and Israeli Hebrew - sound almost gibberish. How did Hebrew pronunciation evolve and what should we be speaking or praying today?


Wisdom is a Woman
Rachel Elior, Peta Jones Pellach, Channa Pinhassi, Elizabeth Squires

Four passionate women present a feminist critique of religious texts shared by Judaism and Christianity to show how they have been corrupted to exclude the female voice. This won't be angry vitriol but a serious analysis tinged with a modicum of humour.

School Days are NOT the best days of our lives: Confronting Adolescent Angst and providing some strategies for getting through 
Amanda Gordon, Renee Mill, Faye Radom

With all this talk of Youth Suicide and Depression, with sexuality looming at us at all sides, with the issue of Drugs and Alcohol at parties – how do ordinary parents cope?  How can you read the signs that may mean your child is in distress?  How can we tell if our kids are using drugs?  How do we get them through to the next stage of life intact and ready to launch into adulthood with joy?

A musical memorial to the late Jacob Rosenberg
Judy Campbell

A personal tribute to a great Jewish writer and wonderful human being. Includes excerpts from the DVD of the first reading of Behind the Moon (2004) and a live performance of one or two of its songs which have not yet been presented publicly. There are plans afoot to complete this work and stage it in Melbourne – hear about opportunities that exist to become involved in the project.

Jewish Music
Michael Bloom

A concert of original material interspersed with recollections of how the music has been influenced by Jewish sources. The audience will be encouraged to participate with questions and hopefully sing along.

Art Inspired by 'Song of Songs'
Yaeli Ohana

Art Inspired by 'Song of Songs' Come on a visual journey exploring love with artist Yaeli Ohana as she shows her work and discusses her contemporary response to the sublime and often erotic Biblical poetry of 'Song of Songs' and other ancient Judaic texts. Drawing passages from these sources, Yaeli responds in mixed media paintings, using text and found objects such as plants and shells as metaphors for the fragile human body, to describe personal and universal themes of love.