Really, I am just having so much fun here and have rarely enjoyed learning so much. Maybe I am really participating in a greater percentage of "edutainment" sessions, but so what? Where else can you see HILARIOUS comedian Deb Filler (from New Zealand and Toronto) play the Rolling Stones and Beatles on her guitar while singing the lyrics in Yiddish?? I'm going to try to bring her in for LimmudFest (Sept. 4-7 at Camp Ramah).
I also walked into what I wasn't sure might be a not-so-exciting diplomat session, and turned out to be FASCINATING. Ruth Lande is an advisor to Shimon Peres and was stationed in Cairo as a diplomat for 3 years. Her session was about living in Cairo, the nightclubs, trying to make friends with locals, the challenges she faced being an Israeli in Cairo, and told us that the Egyptian stereotype of Israelis is that they're all spies. Ruth was great to listen to, and her charming South African accent (she grew up there) only added to the intrigue. Top it off with the fact that she is young, blond and was wearing a black leather skirt held the audience captive.
Last tidbit for the day - I finally got to see Deborah Lipstadt, Emory's own UK celeb superstar tell a packed lecture hall about her experience defending a libel suit against a UK holocaust denier. Funny to think that I came all the way to the UK to hear the story of a woman who lives maybe 10 minutes from me in the ATL.
Happy New Year!
--Renee
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
No Ordinary Tuesday (Noah)
A session on incubating ideas for and from Limmud with a group of Limmudniks from Poland to Paris, the Galil to Johannesburg...grab a cheese and pickles sandwich...learn about the excavation of Bethsaida and Qumran (archaeology is so cool--did you know that in addition to the menorah, lulav, etrog, and shofar, ancient Jews also used insense (and therefore insense shovels) in their places of worship? It was only when other religions (Christianity?) started using it too that Jews gave it up!)...
...An hour-and-a-half expert panel on the Israel-Gaza situation real-time...a presentation by Deborah Lipstadt on her UK trial (in the UK with an adoring UK audience!) vs. David Irving ...an update on the state (and history) of Israel's intelligence community from an Israeli writer and journalist...four short films from the UK Jewish Film Festival...
...And I even SKIPPED a few sessions!
The rest of the group is off at a number of performances and presentations, but I'm gearing up for tonight's "Acoustic Cafe," where I might play a silly song with a new friend from L.A. (or an ordinary song by myself).
Yesterday I caught Shlomo Riskin, "We Are Together," and a bunch more I have to take a deep breath and think about before I remember...so much, so fast, but so great.
More later.. Cheers!
...An hour-and-a-half expert panel on the Israel-Gaza situation real-time...a presentation by Deborah Lipstadt on her UK trial (in the UK with an adoring UK audience!) vs. David Irving ...an update on the state (and history) of Israel's intelligence community from an Israeli writer and journalist...four short films from the UK Jewish Film Festival...
...And I even SKIPPED a few sessions!
The rest of the group is off at a number of performances and presentations, but I'm gearing up for tonight's "Acoustic Cafe," where I might play a silly song with a new friend from L.A. (or an ordinary song by myself).
Yesterday I caught Shlomo Riskin, "We Are Together," and a bunch more I have to take a deep breath and think about before I remember...so much, so fast, but so great.
More later.. Cheers!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Jodi jumps in -- head first
Today I really jumped into Limmud in a big way. I arrived with the group on Friday but spent my time settling in and taking it all in. As other members of the Atlanta group have commented, Limmud is as much about the overall experience of being here and meeting people from all over the world as it is about the incredible variety of sessions. But with jetlag finally behind me, I decided to take on Limmud and check out the range of subjects that are being covered on any given day.
I was hardly disappointed. Looking back at what I learned today, it's almost a comical assembly of topics. Rather than comment on any of these individually, I'm just going to list them with a short description so you can see for yourself the absurd variety that one can experience at Limmud.
- Pointless-a review of the mysterious Hebrew vowel sounds and what all those dots mean
- How to Process Jesus' Virgin Birth Stories -- taught by a Reform Rabbi
- Limmud International, A Year in the Life of 20,000 People Worldwide
- All Change in the USA -- a panel about the recent US election and what it means to the US Jewish community
- Liturgical Music of Danny Maseng
- Planning for the Multi-Cultural City: The Case of Jerusalem
- Why Be Jewish-- taught by Shlomo Riskin
- The Making of Good Intentions -- a documentary about the making of a prime time drama series on Israel's Channel 2 in which two women, one Israeli and one Palestinian, are recruited to co present a television cooking program
Phew! I'm exhausted!
LOTS of Cultural Arts -- Renee's Rashi
I had such a great day today! Well, it really started late last night when I was shmoozing at the Limmud bar with our good friend Jason Caplin who came down to visit Atlanta a few months ago with Clive. So...I kind of overslept a wee bit this morning and missed the session on Challenges Facing the Israeli Army, but there will be another tomorrow. So, I grabbed some take-out food and Anthony and I made it in time to catch a fabulous flic from the UK Jewish Film Festival called Europa Europa, about a Jewish boy who spoke such fluent German that he was able to conceal his Jewish identity and become a war hero, then being sent off to join the Hitler Youth boarding school, which I know sounds horrible, but in reality, it saved his life.
I also went to a session about the Jewish sites that are still lingering throughout Spain, from before the Spanish inquisition in 1492. There is a synagogue in Toledo for you to visit, in case you are passing through! (Which I now realize that Brent and I totally missed when we were there for the Millenium New Years).
The BEST session that I went to today was called Sofia's Drawings and I think that Michal or Jodi may have already mentioned this. This play won first prize for the best play and music at the Haifa International Theatre Festival in 2007. The woman who wrote the play based it on her grandmother (Sofia)'s history in Amsterdam during WWII. The play was kind of an upscale, creative puppet and story show about how her mother made children's drawings and hid with other Christian families in Holland during WWII before rejoining her mother and sister in Israel after the war. This was a phenomenal cultural performance, and I am sure that my description does not do it justice.
Right now Joel from Limmud LA is singing dirty Jack Black songs to us while he continues drinking and taking pictures of us with Eric's pink camera (we're not sure why Eric decided to buy a pink camera, but I guarantee he will never make that mistake again). If you are familiar with Jack Black's repertoire, you can guess which song Joel is serenading us.
Okay, the last GREAT sesssion I saw tonight (which is not the last session I went to, but the last GREAT session), is when Anna, Noah and I went to see Joel Chasnoff from NY do his HILARIOUS stand-up comedy routine. Anna and I were laughing so hard, that we were wiping the tears from our eyes. Absolutely hilarious!
Battery's dying and the owners of this laptop are ready to go to bed. So, signing off until manana!
xoxo,
Renee
I also went to a session about the Jewish sites that are still lingering throughout Spain, from before the Spanish inquisition in 1492. There is a synagogue in Toledo for you to visit, in case you are passing through! (Which I now realize that Brent and I totally missed when we were there for the Millenium New Years).
The BEST session that I went to today was called Sofia's Drawings and I think that Michal or Jodi may have already mentioned this. This play won first prize for the best play and music at the Haifa International Theatre Festival in 2007. The woman who wrote the play based it on her grandmother (Sofia)'s history in Amsterdam during WWII. The play was kind of an upscale, creative puppet and story show about how her mother made children's drawings and hid with other Christian families in Holland during WWII before rejoining her mother and sister in Israel after the war. This was a phenomenal cultural performance, and I am sure that my description does not do it justice.
Right now Joel from Limmud LA is singing dirty Jack Black songs to us while he continues drinking and taking pictures of us with Eric's pink camera (we're not sure why Eric decided to buy a pink camera, but I guarantee he will never make that mistake again). If you are familiar with Jack Black's repertoire, you can guess which song Joel is serenading us.
Okay, the last GREAT sesssion I saw tonight (which is not the last session I went to, but the last GREAT session), is when Anna, Noah and I went to see Joel Chasnoff from NY do his HILARIOUS stand-up comedy routine. Anna and I were laughing so hard, that we were wiping the tears from our eyes. Absolutely hilarious!
Battery's dying and the owners of this laptop are ready to go to bed. So, signing off until manana!
xoxo,
Renee
Some thoughts on variety-- From Anna
As usual, I am sitting in the bar with the LimmudATL crowd, schmoozing and debriefing on the day with other ATL folks and also with various other Limmudniks--this evening we are sitting with volunticipants from Limmud LA and Limmud NY.
I have been thinking about the variety here at Limmud and have seen some things that I definitely wish to take home to the ATL. Examples include panels (debating the coolest and lamest phenomena in contemporary Jewish culture), "Tell Me Text" sessions (in which big name speakers are interviewed in a panel settting to reveal their favorite texts in all of Jewish literature), interview sessions (Deborah Lipstadt being asked what are the ten quotes from Jewish literature that best define her Jewish identity), Jewish comedy, sampler sessions (an hour featuring a song or a joke by ten of the week's most exciting arts entertainers), and films. I have really enjoyed going to movies when my attention span can't handle a lecture. The variety here helps to keep my attention and allows different indiviuals to find a session that suits their interests. No one really feels that they are compromising during a time slot-- no one is forced to do anything but what they choose.
I have been thinking about the variety here at Limmud and have seen some things that I definitely wish to take home to the ATL. Examples include panels (debating the coolest and lamest phenomena in contemporary Jewish culture), "Tell Me Text" sessions (in which big name speakers are interviewed in a panel settting to reveal their favorite texts in all of Jewish literature), interview sessions (Deborah Lipstadt being asked what are the ten quotes from Jewish literature that best define her Jewish identity), Jewish comedy, sampler sessions (an hour featuring a song or a joke by ten of the week's most exciting arts entertainers), and films. I have really enjoyed going to movies when my attention span can't handle a lecture. The variety here helps to keep my attention and allows different indiviuals to find a session that suits their interests. No one really feels that they are compromising during a time slot-- no one is forced to do anything but what they choose.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Noah: Yes, I came all the way here for this!
Another 1500 people came to the University of Warwick today, and thing really picked up steam. A full day of sessions--mine were led by Professors James Kugel, Deborah Lipstadt, and Mel Konnor; the Limmud UK leadership team; and a couple of local lay people--and plenty of social time. Limmud is almost like a mix between graduate school, where you choose your field of study and your classes, and camp, where just about everyone is happy to be there. Anna and I sat down next to an older man from Holland at dinner, and he excitedly described it as "Club Med for Intellectuals." I was flattered.
Eric Robbins comments on Chana Rothman
A cross between the Indigo Girls, Matisyahu and Ani Defranco, Chana Rothman is rocking the Limmud UK community. We can't wait for you to see her at the Atlanta+SE Limmud on March 21st on the green at Ogelthorpe. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform tonight and I was blown away. Chana has a style that captures and engages her audience and she glows with a neshama that had everyone mesmorized. As the show progressed, Chana had everyone dancing with a mix of regggae and rap influenced with a Hebrew vibe. Chana was joined by Coolooloosh from Israel which added an intense percusion and wind section and the whole place was rocking. Chana sings her own original music influenced by her adolescent experinces and her current life in Brooklyn. She also brings a new energy to some of the Jewish music so many of us love. Chana describes herself as a music teacher and her sessions here at Limmud have been about making your own music. I have not been to one of her sessions but those who have have given them rave reviews.
You can read more about her or check out her music at http://www.myspace.com/chanarothman/
You can read more about her or check out her music at http://www.myspace.com/chanarothman/
A session by Aviva Zornberg-- Blogged by Anna
Today is the first official day of the conference--Shabbat was really just a pre-conference, with only 1/4 of the total conference-goers attending--and this uni is packed!!
This morning I attended a session with a speaker about whom I have heard great things--Aviva Zornberg--and all that I heard was correct, despite the fact that I was bracing to be disappointed (how could a speaker really appeal to everyone).
Dr. Zornberg, a teacher of Torah around Jerusalem and other places in the world, has a style of Torah analysis that speaks to me, I believe, because she treats Torah like a literary text. With her background as a professor of English literature, she references both great novelists and traditional and modern Rabbinic commentators as she trolls for insights on, in this case, the story of Esther. Today she quoted from Rashi (11th C.), the Rambam (12th C.), the Maharal (16th C.), the Talmud (5th-6th C.), the Sfat Emet (19th C.), Esther Rabbah (part of the works that make up the midrash, 4th C.), Pachad Yitzhak (20th C.), David Weiss Halivni (contemporary), Kafka (19th-20th C.), Henry James (19th C.), Hamlet (turn of 17th C.), and Yeats (19th-20th C.). What a range! What a great deal of preparation must have gone into this presentation!
During the session I was reminded of some of my greatest teachers, in particular those whose wide-ranging knowledge captivated me with insight and big ideas from a surprising array of sources, shedding light on the particular while taking inspiration from film, song, tradition, literature, literary criticism, art and more. This is the kind of preparation and opportunity for insightful, advanced learning that teachers must offer their students AND that all adults must be offered. (FYI I am a Jewish early childhood director, and thus this topic of inspiring children, teachers and parents is one that regularly motivates me, though I am only a novice). Some Jews may only remember the story of Esther the way they learned it as a child-- what a disservice we do to ourselves when we are limited by the simplicity with which we learned then. As adults we need to be challenged to learn in our own ways (al pi darko) and at our own levels, so that we gain maximal meaning from the stories we've learned over the years.
This morning I attended a session with a speaker about whom I have heard great things--Aviva Zornberg--and all that I heard was correct, despite the fact that I was bracing to be disappointed (how could a speaker really appeal to everyone).
Dr. Zornberg, a teacher of Torah around Jerusalem and other places in the world, has a style of Torah analysis that speaks to me, I believe, because she treats Torah like a literary text. With her background as a professor of English literature, she references both great novelists and traditional and modern Rabbinic commentators as she trolls for insights on, in this case, the story of Esther. Today she quoted from Rashi (11th C.), the Rambam (12th C.), the Maharal (16th C.), the Talmud (5th-6th C.), the Sfat Emet (19th C.), Esther Rabbah (part of the works that make up the midrash, 4th C.), Pachad Yitzhak (20th C.), David Weiss Halivni (contemporary), Kafka (19th-20th C.), Henry James (19th C.), Hamlet (turn of 17th C.), and Yeats (19th-20th C.). What a range! What a great deal of preparation must have gone into this presentation!
During the session I was reminded of some of my greatest teachers, in particular those whose wide-ranging knowledge captivated me with insight and big ideas from a surprising array of sources, shedding light on the particular while taking inspiration from film, song, tradition, literature, literary criticism, art and more. This is the kind of preparation and opportunity for insightful, advanced learning that teachers must offer their students AND that all adults must be offered. (FYI I am a Jewish early childhood director, and thus this topic of inspiring children, teachers and parents is one that regularly motivates me, though I am only a novice). Some Jews may only remember the story of Esther the way they learned it as a child-- what a disservice we do to ourselves when we are limited by the simplicity with which we learned then. As adults we need to be challenged to learn in our own ways (al pi darko) and at our own levels, so that we gain maximal meaning from the stories we've learned over the years.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
I'm in Limmud for a melody... (Noah)
Just got back from the "Acoustic Cafe," which Renee mentioned and which featured prepared and spontaneous musical performances alike. (They use the word "which" here much more than we do, and the grammar rules apply differently to boot...more on that some other time.) It was a great way to top off a phenomenal Shabbat program--one that featured a successful (in my view) demonstration of religious pluralism and myriad opportunities for everyone to get involved in one way or another.After sleeping off my jet lag (I enjoy flying, but I can't sleep upright), I got a very European breakfast (croissants, yogurt, fruit) and immediately took a nap. After lunch, I made it to my first session: Is Jewish Education Reserved for an Elite of Outstanding People or Accessible to Anyone? The Talmudic text around which (there I go again) this session was structured ultimately agreed with my feeling that Jewish education should be open to everyone, but it took a while to get to the answer. Sure, issues such as class size and differentiated instruction are hot-button today, but apparently in the times of Rabban Gamliel, they even kept guards at the doors to keep out students whose intellect didn't meet certain standards.
Tonight, after Shabbat, I "volunticipated" and sat at one of the registration desks for a couple of hours. I wanted to learn the system they use for 2,000 people, and although the bulk of the participants will come tomorrow, registering tonight's 200 went rather smoothly. And volunteering is a great way to meet people, which (!) enhances the Limmud experience.
It's been emphasized that getting enough sleep enhaces it too, so next stop: Pillowville.
Jews in Space (Renee)
WOWWEEE!!! 2 days in and oh-so-much fun! Yesterday I went to a session on HOW TO OBSERVE SHABBAT IN SPACE in memory of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon. Only at Limmud. I can't believe that I showed up and recognized so many faces and am now experiencing my 3rd Limmud in less than a year (NY, Atlanta, and now UK). Just got a preview of CHANA ROTHMAN, who is playing Saturday night at Limmud Atlanta and she's got GREAT ENERGY.
Blogging from Limmud UK-- Anna weighs in
Tonight is my second night at what is known here as "Conference"--but known to Americans as Limmud UK. I am at a pub with an Israeli singing a niggun on the mic, sitting with old ATL friends and new international friends, and watching Jodi Mansbach's kids (well, her son Eli and his lifelong friend Sydney) play Banagarams.
I am a part of a delegation of Limmudniks from Atlanta that is here to experience the real thing in order to own the feeling, the concept, the way of being that is Limmud. The hope is that we can bring that essence back to the ATL to make our own Limmud bigger, better, and truly brill (British for brilliant, or awesome). Among those teaching us the ropes is our own Deborah Lipstadt, who is a regular here at conference.
We will be using this forum to share with you our musings and reflections on Limmud :)
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