Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Breastfeeding and Judaism
Daria Hoffman
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Newport Beach 1
Health and Healing
A session exploring the relationship between Jewish tradition and human lactation, and highlighting the importance of breast-feeding within our families, our community, and society at large.
California’s State Budget and the Impact on the Jewish Community
Marc Carrel
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Laguna Beach 3
Global History and Culture
With a state budget deficit larger than the annual budget of most states, a cash crisis that forced the state to issue IOUs and the Governor’s declaration of a fiscal emergency, California has cut billions of dollars from the state's safety net and educational system. How has this budget situation affected our state’s Jewish community and its organizations? Are there solutions?
Is Eating Divine?
Susan Fink
Canceled, sorry
Additional schedule
- Sunday 10:00 AM–11:15 AM
Balboa Bay 2
Health and Healing,
Text and Thought
Is keeping kosher good enough? Do we have a Torah obligation to take care of our bodies? Does overeating interfere with Shabbat and holiday observances? Through text study, we will explore Biblical food attitudes and what the sources tell us about living a healthy lifestyle.
A Jew Preps for the Apocalypse
Josh Horwatt
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Laguna Beach 1
Identity and Responsibility,
Teen Approved
Two years ago, by accident, I stumbled across the world of survivalists, tin foil hats, and militias. This session will bring back some of the wisdom from an underground bunker in Montana to the urban Jews of LA. Do we believe in taking precautions for TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it)? Should you pack a tallis in your BOB (bug out bag)? Where will you go when TSHTF (the **** hits the fan)? What is a Jewish approach to preparing for the apocalypse?
Just Breathe
Naomi Less
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Catalina Ballroom 2
Health and Healing,
Ritual and Prayer
Join Jewish Chick Rocker Naomi Less for a light yoga/meditation/musical exploration through prayer -- explore prayers that deal with the body, breathing, and song.
Mastering Makhloket: The Great Common Ground
Michael Feldman
Canceled, sorry
Additional schedule
- Monday 1:30 PM–2:45 PM
Laguna Beach 2
Identity and Responsibility,
MCLE-Eligible,
Text and Thought
This session features practical means of progress in modern Jewish controversies. We will test common values and solutions to problems discussed in the first session and address hot-button issues we did not yet explore. Looking at the larger picture and a bit of classic text, we will also try to identify truly universal Jewish values. Will opposing sides find a joint way forward? Are there helpful truisms with which everybody in the room will agree? Come tell us!
Religious Freedom in Israel: A Global Jewish Priority
Stanley Gold,
Ariel Picard,
Uri Regev
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Catalina Ballroom 1
Global History and Culture,
Israel
The overwhelming majority of Israeli Jews and world Jewry support religious freedom and pluralism in Israel. Lack of full religious freedom and equality adversely affects the lives of countless Israeli citizens from birth to death. Most known recent areas of concern include: Who is a Jew, the right to marry and divorce, gender segregation (such as public bus lines and the Kotel) and the threat to Israel’s economy and security emanating from the mass exemption of Yeshiva students from military service and their non-participation in the work force among others. In this session, we will outline the key challenges to religious freedom and pluralism in Israel and will discuss why this is a global Jewish priority and how we can make Israel’s promise for” freedom of religion and conscience” a reality.
Seudah Shelishit
Saturday 5:20 PM–6:00 PM
Fountain Terrace/Cafe
Ritual and Prayer
Seudah Shelishit is the traditional third Shabbat meal. Join us in the cafe for some light fare.
Shema Yisroel – Laser Beam to Infinity
Mary Pinkerson
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Emerald Bay 1
Text and Thought
"Shema Yisroel," the fundamental statement of Jewish faith is traditionally taught to children as soon as they are able to talk and uttered at the moment of death. We will use selections from Tanya and contemporary writings to rediscover the amazing ability of these words to help us connect with our spiritual core every day of our life.
TEEN: Eat Your Bible: The 7 Species
Lev Metz
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Costa Mesa Boardroom
Text and Thought,
Teen Approved
The Torah lists 7 species of fruits and grains that are native to the land of Israel, and symbolic of the luxury of living a good life. Come and taste the foods, explore their connotations in the text and learn about how they can help us connect to healthy eating choices. This session is for teens only.
What Does it Mean to Rule the World?
Empire in the Talmud and Midrash
Ari Barbalat
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Laguna Beach 2
Text and Thought
What does it mean to "rule the world"? What does this mean in a Jewish perspective? What lessons does such a perspective teach us in relation to the present world moment today? In this session, we will look at emperors described in the Talmud, Midrash, and other sources to examine the ways in which Judaism understands the phenomenon of Empire and examine what this teaches us for the world today.
What's Your Favorite Role?
Barbara Heller
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Newport Beach 2
Arts and Performance,
Teen Approved
Cross your favorite celebrity with your favorite scene from either Tanakh or favorite modern Jewish role. Participants will be given two different hats to pick from representing Hollywood celebrities and Jewish characters from historical times in the Tanakh through modern times. We will do character studies, improv, and create short scenes.
Yehuda Amichai's Romance With Ecclesiastes
William Cutter
Saturday 5:00 PM–6:15 PM
Emerald Bay 2
Text and Thought
This session will look at the words of the ancient wise man embedded in some of modern poetry's most brilliant work using some translations by Chana Kronfeld and Chana Bloch, and others by the presenter.
