Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Abraham, Man of Doubt
Clive Lawton
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Tower Board Room
Global History and Culture,
Identity and Responsibility,
Text and Thought
We are presented with Abraham as the archetypal ‘man of faith,’ ready to follow God wherever he should be commanded. I do not know about you, but if that is the case, I do not find him much of a role model! ‘Sacrifice your son? Right away, sir!’ I do not think so! Instead we will look closely at the Torah to see Abraham’s unfolding understanding of God and discover, for our age, his truly unique insight and how he struggled towards it.
Film: "Purim"
Jewish Law and Religious Experience
Gilad Goldschmidt
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Festival Room
Oded is an Israeli yeshiva student whose firm commitment to Halakhah (Jewish law) lacks an emotional foundation. When he meets Ruthie, he finds himself challenged by an approach that focuses more on personal relevance and less on technical details. This screening will be followed by a discussion with the director.
I Never Went to Yeshiva But I Want to Study Talmud
Arthur Kurzweil
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Congressional Room 1
Text and Thought
The Talmudic sages were not squeamish about life. They discussed sexuality, the meaning of human suffering, and just about everything else. For generations the Talmud was a closed book to most Jews, but it was never meant to be that way. Today, because of the work of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, you can be a student of Talmud on a high level without knowing Hebrew or having any previous experience. Join us for an introduction to the study of this great spiritual document of the Jewish people.
Illness is a Spiritual Opening
What We Can Learn about Life When Facing Illness
Cherie Koller-Fox
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Congressional Room 2
Ritual and Prayer,
Text and Thought
No one wants to be ill, and yet most of us have a period of illness or limitation in our lives. Working as a chaplain in a hospital and being ill myself has taught me to appreciate the gifts that come from illness. We will share our experiences and try to understand why and when we come to spiritual understanding in our lives.We will explore the role of prayer. I hope you will also learn why you want the chaplain to visit you if your find yourself in a hospital or rehabilitation facility.
Profiles of Middle East Leaders
From American Idol to the Godfather
David Makovsky
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Empire Room 1
Israel
This session provides a sampling of Middle East leadership, with comments from a frequent flier to the region. This session will draw on US movies and television shows to illustrate comparisons and contrasts in dealing with the subject.
Teaching a Teen to Fish
Are we defined by our behavior?
Caryn Green
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Embassy Room 2
Identity and Responsibility,
Israel,
Text and Thought,
High School Recommended,
University Student Recommended
When we break societal norms, are we eternally marked by the transgression? Many people give up on the young adults who exist on the fringes of Israeli society, banishing them without a second thought. If Judaism finds a place for the yetzer harah (evil inclination) in our theology, how can we turn our backs on these teens in our communities, even if their behavior is reprehensible? This session will discuss at risk behavior and the concept of giving hope back to disenfranchised youth.
The History of the Mussar Movement
Alan Morinis
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Empire Room 3
Global History and Culture
The Mussar movement began in the Jewish community of Lithuania around 1850. By 1900, it had become a dominant force in Jewish life, a legacy still felt today. We will discuss the origins of the Mussar movement, including the pressures on the 19th century Jewish world that called forth this spiritual movement. We’ll then look at the three streams of Mussar that emerged in the 1890s and the personalities who innovated and propagated the movement until it was overtaken by the Holocaust. We’ll also consider what lessons the Mussar movement has to offer us today.
Waking Up the Body, Waking Up the Soul
Blessings of the Dawn
Marc Soloway
Friday 10:10 AM–11:25 AM
Empire Room 2
Ritual and Prayer,
Text and Thought
How we wake up in the morning can define our whole day. Do we crawl out of bed and fumble our way to the nearest caffeine? Or do we strengthen ourselves like lions to serve the Creator? Birkot HaShachar, the Morning Blessings, are a Talmudic, spiritual prescription for waking up with awareness and describing conscious, waking steps. We will explore these blessings in a fresh way, including movement, meditation, study and singing. We will stretch our bodies and our souls.
