Limmud Oz 2021

Ten years ago Marrickville Council enacted, then four months later overturned, a Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) policy to boycott all things Israeli. It was an epic story, with front page headlines around the country and a cast of characters from far and wide – but especially from Sydney’s Inner West. So who weighed in for and against Marrickville BDS and what were their motivations? With an overwhelming original vote of 10 in favour and 2 against, how was the Council persuaded to reverse its decision? The history is fascinating and emotionally charged, with numerous competing narratives. Implications have been far-reaching but complex. There are lessons to be learned for the Jewish community, leaders and political parties, social change advocates and grassroots organisers, to name a few. This conversational session will feature key participants from the time, and a chance for reflection and discussion as well as Q&A.

What do you call a Middle Eastern salad made of finely chopped cucumbers, tomatoes and onions, with lemon and olive oil dressing? Well, it depends who you ask. Traditionally called "Arab Salad", it's now widely known as "Israeli Salad" and the debate is fierce! From hummus and tahini, which are clearly Arab but were spread around the world by Israeli companies, to Muslims in East Jerusalem breaking the Ramadan fast with a hot Ashkenazi challah, purchased from their Jewish neighbors. And what does a baguette with schnitzel have to do with it?! In this session we will learn about different Israeli and Arab foods and dive into what they can teach us about each society. And of course, every food we mention will be accompanied by a simple recipe!

Meditation is a very sought after practice today and has many benefits. It often originates and is associated with various eastern practices and disciplines. But Judaism has so much to say on Meditation. This session looks at ancient and modern texts on the topic and will end with a Jewish meditation.

What are the impacts of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories? What changes will creeping annexation cause and what will this mean for Israel’s democracy? Join the New Israel Fund Australia for a virtual video tour with Hagit Ofran from Peace Now’s Settlement Watch project, as she helps us gain a deeper understanding on these issues. Ofran takes us around East Jerusalem and surrounding towns, to the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar in Area C, drives us down Jericho Road in Al-Eizariya, and more. Following the short virtual tour we'll break into small discussion groups led by NIF staff to discuss how we feel about what's going on and what role we have in shaping the conversation around occupation and annexation as Australian Jews in the Diaspora.

WORKSHOP | As the saying goes: the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single steep. Journey with Benjamin Ezzes through the history of Jewish migration to different lands from Kaifeng to Cochin, and how the tea practices of each of these communities displayed their close connections with their neighbours – with practical demonstrations included!

This session has limited spots. Please sign up at the registration desk.

Students leaving uninspired, a critical shortage of Jewish studies teachers, and a distinct drop in enrolments. The JCA review into Jewish Education in Australia has painted a dour vision for the future of our Jewish Day Schools. We have brought together a group of educators and leaders across the educational institutions to comment on what they believe our schools are doing right, where they can improve, and what reforms are needed in order to ensure the future of Jewish education for our children.

In this session Will Allington presents his research findings on young people's resistance to Holocaust denial online, and his concept of "inoculative resistance" to hate and pseudo-intellectualism. Watch as he puts inoculative resistance into action through his "Holocaust Narrative" presentation, pretending to be a Holocaust denier in front of Jewish students to provide them with a safe exposure to the hatred. Take the opportunity to debate with Dr Allington's Holocaust denier persona, and explore how best to include inoculative resistance in education and everyday life, so as to better protect all people from antisemitism and other forms of hate and pseudo-intellectualism.

In 2021 a petition by university student Chanel Contos put the spotlight on an epidemic of sexual violence against Australian school students by their peers. Meanwhile, Brittany Higgins bravely spoke up about sexual abuse happening within Federal Parliment itself. Unfortunately, women in Australia's Jewish community – like other women across Australia and like Jewish women in Israel and around the world – experience violence in a variety of contexts. In this panel, we bring together experts and educators for a frank look at the issue of consent. Is there a Jewish textual perspective on consent? What is a healthy Jewish sex ethic? Are we doing a good job teaching students about sex and consent in Jewish schools? How can we challenge gendered power imbalances in our community, and what needs to be done to combat a culture of violence and silence?