Program book Limmud Miami 2014

CONTENTS Wellcome Team Limmud Values Program Schedule Presenters Supporters / Donors Map

2 3 4 6 17 18 34 36

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

1

WELLCOM

Shalom- Bienvenidos- Welcome… to the 1st Annual Limmud Miami 2014 Limmud Miami started as the dream of a group of dedicated volunteers who fell in love with the idea of bringing Limmud and its special values to Miami. Plus we wanted to share, learn, experience new things, and have a good time together. Everything you see happening today is a result of volunteers and their spirit.

What is Limmud? A learning festival—an experience—a way of deepening and broadening the Jewish community—an opportunity to build a stronger connection to the wider Jewish world.

From the Hebrew for “learning,” Limmud offers an inclusive environment for all voices to be heard, an inspirational day for new ideas to born, and an enriching experience for all ages to share and learn from one another.

Founded in London 30 years ago, Limmud is currently a worldwide movement that stretches from London to Los Angeles, Boston to Buenos Aires, Israel to India, and so many other large and small Jewish communities across the globe. And now, it is our honor to bring Limmud’s values and principles to sunny Miami!

Limmud is about having options. Every hour there are options to choose from seven concurrent sessions—four aimed at adults and three intended for children aged 3-18, divided into different age groups. But remember, you may choose to attend any session you want.

Limmud is about reflecting the entire Jewish community. From learning Talmud to the challenges and blessings of being a Jewish LGBT family, from stand-up comedy about Israel to new methods of Israel advocacy, from Ladino music to rapping the Psalms, from Jewish spiritual practices to discussions of the Pew Study—we hope you agree that our inaugural program is as dynamic, multi-faceted and inter-generational as our Miami Jewish community! Altogether there are 42 presenters operating in a variety of educational styles: interactive presentations, experiential workshops, text-study sessions, film showings, discussions, performances, and more.

Who are we? We are a group of 13 volunticipants (the Limmud term for people who both volunteer and participate). From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the Limmud Miami 2014 steering committee: Brian Blumenthal, Raquel Di Capua, Jackie Farzad, Evelyn Goldfinger, Daniela Horn, Stephen Korn, Joanne Papir, Jenni Person, Oren Stier, Michelle Strulovic, Nancy Warshofsky, Efrat Zarren-Zohar. We also want to extend a huge todah rabbah to Shalom Kantor, Federico Pallas, and Ariella Siegel for their incredible dedication during this journey.

Finally, we also want to recognize the efforts and support of all the Limmud Miami 2014 volunticipants. When you see any of them (you’ll recognize the bright gold t-shirts), ask them how you can be a part of Limmud Miami too. That’s the Limmud way!

Inspired? Join our team. You will meet wonderful people and have the opportunity to bring next year’s Limmud Miami festival to life. Got Limmuditude? Give Limmuditude!

Enjoy Limmud Miami 2014, and save the date for Limmud Miami 2015: Sunday, February 22, 2015.

L’Hitraot,

Romi & Fran

Romina Naparstek and Francine Safdeye Limmud Miami 2014 Volunticipants and Co-Chairs

2

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 / TEAM Limmud Miami 2014 Executive Committee: Romina Naparstek and Francine Safdeye Limmud Miami 2014 Co-chairs

Children’s Programming Team Lisa Aremband Alexis Cobo

Oren Stier and Efrat Zarren-Zohar Program Co-chairs

Marketing/PR Team: Ron Barhai Tessy Michan Martin Perelmuter Odaly Sabo

Steering Committee: Web/Technology Chair: Brian Blumenthal Finance Co-chairs: Jackie Farzad and Stephen Korn Fundraising Co-chairs: Raquel Di Capua, Daniela Horn, and JoAnne Papir Children’s Programming Chair: Evelyn Goldfinger Logistics/Facilities Chair: Michelle Strulovic PR/Marketing Chair: Jenni Person Graphic Design / Branding Development: Federico Pallas Program Logistics Co-chairs: Shalom Kantor and Ariella Siegel Presenter Care Co-chairs: Tobi Ash and Arielle Shimko Program Team: Silvio Berlflein Eda Birol Valeria Cababie Schindler Tamara Donnenfeld Mo Fisch Miriam Moussatche-Wechsler JoAnne Papir Jenni Person Gaby Rascovsky Rita Ritvin Raquel Rubin Arielle Shimko Hod Tamir

Photographers: Fay Goldstein Patricia Pecznik Debora Rosental We need michelles last photographer Volunticipants: Jessica Budik Jimmy Costello Allison DiGiacomo Julie Lambert Orly Landau Zisa Levin Valerie Mitrani Roberto Naparstek Martin Naparstek Avi Rosenberg Arnie Samlan Jose Selanikio Patricia Sensat Aley Sheer Igor Shteyrenberg Carla Spector Chaya Tamir Nancy Warshofsky

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

3

MISSION STATEMENT / LIMMUD VALUES Learning

LIMMUD MIAMI’S PROMISE IS THAT...

Expanding Jewish Horizons

EJH

CORE VALUE

ECM

• Limmud create collective and We aim tostrives createtoopportunities for communities communal experiences through which we and individuals to connect strengthen and the develop our Jewish identity • We recognize strength of providing a space where spiritual, emotional and intellectual connections are made

4

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

L

• Learning embraces personal development, knowledge and skills • Learning changes people, inspires action and opens new worlds • There are many inspirations that can offer opportunities for learning • Everyone can be a teacher and everyone should be a student • We encourage the creation of a learning environment in which people are able to reflect and grow

CORE VALUE

• Limmud strives to create collective and communal experiences through which we strengthen and develop our Jewish identity

Enabling Connections to be Made

CORE VALUE

WHEREVER YOU FIND YOURSELF, LIMMUD WILL TAKE YOU A STEP FURTHER ON YOUR JEWISH JOURNEY.

Participation

CORE VALUE

• Volunteerism is a key feature of almost everything we do • We are all responsible for each other and for the communities we create; everyone has an important contribution to make • We encourage participants to take an active part in all we do

P

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Community & Mutual Responsibility

CORE VALUE

CMR

• Limmud is a community of learning • We can achieve more together than we can individually • We both gain and should give something back to the Jewish and the wider community

Diversity

PRINCIPLES

CR

• Limmud expects all participants to be respectful of one another, and to recognize that all volunteers are also participants.

Personal attacks are not acceptable within sessions.

• To ensure that informed choices can be made, we ask presenters to provide biographies.

CORE VALUE

D

• We value diversity in all that we do: We value choice in form, content and style We believe in the richness of our diverse community and create cross-communal and cross-generational experiences We value accessibility, and aim to be accessible to all • We encourage people not to stereotype others

Empowerment

Commitment to Respect

PRINCIPLES

ASH

• Limmud does not participate in legitimizing or de-legitimizing any religious or political position found in the worldwide Jewish community. Anyone who comes to Limmud events seeking opportunities for this will not find it • Limmud has no part to say in the debates between/across denominations. Limmud will program its events in such a way as to avoid religious or political conflict. However we do recognize and appreciate that ‘arguments for the sake of heaven’ can make a positive contribution to furthering our education and understanding. Sessions should therefore be educational and not polemical.

CORE VALUE

• We inspire people to be ambitious about their contribution • We challenge people and trust them to rise to that challenge • We see the potential of individuals and communities, and support their development • We empower people to make choices, and provide the information to make informed choices

Arguments for the Sake of Heaven

E

Religious Observance

PRINCIPLES

RO

• Kashrut is observed inside the Kovens Conference Center during Limmud Miami. We recognize that in private and outdoor areas people will behave as they wish.

• Should participants wish to hold a prayer group, they may do so providing they supply all resources and are responsible for the session or prayer group in its entirety.

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

5

M A R G O R P 14 0 2 I M A I LIMMUD M

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM SESSION 1

Spirituality/Torah

Judaism in the Americas

Elyse Goldstein

Susana Behar

The Power of Prayer: Halleluyah!

Song for Sepharad: A Musical Voyage

Room 115

Room 122

The tension between personal and private prayer as well as between traditional and creative prayer is real. Come and see what the Baptists taught a Rabbi about prayer and how we can incorporate what the texts say with what our hearts feel.

Sephardic music encompasses numerous musical traditions that flourished around the Mediterranean Basin. Resonant with ancient melodies and rhythms, Sephardic songs are a celebration of Jewish life with themes drawn from folk tales, romances and sacred texts. Each song captures the essence of a place, a time, a glimpse of diaspora—by turns joyful and melancholic. Join Susana Behar in her musical voyage from the Iberian Peninsula to the Ottoman Empire to the new continent of America. Susana will perform with guitarist/composer Jose Luis Rodriguez against the backdrop of a video of original paintings by Mikhael Levy.

Made possible by funds from The Covenant Foundation.

Arts & Culture

World Issues/Tikkun Olam

Benji Lovitt

Moderator Jenni Person Miriam Emuna, Luis Font, Beco Lichtman, Nan Markowitz, and James Wilets

Because the Middle East is Panel: Blur...Towards a Funny: Stand-Up Comedy Gloriously Indeterminate and Discussion Jewish Community Room 120 Benji Lovitt’s stand-up comedy about life in Israel is a ‘must-have’ user guide for anyone considering a visit to the Holy Land.

By deconstructing the details of Israeli culture from an American immigrant’s perspective, Benji’s enthusiasm will make you laugh out loud as he sheds light on El Al security, Jewish holidays, and what makes North American and Israeli Jews different from one other. The show will be followed by an interactive discussion about cultural differences and Israeli society.

Room 126 A panel exploring the rapidly shifting face of the Jewish community with a clear message for broader inclusion and a more diverse definition of Jewish family. Voices of the panel represent the experiences of an Arab woman who became a Jew-by-choice, LGBT families, interfaith families, Jews of color and single-parent-by-choice families.

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

7

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

12:55 PM - 1:40 PM

Limmudito (ages 3-6)

Judaism in the Americas

SESSION 1

Story Time

Nancy Warshofsky Room 114 For Limmudito a fun and interactive session, including: a story about Jewish summer camp (“I Love Camp” by Todd Parr,) activities, stickers, and balloons! (Geared for children ages 3-6 years old, but open to all of us young at heart.)

Jewish and Cuban, Ashkenazi and Sephardic: How to Cherish All Our Identities Ruth Behar Room 120

Professor Ruth Behar delivers a wide-ranging presentation that mixes poems, stories, and images, as she tells her journey from Cuban immigrant child to award-winning cultural anthropologist and writer. While sharing her own story, she reflects on the importance of cherishing all our identities as a people, weaving diverse cultural strands into the great global quilt of contemporary Jewishness.

Limmud Kids (ages 7-12)

Arts & Culture

This is Jew-pardy!

Torah Edu-tainment

Gary Berman Valerie Berman Room 114

Put your Jewish knowledge to the test in this wildly fun version of the famous TV quiz show. Provide questions to answers in categories such as “Jewish Jokers”, “Israel Icons”, “Holiday Hipsters,” and others.

Daily doubles will surprise you and PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED! This is Jew-pardy! is presented by Grasp Learning, the innovative academic support program serving K-8 students at the Michael-Ann Russell and Alper JCCs.

8

SESSION 2

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

Ari Lesser Room 122

The Bible like you’ve never heard it before!

Ari Lesser steps into character and raps from the perspective of various biblical personalities, conveying soulful lessons through hip hop melodies. With Passover coming, enjoy some new melodies to add to your seder such as “The Ten Plagues” and “Dance Like Miriam.” The session culminates in rhymed translations from the Books of Psalms, bringing their powerful message back into the realm of song.

Spirituality/Torah

The Torah is So Great, Even the Angels Want It! Yaffa Epstein Room 126 The Talmud tells us that when Moshe (Moses) went up to Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah, the Angels did not want to give it up! What follows is an epic battle of wits between Moshe and the Angels. We will examine this story, discovering its deep messages about leadership and gaining a greater understanding of how the Talmud sees the role of human beings in the world.

Limmudito (ages 3-6)

Shalom Stars

Evelyn Goldfinger Room 114 Join Evelyn and her talking puppet friends in “Shalom Stars!” a fun, interesting and interactive Jewish Educational Theatre class for children ages 3 to 6. Through storytelling, educational songs and Hebrew words, children take their first steps into the world of theater and explore Jewish values, holidays and traditions. Parents, grandparents and teachers are welcome to join as well.

World Issues/Tikkun Olam

Limmud Kids (ages 7-12)

Sam Edelman

Silvio Berlfein

“When Failure Succeeds”: Movement, Music, The True Goal of BDS—A Theatre and Percussion: Cautionary Tale Fun with Jewish Games Room 124

Room 114

What is the true goal of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement?

How should we deal with it? What historic events mirror what we see happening today?

Dr. Sam Edelman has been on the forefront of fighting BDS for almost a decade now.

He will provide an analysis of what the organizers of the BDS movement say are their real goals and give an up-to-the-minute assessment of what’s happening with BDS efforts at college campuses and other hotspots around the world.

Movement, music, theatre, and percussion are just some of the tools Silvio uses in his game sessions, where the Jewish factor is woven in as well. You will laugh, compete, work with a partner and with a team, but mainly have a lot of fun. Get ready to move!

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

9

12:55 PM - 2:35 PM

1:50PM-2:35PM

Young Leadership (ages 13-18)

Judaism in the Americas

SESSION 2

Graffiti, Inspiration and Killing Camels: The New Art of Israel Advocacy Craig Dershowitz Fernando Romero Room 115 Come create your own graffiti-oriented Israel advocacy mural! First, we’ll engage in a frank discussion on the flaws of traditional Israel advocacy and present Artists 4 Israel’s new and ground-breaking work. Then we’ll go outside to actually make a graffiti canvas demonstrating what we’ve learned.

Note: This is a double-length session, the second half of which will be outside.

SESSION 3

You Say ‘Yes’, I Say ‘Si’, We All Say ‘Shalom’

Miriam Moussatche-Wechsler Room 124

When immigrating to another country, everything feels like it needs translation, but not with regard to our Jewish life. When we feel like outsiders in a new culture, the familiarity of traditions and community offers a sense of stability and support. The Jewish experience anchors us, helping redefine our identity when building and settling into a new life. In this interactive, thought-provoking workshop, we will explore the role of the Jewish experience in our Latino immigrant journey.

Arts & Culture

Dr. Gutman’s Eulogy: Film Screening and Discussion Melanie Wainberg Room 120 Ethan, the youngest of three siblings, learns of his father’s unexpected last request--to honor him by giving the eulogy. Yet, finding the right words to send someone off is never easy. Dodging bad advice, matchmaking relatives, perpetually adolescent older brothers and his own anxieties, Ethan will have to make peace between the person his father wanted him to be and the person he is. An unlikely but funny (really!) comedy.

10

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

Spirituality/Torah

Limmudito (ages 3-6)

Simon Jacobson

Vanina Tarlovsky Liliana Rozental

Toward A Meaningful Life: “My Favorite Things” show Universal Jewish Life Skills by Magical Moments Room 122 Discover methods and practical applications to integrate modern life with higher meaning, fusing ‘ritual’ with ‘spiritual.’

Learn techniques that will help you discover your own personal mission statement, which in turn can infuse each aspect of your life with higher consciousness – from personal growth to loving relationships; from home and family to work and wealth; from life’s shadows to the role of God in your life; from technology to psychology.

World Issues/Tikkun Olam

Panel: Re-envisioning Judaism Moderator Jonathan Berkun Shana Kantor, Judy Kempler, and Jonathan Raiffe Room 115

The organized Jewish community is spending billions on getting young adults “in the door” with national programs such as Birthright, Hillel, and the many Orthodox outreach programs, not to mention local programs like The Tribe, The Network, Miami Jews, and more. Yet questions remain: Does any of this bring real, sustainable and deep meaning into the lives of those whom they are engaging? How are these groups helping young adults both fit themselves into the Jewish institutions that exist and give them the motivation and tools to change those same institutions to meet their demographic’s needs? Join this group of professional and lay leaders who wrestle with how to re-envision the Jewish future for themselves and their peers.

Room 114 Magical Moments brings you “My Favorite Things,” a performance that combines all the disciplines related to musical comedy with the enthusiastic participation of children through their dances, songs, games, tales, puppets and other surprises. This show is one of “Magical Moments’” most acclaimed plays, and now all Limmudito young children can be a part of it!

Limmud Kids (ages 7-12)

Slaves, Sticks, and Splitting Sea: The Exodus Story Avi Billet Room 114

Noted Jewish educator and mohel Avi Billet will perform his acclaimed one-man biblio-dramatization of the Passover story. BYOF.

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

11

2:40 PM - 3:15 PM COFFEE BREAK Break

Coffee Break Lobby & Main Hall area Gather for coffee and pastries in the Kovens Conference Center lobby or go outside to the food trucks for food and ice cream! Browse the book displays, make new friends, and fuel yourself for the next half of the Limmud experience.

Spirituality/Torah

Brit Milah: The Controversial Covenant of Circumcision Avi Billet Room 122

The debate over circumcision is exploding around the world, and even within the Jewish community. Why is this ancient rite so controversial? And how can we best appreciate why we maintain it?

12

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

Spirituality/Torah

Walking in the Biblical Garden Baruch Sienna Room 115 Global climate change, pollution and habitat destruction are just a few of the critical issues we face today regarding the environment.

Living in mostly urban settings, Jews often become disconnected from our own natural setting, and even more disconnected from the nature and the land of Israel. This means we often don’t understand biblical metaphors, or don’t appreciate how the calendar and its holidays are linked to the land of Israel and its climate.

This session seeks to awaken your appreciation for the natural world, both here and in the land of Israel as a crucial avenue towards a deeper connection to Judaism as a whole.

World Issues/Tikkun Olam

Through the Eyes of Israelis Or Lee Kaidar Lital Pendler Room 120

Complex and multi-dimentional, Israel is made up of many fascinating subcultures, such as the Ultra-Orthodox (Hareidim), the LGBT community, foreign workers and Arab Israelis, to name just a few. Through short clips from well-known Israeli films, we will get a clearer understanding of the daily life, diversity, blessings and hardships that exist in Israel as seen through the eyes of these very different groups.

3:20 PM - 4:05 PM SESSION 4

Judaism in the Americas

Hola Pope: What to Expect In the Future of Jewish-Catholic Relationships

Spirituality/Torah

Climate Change for the Soul: Refresh Your Self Nina Piken Yarus Efrat Zarren-Zohar

Mario Rojzman

Room 124

Room 115

Do you find yourself often irritable, worried, unfocused and overwhelmed? Change the climate of your soul/ inner being to one that’s more calm and peaceful. When the world thunders around you, know what skills to activate to keep you steady. Grounded in our rich tradition, we’ll practice Jewish meditation, breath work and gerushin (repetition of a phrase) among other spiritual practices. Once you experience these techniques, you’ll want to take them home so you can adjust your inner thermostat at will.

Mario Rojzman and Pope Francis have one thing in common: both come from Argentina. Based on his long-standing personal experience with present and past Popes, Rabbi Rojzman will provide a unique perspective on the Papacy and what we as Jews should expect from the Vatican in the future. In this interactive presentation, we will discuss the approach of each of the three latest Popes regarding Judaism, Israel and the relationship of the Church to the World Jewish Community.

Arts & Culture

World Issues/Tikkun Olam

JT Waldman

Leonard Saxe

Room 122

Room 120

This innovative and eye-opening workshop will examine the unique place of imagination and the visual arts within Jewish history.

Using Geoffrey Hartman’s text “On the Jewish Imagination” as a springboard, we will explore the role of creativity within the structure of religion and tradition. After a retracing of historic points, we will discuss the nature of ‘word’ and ‘image’ and the transgressive implications of their union in comic books.

The Pew Study of U.S. Jewry has unleashed a virtual tsunami of commentary. Most pundits have used the study to lament the state of American Jewish life: fuzzy identification, growing secularization, and lessened Jewish engagement. This session will present a more positive narrative, while outlining a host of challenges.

Judaism, Comic Books and the Mending of the Golden Calf

“Pew’s Jews”: What Can We Learn from the Pew Study’s Portrait of American Jewry?

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

13

3:20 PM - 4:05 PM SESSION 4

Young Leadership (ages 13-18)

Becoming the Jewish Leader You Already Know You Are Todd Rice Room 126 Learn the value of being open to the practical and impractical for improving your ability build a team, lead a group, get things done while having fun and using Judaism as a background for it all.

Limmud Kids (ages 7-12)

Kids Rikkudim Lisa Aremband Room 114 Israeli dancing is constantly evolving and a great form of movement. Come learn some exciting Israeli dances, old and new, and play dance games!

14

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

Limmudito (ages 3-6)

Creating With FIMO Vanina Tarlovsky Room 114

In this session we will create a Hamsa (a palm-shaped amulet and popular motif in both Jewish and Middle Eastern jewelry) out of Fimo.

Fimo is a clay very similiar to playdough except that Fimo goes into the oven (at home). Fimo invites children to play with their imagination and be able to express themselves through art without cookie cutters or templates.

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM SESSION 5

Arts & Culture

Ari the MC: Songs, Raps, and Spoken Word Poetry Ari Lesser Room 122

What do “Boycott Israel” (not what you think: youtube.com/watch?v=se3PaCX7sjI), “Animal Raps” (name an animal and there’s a rap from its perspective), “Giving Thanks,” and “Star Wars” have in common? The incredible artistry of Ari Lesser, rapper extraordinaire. Original spoken word entertainment for all ages that’s interactive, inspirational, educational and most of all, entertaining.

Judaism in the Americas

Rikudance: Israeli Music and Latin Moves Ariela Jason-Hes Room 115 Rikudance is a dance workout where Israeli-Jewish music is the star, combined with some Latin moves and steps to choreograph it. Its therapeutic benefits include a sense of freedom and a connection with the body as you dance to classic Jewish dance music and follow very basic choreographies. Join Ariela as she takes you on a journey of creative movement, classic Israeli dance, and some easy Latin steps to make beautiful choreography.

Spirituality/Torah

Women Are from Genesis, Men Are from Leviticus Elyse Goldstein Room 124

Do men and women read the Bible differently, colored by the lens of gender? If so, how can a feminist analysis of the text help broaden the way we study Torah? This session will introduce the methodology of feminist analysis and put it into practice with several Biblical narratives. No Hebrew necessary and NOT for women only! Made possible by funds from The Covenant Foundation.

World Issues/Tikkun Olam

Are You There God? It’s Me, Sex: The Orthodox Single Man’s Dilemma Koby Frances Room 126

What do people do when their basic sexual desires are at odds with their religious value system? Psychologist Koby Frances presents excerpts and insights from his groundbreaking research on the intimate sex lives of single men in the Orthodox Jewish community.

By interviewing and studying several men within this population in-depth, Frances discovers a secret world of pain and uncovers profound insights about people’s capacity to find meaning and transcendence in some of the most unusual places.

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

15

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM SESSION 5

ALL SESSIONS 12:00pm - 12:45pm

Limmudito / Limmud Kids (ages 3-12)

Room 120

The PURe IMagination Show

Room 122 Room 114 Room 115

J-CAT Theater

Room 126

Room 114 J-CAT, the J’s Cultural Arts Theatre at Michael-Ann Russell JCC, presents its first J.E.T. (Jewish Educational Theatre) Purim play.

This exciting new show tells the story of the famous Jewish Queen Esther and the “lucky” celebration of Purim in a fun, educational and interactive way for the whole family to enjoy. Come join this modern theatrical retelling of Purim with artistic quality, great actors and costumes, fun participation and amazing educational value!

Room 114

12:55pm - 1:40pm

Room 122 Room 120 Room 114 Room 114 Room 126 Room 124

12:55pm - 2:35pm

Room 115

1:50pm - 2:35pm

Room 120 Room 124 Room 114 Room 114 Room 122

Young Leadership (ages 13-18)

Sixty-Six Years of Laughter: Explore Israeli Society Through Its Comedy Benji Lovitt

Room 115

2:40pm - 3:15pm

Lobby & Main Hall area Room 122 Room 115 Room 120

3:20pm - 4:05pm

Room 122 Room 115

Room 120

Room 114

Joseph Telushkin says that throughout history Jews have laughed to keep from crying. In a country known for its decades of turmoil, humor has given Israelis a reliable outlet. How does this humor differ from American Jewish humor and what does it say about Israel, its people and culture? Come and examine Israeli humor through classic movies, television, and comedy clips.

Room 114 Room 124 Room 120 Room 126

4:14pm - 5:00pm

Room 122 Room 115 Room 114 Room 124 Room 126 Room 120

5:00pm - 6:00pm 16

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

Lobby & Main Hall area

A Arts & Culture

B Break

S Spirituality/Torah

J Judaism in the Americas

W World Issues/Tikkun Olam

L Limmud Kids (ages 7-12)

M Limmudito (ages 3-6)

Y Young Leadership (ages 13-18)

M

Story Time / Nathan Warshofsky

A

Because the Middle East is Funny: Stand-Up Comedy and Discussion / Benji Lovitt

J

Song for Sepharad: A Musical Voyage / Susana Behar

L

This is Jew-pardy! / Gary Berman, Valerie Berman

S

The Power of Prayer: Halleluyah! / Elyse Goldstein

W

Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community Moderator: Jenni Person / Nan Markowitz, Beco Lichtman, James Wilets, Luis Font, Miriam Emuna

A

Torah Edu-tainment / Ari Lesser

J

Jewish and Cuban, Ashkenazi and Sephardic: How to Cherish All Our Identities / Ruth Behar

L M

Movement, Music, Theatre and Percussion: Fun with Jewish Games / Silvio Berlfein Shalom Stars / Evelyn Goldfinger

S

The Torah is So Great, Even the Angels Want It! / Yaffa Epstein

W Y

"When Failure Succeeds:" The True Goal of BDS—A Cautionary Tale / Sam Edelman Graffiti, Inspiration and Killing Camels: The New Art of Israel Advocacy / Craig Dershowitz, Fernando Romero

A

Dr. Gutman's Eulogy: Film Screening and Discussion / Melanie Wainberg

J

“You Say 'Yes,' I Say 'Si,' We All Say 'Shalom' / Miriam Moussatche-Wechsler

L

Slaves, Sticks, and Splitting Sea: The Exodus Story / Avi Billet

M

"My Favorite Things" show by Magical Moments / Vanina Tarlovsky, Liliana Rozental

S

Toward A Meaningful Life: Universal Jewish Life Skills / Simon Jacobson

W

Panel: Re-envisioning Judaism / Moderator: Jonathan Berkun / Shana Kantor, Jonathan Raiffe, Judy Kempler

B

Coffee Break

S

Brit Milah: The Controversial Covenant of Circumcision / Avi Billet

S

Walking in the Biblical Garden / Baruch Sienna

W

Through the Eyes of Israelis / Or Lee Kaidar, Lital Pendler

A

Judaism, Comic Books and the Mending of the Golden Calf / JT Waldman

J

Hola Pope: What to Expect in the Future of Jewish-Catholic Relationships / Mario Rojzman

L

Kids Rikkudim / Lisa Aremband

M

Creating With FIMO / Vanina Tarlovsky

S

Climate Change for the Soul: Refresh Your Self / Nina Piken Yarus, Efrat Zarren-Zohar

W

"Pew's Jews": What Can We Learn from the Pew Study's Portrait of American Jewry? / Leonard Saxe

Y

Becoming the Jewish Leader You Already Know You Are / Todd Rice

A J

Ari the MC: Songs, Raps, and Spoken Word Poetry / Ari Lesser Rikudance: Israeli Music and Latin Moves / Ariela Jason-Hes

L

The PURe IMagination Show / J-CAT Theater

S

Women Are from Genesis, Men Are from Leviticus / Elyse Goldstein

W Are You There God? It's Me, Sex: The Orthodox Single Man's Dilemma / Koby Frances Y

Sixty-Six Years of Laughter: Explore Israeli Society Through Its Comedy / Benji Lovitt

B

Happy Hour LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

17

S R E T N E S E R P 14 0 2 I M A I LIMMUD M

PRESENTERS Lisa Aremband

Temple Sinai

lisa.aremband@gmail.com Lisa is a Houston native who teaches 4th grade at Jacobson Sinai Academy. She has been Israeli dancing for four years, and also enjoys playing soccer and reading.

3:20PM-4:05PM / Kids Rikkudim / Room 114

Ruth Behar

University of Michigan

rbehar@umich.edu Dr. Ruth Behar was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to New York with her family when she was a child. She received her B.A. in the College of Letters from Wesleyan University, her M.A. and Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from Princeton University and is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship.

Ruth is well-known for her humanistic and poetic approach to understanding identity, immigration, and the search for home in our global era. In her latest book, Traveling Heavy: A Memoir in between Journeys, she offers stories of her coming of age as a Cuban Jew of mixed Ashkenazi and Sephardic origin. Her documentary, Adio Kerida/Goodbye Dear Love: A Cuban Sephardic Journey, has been shown in film festivals around the world.

12:55PM-1:40PM / Jewish and Cuban, Ashkenazi and Sephardic: How to Cherish All Our Identities / Room 120

Susana Behar

Singer

susanabeharlevy@gmail.com Susana’s musical journey began in Havana, Cuba where she was born to a Cuban father and Cuban/ Turkish mother. She grew up swayed by the sounds of the island’s traditional music but also listening to the Sephardic songs that her grandparents had brought from Turkey. In 1965 she immigrated to Caracas, Venezuela where she developed a passion for the music of her ancestors: the old Ladino language, the harmonies and the rhythms that had traveled from the Kingdom of Spain all the way to the confines of the Ottoman Empire; but also the formidable richness of the music of Cuba and Latin-America. In 1983, she immigrated to the United States. Her musical interests have taken her to participate in many projects, recitals and festivals—in Venezuela, the United States, Japan and Peru—and in the recording of her CD, “La Galana y el Mar.” Susana will be accompanied on guitar by Jose Luis Rodriguez http://www.joseluisrodriguez67.blogspot.com/.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Song for Sepharad: A Musical Voyage / Room 122

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

19

PRESENTERS Jonathan Berkun

Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center

jberkun@atjc.org

Rabbi Jonathan Berkun is the spiritual leader of the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Institute, he came to Miami after serving as an assistant rabbi in the Detroit area. Since his arrival in 2007, Aventura Turnberry and its school, the Tauber Academy, have grown tremendously. Through his warmth and passion, he has unified and energized this multi-cultural, multi-generational congregation by initiating new synagogue services, programs and celebrations that are meaningful and relevant, inspiring and enjoyable. Married to Rabbi Lauren Berkun, they have three children.

1:50PM-2:35PM / Panel: Re-envisioning Judaism (Moderator) / Room 115

Silvio Berlfein

Game Master & Entertainer

silberhora@gmail.com Silvio Berlfein has a degree in Physical Education from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He considers himself a game master and has led game sessions for adults, youth groups and corporate retreats. In addition, Silvio is an Israeli dance choreographer and guitar player and has been the Assistant Director of the NJY Camps in Pennsylvania for over 18 years.

With his experience in camps and groups, Silvio puts together special sessions that mix music, movement, games and interaction in a fun and unforgettable way. Silvio has given workshops all over the United States and South America.

12:55PM-1:40PM / Movement, Music, Theatre and Percussion: Fun with Jewish Games / Room 114

Gary Berman

Grasp Learning: Taking the Work Out of Homework

gberman@grasp-learning.com Founders of Grasp Learning, Valerie and Gary Berman have parlayed Valerie’s Masters in Curriculum from Stanford University and Gary’s extensive marketing experience into a new concept in “outside-of-school” learning that combines research on student learning and motivation, academic performance and family involvement, into a unique experience for students. Grasp Learning unleashes the joy of learning and inspires pride in personal accomplishment through a study-skills based methodology. The Bermans have been active in the Miami Jewish community for the past 25 years. Gary is past president of Temple Judea in Coral Gables and Valerie was associate director of ADL and an active GMJF volunteer.

12:00PM-12:45PM / This is Jew-pardy! / Room 114

20

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Valerie Berman

Grasp Learning: Taking the Work Out of Homework

vberman@grasp-learning.com Founders of Grasp Learning, Valerie and Gary Berman have parlayed Valerie’s Masters in Curriculum from Stanford University and Gary’s extensive marketing experience into a new concept in “outside-of-school” learning that combines research on student learning and motivation, academic performance and family involvement, into a unique experience for students. Grasp Learning unleashes the joy of learning and inspires pride in personal accomplishment through a study-skills based methodology. The Bermans have been active in the Miami Jewish community for the past 25 years. Gary is past president of Temple Judea in Coral Gables and Valerie was associate director of ADL and an active GMJF volunteer.

12:00PM-12:45PM / This is Jew-pardy! / Room 114

Avi Billet

Educator and Mohel

avbillet@gmail.com Rabbi and certified mohel Avi Billet studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion in Gush Etzion, Israel, and completed his rabbinic ordination and a Masters in Education at Yeshiva University in New York.

Also trained in drama, he presents the weekly Torah portion as a show to schoolchildren all over South Florida in a program called ParshaDrama. His Purim Show, “Fat Like a Donut: The Story of Esther” has been performed in front of hundreds of children to great fanfare! Rabbi Billet has been writing a weekly dvar Torah since 2006 and started posting them to his blog in 2009. He is Director of Jewish Life at Lehrman Community Day School, a faculty member of the Florence Melton School for Adult Jewish Learning, a faculty member at JUMP, and serves as Rabbi of Anshei Chesed of Boynton Beach.

1:50PM-2:35PM / Slaves, Sticks, and Splitting Sea: The Exodus Story / Room 114 2:40-3:15PM / Brit Milah: The Controversial Covenant of Circumcision / Room 122

Craig Dershowitz

Artists 4 Israel

info@artists4israel.org Craig Dershowitz is the Director of Artists 4 Israel. Heavily tattooed and foul-mouthed, he has an almost vicious commitment to serving Israel. He was formerly the Creative Director for BOMBIN’ Magazine, as well as a writer, blogger and brand developer. Craig has been named one of the Jewish Week’s 36 under 36, was presented with the Shomer Yisrael award from the One Israel Fund, received a Key to the City of Sderot and has been called “a hurricane of a man” by the Israeli press. Craig will be presenting this session along with SKI of UR New York, a.k.a. Fernando Romero.

12:55PM-2:35PM / Graffiti, Inspiration and Killing Camels: The New Art of Israel Advocacy / Room 115

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

21

PRESENTERS Sam Edelman

sedelman@israelcc.org

The Center for Academic Engagement of Israel on Campus Coalition

Dr. Samuel M. Edelman is the Executive Director and CEO of the Center for Academic Engagement for Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) as well as Academic Affairs Adviser at ICC. Previously, he served as the executive director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

He lectures and teaches on subjects such as: Anti-Semitism, Genocide, Holocaust and Resistance, the Arab Israeli conflict, Zionism, the Arab Spring, among others. Co-director of the California State Center of Excellence in Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights and Tolerance Education, he has published numerous articles and book chapters.

12:55PM-1:40PM / “When Failure Succeeds:” The True Goal of BDS—A Cautionary Tale / Room 124

Miriam Emuna

Holistic Wellness Specialist

Born in Bahrain (off the coast of Saudi Arabia) to a Christian American mother and a Muslim Arab father, Miriam Emuna (née Reem Almansoori) was raised bi-lingual, bi-racial, and bi-cultural. As a young girl, her family moved to a suburban town in New Jersey, but as she grew up and assimilated into American culture, it felt to her as if nothing was sacred.

In her despair, she began to meditate and pray that she would become part of a family that lived with God-consciousness. Not long afterwards, she met a traditional Jewish man and his wonderful family. Following research into conversion, she reluctantly and nervously decided to take the Orthodox route, which, after several years of study with a Chabad rabbi, culminated in her conversion to Judaism this past November.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community / Room 126

Yaffa Epstein

The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

yaffa@pardes.org.il Yaffa Epstein teaches Talmud, Jewish Law, and Liturgy as a faculty member at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She is a member of the Israeli Bar, and studied at the Pardes Kollel and the Advanced Talmud Institute at Matan. Yaffa has taught at the Dorot Fellowship in Israel, Drisha Institute, Kayam Farm Kollel, the Lookstein Center, Ta Shma and Young Judea Year Course. Currently, she is pursuing a graduate degree in Talmud at the Hebrew University.

12:55PM-1:40PM / The Torah is So Great, Even the Angels Want It! / Room 126

22

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Luis Font

Font Law Group, P.A.

font@fontlawglobal.com As an openly gay immigration attorney for the past 17 years, Luis Font has worked very closely with many same-sex, bi-national couples. He practices in the area of Immigration, Nationality and Consular Law, representing individual and corporate clients before the offices of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In 2001, Luis and his husband, Jim Wilets, were the first same-sex couple to have a marriage ceremony at Miami ‘s Temple Israel (which is not recognized by the State of Florida).

Luis and Jim have been together since 1994 and live in Miami Shores with their 5-year-old son, Daniel. They were legally married in Washington, D.C. on November 15, 2013 with Daniel serving as their ring boy.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community / Room 126

Koby Frances

Clinical Psychologist

info@kobyfrances.com Dr. Koby Frances is a clinical psychologist and assistant director of training at the SUNY College Counseling Center at Old Westbury. Previously, Dr. Frances was the Psychology Chairperson at Touro College South in Miami Beach, where he also maintained a private practice. His interests include psychoanalytic psychotherapy, unconscious process and as well as relationships and intimacy issues. Dr. Frances has done research on sexuality in the Orthodox Jewish community and has presented his findings in both Jewish and scholarly venues. He currently lives in Great Neck, NY. 4:15PM-5:00PM / Are You There God? It’s Me, Sex: The Orthodox Single Man’s Dilemma / Room 126

Evelyn Goldfinger

J-CAT

evelyngold@gmail.com Evelyn Goldfinger is the Jewish Educational Theatre Director at J-CAT, the J’s Cultural Arts Theatre at the Michael-Ann Russell JCC in North Miami Beach, home of “Shalom Stars” sessions. She is a performer, playwright, director and researcher devoted to theater for young audiences. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Evelyn created El Toratrón, a professional Jewish Educational Theatre ensemble with the goal of transmitting Jewish values to children, young people and adults. Since 2007, it has engaged over 10,000 spectators, with the support and recognition of organizations such as ROI, Presentense and the Embassy of Israel in Argentina. Evelyn is the recipient of the prestigious Juan Cervera Award from ASSITEJ Spain given for research in theatre for children and she has been invited to present her work as a researcher in many congresses and forums throughout the world.

12:55PM-1:40PM / Shalom Stars / Room 114

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

23

PRESENTERS Elyse Goldstein

The City Shul

rabbi@cityshul.com Rabbi Elyse Goldstein served for twenty years as the Director of Kolel in Toronto, a liberal Jewish adult education centre, which she founded. She is currently creating a new Reform congregation in downtown Toronto called City Shul.

She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and graduated from Brandeis University, where she later received her Doctor of Divinity, honoris causis. She writes a monthly column for the Canadian Jewish News, and is one of seven women featured in the Canadian National Film Board documentary “Half the Kingdom.” She is the author of ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens and Seek Her Out, as well as editor of The Women’s Torah Commentary, The Women’s Haftarah Commentary and New Jewish Feminism: Probing the Past, Forging the Future. She is a 2005 recipient of the Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators.

12:00PM-12:45PM / The Power of Prayer: Halleluyah! / Room 115 4:15-5:00PM / Women Are from Genesis, Men Are from Leviticus / Room 124

Simon Jacobson

Toward a Meaningful Life

simon@meaningfullife.com Rabbi Simon Jacobson is the author of Toward a Meaningful Life, founder of The Meaningful Life Center and publisher of the Yiddish English weekly, The Algemeiner Journal.

As one of the most pioneering and sought-after writers and speakers in the Jewish world today, Rabbi Jacobson has deeply impacted diverse audiences across the globe with his keen insights into the human condition, applying Torah thought to contemporary life, in a cutting-edge way that is rooted in the timeless teachings of Judaism, while being profoundly timely and relevant. To learn more, visit: www.meaningfullife.com 1:50PM-2:35PM / Toward A Meaningful Life: Universal Jewish Life Skills / Room 122

Ariela Jason-Hes

RIKUDANCE

arielajason@live.com Ariela Jason-Hes came to Miami from Israel in 1992. She immediately started to work at the Michael Ann- Russell Jewish Community Center, where she developed the Israeli Dance Program for the following 10 years and was the creator of the International Israeli Dance Festival Yachad. In 2002, Ariela decided to look for new challenges and opened her own Israeli Dance Program, where both kids and adults participate. RIKUDANCE has become a great success and is very popular in South Florida.

4:15PM-5:00PM / Rikudance: Israeli Music and Latin Moves / Room 115

24

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Shana Kantor

University of Miami Hillel

shanakantor@gmail.com Shana Teig Kantor is originally from Long Island, NY. She holds Master’s degrees from New York University in Non-profit Management and Judaic Studies thanks to her Wexner Fellowship and has lived in Israel, where she studied for two years at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.

Shana has worked for Hillel for 12 years, including at Hillel’s Schusterman International Center in Washington, D.C., as the director of Hillel’s Collegiate Leadership Internship Program in Manhattan, and as the Director of Development at the University of Southern California Hillel. She is currently the Executive Director at University of Miami Hillel. Married to Rabbi Shalom Kantor, they have a daughter, Rena, and a son, Noam.

1:50PM-2:35PM / Panel: Re-envisioning Judaism / Room 115

Judy Kempler

Temple Beth Am

jkempler@tbam.org Rabbi Kempler is known as the spiritual leader of the organization Miami Jews 22-39 and “the rabbi around town,” hosting Shabbat meals, holiday celebrations and services away from the Temple Beth Am campus. In addition to working outside the building, she serves as programming director of the Temple, teaches courses, and works with interfaith couples and conversion students. After college, she took a position as a Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow (JCSC) at American University Hillel in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Kempler graduated from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, and holds a Master of Arts in Hebrew Literature. Married to Daniel, a lifelong Beth Am member, they are the proud parents of a daughter, Zoe, who was born in 2012.

1:50PM-2:35PM / Panel: Re-envisioning Judaism / Room 115

Or Lee Kaidar

Hillel YAD

hillely@marjcc.org Or Lee was born and raised on the outskirts of Haifa. She served in the Israeli Air Force as a non-commissioned officer responsible for information security, worked as a data manager at Elbit Systems, and completed her B.A. in Communications and International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She has worked as the spokeswoman for the Foreign Press office of the Jewish Agency of Israel and also as an educational guide (madrich) for American and Canadian students through Masa Israel. Or Lee is currently working as the Jewish Agency’s Israel Fellow to Hillel YAD, developing and presenting Israel Engagement programming on the FIU campus.

2:40PM-3:15PM / Through the Eyes of Israelis / Room 120

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

25

PRESENTERS Ari Lesser

Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, and Spoken Word Artist

arithemc@gmail.com A graduate of the University of Oregon, Ari spent time studying Torah in Tzfat and Jerusalem, and has performed all over the world. His repertoire is expansive-- with hundreds of songs on a wide range of subjects, touching on everything from history to animals to Star Wars.

Now his focus and passion is making music based on Torah and the wisdom of the Jewish people. Ari’s performances bring the Torah to life in a way that is inspirational, accurate, educational, and very entertaining for English-speaking audiences of all ages and backgrounds. To truly get a sense of Ari’s artistry, take a look at these YouTube videos: Boycott Israel, Give Thanks, His version of The Ten Plagues.

12:55PM-1:40PM / Torah Edu-tainment / Room 122 4:15-5:00PM / Ari the MC: Songs, Raps, and Spoken Word Poetry / Room 122

Beco Lichtman

Homegrown Brand Strategy

beco.lichtman@gmail.com Beco Eli Lichtman is a brand consultant, speaker, adjunct professor of marketing, and founder of Homegrown, a brand strategy firm based in Miami. He spends his days (and many nights) helping drive the growth of organizations and their brand through new insights, analysis, and innovative approaches. Armed with a MBA and nearly seven expatriate years living in Europe, Beco has a wide knowledge of international management, multicultural marketing, and consumer behavior. When not at Homegrown, you can find him giving back to the Jewish community, traveling to Europe or San Francisco, and spending quality time with his husband, Eric, at Fairchild Tropical Garden.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community / Room 126

Benji Lovitt

Comedian

benji@benjilovitt.com Since making aliyah in 2006, comedian Benji Lovitt has performed for audiences throughout North America and Israel including Hillels, Birthright Israel and Jewish Federations.

His perspectives on life in Israel have been featured on Israeli television and radio and in publications such as the Times of Israel and the Jerusalem Post. His annual Yom Ha’atzmaut list of things he loves about Israel has developed a massive following and he works regularly with Jewish organizations to promote Israel.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Because the Middle East is Funny: Stand-Up Comedy and Discussion / Room 120 4:15-5:00PM / Sixty-Six Years of Laughter: Explore Israeli Society Through Its Comedy / Room 120

26

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Nan Markowitz

Bond Program Coordinator

nan7006@bellsouth.net A graduate of University of Miami, Nan Markowitz is the Bond Program Coordinator for Miami-Dade County in the Office of Management and Budget. Previously, she served as Assistant Director of Miami-Dade County’s Office of Capital Improvements, Director of Operations for the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee and Director of Administration for the Florida Department of Transportation among many other positions. While she did not meet or marry her “dream man,” she could not imagine life without children and thus adopted her son as an infant, becoming a “single mom-by-choice.”

12:00PM-12:45PM / Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community / Room 126

Miriam Moussatche-Wechsler

Licensed Psychotherapist-Coach

miriam.dmw@gmail.com

A licensed psychotherapist-coach in private practice, Miriam is passionate about helping her clients reach their highest potential and bring more joy into their lives. She is an instructor at the University of Miami and on the Board of Hillel YAD. Born in Argentina, Miriam lived in Manhattan before relocating to Miami. She co-founded Judíos-Latinos at the 92nd Street Y-Makor and led two Jewish Humanitarian Missions to Latin America before revitalizing a program for Jewish-Latino Immigrants on behalf of Jewish Community Services of South Florida.

1:50PM-2:35PM / “You Say ‘Yes’, I Say ‘Si’, We All Say ‘Shalom’ / Room 124

Lital Pendler

FAU Hillel

lital@hillelcenter.org Lital served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for five years. As an officer in the IDF’s education unit, her military service included basic training, tutoring olim (new immigrants) in Hebrew, and commanding a company in the “Nativ” course. After her army service, Lital worked for Taglit-Birthright Israel in the mifgashim (encounters) department, assigning Israeli participants to Birthright groups. Subsequently, Lital went to Seminar HaKibbutzim College in Tel Aviv to study education with a history major, and also worked at a bar in Tel Aviv called “YUDA.” She decided to put her life in Israel on hold and come to the United States to educate students about the real face of Israel, and in turn, learn what it feels like to be a Jew in America. Lital is currently the Jewish Agency’s Israel Fellow to Hillel at FAU and in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

2:40PM-3:15PM / Through the Eyes of Israelis / Room 120

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

27

PRESENTERS Jenni Person

Next@19th & MDC Live Arts

jenniperson@gmail.com Jenni Person is a performer by training and a 20+ year veteran of arts administration. She is Executive Director or Next@19th, a Jewish culture organization in Miami working to move Jewish culture forward as well as Managing Producer at MDC Live Arts. A writer of creative non-fiction and poetry, she founded Miami’s first poetry slams (taking a team to the National Slam) and served as co-Slam Master of the Jerusalem Slam in Israel. Her writing has been featured in local and national publications as well as several journals and chapbooks. Jenni received a BA in Drama from Bennington College and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College where her work focussed on Jewish culture and queering Jewish community through the arts.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community / Room 126

Jonathan Raiffe

Slingshot

jraiffe@adlergroup.com Jonathan Raiffe, a Wexner Heritage alum, serves as Chairman of the Board of Slingshot, a leading voice advocating for innovation in Jewish life, Treasurer of Jewish Community Services of South Florida, and is a member of the executive board of The Network, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s division for 22-39 year olds. Professionally, Jonathan is the executive vice president of Adler Development, LLC, a real estate development company based in Miami.

1:50PM-2:35PM / Panel: Re-envisioning Judaism / Room 115

Todd Rice

todd@toddrice.com

Motivational Speaker, Corporate Trainer, Character Actor and Comedian

Todd Rice is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, character actor and comedian who has been performing since 1991, having been featured in several short films and even cast as a policeman in the blockbuster film The Fugitive, though he was uncredited for that appearance. Todd travels the country helping to energize small and large companies alike. Working with everyone from Chase, T-Mobile, GE Healthcare, Exxon-Mobil, Coca-Cola, AT&T, the Hartford and many, many more, he provides everything from corporate training and team building to motivational speaking and conflict resolution.

3:20PM-4:05PM / Becoming the Jewish Leader You Already Know You Are / Room 126

28

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Mario Rojzman

Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus

rabbiRojzman@btbrc.org Rabbi Mario Rojzman was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a BA in Jewish Philosophy and Education. In 1987, he received his Rabbinical Ordination from the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano. Between 1997 and 2000, he was the head of the Comparative Religions department at the University of Palermo. His interest in and involvement with social affairs granted him invitations as a guest speaker for different prestigious institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, UNESCO and the World Bank. His activism on inter-religious affairs took him on trips to Jerusalem and Rome, where he had the chance to meet with Pope John Paul II in 1998 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. Rabbi Rojzman has served as a Rabbi at Beth Torah since 2003.

3:20PM-4:05PM / Hola Pope: What to Expect In the Future of Jewish-Catholic Relationships / Room 115

Fernando Romero a.k.a. SKI MST of UR New York

Artists 4 Israel

SKI MST, a world famous graffiti artist, joined Artists 4 Israel on two of their painting missions. He seeks to create an urban industrial esthetic to art by combining mediums such as photography, silk-screening, graphic design, and graffiti. Each piece tells the story of his life, his struggles, and his environment. SKI hopes to inspire creativity among people, specifically the youth, so they can pick up where he leaves off. He will be presenting this session along with Craig Dershowitz.

12:55PM-2:35PM / Graffiti, Inspiration and Killing Camels: The New Art of Israel Advocacy / Room 115

Liliana Rozental

Choreographer

lilianarozental@gmail.com Liliana Rozental was born in Argentina. At seventeen years old, she started giving classes in tap and jazz at several schools and dancing institutes in Buenos Aires. Afterwards, she worked as a choreographer, which she continues to do until today. In 1984, she made her debut on television dancing in different popular programs in Buenos Aires, then went on to work as an actress and dancer together with known artists in musical shows such as “Me and My Girl.” In 2001, she created a new technique in the art of dancing: RIKUTAP. This discipline joins the skills of tap with the bright and colorful movements of “rikudim” (Israeli dancing). In 2003, she emigrated to Miami with her family and is always looking for ways to inspire children to have fun and enjoy themselves through theatre.

1:50PM-2:35PM / “My Favorite Things” show by Magical Moments / Room 114

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

29

PRESENTERS Leonard Saxe

saxe@brandeis.edu

Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute

Leonard Saxe is Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and directs the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and the Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University. He is the recipient of the 2012 Marshall Sklare Award. Professor Saxe is a social psychologist, as well as a methodologist, and is concerned with the application of social science to social policy issues. His present focus is on religious and ethnic identity, specifically addressing issues relevant to the Jewish community.

3:20PM-4:05PM / “Pew’s Jews”: What Can We Learn from the Pew Study’s Portrait of American Jewry? / Room 120

Baruch Sienna

Educator

baruch.sienna@gmail.com Baruch Sienna is a senior Jewish educator who has worked in day schools and supplementary schools in a variety of denominations as a teacher, principal and curriculum developer.

His specialty has been using technology to deliver Jewish education, developing Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning’s website and serving as its webmaster. His current interests are the intersection of Judaism and the environment. After years of study and research, he has recently published a groundbreaking iBook: The Natural Bible, an encyclopedia of Judaism and the environment.

2:40PM-3:15PM / Walking in the Biblical Garden / Room 115

J-CAT Theater

MAR-JCC

evelyng@marjcc.org Founded by Dr. Michael Andron (Director and Teacher) and Lillian Andron (Actress and Theatre Educator), J-CAT is the theatre education arm of the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center’s Rabbi Norman Mussman Cultural Arts Department and a year-round theatre arts program for youth, teens, as well as adult.

4:15PM-5:00PM / The PURe IMagination Show / Room 114

Vanina Tarlovsky

Artist

vtarlo@gmail.com

Vanina was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From the age of six, she journeyed into the world of art, beginning with painting china. Over the years, Vanina has explored multiple and diverse artistic techniques. In 1993, she graduated from the University of Buenos Aires with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. Since then, her life has been surrounded by art, from teaching art classes to children to creating and designing personal gifts.

1:50PM-2:35PM / “My Favorite Things” show by Magical Moments / Room 114 3:20-4:05PM / Creating With FIMO / Room 114

30

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014 Melanie Wainberg

Film Maker

melaniewainberg@gmail.com With an MFA degree in Directing from the American Film Institute Conservatory, Melanie’s thesis film “Dr. Gutman’s Eulogy” was granted a DGA Jury Award at the Director’s Guild of America Student Awards, a Gold Remi Award at WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, Best ‘Women Like it Short’ Award at Salento International Film Festival, Best Foreign Short Film at Festival Manuel Trujillo Durán, Second Prize at Athens Jewish Film Festival and was an Official Selection at over 15 film festivals. Her recent work includes commercials and promo videos for HBO, Discovery Kids, SyFy and Universal Channel.

1:50PM-2:35PM / Dr. Gutman’s Eulogy: Film Screening and Discussion / Room 120

JT Waldman

Digital designer and illustrator

jtwaldman@gmail.com JT Waldman is a comic book creator and interaction designer based in Philadelphia. He is best known for his graphic novel, Megillat Esther, published in 2005 by the Jewish Publication Society.

Most recently, he collaborated with the late Harvey Pekar on the graphic novel, Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me. JT presents workshops and lectures on topics including: Jewish art, educational technology, visual narratives, comix, and Midrash. He has presented at Limmud NY and Limmud Philly and is very excited to be part of the Limmud Miami community. To learn more about JT and his work go to: www.JTWaldman.com.

3:20PM-4:05PM / Judaism, Comic Books and the Mending of the Golden Calf / Room 122

Nancy Warshofsky

Learner, Mother & Storyteller

miamibeachfamily@gmail.com

Nancy is a learner, a Miami Beach community member, a mother (to two terrific tots), a user-experience (UE) researcher, and a ‘nosher.’ Her motto: Learning fuels our souls; Judaism lights the path; ru’ach gathers us in.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Story Time / Room 114

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

31

PRESENTERS James Wilets

Nova Southeastern University

wiletsj@nsu.law.nova.edu Jim Wilets is a Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University and Chair of the Inter-American Center for Human Rights, teaching in the areas of International Law, Constitutional Law, Comparative Law, Human Rights, Gender and the Law, and European Union Law. Professor Wilets worked in Paris on some of the first negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians for a two-state solution. While at Yale University, he was the only Jewish member of a team drafting a proposed Basic Law for a future Palestinian state.

In 2001, Jim and his husband, Luis Font, were the first same-sex couple to have a marriage ceremony at Miami ‘s Temple Israel (which of course is not recognized by the State of Florida). Luis and Jim have been together since 1994 and live in Miami Shores with their 5-year-old son, Daniel. They were legally married in Washington, D.C. on November 15, 2013 with Daniel serving as their ring boy.

12:00PM-12:45PM / Panel: Blur...Towards a Gloriously Indeterminate Jewish Community / Room 126

Nina Piken Yarus

Jewish Meditation Teacher and Yoga Instructor

ninapy@gmail.com

Nina Piken Yarus has been an educator for over three decades. Her quest for harmony and balance led her to pursue Yoga and meditation. Knowing how these activities enhance one’s life and perspective, she began teaching friends, which blossomed into a full teaching practice. She studied with Bobbie Golden at the Yoga Institute of Miami, and Joanne Evans at The Yoga Center of Deerfield Beach, receiving her certification from both institutes in 1998. Nina also completed a three year teacher certification program for Jewish Meditation from Chochmat Halev. Nina has served on the board of directors of The Mussar Institute and developed curricula for this unique and inspiring Jewish Spiritual Practice. Most recently she completed a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Todd Norian and Ann Green (Anusara Certified Teachers). Combining her rich Jewish spiritual heritage with yoga and meditation is her passion--teaching from the heart is her path.

3:20PM-4:05PM / Climate Change for the Soul: Refresh Your Self / Room 124

Efrat Zarren-Zohar

efratzohar5011@gmail.com

Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education & The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning

Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar serves as the Director of Adult Jewish Learning and Growth at CAJE, the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education of Miami, and a Regional Director on the national staff of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning . Ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she has worked in South Florida as a rabbi and Jewish educator for the past 20+ years. In the last few years, inspired by Nina Yarus and a variety of life changes, she became certified as a Mussar facilitator (teaching Jewish spiritual character development) and an Ayeka facilitator (Soulful Education). Rabbi Zarren-Zohar is currently teaching the Melton School’s new Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah course (dedicated in her honor) and taking part in a two year course of study with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. For more about interesting educational courses in Miami, visit: www.caje-miami.org/adultlearning 3:20PM-4:05PM / Climate Change for the Soul: Refresh Your Self / Room 124

32

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014

NOTAS

SUPPORTERS / DONORS VISIONARIES: $4000 AND ABOVE Greater Miami Jewish Federation

INNOVATORS $2500 TO $3999 Anonymous Joanne and Eli Papir Raquel and Aryeh Rubin

DREAMERS $1000 TO $2499 Gisela and Daniel Ades Addison House Bernell Family Foundation Daniela and Ralph Horn FIU-JSI Patricia and Roberto Naparstek

FRIENDS OF LIMMUD $100 TO $999 Ariel Cuello Mimi and Gustavo Klimberg Raquel and Riccardo Di Capua Picasso Industries The Tribe The Network Beth Torah Benny rocks campus Pushke Studio

PARTNERS AND IN KIND SPONSORS

Ami Miami Annies Bakery Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE) David Posnack Jewish Day School Hillel YAD Jewish Community Services of South Florida Jewish Museum of Florida- FIU Masa Israel Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies Sharsheret Temple Sinai and Jacobson Sinai Academy The Network at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Young Judaea

34

LIMMUD MIAMI 2014