Over the past several decades, there has been a sea change in Jewish engagement—a reimagining of what it means to be a Jew and a citizen of our planet. Jewish voices have joined a chorus of empowered people around the world saying “no” to injustice. The Hebrew word “tzedek” has become synonymous with activism, service and our responsibility to pursue equality, peace and human rights for all people. Join AJWS president Ruth Messinger for a dynamic discussion about AJWS’s role in this change, and to learn more about how you can be a part of it.
When Pope Paul IV was elected in 1555, he began to institute radical change in the treatment of Jews, starting in his port city of Ancona where New Christians had settled and with papal permission reverted to Judaism. In the summer of 1555, the pope’s emissary arrested new Christians who had become Jews, confiscated their property, publicly tortured them, and during the next year strangled and burned about 25 of them. The prominent Jew Dona Gracia and local Christian merchants tried to intervene to save them with no success. To punish the pope, Sephardic Jews began a boycott of Ancona. The boycott failed with strong opposition by Jews. Similarly, in Germany in 1933 after Nazi rule began there were spontaneous boycotts against Germany around the world, and, with a rise in violence against Jews, Jews and Christians began to organize boycotts against Germany. These boycotts also failed, also with strong opposition by Jews. We will compare the two boycotts, and perhaps look at the larger issues of boycotts in our own time.
Join Jewish rocker Naomi Less and learn to use your body, your mind, your voice and your creativity to help you shine.
Why is it Jewish to help create equitable access to healthy, fresh food? In this workshop we will explore the role urban agriculture can play in our Jewish communities.
Chanting, the repetition of a sacred phrase, is a way oftransforming words of liturgy and Torah into expanded states of consciousness. With beautiful melodies and deep spiritual intention, chants can unlock the treasures of the heart and healing. By entering into silence after a chant we can connect with the Divine. With the band from Vancouver’s Chanting & Chocolate evenings of sweet Hebrew kirtan, you will have the opportunity to experience the joy of this devotional practice.
In many societies, women, girls and LGBTI people are second-class citizens, facing rampant discrimination, violence and violations of their human rights. They are denied access to education, jobs and health services, are at heightened risk for HIV and AIDS and, in some places, fear for their lives. Join AJWS president Ruth Messinger to hear how AJWS grantees in Africa, Asia and the Americas are working to promote equality for people of all genders and sexual orientations so that they can access the full spectrum of opportunities in society and live and love in health, safety and dignity.
The High Priest’s breastplate in last week’s parasha is described as a rectangular plate adorned with 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. As a group, we will explore 12 qualities that we wish to cultivate in the world, and using collage, create new narratives for 'breastplates' of our time. A colourful mash-up of thread, paper and tape - fuelled by your ingenuity - will create original and inspiring 'gems' to be shared with the Limmud community by the end of the day.
The contradictory views of Islam views towards dhimmi, Jews and Christians, are regularly discussed. Our concern, however, will be what Christianity and Judaism have had to say about Islam. An example of their interactions appears in a manuscript collection of information about Islam compiled by the Venetian rabbi Leon Modena (1571-1648). He relied on an Italian edition of the Qur’an, which had its roots in earlier Christian versions of the Qur’an that presented nuanced understandings and hostile comments – not unlike Islamic views of Christians and Jews. Modena presents Islam in a positive light, very close to rabbinic Jewish practice, and he uses negative information about Islam provided by Christians as part of his critique of Christianity. As cultural mediators draw closer to other cultures, the ensuing distancing from their own culture has the potential to leave them with deeper insight about their own or a greater critical view of it. Jews, Christians, and Muslims who draw close to each other today still face some of the same dynamics.