Limmud 2022 Presenters

Noah Efron founded, and is a professor in, the program on science, technology & society at Bar Ilan University. He hosts “The Promised Podcast” on TLV1. He is a founder and leader of Israel’s Green Party and served on the Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Council. He’s written three books and many essays on the tricky intertwines of Judaism, science, technology and politics. His biggest regret is that he is not Nora Ephron.

Christine Hayes is Sterling Professor of Religious Studies in Classical Judaica at Yale University where she teaches courses in talmudic and midrashic studies, Tanakh, and ancient Jewish history and culture. Her publications include Between the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds (1997 Salo Baron prize); Gentile Impurities and Jewish Identities (2003 National Jewish Book Award finalist); What’s Divine about Divine Law: Early Perspectives? (2015 National Jewish Book Award; 2016 American Publishers Association Award; 2016 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award); three edited collections; two introductory volumes (The Emergence of Judaism and Introduction to the Bible); and numerous journal articles. Hayes has been a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Buchmann Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University. She is a Senior Research Fellow with the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, and past President of the Association for Jewish Studies.

Ittay Flescher is the Education Director at Kids4Peace Jerusalem, an interfaith movement for Israelis and Palestinians and the Jerusalem Correspondent for Plus61J Media.

He also frequently teaches on gap year programs about the identity, narratives and cultures of the people who call Jerusalem home.

Liza Wiemer is the author of the multi-award-winning international novel, The Assignment. She has had two adult nonfiction books published and several short stories in the New York Times bestselling Small Miracles series. The Algemeiner named her one of “The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2021.

Ruben Shimonov is an educator, community builder, and social entrepreneur passionate about Jewish diversity. He previously served as Director of Community Engagement & Education at Queens College Hillel. Currently, Ruben is the National Director of Sephardi House & Young Leadership at the American Sephardi Federation. He is also the Founding Executive Director of the Sephardic Mizrahi Q Network. As a visual artist, Ruben uses his multilingual Arabic-Hebrew-Persian calligraphy to build Muslim-Jewish interfaith bridges. Ruben is an alumnus of the Nahum Goldmann Fellowship and the Schusterman Foundation’s ROI Summit. He has been listed among The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” emerging leaders and changemakers.

Anshel Pfeffer is a senior correspondent and columnist for Haaretz and the Israel correspondent for The Economist. He has been a journalist for 25 years covering a wide range of issues in Israel and reporting from over 30 countries on four continents. His latest book is Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu

Abi is forging communities around the idea of arguments as a source of bonding. She has been in senior management at Hillel International and The Jewish Agency's Makom: Israel Education Lab.

Abi was awarded the Muehlstein Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership fellowship, the Tikvah Fellowship, and the Schusterman Fellowship. 

Abi is a rabbinic student at the Shalom Hartman Institute/HaMidrasha at Oranim and lives in Jerusalem, with her spouse and four children. www.forthesakeofargument.org

Dr. Elliott Malamet is the cofounder of Living Jewishly, a non denominational organization based in Toronto that hosts conversations and events meant to draw out the core existential meanings of Judaism and of spiritual living. Dr, Malamet taught English literature and Jewish philosophy at Canadian universities for twenty five years before making aliyah with his family in 2013. He currently lectures at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and teaches at various other institutions in Jerusalem and abroad. He is consulted regularly on creating inspiring Jewish education, and his book on the ethics of teenagers was published in 2021.

Adrian Arena is Director of the Oak Foundation’s International Human Rights Programme. Focusing on civil and political rights, it works internationally but with a particular focus on the EU, Russia, India, Myanmar, Brazil and the USA. He also oversees the Foundation’s separate Brazil programme. His work largely addresses issues of State violence, arbitrary detention, LGBTI rights, the promotion and safeguarding of democracy and civic activism.

Prior to joining Oak Foundation, Arena spent three years as Deputy Secretary-General of the International Commission of Jurists, a Geneva-based organization that promotes the global rule of law with a particular emphasis on the independence of the judiciary. There he was responsible for management and fundraising and learned first-hand the challenges of being a grant seeker.

Adrian began his career in the Australian Foreign Service serving as a diplomat at the Australian Embassies in Tehran, Stockholm, and Rome. He undertook a range of responsibilities, including political and economic reporting, representation, and immigration work.

He has served on the boards of various foundations including over 10 years at the Human Rights Initiative of the Open Society Foundations. His current Board memberships include Pluralis which invests in successful independent media where media pluralism is at risk, and Physicians for Human Rights, an international ngo based in NYC.

Adrian is London based. He holds a degree in Arts/Law from the University of Sydney and is a keen cyclist.

Leah Malamet, M.A., M.Ed, C.Psych. is a registered Clinical Psychologist. She holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on attachment theory and the psychology of religion. Ms. Malamet has provided psychological assessment, treatment, and supervision services for 35 years in hospitals, schools, and private practice in Canada, USA, England, & Israel, to highly diverse as well as underserved populations. In her work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, Ms. Malamet's theoretical and clinical approach integrates psychodynamic, somatic, cognitive-behavioural, art, sand tray, and play therapies. Ms. Malamet has taught at Bar Ilan University as well as has given professional seminars in Canada, USA, England, & Israel, on the systematic integration of different theoretical and clinical approaches to psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment, emotional regulation, and the interface between psychology & religion.

Beatrice is a New York writer and life coach. Raised in the Ultra-Orthodox community and married to a Rabbi at 18, Beatrice never graduated High School. After 22 years of marriage and 10 children, she left with her youngest children, despite opposition from family/community to create a ‘brave new world’.

Eve has worked with NIF since 2020, having previously worked for the Sydney Alliance, engaging local communities in policy action on climate change and affordable and renewable power. Eve holds a Bachelor of Political, Economic, and Social Science from University of Sydney and is a board member of Emanuel Synagogue.

Head of informal Jewish education at Mount Scopus; Chairperson for the ZV Department of Hebrew Language and Israeli Culture. 8 Generations "Yerushalmi"), MA in School Leadership; Education Diploma in tour guiding & BA International Relations. Worked as the Education Director for the JNF; Managed trips at the Hebrew Gymnasya Jerusalem.

Estelle Rozinski is a multi-media artist, educator and curator. Estelle’s work focuses on community, past and present. Through animation, this project investigates the diversity of Jewish life in Europe before 1939, providing our children with a history that can co-exist with our history of the Holocaust.

Jewish Universalist Rabbi. Lead Pastoral Carer at Calvary Bethlehem. Leader of Bnei Mitzvah program for Kehilat Nitzan. Graduate Certificate in Supervision of Pastoral Care. Passionate about the Divine Feminine, Kabbalah, hiking and travel. Mother of 3

Frances Prince is a Jewish educator, and community stalwart. She is involved in many communal organisations. She is an executive member of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) where she holds the multicultural and interfaith portfolio. In this capacity, she represents the community on a number of interfaith boards.

Rabbi G is serving as Interim Rabbi of TBI in 2022. An Educational Adventurist, Gary is committed to providing hi-quality, immersive Jewish education. In the classroom, on the bima or behind a piano, Gary engages students of all ages and backgrounds in the meaning and music of Jewish life.

Helen lectured in history and art history (1625-1925) at a TAFE until retirement when Covid started. She still writes a history blog twice weekly and still helps history students (including the grandchildren) with their essays.

I am a retired ophthalmic surgeon of more than 40 years of experience who in his spare time has written nine non-fiction books one of which is presently awaiting publication. Most of these embrace Jewish themes; historical and artistic. I specialise in brilliant people deliberately written out of history.

Leah is the Founder and CEO of Pathways Melbourne. Educated at RMIT (and Harvard University (USA), Leah’s professional background is in advertising and PR. It was a young Heredi woman who wanted to rollerblade, attend university and avoid re-marrying, who inspired Leah to create Pathways.

Bialik College’s Principal, Jeremy previously led a similarly pluralistic London Jewish school, JCoSS. Jeremy attended an Anglican school and is a graduate of Yeshiva Ohr Sameach. A fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders for services to education and an MBA graduate, Jeremy is a history and philosophy teacher.

Leah Justin grew up in a Yiddish- speaking household.

For 20 years Leah was the Adult Education Director at the Jewish Museum of Australia.

When not attending adult Yiddish classes, lectures or concerts, or looking after her grandchildren, Leah and her husband run the Justin Art House Museum.

Liam Getreu is executive director of the New Israel Fund, represented Australia at the World Zionist Congress and frequently comments on TV, radio and in newspapers on Israel and Jewish issues. He's presented at Limmud conferences in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Marlo Newton has worked as a Jewish communal professional for most of her life. She has a Master’s in History and is the author of several publications. Her interests include women in Jewish life, Talmud study, history, and books. Marlo is married to Tal Spinrad and they have three children.

Originally from Manchester, UK, I have lived and worked there, and in New York, London, Monaco, Paris, Almaty, Hong Kong and now Australia, where I am also Treasurer of Kehilat Nitzan Tikkun Olam in Melbourne, and a Director of the Caulfield Park Community Bank.

Nomi Kaltmann is a Melbourne lawyer who writes regularly on Jewish life and culture. Nomi is also the founder and inaugural president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance Australia (JOFA).

Mark is a retired academic. He has been a volunteer with Courage to Care for over eight years and has been a facilitator in programs delivered to school students, teachers, and adult groups. He is a member of the Courage to Care Education Sub-Committee.

Michael Visontay is Editor of Plus61J. He has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 30 years. Michael is the author of several books, including Who Gave You Permission?, co-authored with Manny Waks, and Welcome to Wanderland: Western Sydney Wanderers and the Pride of the West.

Oscar Kaspi-Crutchett is a journalist and political commentator based in Canberra. In 2017, Oscar founded and directed Students for Marriage Equality Australia. He currently works in the Commonwealth Parliament and is completing a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at ANU.

For more than a decade, Paul Forgasz was head of the secondary campus of Mt Scopus College. He lectured in Jewish history at the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation. Since 2010, he has curated and led study tours to various European destinations on behalf of the Jewish Museum of Australia

Pippa is a Hatha Yoga practitioner & teacher for over 20 years and student of Kabbalistic Yoga Practices with a focus on combining both. She is a former Primary teacher, teacher of English As A Second Language & Adult Literacy. She has taught Living Calm for 18 months.

Born: South Africa

Arrived Australia: 1972

Ran Smokenders stop smoking program Aust-wide for 35 years; www.smokenders.com.au.

Ran Music for Refugees for 20 years. Visited refugee detention centres conducting music sessions for refugees. Taught via Facetime. Created & performed musical about refugees in detention called ""Hope Behind the Wire"".

Received OAM

Rabbi Dr. Danny Schiff is the Foundation Scholar at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

My parents survived the Holocaust by fleeing to the Soviet Union. Undertaking extensive research into the geopolitical forces behind this journey enabled me to develop and present two Powerpoint lectures at the Museum and to write an extended article about to be published in Musings, the SJM online journal.

Born in Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa, Rabbi Ralph Genende is a Modern Orthodox Rabbi. For more than three decades he led Jewish congregations in New Zealand and Australia. He is married to Caron, they have three children and two grandchildren.

Rebecca has over two decades’ experience working in leadership and education-related roles in the Melbourne Jewish community. For almost ten years, she was Director & CEO of the Jewish Museum of Australia, where she led the Museum through a decade of significant organisational development and creative regeneration.

Raphael Morris (they/he) is a postgraduate philosophy student with a focus on philosophy of language. They have a particular interest in the ethics of discourse and the power of words to create or destroy.

Ron is a Melbourne based lawyer specialising in technology contracts. He spent close to three decades at Minter Ellison, one of Australia’s leading law firms. He is the author of Under a Lucky Star, a recounting of his father’s story as a child survivor of the Holocaust.

Talya Bassin is a social worker at Child Protection with 13 years experience both advocating for the welfare of families within the community and gathering unique insights on the needs of those families. Having lived experience with neuro diverse children has added scope and dimension to her expertise.

Founder and Past President of President of Insulin for Life (IFL) Australia and Global; Past Vice-President of the International Diabetes Federation. Economics degree from Monash University and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by the Australian Government in 2008.

Has been active in Jewish communal organisations and has been involved in partnerships with Israel in the Pacific islands for the last 20 years

Tania de Jong AM is the co-Founder and Executive Director of Mind Medicine Australia. Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators developing 6 businesses and 4 charities including Creative Universe, Creativity Australia and With One Voice, Creative Innovation Global, Umbrella Productions, Pot-Pourri and The Song Room.

Sefi has spent his career on two tracks: youth engagement& international relations and Media, mostly on Israeli TV. He is a geek of Israeli politics and history, and loves sports. Since April 2019 he has been working as the Netzer and Progressive community Shaliach, on behalf of the Jewish Agency.

Simon Starr is a Melbourne musician who is passionate about Jewish music.

I am Chair of the Education Sub-Committee B’nai B'rith Courage to Care (Vic.). Since 2000 Courage to Care has provided educational programs to students (Years 5 - 12) & recently to adult groups. Actions of the Righteous are used to challenge participants to consider their attitudes to prejudice & discrimination.

Tal Spinrad is the Kulanu Project Manager for The United Jewish Education Board. A Jewish Educator with close to four decades of international experience, Tal combines the passion of Ezekiel with the humour of Mel Brooks. Tal is an inclusion advocate, creating dynamic and engaging programming.

As a counsellor and music therapist, Ronen uses creativity as a vehicle of self-expression that can vary from drumming, spoken word, drama, games, creative writing and storytelling. During his 11 years of teaching and counselling, he worked with thousands of students and learnt about their personalities, dreams, and struggles.

Adele has a Bachelor of Arts (Jewish studies), Masters of Anthropology and Community Work, and a Masters of Leadership. She has worked in the charity sector for the past 20 years in London and Melbourne, and is currently sitting on the ZFA board

Michael Burd and Alan Freedman are well known for their conservative political views from both their radio program Nothing Left (J-AIR, 2014-18), and now via the Australian Jewish Association. They are critical of the political left and engage in Israel advocacy on social media and with letters to the newspapers.

Abe's been immersed for 30 years+ in Community Engagement, Political Activism, Social Policy and Education, particularly with Intercultural, Multifaith and First Nations community initiatives.

Motivated by meeting the Dalai Lama and Chief Rabbi Sacks, obtaining the 2020 Apology from Germany and getting rid of the Batman Electorate to Cooper stand as proud recent achievements.

Anna Ciddor is an award-winning author of almost 60 published books, including The Family with Two Front Doors about her grandmother’s childhood in pre-war Poland and The Boy Who Stepped Through Time, a time-slip novel. In 2021 she won the Nance Donkin Award for Children’s Literature

Adam Slonim is the founder of Blended Learning Group which assists organisations with Leadership through Emotional Intelligence, Communicating with Purpose, and Sales Capability. He is Accredited to the Daniel Goleman Emotional & Social Competence methodology, and has coached over 225 Managers in EI and administered over 2900 EI 360 Surveys. Having been trained by the man who developed the winning pitch for the Sydney and Manchester Olympics,

Adam also coaches businesses and teams on increasing their Pitching success rate, and coaches Public Speaking and Presentation Skills for Politicians, business people, community leaders and individuals.

Blended Learning Group works with diverse companies and community organisations on building their Sales Capability and Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, and has trained the next generation of female Muslim leaders in Cultural & Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for the Islamic Council of Victoria, undertaken Cultural Intelligence programs through Victoria University for Chinese lawyers seeking to engage with and do business in Australia, and trained community leaders through the Scanlon Foundation Summer School.

Adam is Sales & Marketing Director of an Artificial Intelligence start-up Vestia.AI, which has won and developed products for the Australian Department of Defence. He co-authored the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work and co-edited a recently released public policy Q&A with the Australian Institute for Machine Learning and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute .

Adam was previously the National Sales Manager of Australia’s largest outsource provider, managing a team of sales, account and marketing management professionals responsible for over AUD300M annually. He also spent some years at a globally based consulting firm specialising in human communication. He led the team that helped a ‘top 4’ accounting firm win a $250M pitch.

Adam was also the first Australian accredited in the Breakthrough To Peak Performance motivation program. As an accredited Motivation specialist, Adam designs and delivers unique Change Management consulting and training programs that tap the high performance drive.

Adam has won a number of sales Awards, has been recognised as one of Australia’s best trainers, and is often consulted to advising Israeli companies on doing business in Australia. He has led Innovation Missions to Israel to explore how organisations and Governments can innovate more effectively.

Dashiel Lawrence has been writing and researching about Australian Jewish life for 14 years. He has edited, published and contributed to multiple books for academic and general readers. He serves as Executive Director of Plus61J Media.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa

Arrived in Sydney December 1999

Ran my own beauty and slimming Salon in Sydney and Johannesburg

Have 3 biological children plus one special child

When he's not sitting on committees (Jewish Labour Bund, In One Voice Festival, Yiddish Australia) or working as a speech pathologist, Dan likes to create and peruse Yiddish graphics, typography and design.

Carmella, born in Iraq in 1950, learned energy healing of Babylon from her grandmother. She spent many years training in numerous healing modalities before she came to realize that true healing can only from Jewish sources. This knowledge allowed her to create a unique kosher healing experience for her clients.

Deborah is a yoga teacher who has a commitment to yoga being an inclusive and empowering practice which can be adapted to people of all ages, body shapes and abilities. This is informed by her background as a social worker and researcher. She is a member of the Kedem Board.

Myer Bloom is a former teacher, university tutor and interviewer of Holocaust survivors. He has published two books, occasional short articles and has delivered papers on Jewish themes at four academic conferences. His Jewish research includes visits to Jewish historic sites in Eastern Europe, Greece and Turkey.

Einat Orbach is an experienced Yiddish and Jewish Studies teacher and Gifted Coordinator at Sholem Aleichem College. She has studied LOTE Methodology and has a passion and interest in Brain-based education. She continues to seek out effective and evidence-based approaches to increase student learning, engagement and motivation.

Elana Forbes is a medical student by day and Yiddishist by night. She was first introduced to Yiddish at Sholem Aleichem College and her love of Yiddish has continued to guide her in various roles with SKIF, the Jewish Labour Bund and Yiddish Oystralye.

David Zyngier is a lifelong Jewish radical activist having grown up in Hashomer Hatzair, formed the Radical Zionist Alliance during University, made Aliya to Kibbutz . David is currently co-convenor of Jewish-Greens. He is also an endorsed Greens Councillor for Glen Eira.

Ella Dreyfus is an Australian multi-disciplinary artist and academic from the National Art School, Sydney. She is an award-winning photographer with a PhD in Fine Arts, with exhibitions in Germany, France, Canada and Australia. Dreyfus Drei is her first documentary film, premiering at the Delphi Theatre in Berlin.

Director of International and of Community Affairs, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council; Honorary Life Member and former President, Executive Council of Australian Jewry; Senior Contributing Editor, Australia/ Israel Review; Board Member, International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations; Member, Order of Australia; winner, 2007 Australian Human Rights Medal.

Shoshana is a writer and Jewish educator from Sydney who makes jokes on the internet. When not thinking of new ways to (lovingly) make fun of Judaism, she's watching romantic comedies. You can find her on Instagram @JewishMemesOnly and Twitter @TheTonightSho. Her mother thinks she would have made an excellent doctor.

Merav Sadoff Fima is an award-winning writer, poet, editor, and translator. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Literary and Cultural Studies program at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Rabbi Yonatan Sadoff has been serving as the spiritual leader of Kehilat Nitzan in Melbourne, Australia, since May 2018. He has a great passion for the study of Kabbalah and Hasidism, art, film and music, and works to infuse Jewish worship with creativity, song, mindfulness and meditation.

Esther is a child and adult psychologist, an author who has published three books and an emerging filmmaker. Her first feature documentary THE NARROW BRIDGE screened at the 2022 Jewish International Film Festival and she was over the moon when it won the Audience Award!

Dr Rabbi Orna Triguboff is a Kabbalah scholar and meditation teacher who is passionate about integrating meditation and wellbeing with Jewish mysticism. She teaches courses in Jewish meditation and leads Spiritual Tours to Israel, the next one is October 16-25, 2022. Orna also has regular classes online and in person.

Dr Bren Carlill is director of public affairs at the Zionist Federation of Australia. He has worked in federal parliament, DFAT and Home Affairs, where he wrote reports on Middle Eastern human rights and security trends. His book focuses on the intractability of the Israeli–Palestinian dispute.

Rabbanit Ellyse spends her days as a children’s lawyer for Legal Aid and her nights learning and teaching Torah. She was the first woman in Australia to receive smicha (ordination) in Jerusalem in 2019. She is passionate about enabling wide access to the beauty of Jewish tradition.

Joel Lazar is the CEO of Jewish Climate Network

Joel is a powerful storyteller, voracious inquirer, thoughtful collaborator, strategic decision-maker and passionate mentor. Joel's skills and experience are diverse, spanning commercial law, educational program design, Jewish youth leadership, facilitation and scriptwriting.

Joel’s passion for Judaism runs deep. He was born and raised in the Melbourne Jewish community and has held various leadership positions in Jewish youth movements and synagogues. Joel's commitment to social justice in a Jewish context culminated in him receiving the Ron Castan Young Humanitarian Award in 2019. Above all, Joel firmly believes that the Australian Jewish community has a key role to play in addressing the impacts of climate change that are now unfolding, while also enjoying the social and economic benefits now flowing to those who are taking swift and effective action.

Ernie Gruner is Australia's leading klezmer violinist. Following overseas study including lessons with Alicia Svigals, he has played and taught klezmer around Australia. In 2020 he was one of 35 violinists around the world invited to participate in the Beregovsky project recording and discussing recently discovered Jewish music in Ukraine

Jarod is a 28 year old leader in the Melbourne Jewish community. Last year he won the Bnei Brith/JNF Jewish Changemaker award for Leadership his commitment to LGBT support and inclusion within our great tradition. He works at Jewish Care to help disadvantaged Jews find stable employment.

Emeritus Rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne and formerly Professorial Fellow at the ACU, I've often presented at Limmud. I have a great interest in modern Jewish thought, especially traditional Jewish thinkers with original ideas. Several of Joseph Soloveitchik's students fall into this category.

Leon Sterling is a Computer Science academic with a long standing interest in Jewish issues. He has had many fruitful discussions with Geoff on Jewish v Christian perspectives of Helenistic Judaism and early Christinaity. They previously co-presented at LimmudOz on the topic 'Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity from 70-200 CE. Leon is a long-standing member at Kedem in Melbourne.

Researcher, PHD candidate in Haifa Uni, passionate about climate change and education.

Judy Singer coined the term Neurodiversity to call for a “Politics of Neurodiversity” in a 1998 Sociology thesis at UTS (Sydney). The Neurodiversity Movement is now a global phenomenon, and its principles are increasingly part of policy in both the private sector and civil society.

Judy has presented widely on the topic to universities, corporations and non-profits. The most significant uptake of neurodiversity inclusion has been in the Northern Hemisphere but is gaining momentum in Australia.

Judy and her Shoah survivor parents arrived in Australia in 1958 as refugees from Hungary. She has served as a Deputy at the NSWJBD and is a member of Sydney’s Inner West Chavurah, where she was a part of the group mandated to deflect Leichhardt and Marrickville Council’s divisive anti-Israel resolutions into a win-win situation for both Israelis and Palestinians

Dr Bambi Rakhel Ward has a PhD in creative writing with a special interest in writing memoir and identity based secrets. She also has a background in oral history, medical education and general practice.

Scholar of Kabbalah

Lecturer at ACJC Monash

Author of books

Drinker of Shiraz

Grumpy in shul

I present a radio programs, 94.1FM Downtown, a community station in Box Hill, i'd like to present PROJECT Camelia – a musical which explores the extraordinary life and times of the enigmatic actress Camelia (real name Lilian Cohen) in 1950s Egypt, & her relationship with King Farouk.

Josh is a 2017 Mount Scopus graduate, currently studying International Relations and History at Monash University. He is also a freelance writer, primarily focusing on Israeli and Jewish issues, and has written for various Australian, Israeli and American news outlets which tackle issues such as antisemitism, Israel advocacy, informal Jewish education and more.

Joey is a 2019 Yavneh graduate. He is currently studying Law and Politics at ACU, and is Chairperson for the AZYC of Victoria. He is also a staffer for Josh Burns, Member for Macnamara, and Vice President of the St Patrick Jewish Students Society.

Deborah Stone (facilitator) is Editor-in-Chief of Plus61J Media. She has more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, including as a reporter and feature writer on The Age and The Australian. She is a former Editor of the Australian Jewish News Editor and ArtsHub.

From fervently orthodox to proudly secular, Havi has undergone a 20+ year journey reshaping her Jewish identity. She is a mother of two and a pharmacist by profession, but an ‘amateur enthusiast’ for all things Biblical. Havi enjoys sharing her renewed insights of Tanach through a literary and sociological lens.

Rana Al Qaimari is the Education Programme Manager at EcoPeace Middle East, Palestine Office. Originally from Ramallah, Palestine, Qaimari holds an MA from Birzeit University in Water Science and Technology. Qaimari has fifteen years of professional experience in education directly related to water and environmental education.

Viva Hammer is partner in a major Washington law firm where she advises on political strategy and international tax policy. Her book Child Desire interviews mothers of large families to shed light on why women do - and increasingly don't - have children nowadays. Viva has launched and leads The Tongue Set Free, a program to empower immigrants to write their migration stories. www.vivahammer.com

Galit is a 24 year old survivor of familial child sexual abuse. Through her experiences, she has embarked on a path of healing. She is excited to be able to share her insights with the community on a topic that has not yet been explored enough.

Loren Gaddie is an educator with a deep love of the Hebrew language and a lifelong interest in Linguistics. She teaches secondary school students, lectures at Melbourne University and tutors adult Hebrew.

Unimaginable life experiences have led her to develop a profound interest in the area of trauma and post traumatic growth.

Evelyn was a founding member of the APG at the Pram Factory. She has been nominated and won awards for theatre and film. Since 2018 she has been co artistic director of the Kadimah Yiddish Theatre (Pictured here left to right: Nicholas Jaquinot (Avigdor), Jana Zvedeniuk (Yentl/Anshl), Evelyn Krape (Yeytser Ho’re/The Evil Inclination). Photo Credit: Jeff Busby.

Alex Kats has been a volunteer in the Jewish community for many years. Currently he is Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews, a board member of March of the Living Australia, and a long term volunteer with Jewish Care. He is also a member of numerous interfaith and multicultural committees. He does all this voluntarily, whilst professionally he is a writer for a public sector consultancy.

Dann Barber’s work spans costumes and set design across plays, musicals and operas. In 2021 he designed the set and costume for The Mermaids (La Mama), Rent the Musical (Sydney Opera House), Chess the Musical (Regent Theatre), Sleeping Beauty (Australian Ballet) and Shakespeare in Love (MTC). Dann won the Green Room award for Best Design for Kadimah Yiddish Theatre’s The Ghetto Cabaret in 2020.

Director Gary Abrahams’ recent credits include Admissions, Buyer and Cellar (MTC), Yentl, Ghetto Cabaret (Kadimah Yiddish Theatre), Iphigenia in Splott, Pomona (Red Stitch), Hand to God, Bad Jews, You’re a good Man Charlie Brown (Vass Theatre Group), and 33 Variations, Angels in America, Resident Alien (Cameron Lukey Productions). He is a Green Room Award winner and multiple nominee for his directing, playwriting and dramaturgy work.

My name is Daniel and I’m a twenty three year old singer/songwriter. I grew up here in Melbourne before moving to Perth to study music at the Western Australian Academy of performing arts. Whilst in Perth, I was lucky enough to have many opportunities to experience my Judaism through music. I believe that music is an integral part of Judaism, and for me, Judaism is an integral part of music.

Rita Satch is fast becoming an unforgettable presence in Australia’s music scene. Brought up on jazz and soul greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Nina Simone, Rita has a powerful voice that transcends time. Satch has toured Australia and the world, with some of her notable performances include Glastonbury Festival (UK), Cheltenham Jazz Festival (UK), St Kilda Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival & Kensington Palace (UK). A finalist in the prestigious 2020 National Jazz Awards, Rita has released 2 EP’s and has received accolades for her songwriting (winner of Unsigned Only Music competition (2015), finalist in the International Songwriting Competition (2015). Rita frequently collaborates with some of Australia's leading musicians, including Barney McAll (Sia, Gary Bartz, Daniel Merriweather), who featured her on his releases "Sweet Water”, "An Extra Celestial Christmas” & most recent 2022 record 'Precious Energy’. She is currently working on her debut full length album, due to be released in 2023. "Soulful vocals with a jazz-tinged charm, there's a defiantly modern approach at play here." - Clash Magazine. “Satch’s vocal tone is pure magic, like drowning in honey” - Music Trust

Yuval Ashkar is a composer, oud player, percussionist and a vocalist, trained under master oud players Yair Dalal and Ghassan Harb. Yuval synthesises Turkish, Iraqi, Egyptian and Maghrebi influences into his oud playing, creating a distinctive style. With ancestry in Afghanistan, Iraq and Europe, he was born in Israel to an accomplished musical father; a master trumpet who performed with Israeli orchestras worldwide.

Yuval has been performing with his three-piece Alwan for over a decade. Formed in 2008 with Phil Carroll and Matt Stonehouse Alwan has supported the Turkish musician Mercan DeDe at the Melbourne Art Center and was featured in the Aria Award winning Australian film ‘Ali’s Wedding’. Alwan was been featured at the National Gallery of Victoria’s innaugural Triennial Exhibition, playing in Moroccan artist Hassan Hajaj’s Noss Noss tea house.

Yuval has also performed regularly with his group Zourouna, a collaboration of traditional Greek, Turkish, Lebanese and Sephardic music and original compositions. Zourouna have performed nationally and internationally, including as part of the 2018 Melbourne Rembetiko Festival, at the Recital Center.

Individually, Yuval featured in the Baroque trio Latitude 37’s second album, ‘Empires’, with whom he toured around Victoria and Tasmania. For the past three years He has also performed at the annual ‘Under the Olive Tree’ at the Melbourne Immigration Museum, a concert of Arabic and Jewish music. Yuval has played in Istanbul alongside Ladino singer Yasmin Levi.

For many years, Yuval was based in Byron Bay, where he worked with a range of excellent musicians from a variety of musical backgrounds including Jazz, classical, flamenco, Indian and African traditions such as Cleis Pearce, Greg Sheehan, Greg Lyons, The Romaniacs, Kurdish Earth, Anthony Coleman, Flamenco Fire and Latitude 37. During his time based in Byron Bay, Yuval formed the contemporary Middle Eastern trio Camoon with Guy Madigan and Cleis Pierce, which performed perform in many festivals around Australia such as Woodford festival, Bellingen Global Carnival and Canberra National Folk Festival.

Yuval runs workshops for Middle Eastern singing, percussion and oud. His wife Ayelet is an accomplished belly dancer.

Nina Bassat AM is a retired lawyer who has served extensively as a Jewish communal leader, including as President of the ECAJ and JCCV, as a Board Member of the Conference on Jewish Material Blaim against Germany and as a representative of the World Jewish Congress.

Freydi Mrocki is a Melbourne-born Yiddishist, performer and teacher conducting a life-long love affair with kartofl (potatoes).

Yurele Tomi Kalinski is a Melbourne-born pianist, performer and teacher conducting a life-long love affair with mameloshn.

Jonathan has been a Progressive Rabbi since 1988, heavily involved with environmental care as a deeply Jewish responsibility. He moved from London to the Leo Baeck Centre in 2003 and helped establish JECO (now JCN). He has also been involved with interfaith, and edited the new generation of Progressive liturgy.

Britt has an extensive and distinguished career in the NSW State public sector, growing into senior leadership roles in multiple critical operational environments where the safety of her colleagues and the general public is paramount. Beginning life in an incredibly religious household, Britt brings a unique Jewish perspective that is fresh and invigorating. With a focus on improving mental health in the workplace and an ability to use humour to diffuse dangerous but interesting situations, she encourages those around her to better themselves every moment. This year Britt is leading Sydney’s Yom Limmud team as Festival Chair and is proud of the capability and knowledge of her team and the dedication shown by the Limmud Community worldwide.

Mandi Katz is a Melbourne-based governance professional in the financial services industry by day, and a Jewish community activist the rest of the time

Bram Presser is a semi-reformed punk rocker, recovering academic, lapsed criminal lawyer and two-time cartoon character. For ten years he fronted the internationally-acclaimed punk band, Yidcore, before turning to writing. His debut novel, The Book of Dirt, won the National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction (USA), the Voss Literary Prize (Aus) and three prizes in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Yoni Paluch is CEO of the Melbourne Jewish Charity Fund.

The Melbourne Jewish Charity Fund is a non-partisan organisation committed to supporting all members of the Melbourne Jewish community by working directly with those in-need, to improve life opportunities, reduce homelessness, vulnerability and restore dignity into people's lives.

Shlomo Nathanson was born and raised in the US. He married his wife Rivki in 2008 and moved to Australia. From a very young age Shlomo has been passionate about making a difference in the Jewish community, and was actively involved in various outreach activities.

In 2010 Shlomo and Rivki opened the Chabad Jewish Community Centre in Port Melbourne, an area that until then had no Jewish infrastructure. This community centre continues to thrive and provides a strong sense of community to its members.

Upon encountering many local Jews experiencing social isolation and poverty, Shlomo was driven to find a solution and address this need. In 2012 Shlomo & Rivki started C Care. C Care began as a small grassroots organisation, distributing food once a month to 100 local Jews. It has since grown into a leading community organisation addressing social isolation and food insecurity. C Care now services over 1400 individuals each week, and has a strong, vibrant community of dedicated volunteers.

In 2015 Shlomo joined the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation as assistant Rabbi, and in 2020 became chief minister. In his role at MHC Shlomo is dedicated to connecting with members and providing a space for people to come and connect with their Judaism in a way that feels meaningful to them.

Underlying all Shlomo’s work in his various roles of Rabbi at MHC, CJCC and Director of C Care – is a deep care for each individual that he encounters, and a passion and commitment to Jewish community.

Shlomo & Rivki are blessed with a beautiful family of 5 children

Jessica Mond is a passionate vocalist and performer and has over 15 years experience in her field. She is a graduate of Box Hill Institute with a Bachelor of Applied Music Performance as a vocalist and currently works as a vocal teacher. Jessica’s accolades include winning overall as a contemporary vocalist in the Jewish Youth Music Eisteddfod adjudicated by Douglas Heywood (Choral Conductor for Carols by Candlelight), and winning the Australian Stephen Sondheim Award adjudicated by Josh Piterman (Phantom in Phantom of the Opera Australia) and Anthony Costanzo (Wicked - Australian Tour). Jessica has performed in numerous productions including “Legally Blonde The Musical” (Lumina Theatre Company) as Paulette, “Wizard Of Oz” (NOVA Music Theatre) as a featured singer and many more. Jessica iscurrently studying at Associated Studios Australia in the Triple Threat Musical Theatre course and will continue her studies in London this year.

Practiced as a solicitor for 6 years 1979 - 1985. Practiced at the bar since 1985 in most jurisdictions, Masters and Practice Courts, causes in County Courts and Supreme Courts, Trials in Magistrates Court and VCAT. Mediations both as advocate and mediator. Draw and settle all court documentation.

I am interested in remote Jewish communities from all over the world and have had the opportunity to visit those in both Uganda and Kenya and am hoping to visit the Gogodala people in Papua New Guiniea early next year. Its amazing what obscure locations you can find Jewish life

Lidia Thorpe is a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung mother, grandmother, activist, and politician. She is an Australian Greens Senator for Victoria, and Federal Greens spokesperson for First Nations, the Republic, and Sport. Lidia was the first Aboriginal Senator to represent Victoria.

Linda Burney is the Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Member for Barton. Appointed to the Cabinet by Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese in May 2022, Linda has the important task of implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart, including responsibility for a referendum to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament.

A proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, Linda was the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW Parliament and the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the House of Representatives.

During her First Speech to Parliament, Linda stated: "I was born at a time when the Australian Government knew how many sheep there were but not how many Aboriginal people. I was 10 years old before the 1967 referendum fixed that.”

Dedicated to social justice and Indigenous rights, Linda was one of the first Aboriginal students to graduate from Mitchell College, now known as Charles Sturt University, with a teaching degree in 1978.

After beginning her career as a teacher in western Sydney, Linda later went on to be appointed Director General of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Charles Sturt University in 2002.

Prior to entering Federal politics, Linda served 14 years in NSW Parliament as the Member for Canterbury and held a number of senior portfolios including Family Community Services.

At a Federal level Linda has been the Shadow Minister for Human Services, Shadow Minister for Preventing Family Violence and Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services.

Linda has also held senior positions in the non-government sector and served on a number of Boards including SBS, the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, and the NSW Board of Studies.