Comments on: Limmud Oz meets Appetite for Diversity

By: ariel

ariel — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:20:20 +0000

Hi rachsd,

I’m by no means advocating a roof body to tell everyone what to do. Just suggesting a roof “custodian” or “guidance council” to point the organising committee in the right direction and to bounce ideas. It would help to keep the style of the event somewhat even across states…

By: rachsd

rachsd — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:36:35 +0000

Hi ariel,

I don’t think that a roof body would help – it would probably just make it less enticing to volunteer if you were being told what to do by a roof body. There may also be different financial contrainsts for the Sydney event compared to the Melbourne event. For example if there is a venue in Sydney that is available at a much cheaper price. But it does sound as though there might be some lessons for the Melbourne team in the Sydney Limmud.

By: ariel

ariel — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:13:32 +0000

I thought it a good idea to mention that I’m on the organising committee for the innaugural Limmud-Fest in NSW in November.

Most of us are between the ages of 20 – 35 so hopefully the younger generation will be inspired to attend as we have some great ideas being programmed.

I will also be at Yom Limmud this Sunday and have taken advantage of the lower price for younger people.

Samo points out some very relevant issues. One which has come up in our organising Limmud-Fest is that Limmud-Oz is an independent entity, run by whomever happens to be organising it each year. It appears that the Sydney organisers are much younger and dynamic than Melbourne, from what you’ve all said. Perhaps there’s a need to have roof advising committee overseeing the organising committee each year, just as a guide. Too much decentralisation seems to be leading to erratic pricing and programming…

By: Sol Salbe

Sol Salbe — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:27:04 +0000

Some responses -
Ariel: Even though I am not aware of the letters to which you are referring I think an article from somebody from my vantage point elaborating on the whole range of views within the Jewish community would be an excellent idea.
Frosh: No, Ms Porzsolt was to busy organising and explaining to participate. For my part I would think that disparaging personal comments about individual members of our community do not enhance our understanding of anything. On this I am with the JCCV plenum’s recent resolution. Let’s stick to discussing ideas.
Mandi: Those who went to listen to a Knesset Member who regards Netanyahu’s endorsement of the two-state solution as a sellout were, like in every other session, a self-selected audience. I am not surprised at the audience enthusiastic embrace of her and her ideas. I thought that the audience reaction in the broader-based “Jew media” session to Ant Frosh’s comments was quite telling. They seemed to accept that given the same article supporters of side A thought that it was biased in favour of side B and vice versa. They were not wedded to their outlook. Having heard so many Palestinians and their supporters complain about the pro-Israeli bias of the Age, I think it was spot-on observation.
The more important , but less specific, observation to be made is a time-perspective one. Having been involved directly as a writer and observer attending demonstrations, teach-ins etc for over 40 years I see the trends as well as the current snapshot. We may have a long way to go but even compared to LimmudOz in 2004 and 2006 the trend is towards increased diversity.

By: samo

samo — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:55:40 +0000

There is a yom limmud in Sydney this coming weekend (with many of the best speakers that featured at limmud oz melb)
I’m happy to report that if you are under 25 you pay $25
and if you are under 35 you pay $35.
That is one way of enticing the younger generations to attend.
Other ways include:
- Changing the date of limmud oz so that it doesn’t fall during university exams.
- Including some young adults on the planning committee.
- Providing an incentive program whereby if you volunteer for 2 hours you get the rest of the day free.
I thought limmud was great, but we have a long way to go. The potential is huge!!
The limmud UK has a policy of changing the Conference Chairperson every year. This ensure the programming is dynamic, the leadership is flexible and fresh, and the energy is high. (they obviously get guidance and support from guys like Clive Lawton and Andrew Gilbert).
I think we need a similar policy in aus.

By: frosh

frosh — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:29:27 +0000

Hi Mandi,

That’s an interesting question you pose as to whether we are becoming more Anglo-Saxon in our sensibilities. Have you noticed an increase in the number of Jews who part without saying goodbye?

With regard to the “Jew Media” panel, as one of the organisers of that panel, I had hoped that there would be more discussion of how Australian Jews are portrayed in the Australian media (e.g. the Einfeld trial), however, it seemed that the audience primarily asked questions about the media coverage of Israel. Fair enough, as it was billed as an audience driven session.

By: Mandi

Mandi — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:08:01 +0000

Good piece Sol – great topic. I hope you’re right that our community is developing an appetite for diversity . But I read responses to some of the sessions you mention a little differently to you.
Mark Baker’s skillfully handled dialogue with Samah Sabawi and Maher Mughrabi was indeed given a respectful stage – even though it wasn’t easy for many (including me) to hear all that was said . I sensed an itch in the room to rebut, and the unallowed ‘yes buts’ in the air was palpable . There were grumbles after, that people didn’t get the chance to make their points. Not sure that everybody appreciated the difference between a dialogue and a debate . I also attended the Hatovaley session on the Diaspora and was a little gobsmacked that it was 80% of the way through before somebody expressed frustration at her assumption that everyone in the room agreed with her vision that the ways for Jews to engage meaningfully with Israel was to give money and act as hasbara agents for Israel – no matter what their political views. There was a real appetite for what she had to say – one attendee suggested that Tel Aviv academics who advocated a boycott of Israeli products be sacked. To be fair, Hatovaley defended the importance of academic freedom but I half expected many in the room to call for a beheading of said academics! And the Jew Media session – again some diversity but the naivete of the outrage that “the community” met with The Age, and yet nothing has changed is almost amusing – and I sensed it as the dominant view in the room. I don’t enjoy The Age’s coverage of Israel too much, and I think Leunig is a hatemonger - which surprisingly didn’t come up – but the expectation that “the community” has the right to make demands about a newspaper’s editorial position is just ridiculous. But again, people did listen respectfully to Gawenda telling them things I don’t think all wanted to hear. Maybe Jews are just becoming more Anglo- Saxon in our sensibilities.
Our community does not speak in one voice but I’m not convinced that the appetite for diversity is strong enough to make a mark on our institutionalised forms of expression. But as they say in Israel, appetite comes with eating – I think Limmud Oz has whet the appetites of many for more content and more difference.

By: frosh

frosh — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:40:11 +0000

Hi Sol,

I enjoyed reading your guide/review to Limmud Oz.

However, I’m curious about Ms Porzsolt’s exercise, and how no one was willing to position themselves as anti-Israel.

Did Ms Porzsolt take part in this exercise herself?

Some time ago, she added me to her mailing list (for some unknown reason). Based on the nature of the frequent emails I receive from her, I would have thought that to represent herself on this continuum, she’d have to stand somewhere out in the car park, in hand-holding distance from Sheikh Hilaly.

By: ariel

ariel — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:30:11 +0000

Sol,

Thanks for the summary of Limmud-Oz, it sounds good.

Based on your experiences and observations, I urge you as a journalist to write an article for SMH/The Age countering the abhorrent claims appearing the letters pages over the last few days accusing Jews of speaking with one voice, having more loyalty to Israel than Australia (whatever that’s supposed to mean; I’ll consider it more when New Zealanders in Australia start supporting the Wallabies) and accusing us of being supremacists.

Thanks.