Limmud eFestival

Bob Fosse’s Extraordinary Film Version of Cabaret is filled with symbolic and thematic moments that are easy to miss but not hard to analyze. Presenter David Benkof will examine the subtext of four numbers written by the Jewish songwriting team of Kander & Ebb: "Wilkommen," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," "If You Could See Her," and "Cabaret." Lots to learn for longtime fans and newbies alike.

The Torah is called a song.  We're exhorted to "write our own Torah".  We have 50 minutes to write our own Torah, a song! In addition to learning a bit of Torah text, we will explore techniques that inspire creative thinking and songwriting, learn a bit about each other, and make some great connections to the text and eahc other.  This is for you whether you've never written a song or you're a pro songwriter.  Join us for some fun!

A conversation about pop culture, craft, and creativity today. Join Peabody award-winning co-creator of Miles Morales and Jessica Jones, and the current writer of Superman for a free-flowing discussion that will focus on creating better worlds for our future and what it’s like to create characters for others to share. A lively and fun Q and A and presentation.

While Jews in Hollywood used to downplay their Jewishness, today’s Jewish writers are reclaiming and reshaping Jewish identity on-screen. #TVGoneJewy can be overt or subtle, dramatic or comedic, shocking or sincere, and sometimes is more “Jewy” or “Jew-ish” than traditionally Jewish. And audience reaction to this increase in Jewish representation is sometimes ecstatic, sometimes critical. So what do we look for in Jewish representation on TV? We’ll look at clips from TV shows (and maybe a movie or two) and talk about how Jewish identity is being portrayed on TV and in the world.

Leonard Cohen was a fellow traveller for so many of us and a true Canadian icon. In a tribute to Cohen’s six decade career we will explore his background, look at the religious aspect of the man and see some slides and listen to his songs and poems.

From Katz’s Deli in New York, to Cantor’s In Los Angeles, have you ever wondered why pickles are served at these traditional Jewish restaurants and what their connection is to Judaism? Did you know that pickle juice is referenced in the Talmud, and cucumbers are mentioned twice in the Torah (spoiler alert: in Numbers and Isaiah). Here’s where you will find those answers!!

The history of pickles goes back more than 3000 years, and in this class you will learn about the historical connection of pickles to our European ancestors, and their subsequent bringing them to North America. Our guide on this briney journey Avram, will not only share with us the history of pickles, he will also teach us the “how-to” of pickle-making. He will show us how to make a proper brine in the Jewish tradition, a proportioned mixture of salt and water essential for the pickling process. You’ll be instructed on how to recognize the use of various spices to create a specific flavor profile, the proper technique for cutting the cucumbers, and the pickling process itself.

It's time for you to make your own homemade pickles for your next holiday party.

How do we tell the story of our life? Join Hollywood producer Howard Rosenman for a personal narrative that begins in Jerusalem’s Old City and ends with beloved films like Call Me By Your Name and Father of the Bride. How do Rosenman’s personal experiences influence the stories he tells on screen, and how can you pitch your own personal narratives?

Join Debbie Kornberg for a live cooking class where you are in your kitchen and Debbie is in hers and together you cook together in real time. Learn how to cook with spices, discover some new recipes, pick up a few new cooking tips and the best part is you will have a complete meal ready to serve by the end of the class. Menu includes: Za’atar Baked Salmon with Tzatziki Dip, Pistachio Rice and Roasted Vegetables. This course includes 30 minutes of prep time where we will chop, dice and prep all of our ingredients together followed by a one hour live cooking class. Total class time is 1.5 hrs.