2015 Presenters

Here is a snapshot of some of the presenters at LimmudVan ’15. Click on the Schedule button for full details on all the presenters and their sessions.

View large glass mosaics by award-winning artist Lilian Broca and learn her process of creating two biblical series, Queen Esther and Judith, with their distinct styles.

Discuss practical and spiritual paths to exploring Shmitta (a sabbatical on the land) with Kabbalah expert David Seidenberg, environmentalist Noam Dolgin, Jewish environmental educator Nili Simhai, urban farming advocate Ilana Labow and specialist in ecological economics Michael Barkusky.

Discover the role of water in religious experience with an expert in rabbinic literature Tracy Ames.

Create a new paradigm of aging filled with meaning, dignity and joy with spiritual director and artist Annie Klein.

Compare the account of Creation in the Torah with the latest advances in science on the origins of the universe with CEO of Canada’s leading aerospace company Daniel Friedmann.

Decode Shakespeare and his portrayal of Shylock with academic Errol Durbach.

Travel the world to check out Jewish museums, synagogues and cemeteries on five continents with architect Michael Geller.

Hum along with musician Gordon Cherry as he talks about the Jewish themes in Leonard Bernstein’s music.

Expose yourself to both sides of the Israel-Palestine situation with conflict transformation specialist Rob Hershorn.

Track the development of the Jewish people during the first 50 days after leaving Egypt with internationally renowned community builder Yoni Gordis.

Understand the power dynamics of divorce in Jewish and Israeli law with Israeli lawyer and scholar Yaffa Epstein.

Stand up for Jewish values in discussions on Israel, religious pluralism, military service, asylum seekers and more with activist Aron Rosenberg.

Figure out how to retain your Jewish identity while jumping on the latest food trends with food blogger Julia Schertzer and her sister Leora.

Reconnect with the Messiah through Jewish texts with Beth Israel Rabbi Jonathan Infeld.

Tour the Jewish communities of historic Gastown and Strathcona with Michael Schwartz of the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC.

Listen in on a theological debate between Martin Buber and Franz Rosenweig with commentary by Beth Tikvah Rabbi Howard Siegel.

Analyze accounts of Jewish settlement in western Canada in the first half of the 20^th century with noted historian Richard Menkis.

Meet prominent Jewish composers and singers in the world of opera and discover opera stories with Jewish content with opera buff John Silver.

Consider the parallel trends of feminism in Orthodox Judaism and in Muslim circles with Rabbi Oren Steinitz

Uncover the secrets behind the Jewish section at Mountain View cemetery from Shirley Barnett, whose grandfather was buried there.

Examine the poetic aspects of Tehilim (Book of Psalms) with Or Shalom Rabbi Louis Sutker.

Delve into the meaning of the 16^th century mystical poem Yedid Nefesh that is sung in synagogue on Fright nights and Saturday afternoons with Beth Israel cantor Lawrence Szenes-Strauss.

Smile, chuckle and laugh amid your tears as you review the script for the play “17 Stories” staged by Bema Productions with director Zelda Dean.

Discuss the Jewish response to reintegration of former prisoners into society with prison chaplain Mercy Dina-Hasida.

Find out the relevance of stamp collecting in your life as a Jew with collector and postal historian Ed Kroft.

Explore the traditions, beliefs and experiences in common among Jews and indigenous people with a mixed-blood Jewish and Ojibwe academic Mimi Gellman.

Experience storytelling through exercise, visualization and sharing tales with Jewish storyteller, educator and preacher Shoshana Litman.

Speculate about the relationship between the biblical account of the 10 plagues and modern scientific philosophy with evolutionary biology researcher Marc Mangel.

Talk about the different ways in which Jewish survivors in Germany and Jews in North America lived in the aftermath of the Shoah with historian Benjamin Baader.

Master the essentials of writing in Hebrew within three lessons after learning with innovative thinker Jonathan Orr-Stav.

Reach out and connect through a historic Torah with a Czech Jewish community that was wiped out during the Holocaust with Temple Sholom president David Schwartz.

Follow your nose to explore the iconic scents of Israel with perfumer Ayela Moriel.

Thank comic Adam Growe for revealing how to write the ultimate thank-you speech that will be meaningful and entertaining.

Check out some of the most radical Kabbbalists with Rabbi David Seidenberg to find out whether human beings are the only creatures created in the image of God.