Program Schedule
Friday Afternoon |
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2:30 – 5:30 PM |
REGISTRATION OPENS |
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3:30 – 5:00 PM |
Camp Ramah-USY For Ages 4-12 | |
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3:00 – 3:55 PM |
The Fugu Plan: The Heroic Escape to China and Japan During the Holocaust | Rabbi Marvin Tokayer |
| Poetry Slam | Andrew Lustig | |
| For the Love of God and Man: Reclaiming the Jewish Ways With the Earth | Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin | |
| People of the Image: How Jews made art in spite of the Second Commandment—and Why it Matters | Dr. Marc Michael Epstein | |
| Jewelry making/craft project | TBD | |
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4:00-5:00 PM |
The Truth About Europe | Clive Lawton |
| It Offends Me as a Comedian: Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Jewishness | Dr. Jeremy Dauber | |
| Alexander the Great and Women Warriors of Africa | Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson | |
| Jewish Women and Stereotypes | Vanessa Hidary | |
| Preparing for Shabbat with Your Kids | Maxine Handelman and Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal | |
5:30 – 5:45 PM |
Candle lighting | |
Friday Evening |
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5:45 – 6:45 PM |
5 Choices of Services: |
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Rabbi Felipe Goodman, and Kol Rinah Choir with Cantor David Propis |
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Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann and Mishkan Chicago |
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Rabbi Ron Shulman, Dale Schatz, Duvid Swirsky, and Mike Stein |
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Rabbi David Ingber and Romemu |
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Yehuda Solomon |
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7:00 – 8:25 PM |
Shabbat Dinner |
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8:00 – 8:30 PM |
PJ Family Laila Tov Session | Maxine Handelman and Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal |
Friday Night |
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8:30 – 9:30 PM |
Jewish history Was a Ball! A study of the good times Jews have had through history | Clive Lawton |
| Jewish Law Within the Conservative Movement: Theory and Practice | Rabbi Elliot Dorff | |
| TBD | Rabbi Charles Savenor | |
| Shabbat Song Session | Daniel Novick and Josh Warshawsky | |
| Time and Place: Preparing for Shemittah, the recurring sabbatical year. | Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin | |
| People of the [Comic] Book: Jews and Graphic Novels (USY only) | Dr. Jeremy Dauber | |
| Harry Potter and the Jewish Menagerie (USY only) | Dr. Marc Michael Epstein | |
| A Conversation about Masorti Halacha Today (Noam only) | Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson and Rabbi Joel Roth | |
9:30 – 10:00 PM |
Tisch | Shabbat singing with Kol Rinah & musicians in residence (a cappella) |
Friday Late Night Sessions |
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10:00 – 10:45 PM |
My Father’s Name is Asher Lev: Reflections on Art and “Ultra-Orthodoxy” | Dr. Marc Michael Epstein |
| Spoken Word & NYC Stories | Vanessa Hidary | |
| My Extraordinary Jewish Journey | Agi Veto | |
| Life’s Lessons from my son with autism | Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson | |
| PrayerSong | Amy Robinson & Kol Rinah | |
| Topic TBD | Rabbi Felipe Goodman | |
| Leading from the Four Corners of the Earth (USY/Noam only) | Rabbi David Levy | |
11:00 – 11:45 PM |
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| Reflection Session (Noam only) | ||
| USY & Noam – Late Night Shmooze with Rabbi Bradley Artson | Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson | |
schedule is subject to change |
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Shabbat Early Morning |
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7:30 – 9:30 AM |
Shabbat Morning Breakfast | |
8:00 – 8:45 AM |
Torah Study | Rabbi Paul Drazen |
8:30 – 9:00 AM |
Preparing for Prayer Through Meditation | Rabbi K’vod Wieder |
9:00 – 10:30 AM |
Camp Ramah-USY For Ages 4-12 | |
Shabbat Morning |
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9:00 – 11:30 AM |
5 Choices of Services: |
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Rabbi Felipe Goodman, and Kol Rinah Choir with Cantor David Propis |
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Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann, and Mishkan Chicago |
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Rabbi Ron Shulman, Dale Schatz, Duvid Swirsky, Mike Stein |
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Rabbi David Ingber and Romemu |
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Yehuda Solomon |
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10:30-11:30 AM |
Teaching Liberal Values via Talmud: Can it Really Be Done? | Agi Veto |
10:30 – 11:30 AM |
Tot Shabbat | Maxine Handelman and Josh Warshawsky |
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11:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
Kiddush and Shabbat Lunch | |
Shabbat Early Afternoon |
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1:00 – 6:00 PM |
Camp Ramah-USY for Ages 4-12 | |
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1:00 PM – 2:00 PM |
Why “spirituality” is a distraction | Clive Lawton |
| Everything You Wanted to Know About Jewish Monsters But Were Afraid to Ask: Jewish Horror, Through the Ages | Dr. Jeremy Dauber | |
| These are few of our favorite Shabbat morning music songs | Dale Schatz and Mike Stein | |
| The Power of Words and Spoken Word & NYC Stories (USY and Noam only) | Vanessa Hidary and Andrew Lustig | |
| What Does It Mean to be a Halakhic Movement? | Rabbi Joel Roth | |
| And You Shall Be a Blessing: The Journey of Parenthood | Maxine Handelman and Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal | |
2:00 – 3:00 PM |
Break | |
Shabbat Late Afternoon |
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3:00 – 4:00 PM |
“Sova, Genug, Dai!”: ‘Enoughness’ as a way to happiness, fulfillment, and the answer to our economic and environmental crises” | Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin |
| Unknown Jewish Heroes of the Far East: Two Gun Cohen, Mao’s Jewish Doctor, the Jewish Gandhi, Singapore’s Jewish Prime Minister | Rabbi Marvin Tokayer | |
| Jewish Theology Within the Conservative Movement | Rabbi Elliot Dorff | |
| What Does Jewish Look Like to You? | Vanessa Hidary | |
| Beit Midrash: Rabbi Hillel, Rabbi Jesus and The Impossible Commandment of Love | Dr. Marc Michael Epstein | |
| Chazzanut Reinvented | Hazzan David Propis | |
| USY Leadership Sessions | ||
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4:00 – 5:00 PM |
Pepper, Silk and Ivory – The Exotic Jews of China, Japan and India | Rabbi Marvin Tokayer |
| The People of the (Comic) Book: Jews and Graphic Novels | Dr. Jeremy Dauber | |
| TBD | Rabbi David Ingber | |
| The Men’s Club Revisited: What Makes A Man for the Rabbis? | Agi Veto | |
| What Are We Doing When We Pray? | Rabbi Bradley Artson | |
| Classical Patterns for Change Within Halakhah | Rabbi Joel Roth | |
| Shabbat Afternoon Jam: Ruach | Josh Warshawsky and Daniel Novick | |
| Should We Be Afraid? An Attempt at Modern Prophecy (USY only) | Clive Lawton | |
| Tefilla as a Vehicle for Engagement and Building Community (Noam only) | Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann | |
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5:00 – 5:45 PM |
Mincha | |
| For You, Silence is Praise: Embodying Shabbat Through Meditation | Rabbi K’vod Wieder | |
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5:45-6:45 PM |
Seudah Shlisheet | |
6:45 – 7:30 PM |
Ma’ariv, Havdallah and Ice Cream Party | |
Motzaei Shabbat |
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8:00 – 9:45 PM |
Centennial Concert: Moshav Band with Dale Schatz, Cantors David Propis and Mike Stein; Special Guest: Vanessa Hidary | |
6:30 – 10:00 PM |
Camp Ramah-USY For Ages 4-12 | |
10:00 – 11:00 PM |
Calendars and Cultures | Clive Lawton |
| CD signing | Moshav Band | |
| USY Board Meeting | ||
| PrayerSong | Amy Robinson | |
| Reflection Session (Noam only) | ||
schedule is subject to change |
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schedule is subject to change |
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Sunday Early Morning |
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7:00 – 9:00 AM |
Breakfast | |
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7:00 – 7:45 AM |
Shacharit Live | Daniel Novick and Josh Warshawsky |
| Other Minyanim TBD | ||
| D’var Torah | ||
7:45 – 8:00 AM |
Meet up for early morning walk | |
8:45 – 10:30 AM |
USCJ Board Meeting | |
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
Social Action Projects in Jewish Baltimore (includes special social action program for USY) | |
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Camp Ramah-USY for Ages 4-12 | |
9:00 AM |
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION OPENS |
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10:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
USCJ General Assembly of Kehillot Meeting | |
Sunday Morning |
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9:15 – 10:15 AM |
The Lost Tribes of Israel in China, Japan and India | Rabbi Marvin Tokayer |
| Harry Potter and the Jewish Menagerie | Dr. Marc Michael Epstein | |
| Poetry Workshop | Vanessa Hidary | |
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10:30 – 11:30 AM |
Should we be afraid? An Attempt at Modern Prophecy | Clive Lawton |
| Does God Really Care? – A Conversation about the Place of Theology in Halacha (Jewish Law) | Rabbis Elliot Dorff and Joel Roth | |
| The Remarkable Life – and Afterlife – of the Man Who Created Tevye: The Worlds of Sholem Aleichem | Dr. Jeremy Dauber | |
| Poetry Workshop | Andrew Lustig | |
| Happier Endings | Dr. Erica Brown | |
| Why Amazement Matters: Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Vision of Theology, Spirituality, and Ethics | Rabbi Shai Held | |
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11:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
Lunch on your own | |
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
Book Signings in Centennial Square
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1:00 PM – 3:30 PM |
Camp Ramah-USY for Ages 4-12 | |
Sunday, October 13 – Centennial Celebration Begins |
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1:00 – 3:15 PM |
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| Welcome | Dr. Jack Finkelstein and Margo Gold, Centennial Co-Chairs | |
| Let the Conversation Begin | Rabbi Steven Wernick | |
| The Meaning of this Moment | Chancellor Arnold Eisen | |
THE PERSONAL CONVERSATION:Exploring How Our Kehillot Give People a Sense of Meaning, Connection, and Sacred Purpose
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Keynote – Conversation StarterGive the People What You Want, But What Do They Want? |
Dr. Erica Brown | |
| Mincha | ||
3:15 – 3:30 PM |
Break | |
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3:30 – 4:30 PM |
Follow the Conversation: |
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mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Infinity Through Diapers: Parenting as a Spiritual Practice | Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg | |
| Conversation Lab #1 | Deborah Grayson Riegel | |
| Almighty, No Way! Loving the God You Already Know | Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson | |
| Jewish Men at the Crossroads | Myles Simpson and Art Spar | |
| Teaching Relationship Building | Rabbi Joshua Rabin | |
| Friends: The Forgotten Mourners | Rabbi Daniel Greyber | |
| How (Not) to Talk about God: Heschel and the Rambam in Conversation | Rabbi Shai Held | |
| 50 Shades of Growth: Engaging the Hearts and Souls of 20s & 30s | Rabbis Jeremy Fine and Aaron Weininger | |
| Tziyonut Masortit – Is our movement becoming more Zionist and closer to Israel? (Noam only) | Dr. David Breakstone and David Keren | |
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4:45 – 5:45 PM |
Follow the Conversation: |
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mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Inside Outside: Renewing Jewish Outreach | Debbie Albert; Rabbis Daniel Burg and Adam Greenwald; moderator: Rabbi Michael Knopf | |
| Face to Facebook: Dialogue About Judaism in the Digital Age | Rabbi Dan Ornstein | |
| Civilly Unionized, Domestically Partnered, Married: Adam and Eve Meet Adam and Steve | Rabbi Aaron Weininger | |
| Cultivating Capacities for Connection: The Three C’s of Growing Your Own Outreach Professional | Rabbi Cara Weinstein Rosenthal | |
| The Broken and the Whole … Finding the Promised Land Here on Earth | Rabbis Charles Sherman and Nogah Sherman Marshall | |
| A Memo from Your Future | Rabbi David Levy, Michael Sacks, and other USYers | |
| Creating Conservative Communities in College | Seffi Kogen | |
| The Problem Isn’t Services: The Problem is Prayer | Rabbi Neal Loevinger | |
Sunday Evening |
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6:30 – 9:00 PM |
CENTENNIAL GALA |
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The Future of Conservative Judaism |
Rabbi Harold Kushner | |
Special Honoree |
Shoshana S. Cardin | |
| Musical Entertainment | Neshama Carlebach and Josh Nelson | |
9:00 – 9:15 PM |
Ma’ariv | |
Sunday Night |
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9:15 – 10:15 PM |
mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Forging Sacred Pathways: Halakhic Life in the 21st Century Revisited | Rabbis Rachel Ain, Aaron Alexander, and Asher Lopatin | |
| The Golem Girl | Marc Young | |
| Once Upon A Time | Rabbi Ed Feinstein | |
| Get More From Your Congregation’s Website in Three Easy Steps | Mark Yaschik | |
10:15 – 11:00 PM |
Dessert and Reception | |
| Jam Stage: Late night Session | Neshama Carlebach | |
| Reflection Session (Noam) | ||
schedule is subject to change |
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schedule is subject to change |
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Monday Morning |
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7:00 – 9:00 AM |
Breakfast |
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| Committee on Law and Jewish Standards Meeting Begins | ||
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7:00 – 7:45 AM |
Shaharit: Musical Service |
Dale Schatz |
| Dvar Torah in Centennial Square | Rabbi Jerome Epstein, USCJ Executive Vice President Emeritus | |
7:45-8:00 AM |
Centennial Square: Meet up for early morning walk | |
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7:45 – 8:45 AM |
Breakfast Table Talks In Centennial Square |
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mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Conversion: The Current Standard | Rabbi Elie Spitz | |
| Creating a Model of Beit T’Shuvah on the East Coast | Ellie Shemtov | |
| New Rabbis at Old Shuls | Rabbi Ben Goldstein | |
| Redefining Successful Prayer | Erica Miller | |
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9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
The Interfaith ConversationKeynote – Conversation Starter The Common Misunderstandings Christians Make About Judaism, |
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine |
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10:15 – 11:15 AM |
Follow the Conversation: |
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mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Reaching Out to Intermarried Families | Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove | |
| Supermarket Scavenger Hunts and Passover in October: Starting the Journey to Judaism | Rabbi Adam Greenwald | |
| Conversation Lab #2 | Deborah Grayson Riegel | |
| Can Interfaith Social Justice Work Be Central to the Life of Your Congregation? | Cantor Jack Chomsky; moderator Rabbi Andrea Merow | |
| Technology and Engaging Families: It’s not about getting them in the door anymore | Jill Allenberg Stepak and Aliza Sperling | |
| Topic TBD | Rabbi Ed Feinstein | |
| Loosening the Bible Belt: When Conservative Judaism Meets Conservative Christianity | Rabbi Abby Jacobson | |
| Where is Your Place in Our Story? Storytelling as a Tool for Welcoming | Jennifer Rudick Zunikoff | |
| Intermarriage & the Conservative Movement: Responding to the Challenge of Demographics | Steve Lachter and Rabbi Charles Simon | |
| Wisdom, Ritual, and Meaning in the 21st Century: A Workshop for Busy Parents Raising Jewish Children | Rabbi Rachel Ain | |
Monday Late Morning |
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11:30 AM – 1:30 PM |
Lunch and Food for Thought Plenaries |
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Food for Thought Sessions #1 |
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11:30 AM – 12:15 PM |
The Observant Life | Rabbi Julie Schonfeld |
| The Future of Congregational Education | David Bryfman, Rabbi Jim Rogozen, Jonathan Woocher | |
Food For Thought Sessions #2 |
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12:30 – 1:15 PM |
The Future of Synagogues | Rabbis Hayim Herring and Sid Schwarz; moderator: Rabbi Michael Siegel |
| The Global Jewish Conversation | ||
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1:15 – 1:30 PM |
Mincha |
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Monday Afternoon |
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1:30 – 2:45 PM |
The Communal ConversationKeynote – Conversation StarterRelational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community |
Dr. Ron Wolfson |
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3:00 – 4:00 PM |
Follow the Conversation:
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mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Independent Minyanim – Kehilla Builder or Destroyer? | Rabbis Lizzi Heydemann, Michael Siegel, and Elie Spitz; Arie Katz; moderator: Harvey Rosen | |
| Conversation Lab #3 | Deborah Grayson Riegel | |
| Just Do It! Making the Decision to Thoughtfully and Effectively Brand and Market Your Synagogue | Amy Harris Pollack and Jennifer Stofman | |
| From Vision to Nitty Gritty: Putting Educational Technology into Practice | Terry Kaye | |
| What’s In Your Genes — It is our Sacred Work to Prevent the Devastation of Jewish Genetic Diseases | Dr. Adele Schneider, Rabbi Lawrence Sernovitz, Cindy Singer; moderator Rabbi Aaron Melman | |
| Civil Ways to Settle Civil Disputes While Promoting Shalom Bayit | Rabbi Paul Drazen and Nancy Shuger | |
| Creating an Effective Board | Robert Leventhal | |
| Finding a Spiritual Home | Rabbi Sid Schwarz | |
| Aliyah: How to Make the Search for Your Next Rabbi a Strategic Planning Tool | Kathy Elias and Rabbi Elliot Schoenberg | |
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4:15 – 5:15 PM |
Follow the Conversation: |
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mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| Creating Tomorrow’s Synagogue Today | Rabbi Hayim Herring | |
| The Challenge of Magen Tzedek is the Challenge of Conservative Judaism | Rabbis Morris Allen and Michael Siegel | |
| Sacred Community and Fiscal Responsibility – Finding a Balance | Barry Mael and Fred Passman | |
| Congregational Education for the 21st Century: Religious Schools in the Clouds | Steve Kerbel, Wendy Light, and Dr. Richard Solomon | |
| The Role of Music in the 21st Century Synagogue | Cantors Nancy Abramson and Stephen Stein | |
| Number the Stars — Putting Values to Action | Rabbi Aaron Gaber and Andrea Zakheim Poetsch | |
| Ensuring the Jewish Future: The Case for Day Schools | Dr. Elaine RS Cohen and Rabbi Moshe Schwartz | |
| Maximizing the School as an Asset of the Congregation | Susan Wyner | |
| Dynamic Institutions: The Challenges and Opportunities of a Dually Affiliated Synagogue | Rabbi K’vod Wieder | |
| Reimagining Sacred Partnerships: Reflections on the Rabbinic Hiring Process | Barak Richman and Vicky Vossen | |
Monday Evening |
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5:15 – 7:30 PM |
Dinner on your own | |
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7:30 – 7:45 PM |
Maariv | |
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| 7:45 – 10:00 PM |
Centennial Celebration, Dessert Reception, and Concert |
Joel Chasnoff, Emcee |
Address:The Promising Future of Conservative Judaism |
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson | |
| Centennial Solomon Schechter Kehilla Awards | ||
| A Centennial Cabaret |
Cantors Jen Cohen, Magda Fishman, Randy Herman, Alberto Mizrahi, and Mike Stein; accompanied by Dale Schatz |
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Monday Late Night |
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10:00 – 10:45 PM |
mouse over session titles to read descriptions |
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| The Questions that Won’t Go Away | Rabbi Ed Feinstein | |
| Jam Stage: PrayerSong | Amy Robinson | |
| Limud and Libation | Steve Kerbel | |
| Hip-Hop Hevruta: The Musical Magic of Bible Raps | Eliana Light | |
| Volunteer Recognition: An Easy Resource Tool for Kehillot | Linda Sussman | |
10:45-11:30 PM |
Noam Group – Reflection Session | |
schedule is subject to change |
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Tuesday Early Morning |
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7:00 – 9:00 AM |
Breakfast and Table Talks in Centennial Square | |
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Meeting | |
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7:00 – 7:45 AM |
Shacharit | |
| Musical Service | ||
| D’var Torah | Rabbi Gerald Skolnik, president, Rabbinical Assembly | |
7:45 – 8:00 AM |
Meet up for early morning walk | |
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8:00 – 9:00 AM |
Breakfast Table Talk Conversations | |
| A Visit with Jewish Refuseniks and the KGB | Betsy Diamant-Cohen | |
| Quirky Congregational Melodies | Cantor Jack Chomsky | |
| Hevra Kadisha: From Death We Learn About Life | Rabbi Mel Glazer | |
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The Israel Conversation
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Dr. David Breakstone | |
10:30 – 11:30 AM |
Follow the Conversation: |
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| Singing the Song of Zion: What Shall We Proclaim? | Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt | |
| Ma’aalot: Innovative Programs for Israel Education and Advocacy | Rabbi Paul Freedman and Morey Schapira | |
| Conversation Lab #4 | Deborah Grayson Riegel | |
| 65 Years of Israeli Popular Music in 60 Minutes | Cantor David Lipp | |
| Inspiring the Next Generation to Engage with Israel | Natalie Blitt and Aliza Goodman | |
| Masorti/Conservative Judaism from Argentina to Kiev: Building and Enriching Lives | Rabbi Tzvi Graetz | |
| The Schizophrenic Zionist | Dr. David Breakstone and Joel Chasnoff | |
| The Torah Revolution | Rabbi Reuven Hammer | |
| Sacred Rights Sacred Song – A Concert of Concern | Francine Gordon and Naomi Less | |
11:30 – Noon |
The Conversation Continues |
Rabbi Steven Wernick |
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Noon – 12:30 |
Farewell Musical Event | Cantors Jen Cohen, Magda Fishman, Mike Stein; Daniel Novick, Dale Schatz, Josh Warshawsky |
1:00 – 6:00 |
Sulam for Strategic Planners | |