Conference Presenters – Alphabetical Listing (A-J)

Learn more about our presenters and the sessions they led at Conference 2009:

Jason Ablin
Jason Ablin has worked in Jewish Education for more than 17 years. He has taught across the denominational spectrum from Satmar Yeshiva Day School to his current position as Head of School for Milken Community High School, the largest community day school in North America. Jason brings an understanding of the way secular and general knowledge can be integrated with Jewish thought and values without feeling one needs to be sacrificed for the other.

Sessions
Shakespeare's Theology: King Lear and Religion for the 21st Century

Naomi Ackerman
Naomi Ackerman is an American-born Israeli who recently relocated to Los Angeles, Naomi Ackerman's credits include theater, musicals, films and television. She has done extensive work in multi-ethnic/cultural productions with Arab and Jewish actors. A social activist, mediator and conflict resolution specialist, she consults to organizations, helping them to create drama techniques to deal with social, gender and educational issues, as well as to explore Jewish identity and Jewish themes.

Sessions
Jewish Memo-Drama
Flowers Aren't Enough

Aaron Alexander
Aaron Alexander is currently the Assistant Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University where he was ordained and achieved his Masters in Rabbinic Studies. Aaron earned a BA in Religion from the University of Florida, spent two years studying at the Conservative Yeshiva, and spent a year doing graduate work in Talmud and Rabbinics at the Jewish Theological Seminary. When not with his beloved students at Ziegler, you can find Aaron teaching Talmud and Jewish Law throughout Los Angeles and beyond. Ask Aaron about Ma'or.

Sessions
Depth vs. Breadth: From Where Does One Derive

Ron Arons
Ron Arons started researching his roots more than a dozen years ago and has traced his ancestors back to England, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine, and Belarus. Ron has spoken on Jewish genealogy and American Jewish criminals across the United States, in Canada, and at the 2001 International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies' conference held in London. His book, "The Jews of Sing Sing," was published in June, 2008. Ron earned a BS in Engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Sessions
Putting the Flesh on the Bones: A Different Way to Conduct Family History Research
Locating "The Whole Mishpocha": An Interactive Q & A With Jewish Genealogists
The Jews of Sing Sing: Gotham, Gangsters, and Gonuvim
Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky: The Men Behind the (Las Vegas) Flamingo Hotel

Jeff Astrof
Jeff Astrof is one of the original writers for "Friends" and has been a sitcom writer/producer for more than 17 years, and has worked on shows including "Duckman," "Veronica's Closet," and "Grounded for Life." One of a handful of shomer-Shabbos Jews working in sitcoms, he is currently co-executive producer of "The New Adventures of Old Christine," starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. He lives in the Hancock Park area with his wife Shawni and two kids, Sasha and Caleb.

Sessions
What Inspires Me: Filmmakers
Being Observant in Hollywood

Joshua Avedon
Joshua Avedon is co-founder of Jumpstart, a thinkubator for sustainable Jewish innovation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering creative social entrepreneurship. He is also one of the founders of IKAR, one of the largest and most successful Jewish Emergent communities in the country. He is a recognized leader in forward-thinking use of technology, viral communication and community-building strategies within the world of emerging Jewish organizations.

Sessions
Building the Jewish Community 2.0
Innovating in Tough Times: Rethinking Jewish Social Entrepreneurship

Stephanie Avedon
Stephanie Avedon is an educator, mother of three, yogi, wife and Jewish explorer.

Sessions
Hatha Yoga
How to Be an Effective Jewish Lay Leader: Balancing Your Role as Stakeholder, Leader and Team Member in Jewish Organizations

Elissa Ben-Naim
Elissa Ben-Naim has been a rabbi at Wilshire Boulevard Temple for 9 years. She serves the Parenting Center, Nursery School and Day School populations - 700 children and their respective families. Elissa believes that creating early Jewish memories is a key to life infused with Jewish possibilities.

Sessions
Not Skirting the Issues: Female Rabbis in Conversation

Alla Berkovich
Alla Berkovich was born and raised in Lipetsk, Russia, and trained as a classical pianist. Alla spent her spare time knitting and crocheting, and while piano became her career, her passion for crafts led her into the world of jewelry -- crocheting precious metals into one of kind pieces.

Sessions
Learn to Crochet a Kippah! (Beginner and Intermediate Level)
Crochet a Kippah! (Intermediate/Advanced Level)

Robert Berman
Robert Berman is the founder and director of the Halachic Organ Donor Society. He has an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, an MBA from Baruch College, and a BA from Yeshiva University in economics. He is also a graduate of Gruss Kollel and Yeshivat Hakotel. Robert has been a social activist for many Jewish causes, and was a freelance journalist published in New York Magazine, the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Week, Moment Magazine and the Jerusalem Report.

Sessions
Buying Human Organs is Illegal: But is it Unethical?
Organ Donation and Halakha
Critical Thinking Tools: Why Should We Believe What We are Told?

Danielle Berrin
Better than being an actress, Danielle Berrin gets to write about Hollywood for The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. Her work has also appeared in British Esquire, which is available at U.S. newsstands. Born in Miami, Danielle graduated from the University of Florida where she studied English literature, avant-garde and experimental film and women's studies.

Sessions
Digging for the Dirt: How Jewish Values Inform Hard-Hitting Journalism
Women Making the World a Better Place: How Three LA Women Negotiate Very Public Roles in Non-Profit Management

Jeffrey Blutinger
Jeffrey Blutinger is an Assistant Professor of History and Co-Director of the Jewish Studies at the California State University at Long Beach. He has authored numerous articles and taught classes on topics of Modern Jewish History, Jewish Historiography, Zionism and Jewish Nationalism, Holocaust Memorialization. Jeffrey received both his JD and his PhD in History from UCLA.

Sessions
The Unmasterable Past: Post-Communist Holocaust Memorialization
Tolerance and Acceptance in the Jewish Community
Did Appeasement at Munich Save Jewish Lives?
A Creature From Before the Flood: Jewish Reactions to Darwinian Thought in the 19th Century

Gregory Bonsignore
Gregory Bonsignore was one of Dramatics magazine's "Up & Comers," trained in Greek Drama in Athens, TV writing at the BBC, and an N.Y.U. honors grad. He's worked on many Broadway & TV shows in N.Y., L.A. and London and wrote "The Kevin Meaney Show" & BBC's "Grierson Awards." Recently, he ran a Fulbright Theatre program in Egypt and was the Resident Playwright at The Library of Alexandria -- researching, writing and debuting his play, "A Matter of Fact," on the destruction of the Ancient Library and the creation of the Abrahamic myths.

Sessions
History vs. Propaganda: How the Translation of the Torah at the Library of Alexandria Saved Judaism from Extinction
Learning to Say "I Don't Know": Historical & Religious Agnosticism at the Library of Alexandria

Rachel Bookstein
Rachel Bookstein is Director of Hillel at Cal State Long Beach. She has an MA from Oxford University and worked for nearly a decade on Jewish renewal in Poland.

Sessions
Going To Poland? Get the Inside Scoop Before You Go

Yonah Bookstein
Yonah Bookstein is director of Jewlicious and Jewish Student Services and has served as Campus Rabbi at CSU Long Beach and UCI since 2004. He worked in Poland for nearly a decade on community renewal, is a former Fulbright Fellow and has an MA from Oxford University.

Sessions
Beyond the Establishment: Innovations in Grassroots Jewish Outreach
Greenkeit: Going from Being Green to Green 2.0
Going To Poland? Get the Inside Scoop Before You Go

Ra'anan Boustan
Ra'anan Boustan teaches ancient Jewish history and the history of ancient Mediterranean religions at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he is currently an assistant professor in the departments of History and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. He has published studies on early Jewish apocalyptic, mystical and magical literatures, the relationship between Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Jewish literary culture of Byzantine Palestine. His publications include a book, "From Martyr to Mystic: Rabbinic Martyrology and the Making of Merkavah Mysticism" (2005) and a number of co-edited volumes. Sponsored by UCLA Center for Jewish Studies.

Sessions
Rabbinic Martyrs in a Christian Empire: Blood, Atonement and Redemption

Ruth Broyde Sharone
Honored internationally for interfaith activism, Jewish filmmaker and journalist Ruth Broyde Sharone is a motivational speaker and teacher of interfaith peace building. She is a Partner Cities Associate for the Parliament of the World's Religions, convener of the largest interfaith gatherings in the world, and serves as Co-Chair for its Southern California Committee. She is also the American Director of the Rodef Shalom School for Peace under the umbrella of ALEPH Jewish Renewal. Her book, "Minefields and Miracles: Adventures in Interfaith" will be published in 2009.

Sessions
What Inspires Me: Filmmakers
Jewish Sub-Identities: Multiculturalism and Pluralism

Carol Buchman
Carol Buchman's paintings have been featured in solo and group shows throughout Memphis and Boston. In addition, she has been commissioned and collected in public spaces, schools, corporate offices, and synagogues. Carol received her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and an MFA from Boston University School for the Arts.

Sessions
From Borscht Belt to Bible Belt: How this Bible Belt Bagel Babe Came to Painting Jewishly

Dave Chameides
Dave Chameides is an environmental educator who, as an experiment, saved all his trash for a year, and as a result was covered by press all over the world. He is the Director of Sustainability at Shalhevet High School. Often sought as an expert on all things green, the father of two is self-taught, a result of a sense of responsibility for the planet and his fellow citizens. Dave also writes for more than one million people each week on Care2.com.

Sessions
Chasing Sustainability

Lee Chernotsky
Lee currently serves as the Development and Community Relations Manager for the Nes Gadol program at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services and as the Director of The Hevrah Program (United Synagogue Youth's special needs buddy program). He has previously served as the program director for the Ezra (residential, vocational and independent living skills) program at Camp Ramah in Ojai, CA. Lee has been working in the special needs community for more than ten years and has served in a variety of roles including: teaching, fundraising, programming and grant writing. He also sits on the advisory boards of the Friendship Circle and JDub Records. Lee completed his MBA in nonprofit management at the American Jewish University where he also completed his undergraduate work majoring both in Business and Abnormal Psychology.

Sessions
The True Treasures of the Los Angeles Jewish Community: Ozreinu and Other Resources Available for Special Needs
Let's Get it Started: Sensitivity Workshop Concerning the Developmentally Disabled

Michael Chusid
With 13 years of experience as a shofar blower, Michael Chusid has given shofar classes at American Jewish University, Hebrew Union College, and around North America. He is the author of a book-length manuscript on shofar and the organizer of ShofarCorp, which visits the sick and shut-ins. Michael serves as "Master Blaster" at Makom Ohr Shalom in Tarzana.

Sessions
A Shofar History of Time: An Illustrated Lecture and Discussion

Michelle Citrin
Michelle Citrin is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter. With over 1.2 million hits, her videos, "Rosh Hashanah Girl" and "20 things to do with Matzah" have been called "YouTube sensations" and have landed a featured spot on Yahoo.com's homepage. She's been named one of Billboard Music's "Top Songwriters," ranked as a VH-1 "Song of the Year" finalist and will soon be releasing her new album.

Sessions
Friday Night Sing-a-Long Oneg: DIY
The Late Show
What Inspires Me: Musicians
Behind the Tube: Bring Your Project to Life!
Night at the Improv: A LimmudLA Music Experience and Closing Ceremony

William Cutter
William (Bill) Cutter was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1965, and has been on the faculty of the Los Angeles campus of HUC for 43 years. He is currently emeritus Professor of Literature and Human Relations, and founding director of the Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health (now retired from that post). He received his AB from Yale University in 1959, and his PhD from UCLA in 1971.

Sessions
Therapoetics: Poetry as a Path to Healing

David Cygielman
David Cygielman is the co-founder and Executive Director of Moishe House, a grassroots organization of Jewish community centers run by and catering to 20 to 30 year-old Jews. Since 2006, David has pioneered the project's growth from one Moishe House to more than 25 houses in nine countries.

Sessions
The Moishe House Story: How Grassroots Cultural Centers Are Engaging Jews from LA to Beijing

Mark Diamond
Mark S. Diamond is Executive Vice President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California, a multi-denominational organization of 290 rabbis. He is a fellow of the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative of the Shalom Hartman Institute and a past chairman of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders. In April 2006, Mark brought forty AME pastors, rabbis, synagogue and church members on a Katrina relief mission. He led 23 Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders on a January 2008 mission to the Vatican, Rome and Israel, highlighted by an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

Sessions
Interfaith Relations: Texts They Never Taught Us in Hebrew School
Interfaith Relations: A Panel Discussion Beyond Dialogue and Tolerance

Chaim Elbaum
Chaim Elbaum is a 28-year-old director and scriptwriter. He graduated from the Ma'ale Film School in Jerusalem last year and made two prize-winning films. He was chosen by a special committee of Israeli Filmmakers as the "Young Promising Director" and was also selected to attend the prestigious Berlinale Talent Campus at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival. Chaim is now writing his first full-length feature film.

Sessions
Film: "And Thou Shalt Love / V'Ahavta"

Alex Fax
Alex Fax resides in Los Angeles and is a frequent Torah reader and chazzan at B'nai David Judea Congregation. He is an experienced teacher of Torah reading to both teens and adults and has led workshops in advanced theory and practice of Torah cantillation.

Sessions
Interpreting the Torah Through Music: The Hidden Meanings of "Trop"

Ed Feinstein
Ed Feinstein is senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California. He serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, the Wexner Heritage Foundation, and the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. His books, "Tough Questions Jews Ask -- A Young Adult's Guide to Building a Jewish Life" and "Jews and Judaism in the 21st Century" were both finalists for the National Jewish Book Award. His latest book, "Capturing the Moon" retells the best of classic and modern Jewish folktales.

Sessions
Economy and Fantasy: Restoring Real Purpose to the Jewish Bottom Line

Michael Feldman
Michael Feldman is trained in law, mediation, psychology, sociology and education, but his most passionate undertaking is speaking out on issues of collaboration and communication. In high school, he successfully convened his fellow students and teachers to resolve conflict and morale problems, and as an adult, he plans to do the same for wider social issues.

Sessions

A Curriculum of Wonder: The Spiritual Legacy of Abraham Joshua Heschel

Shawn Fields-Meyer
Shawn Fields-Meyer serves as rabbi for the 9th and 10th grades at Milken Community High School in Los Angeles. She is co-author of the book "A Day Apart: Shabbat at Home," a practical and spiritual guide to the home rituals of Shabbat. She serves as Instructor in Bible at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. Shawn is founder and Executive Director of Ozreinu, a network of Torah-study/spiritual support groups for Jewish parents of special-needs children. A frequent scholar-in-residence at congregations, retreats and Bureaus of Jewish Education, she also teaches Bible, prayer and spiritual practice throughout Los Angeles and nationwide.

Sessions
The True Treasures of the Los Angeles Jewish Community: Ozreinu and Other Resources Available for Special Needs
Measure Your Life: A Midrash Study (in three acts)
Not Skirting the Issues: Female Rabbis in Conversation

Tom Fields-Meyer
Tom Fields-Meyer has been a writer and journalist for 25 years. He was a senior writer at People magazine for 12 years and co-authored a Holocaust memoir, "If You Save One Life" with Eva Brown.

Sessions
Writing From Your Jewish Soul

Linda Fife
Linda Schein Fife, LimmudLA Conference 2009 Co-Chair, has spent most of her adult life working both as a professional and as a volunteer in the Jewish community. During this time she created an integrated curriculum for Jewish Lamaze, taught English to Israelis, developed b'nai mitzvah family education programs and created and ran workshops for converts and intermarried couples. She is married to Lorin Fife, providing her with both a career path and a spouse.

Sessions
Why Do We Discourage Converts?

Lorin Fife
Lorin Fife, a recovering attorney and an accomplished artist, serves as Board Chair of L.A.'s Jewish Community Foundation. After sleeping and eating on Jewish Agency furniture as a young man in Israel, he now serves on its Board of Governors and has co-chaired the Israel and Overseas Committee of L.A.'s Federation, as well as its renowned Tel Aviv-L.A. Partnership. An Annapolis graduate and a Wexner alum who went through both Orthodox and Reform conversions, Lorin also served as President of his Conservative congregation, Adat Ari El. Prior to retiring, he served as a senior executive at SunAmerica Inc., as an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers and as a waiter at the Tel Aviv Sheraton. Lorin is married to Linda Fife, LimmudLA Conference 2009 Co-Chair.

Sessions
Why Do We Discourage Converts?

Abby Fifer Mandell
Abby Fifer Mandell is the Director of Education at the Society and Business Lab (SBL) in the USC Marshall School of Business. Abby has more than a decade of experience in curriculum writing, teaching and creating student life programs at colleges, universities and Jewish educational institutions. Abby holds a master's degree in education from AJU and is a LimmudLA Conference 2009 Vice-Chair.

Sessions
I Am My Beloved's and My Beloved is Mine: Marriage and Conversion in the Tanakh

Bruce Fine
Bruce Fine has appeared on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and on "Comics Unleashed." He was a popular semi-finalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing 4." His TV credits include "King of Queens" and "My Wife and Kids." Bruce was nominated for an Emmy as a producer for the "Wayne Brady Show" and is currently a producer and player on "The Tony Rock Project" for MyNetwork.

Sessions
Saturday Night Comedy Festival

Abe Friedman
Abe Friedman is in his fourth year of rabbinical school; teaching adults (and teens) is one of his passions. He is currently interning at Adat Ari El (Valley Village) and with the Conservative movement's Commission on Social Justice and Public Policy. He also helped found PicoEgal and has been active in the LA community promoting pluralism.

Sessions
Blessing of the Sun: A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity
Massekhet HaHammah (Tractate of the Sun): How Do Jewish Texts Address the Environment?

Matthew Friedman
Matthew Friedman is Associate Director for the Pacific Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League, based in Los Angeles. He works in the area of Holocaust Education in addition to aiding victims of hate crimes and incidents throughout LA County. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Matthew came to Southern California to study Jewish Education and Non-Profit Management at American Jewish University. Prior to going West, Matt lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was also a Jewish communal professional.

Sessions
Extremist Use of Tattoos and Symbols

Dara Frimmer
Dara Frimmer completed a Masters in Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School before enrolling in rabbinic school at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She completed her second unit of hospital chaplaincy, taught two classes of "Introduction to Judaism" through the 92nd Street Y and led teens and college students to Latin America on 8-day service programs with American Jewish World Service. She worked as the Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellow at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun. Dara has served Temple Isaiah as an Assistant Rabbi since July 2007.

Sessions
Friday Night Services: Liberal Egalitarian
Do Reform Jews Need to Believe in God?
Not Skirting the Issues: Female Rabbis in Conversation

Dov Gartenberg
Dov Gartenberg grew up in Southern California and attended UC Berkeley before continuing his studies of religion and Judaism at Harvard University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has served as both a congregational rabbi in the LA area and Seattle, Washington. His emphasis on restoring the ritual feast -- seder and hospitality as central to Jewish life, has won numerous awards and is influencing congregations and communities around the country.

Sessions
Shabbat Table Animation: Hachnasat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath)
Judaism of the Table

Amelia Glaser
Amelia Glaser is an Assistant Professor of Russian and Comparative Literature at the University of CA, San Diego, where she teaches courses in Russian literature, Yiddish literature, literary theory and translation. She has written about Jewish-Slavic literary relations and is currently completing a book on images of marketplace exchange in Russian, Yiddish and Ukrainian literature during the period of the Pale of Settlement. She is also a translator of poetry and prose. Among her published translations is an anthology of Yiddish American poets entitled "Proletpen: America's Rebel-Yiddish Poets" (U. Wisconsin, 2005), which she co-edited with David Weintraub and translated. She is currently on a research sabbatical at Harvard University.

Sessions
Nikolai Gogol and Sholem Aleichem: The Strange Marriage of Russian Literature and Yiddish Literature
Proletpen: America's Rebel-Yiddish Poets
Sunday Morning in Balta: The May Laws and the Pogroms of the 1880's

Sam Glaser
Sam Glaser tours internationally as a performer, composer, educator and cantorial soloist. Sam's music has become part of the fabric of Jewish life worldwide. Named one of the top ten Jewish artists in the US by Moment magazine, Sam's energetic style never fails to ignite the spirit of audiences of all ages. He has appeared at L.A.'s Greek Theater, Universal Amphitheater, Staples Center and Dodger Stadium as well as on Broadway and at the White House. In addition to the twenty albums, he has published four collections of lyrics and poetry and four musicals.

Sessions
The Ultimate Kumzitz at the Acoustic Cafe
What Inspires Me: Musicians
Night at the Improv: A LimmudLA Music Experience and Closing Ceremony
Voices for Israel...The Workshop

Jeffrey Glettner
Jeffrey Glettner is a principle of Net Data Systems during the day and a renaissance man at night. A dedicated volunteer in the Los Angeles Jewish Community, he serves as the Co-Chair of the LimmudLA Conference 2009 Green Team. His many talents include creating Jewish art in which he expresses his views of the world using a variety of materials and media. He is also an art collector.

Sessions
Mezuzot in 3D

Pearl Gluck
Pearl Gluck is a filmmaker and a native of Borough Park, Brooklyn. Gluck's first documentary feature, "Divan" (2004; Hungary/USA/Ukraine), premiered on the Sundance Channel and has garnered awards and a nationwide art-house theatrical release. Gluck's one-hour TV documentary, "Williamsburg" (2007) for Paris Premiere, and an audio tour for Soundwalk won a 2007 Audie Award. She is co-writer of "Goyta" (2007), a short narrative film which premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Through Palinka Pictures, along with her own projects, she continues to make documentaries for not-for-profit organizations.

Sessions
Oneg Shabbat Gemishte Tish: Party Like It's 1790
Film: "Divan"
Renegades: The Road Less Traveled
Film: "A Walking Tour of Williamsburg"

Daniel Goldberg
Daniel Goldberg was born and raised in Mexico City. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University and an MA in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California. He has worked in the production, research and writing of documentary films, including several about Mexican Jewish subjects.

Sessions
Mexican Jews or Jewish Mexicans?

Eric Gordon
Eric A. Gordon has served as Director of Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle) Southern California since 1995. He is the author of two composer biographies (Marc Blitzstein and Earl Robinson). He sings with Voices of Conscience and Mit Gezang Yiddish Chorus at Arbeter Ring. He initiated the 70' x 20' Yiddishkeit mural on the Arbeter Ring building, and A Shenere Velt Gallery at Arbeter Ring. In 2005 he was honored with the Alan J. Kassin Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement by the Jewish Communal Professionals of Southern California.

Sessions
The Soviet Yiddish Songbook of Shmuel Polonski

Andy Green
Andy Green is a manager with industrial supplies company McMaster-Carr and a graduate of the Coro Fellowship public policy program in Pittsburgh. He was president of UCLA Hillel and the UCLA Jewish Student Union during his college years and is an active member of PicoEgal minyan and Temple Beth Am.

Sessions
Strategy, Board, and Card Games

Norman Green
Norman Green is a lawyer and a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Taxation Law. Norman has practiced law for 29 years and he is a partner at Irsfeld, Irsfeld & Younger LLP. Prior to that he was a tax auditor, on-the-job instructor and acting group manager for the IRS and a tax accountant for Arthur Andersen & Co. Norman has a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law. Norman is a long-time member (and former chair of the Steering Committee) of the Beth Am Library Minyan in Los Angeles.

Sessions
Measuring the Tithe: Just How Much Should a Jew Give to Charity?

Rachel Green
Rachel Green is the child of a German Jewish refugee, which had enormous impact on her Jewish identity. She recently took a "survivor goes back" trip to Germany with her mother, who left in 1939 on a kindertransport. Rachel is a member of the Limmud LA Programming Committee and an active member of the Library Minyan at Beth Am.

Sessions
Meeting and Memory: A Survivor Revisits Germany 70 Years Later

Natan Greenberg
Natan Greenberg is the founder and director of the Israeli yeshiva Bat Ayin, a place of connection and growth for Jewish men seeking to deepen their Jewish experience. Rav Natan spent many years exploring the spiritual teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, served in the IDF as a tank commander, received Rabbinic ordination, and is currently studying for his MA in Modern Jewish History from Hebrew University.

Sessions
The Lost Princess: Rebbe Nachman and the Contemporary Spiritual Quest
Teens: Ask the Rabbi Anything... Really, Anything
Purim Unmasked: The Purim You Didn't Hear About in Hebrew School
Hitbodedut: To Walk Alone
Strangers Among Us: The Strange Story of Yitro (Jethro) and his Descendants

Gidi Grinstein
Gidi Grinstein is president and founder of the Reut Institute, a non-partisan, non-profit innovative policy group designed to provide real-time long-term strategic decision-support to the Government of Israel. Before founding Reut, Gidi served as Secretary and Coordinator of the Israeli negotiation team on the Permanent Status Agreement between Israel and the PLO in the Office and later in the Bureau of Prime Minister Ehud Barak. He is a graduate of the Tel-Aviv University schools of Economics and Law and of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government as a Wexner-Israel Fellow.

Sessions
The ISRAEL 15 Vision: Becoming One of the 15 Leading Nations
Zionism's Continued Balancing Act at the Beginning of the 21st Century
Israel's National Security Agenda: A Delicate Balancing Act
Community Building: The Central Challenge of Our People

Jay Gruska
Jay Gruska is a staff songwriter in Los Angeles for Screen Gems, Universal MCA and Geffen Publishing from 1979 until 1993 and recording artist for Warner Brothers records -- two albums (singer-songwriter). He wrote songs for many artists including Chicago, Michael Jackson, Amy Grant, Robert Palmer, Eddie Rabbit/Juice Newton, Bette Midler, Patti LaBelle and more. He also wrote several number one and top ten records on Billboard charts including, POP, Adult Contemporary, Dance and Country. He has had three Emmy nominations.

Sessions
Jewish Songwriting Workshop Part 1
Jewish Songwriting Workshop Part 2
Jewish Songwriting Workshop Part 3

Maital Guttman
Maital Guttman is an Israeli-American documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Her first film, entitled "Mechina: A Preparation," explores the lives of teens in Israel who are preparing for their army service. Currently, she is producing a documentary about one South African woman's story of hope through the hardship of living with HIV.

Sessions
Black-Jewish Relations in the Obama Era
BRCA Genes Related to Breast Cancer: A Layperson Discusses the Options and Jewish Thought
Film: "Mechina: A Preparation"

Joel Haber
Joel Haber (aka Fun Joel) is a professional writer and script analyst. He has been involved with planning LimmudLA for the past two years and values Limmud as a path to the future of the Jewish people. He loves to cook because he loves to eat.

Sessions
Not Your Bubbe's Seder: Cooking Non-Traditional Seder Foods
The Shema: A Personal Approach to Prayer
Film: "My Nose"
Film: "A Summer Rain"

Raphael Harrington
Raphael Harrington studied philosophy at Ben Gurion University and Holistic medicine at the College for Natural Medicine in Tel Aviv. He spent extended periods of time in India learning and doing master classes with various experts on eastern healing and medicine. Raphael trained in London and Paris at the Institute for Shiatsu and Martial Arts. In past years, he has taught courses on creative thinking, body language and use of tarot cards and their connection to Jewish kabbalistic tradition.

Sessions
Hebrew Meditation: Discovering Hebrew Through Your Body
My Jewish Tarot Card

Naama Haviv
Naama Haviv, who holds an MA/ABD in Comparative Genocide from Clark University, develops and implements youth initiatives, researches current world conflicts to assess the risk of genocide and works with Jewish World Watch's Funds Allocation committee to ensure the strength and quality of JWW-supported refugee relief projects. Before joining the JWW team, Naama created and managed educational programs connecting students in the US and Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan and the West Bank.

Sessions
Film: "3 Points"
Service Sessions: Jewish World Watch
Genocide: From Despair to Hope

Barbara Heller
For more than 20 years, Barbara Heller has written and directed plays and musicals for young and older children. She has been a professional actor and voice-over artist for a decade, and has written several original plays, musicals and treatments for television, film and children's literature. She is committed to reflecting the inner light of her students, and has a deep curiosity to discover the "stories" within all of us and examine how they are serving us.

Sessions
Personal History Theatre: From Page to Stage Performers

Janeen Rae Heller
Janeen Rae Heller's original guitar playing and vocals have been described as "a soulful earthy sophistication." She is also an international award-winning sawyer (musical saw player). Her music has been heard on movie soundtracks, television shows, commercials, live theatrical productions as well as on albums for artists such as Ricki Lee Jones, Michael Hedges, the Moshav Band and Craig Taubman. Janeen has performed for The American Jewish Song Festival, Friday Night Live and many more.

Sessions
What Inspires Me: Musicians
Night at the Improv: A LimmudLA Music Experience and Closing Ceremony

Robby Helperin
Robby Helperin owns and directs the Simcha Orchestra, the West Coast's premier Jewish special events orchestra, as well as Spotlight Music, which specializes in high-end events, and the Mystic Sideshow, an original spiritual rock band. He holds a music degree from USC, toured with Shlomo Carlebach, and has led his bands in many U.S. cities and Mexico. Robby co-chairs the LimmudLA Special Events Committee, which put together this weekend's performances.

Sessions
Jewish Songwriting Workshop Part 1
Jewish Songwriting Workshop Part 2
Jewish Songwriting Workshop Part 3

Hilary Helstein
Hilary Helstein (director/producer/writer) began her career in the world of humanitarian causes with her work with Steven Spielberg's Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation. As Executive Director of the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, Hilary has facilitated completing three successful years of this week-long, citywide event. Prior to that, in 2005, Hilary directed a documentary on a renowned Los Angeles rabbi entitled, "Harold M. Schulweis: The First 80 Years."

Sessions
Film: "As Seen Through These Eyes"

Sara Meira Hoberman
Sara Meira Hoberman is a rabbinical student in the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University.

Sessions
Teens: Sarah and Hagar, Mean Girls: Doing Your Best as a Jewish Teenager

Yechiel Hoffman
As a Jewish educator, Yechiel Hoffman specializes in creating learning experiences that allow people to explore Jewish identity through all sorts of texts, especially Bible and pop culture. He has taught courses on integrating study of film and bible, biblical models of activism and the historical narrative of Jewish assimilation. As an activist for social causes, particularly gay rights in the Jewish community, Yechiel brings a liberal approach with a traditional commitment to Jewish practice.

Sessions
Teen Parshat Hashavua and Tefillah Experience: Discussion on the Weekly Torah Portion and Prayer
Teens: Sex, Drugs, Rock 'N Roll and Judaism: LimmudLA's 'The Real World': Masturbation, Manischewitz, Metallica, and Maimonides
Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll and Judaism For Adults: LimmudLA's 'The Real World': Masturbation, Manischewitz, Metallica, and Maimonides

Anne Hromadka
Anne Hromadka holds a double masters, in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion/LA and the University of Southern California Roski School of Fine Arts in Public Art Studies. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Art degree with a focus in printmaking from the University of Denver. Ms. Hromadka has worked as an art professional in a variety of ways since the fall of 2004. She began her career as the Director of the USC Hillel Art Gallery. She then became the Assistant Director and later the Director of the George Billis Gallery-LA, which is a secular contemporary art gallery situated in the heart of the Culver City Arts District. While Director, she curated a number of successful exhibitions, reached out to new artists, broadened the gallery's collector base and traveled internationally. Her area of emphasis is Jewish visual art with a focus on contemporary Los Angeles Jewish artists and a special interest in political artists living and working in Israel. Currently, she is the Program Director for JAI and is the Arts Coordinator for Hebrew Union College-JIR/LA.

Sessions
Kol Ha'olam Kulo Gesher Tsar Me'od / The Whole World Is a Narrow Bridge: An Artists' Panel Discussion

Avigail Hurvitz-Prinz
As a professional Jewish foodie, Avigail Hurvitz-Prinz counts her blessings every day. As a program associate on Hazon's food programs she thinks about defining kosher (fit to eat) food as informed by the works of Michael Pollan and other Rebbes. When she isn't baking cakes she's often blogging about the cakes she's baked on jcarrot.org. Besides helping to coordinate Hazon's CSA Program, Tuv Ha'Aretz, and Hazon's Food Conference, she also spends a lot of time making sure the office has enough sweets to eat.

Sessions
No Taste Like Home: Food for Thought
"Food, Inc.": Industrial Food Production, Farm Workers, and More

David Ingber
David Ingber is the Founder and Spiritual Director of Romemu, a center in Manhattan dedicated to Yiddishkeit that opens body, heart, mind and spirit to experience greater compassion and joy in our lives. He is also a sought after national and international leader and educator due to his unique, open-hearted and embodied approach to Jewish teaching. David studied Philosophy and Psychology at NYU and has learned at a wide range of yeshivot in Jerusalem and New York, including Yeshivat Chovovei Torah. David received his smicha from Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in 2004.

Sessions
Teens: Ask the Rabbi Anything... Really, Anything
Saturday Morning Service: Liberal Egalitarian
Meditation: You Are Where You Feel You Are: Feeling and Allowing Your Way Back to Hashem
Kabbalah for Dummies -- Like Me!
Sefirot: Your Soul's GPS

Wendy Jackler
Wendy Jackler is co-leader of the LimmudLA Special Events team. She is a recreational knitter and a professional kvetcher. She does other stuff, too.

Sessions
Stitch & Kvetch

Rami Jaffee
Grammy award winning artist Rami Jaffee, born in Los Angeles, is best known as the keyboardist for several bands and artists, including The Wallflowers, Foo Fighters, Pete Yorn, Soul Asylum and Pearl Jam. His extensive recording career expands from Johnny Cash to Macy Gray and hundreds of others, most of them selling millions of records. Over the years, he has played on a dozen Grammy winning records. Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers credits Rami Jaffee with being "the" guy on stage he depends on musically.

Sessions
Night at the Improv: A LimmudLA Music Experience and Closing Ceremony
Sunday Night Open Jam With Rami Jaffee & Friends

Ruth Judkowitz
Ruth Judkowitz, MT-BC, is "chairmentsh" of the Southern California District of the Arbeter Ring (Workmen's Circle). She is musical director of Voices of Conscience, SoCal's only social justice community chorus. Ms. Judkowitz works with a variety of populations as a board-certified Music Therapist.

Sessions
The Soviet Yiddish Songbook of Shmuel Polonski

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