Caryn Aviv
Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver
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Dr. Caryn Aviv is the Posen Lecturer in Secular Jewish Culture at the Center for Judaic Studies (University of Denver) and academic coordinator of the Certificate Program in Jewish Communal Service in the university’s Graduate School of Social Work. She is also the co-founder and director of research with Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity. She writes, teaches, and conducts research in the areas of contemporary Jewish cultures and identities, Israel-Palestinian reconciliation, and gender/sexualities.
American Jews and Israeli-Palestinian Peace Efforts
- Saturday 3:00PM–4:15PM Sun Burst
This workshop explores some of the important roles that American Jews play in ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. How and why do American Jews get involved in this complex and controversial area? We will learn about some important individuals who have dedicated their lives to peace and analyze a few key organizations that bring Israelis and Palestinians together at home and in the U.S. For anyone who has ever despaired about what might be done to improve the prospects of peace in the Middle East, this is also an opportunity to learn just how much is ‘out there’ and how you might get involved.
Creating Welcoming Communities
LGBT Jewish Inclusion
- Saturday 6:45PM–8:00PM Ballroom Ten Mile
Have lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Jews "made it" in the Jewish world? Since 2006, the Conservative Movement opened two of its seminaries to gay and lesbian students, the Reform Movement ordained the first openly transgender rabbi, and Reconstructionists elected the first openly gay leader of a national rabbinic body. But too many LGBT Jews are still excluded from full integration into Jewish communal and institutional cultures. Come discuss the future of LGBT inclusion in Jewish life with one of the first openly-gay Conservative rabbinical students, the proud mother of a gay son, the first openly-gay Orthodox rabbi, the founder of Storahtelling, and the staff of Jewish Mosaic.
Alternative Jewish Tourism to the West Bank
- Sunday 3:00PM–4:15PM Sun Drift
This workshop examines Jewish tourism to Israel and the West Bank in light of the evolving relationship between Israel, Jews around the world, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Workshop participants will learn about and discuss the emergence of ‘activist’ tourism that takes Jews (Israeli, American, and European) to the West Bank. These activist tours aim to educate, galvanize (and radicalize?) liberal Jews to work for social justice within Israel and to support reconciliation efforts and among Israelis and Palestinians. We will look at the literature and websites of two very different organizations (Encounter Programs and birthright unplugged), which offer challenging narratives about the Middle East and intense emotional/political experiences that depart from traditional Jewish tours.
Documentaries of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Reconciliation
An Emerging Genre of Political Activism?
- Sunday 7:45PM–9:00PM Windwood
Come check out some of the latest and most provocative documentaries of the past several years that seek to raise awareness of the human costs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the grass-roots movement of individuals and citizen groups to reach across the divide to work for peaceful change. Films we will discuss and screen clips of include: Another Side of Peace, Encounter Point, and Another Road Home.
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