New Israel Fund @ Limmud:

Sponsoring these sessions with Hagai El-Ad

Executive Director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the country's leading human rights organization. Monday 28 December – Tuesday 29 December

Session 1: City of Borders (film)

Monday 28 December 12:30pm

Location: Hum 2 (Cinema)

Dir. Yuri Suh/ Israel 2009/ 66 mins/ Hebrew, Arabic. English subtitles Shushan was the only gay bar in Jerusalem. It forms the heart of this inspiring documentary investigating the ongoing tensions between secular and religious society in Israel and Palestine and the experience of Jerusalem’s gay community. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the Executive Director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Hagai El-Ad together with Alexander Bodin Saphir, co-chairman on NIF New Generation.

Session 2: Judaism and the future of Israeli Democracy (Panel)

Monday 28 December 5pm

Location: Arts - Conference

'A halachic state is no state.' So sang Hadag Nachash at Limmud Conferences past. But what is the future of Judaism and democracy in the state of Israel? What have been the impact of recent political shifts, including the dramatic rise of a new secular party. Can Judaism and democracy ever truly co-exist in the Jewish state and how should Israel relate to its large and growing non-Jewish minority? Our diverse panel will tackle these complex and emotive questions.

Session 3: Uncivil Liberties: Are Israel’s Democratic Values Under Attack?

Monday 28 December 7pm

Location: Ram 2

In recent years, we have witnessed an upsurge in racism and an erosion in Israelis' respect for democratic values and human rights. These trends have been encapsulated in a spate of anti-democratic legislative proposals which adversely affect minority groups, particularly Israel's Arab minority. We will discuss the potential ramifications of these developments on Israel's democracy and what ACRI is doing to counter them.

Session 4: Can Israel Just Be?

Tuesday 29 December 12:30pm

Location: Sci 4

As Israel's main government watchdog over the past 37 years, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel has much experience with both hugging and wrestling with Israel. We will discuss the dilemmas inherent in critiquing Israel but also, and ultimately, the benefits of seeking social change.