European Conference of Women Rabbis, Cantors, Scholars and all Spiritually Interested Jewish Women and Men

BET DEBORA

To the German Version (incl. pictures)

Berlin / 13 - 16 May 1999 / 27 Iyar - 1 Sivan 5759

BET DEBORA initiated by Elisa Klapheck, 
Lara Dämmig, Dr. R. Monika Herweg

Thursday, May 13

• 16.00 Women on the Bima
  Opening Discussion with speakers and special guests
  Opening lecture - Daniela Thau (English)

• 18.30 Mifgash
  Buffet Reception
  Speakers:
  - - Dr. Andreas Nachama, Vorsitzender der Juedischen Gemeinde zu Berlin
  - - Norma Drimmer, Kulturdezernentin der Juedischen Gemeinde zu Berlin
  - - Anna Gertraude Schmidt, Referatsleiterin im Bundesministerium fuer
  Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
  - - Helga Korthaase, Landesfrauenbeauftragte
  - - Nicola Galliner, Director of the Juedische Volkshochschule zu Berlin

• 20.00 Lectures:
  -- History of Women in the Rabbinate
  Rabbi Dr. Sybil Sheridan (English)
  - - Experiences as the First Woman Rabbi In Germany since the Shoa
  Rabbi Bea Wyler: (German)

Friday, May 14

• 9.00 Shacharit Service
  Rabbi Katalin Kelemen & Katka Novotna (English)

• 10.00 Lecture:
  The concept of "The Voluntary Jew"
  Dr Diana Pinto (English)

• 11.00 Discussion
  Egalitarian Communities in Eastern and Western Europe
  Discussion with Hadass Golandsky, Rabbi Katalin Kelemen, Dr Susanna
  Keval, Nelly Kogan, Cantor Pamela Rothmann-Sawyer (German & English)

• 12.30 Lunch

• 14.00–16.30 Workshops:
  -- The Status of Women in Community Life, Ritual Functions and the Rabbinate - Discrepancy between Equal Rights and Their Implementation
  Rabbi Dr Sybil Sheridan, Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild (English)
  - - Jewish Education in Eastern Europe
  Rabbi Jane Kanarek, Nelly Kogan (English)
  - - Exegesis and Freedom - Female Points of View on Rabbincal Literature
  Prof. Dr Eveline Goodman-Thau (German)
  - - On Being a Lesbian Rabbi
  Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah (English)
  - - Contemporary Reading of Midrashic Literature
  Freema Gottlieb (English)
  - - Between Tradition and Trauma - Jewish Women of the "Second" and "Third" Generation in Germany
  Dr Susanna Keval (German)
  - - Leining - Theory and Practice
  Cantor Pamela Rothmann-Sawyer (German & English)

• 16.30 Preparation for Shabbat
  -- Walking tour 'In the footsteps of Regina Jonas' - History of Emancipation of Jewish Women in Berlin
  walking tour with Iris Weiss (German)
  -- Mikva visit (Oranienburger Str. 28 / 29)

• 19.30 Kabbalat Shabbat
  Cantor Pamela Rothmann-Sawyer & Nelly Kogan

• ca. 20.30 Dinner
  Restaurant "Rimon" (Oranienburger Straße 26) 

Saturday, May 15

• 10.00 Shabbat Service "British Style"
  Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild, Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah,
  Rabbi Dr Sybil Sheridan, Rabbi Daniela Thau

• Kiddush and Lunch

• 15-16.30 Study and Relaxation

• Shiurim
  - - The Parasha through Feminist Eyes
  Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah (English)
  - - Rosh Chodesh Ceremonies
  Jacqueline Rothschild (German)
  - - New Concepts of God in Liturgy
  Prof. Dr Judith Frishman (English)
  - - New Rituals - Menopause, Dying, etc.
  Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild (English)
  - - Shabbat on Shabbat? - Alternative Sanctifications of Shabbat
  Rabbi Daniela Thau (German)
  - - A Week before Shavuot - Ruth in the Midrash
  Freema Gottlieb (English)
  - - Historical Discussion with Hanna Hochmann, Dr Ilse Perlman,
  Shoshana Ronen: Which Experiences Can the Older Generation
  Pass to the Younger One?
  moderated by Iris Weiss (German)
  - - Leining - Theory and Practice
  Cantor Pamela Rothmann-Sawyer

• 17.00 Lectures
  - - Study and Prayer; the Pillars of Jewish Tradition -
  Concept of a Jewish Culture Critique
  Prof. Dr Eveline Goodman-Thau (German)
  - - Reconstructing a Useable Past
  Prof. Dr Judith Frishman (English)

• 20.00 Dinner and a Music Programme
  - - Chasanut and Jewish Songs - Avitall Gerstetter (Soprano) and
  Chawa Gerstetter (Piano)
  - - Songs of Sarah Siegmann (Pianist and Singer)
  - - Belly Dancing by Jessica Jacoby

• 22.00 Havdala and Rosh Chodesh
  Miriam Rosengarten and Rivka Jaussi

 Sunday, May 16

• 10.00 Rosh Chodesh Service
  Rabbi Jane Kanarek & Rabbi Bea Wyler

• 11.30 Panel Discussion
  Is the Synagogue the Right Place for Emancipation?
  BET DEBORA - Summary and Perspectives

• 16.00 Concert
  Chasanut - Songs of the Synagogue
  Experiences as a Cantor and a Praying Woman by Mimi Sheffer

• 18.30 Walking Tour
  History and New Developments in Jewish Life
  Walking Tour by Iris Weiss (German)

Speakers and Organisers