The Leon Cebon Memorial Lecture series for 2012 will explore the timeless text of the Bible from various angles and through multiple lenses. We will have speakers who will probe the text, primarily as a source for the study of moral thinking and action, showing us how it merits towering above other great works and more contemporary sources. We will have speakers who will show us the beauty of the TaNaKh as a body of literature, thus having a powerful and continuous impact upon our collective psyche and spirit. All the teachers will show how Jews live with these texts and how each generation has lived on through its “readings,” piling up meaning onto it and deriving truth from it over the ages. It has thus become a living wellspring for us to this day.

The 2012 lecture series was planned by Ann Cebon, Rabbi Stephen Boroda, Dr Deborah Golvan, Professor Bernard Rechter and Rabbanit Tzipi Boroda.

LECTURE 1

DATE: Thursday 9 February 2012, 7.00pm
SPEAKER: Dr Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg - live and direct from Jerusalem
TOPIC: If A Lion Roars: The Voice of Revelation

Dr Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg will allow us to look far deeper than we can see on the surface into the manifold layers of meaning in Torah. With a masterful and wide literary net, she will catch us pearls of wisdom, lying there waiting to be uncovered. There will be more than relevance in her teaching of Torah. We will see the words that we have seen so many times, yet see them anew as they emerge reassembled from different thought-scapes. We will become aware of teachings by Jewish Masters that crystallise the most compelling thoughts that come from any literature ever written.

Dr Zornberg earned a PhD in English literature from Cambridge University and worked as a lecturer in the English Department at Hebrew University, before turning to the teaching of religion. She has conducted classes in Torah for thousands of students at several different institutions in Israel. She also lectures widely in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and holds a visiting lectureship at the London School of Jewish Studies, an affiliate of the University of London.

Matan Institute, Jerusalem has kindly agreed to share Dr. Zornberg’s Thursday morning lecture spot with us in Melbourne as a two-way Skype. She will see us and involve us in her lecture. Matan is a wonderful institute of higher Torah Learning for women, like a Kollel for women at different stages in life. The goal is to establish a generation of expert Jewish leadership-women who are passionate about the Torah, maintaining a heightened sensitivity toward the needs of other individuals and the community.

If you cannot see the poster below, click the button to view the PDF version.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Tuesday 13th October, 8:30 pm

Speaker: Mark Regev, Spokesman and Foreign Press Advisor for the Prime Minister of Israel

Topic: What Will Make A Real Peace?

Q & A moderated by Dr Mark Baker, Director, Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation Associate Professor, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Monash University.

The KHC Library has existed since the 1960s. in June 2008 the KHC Library joined the Makor Jewish Library Network. The KHC Library includes a collection of mainly Jewish religious books and objects but also books about Jewish history, culture, music and literature, education, adult fiction and non fiction as well as children's books on Jewish themes, both fiction and non-fiction. The library and its archives includes the historical records of the Congregation, and educational materials for the teaching of Hebrew, Jewish history, Jewish culture and religion and music as well as objects and art works of religious significance.

Rabbi Stephen Boroda is the director of the KHC Library. Rabbi Boroda has a Bachelor of economics and Social Studies, a BA in Literature and an MA in Education as well as his rabbinical qualification. These staff work part time in the library. Leonie Fleiszig, Director of the Makor Library, is consulted with regard to professional library issues.

There is a volunteer Library Committee which reports to the President of KHC, Dr. Psyc. Deborah Golvan and Executive of the Board of Management of the Congregation.

The Library Committee includes:
Chairperson:
Ms Lynda Walters
Members:
Ms Cynthia Benporath
Ms Carol Bloustein
Ms Judy Krape
Ms Alice Zydower

'The KHC Library and Education Fund finances our Library and its educational program to:
1) purchase new books and other materials;
3) maintain a catalogue of our books which is (delete already) linked to the Makor Jewish Library network;
4) lend books to our members and the general public;
5) maintain the library rooms and additional reading/lecture rooms;
6) provide lectures and educational programs associated with our collection to adults and children; and
7) print publications educating out members and the general public about our books and our educational program.

Donations to the KHC Library and Education Fund are tax deductible.'

KHC Library Rules

Members of the public may borrow from the library upon production of appropriate identification Two (2) books may be borrowed at any one time Books may be borrowed for a period of four (4) weeks No reference books may be removed from the library

The Library is open for borrowing at these times:
Mondays 10.00am to 2.00pm
Tuesdays 10.00am to 2.00pm
Wednesdays 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Thursdays 10.00am to 2.00pm

Lost or damaged books must be paid for at replacement value.

The Library is at present closed for a major clean, stock take and catalogue, however, if individuals are keen to view and study from books on the premises this can be arranged by contacting Rabbi Boroda.

For further information, please contact the Library.