Dr Lindsay Simmonds
ISRAEL
Dr Lindsay Simmonds is a Research Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) where she has lectured for over 20 years, focussing on women in Biblical narrative, the Talmud and Jewish Law. From 2021—2024 she led a three year project at the London School of Economics (LSE), UK, researching Israeli and Palestinian women peacebuilders. Lindsay speaks regularly on peaceful shared society, interfaith relations and conflict negotiation. In 2024, she and Julie Siddiqi MBE were awarded a joint Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University, UK in recognition of “contributions and commitment to promoting interfaith understanding and engagement”. Additionally, Lindsay is co-chair of her local Jewish-Moslem Women’s Network Nisa-Nashim, Vice-Chair of trustees for the Abraham IniUaUves UK and Jewish Scholar-in-Residence for the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ). Lindsay studied for several years in Jerusalem at Nishmat Centre for Advanced Torah Study for Women and was a Bruria Scholar at Midreshet Lindenbaum; and is a graduate of LSJS Susi Bradfield Women Educators’ Fellowships. Her PhD (Department of Gender, LSE) is entitled, 'Generating Piety: Agency in the Lives of British Orthodox Jewish Women', and she actively promotes orthodox Jewish women’s education, ritual participation and leadership.
SESSION INFO
SATURDAY 3.45-4.45pm
Parshat B’ha’alotcha: ‘Journeying at G-d’s Command’
This session examines the concept of love through the priestly benediction and its accompanying blessing. I will examine the several types of love recorded in the Torah, as well as the obligations which curiously demand our love. I will reference some of the writings of Rabbi Sacks on this topic and in conclusion, I will explore why it is the priests (rather than other leaders) who best facilitate love in the world.
SATURDAY - LIMMUD IN YOUR LOUNGE
The Politics of Intimacy: Women of Faith and Peacebuilding in the Israel-Palestine Region (LIYL SESSION)
This session is taken from an academic paper given in November 2023, sharing the research findings of my fieldwork with Israeli and Palestinian women peacebuilders during 2021-2023. It explores the anthropological meanings of friendship and the implication to peacebuilders in this specific conflict region.
SUNDAY 2.40-3.40pm
Speaking Truth to Power: How Jewish leaders are encouraged to hold authority to account
This session will analyse the multiple occasions in which Biblical characters question the actions of political and religious leadership as well as God. In so doing they often shift both the narrative story and innovate Jewish Law. Examples include: Abraham, Elijah, Miriam, the Daughters of Tzlofchad and Esther.
SUNDAY 4-5pm
Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence. Why are religion and violence so intertwined and (how) can they be disentangled?
Not in God’s Name is essentially, Rabbi Sacks’ argument against the very concept of what is termed ‘Religious Violence’, and in the way, the second title of the book ‘Confronting Religious Violence’ is not so much about confronting violence perpetuated in the name of religion, rather it is arguing against the notion itself. This session explores and critiques Rabbis Sacks’ three main foci of argumentation: firstly, religious literature and normative practice; secondly, philosophical thought; and lastly, cultural, social and political movements — each of which either generate or perpetuate this violence.