Sex Therapy Training Program, School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Israel and is certified as a sex therapist in Israel and the U.S. He is in private practice as a sex and marital therapist in Jerusalem, has authored some 40 articles and book chapters and writes and lectures extensively on cultural sensitivity and sexuality. He is also the co-author, along with Dr. Jennie Rosenfeld, of Et Le’ehov (A Time to Love): The Newlywed’s Guide to Physical Intimacy, the first book to offer guidance and advice on marital intimacy for Orthodox Jewish couples, and which serves as a model for understanding the interface between traditional religions and sexuality.

Dr. Ribner is an associate editor of the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy and is a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists; the Israel Society for Sex Therapy; the International Academy for Sex Research; and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

The Groggers:

The Groggers are a Jewish pop-punk band with a comic twist. Based out of NYC, the band formed in early 2010 when singer/songwriter L.E. Staiman recruited musicians Ari Friedman and Chemy Soibelman for a spontaneous music video shoot of his original punk anthem called "GET". The video, which covered the issue of withholding a Jewish divorce, became an instant success on YouTube and garnered the att...ention of several prominent bloggers and websites, specifically ones that dealt with this sensitive issue. Following the success of their first video, The Groggers released their second video "EIshes Chayil" in November of 2010. The video featured Jewish music legend Rav Shmuel and was well received by critics and fans alike.

Maggid Yitzhak Buxbaum:

Rabbi Yitzhak Buzbaum is an inspired and inspiring teacher and storyteller, one of those reviving the honorable calling of the Maggid (preacher), who in times part travelled from community to community to awaken Jews to the beauty of their tradition. Yitzhak teachers and tells stories with warmth and humor, He often sets the mood by leading singing. And he creates the exciting and enlivening atmosphere of a special event, in which everyone is involved.

Author of numerous publications Yitzhak has lectured and told stories at synagogues, JCC's, Y's, Hillels, and retreats, producing enthusiastic responses. He has taught at CAJE conferences, Havurah Movement Summer Institutes, the Elat Chayyim Jewish Retreat Center, the New York Open Center, the New Age Center (Nyack, N.Y.) and the renowned New School for Social Research (New York, N.Y.).

Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom:

Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavne, RIETS and Yeshivat Har Etzion before receiving ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. Rabbi Etshalom has been a dynamic and exciting educator in the Los Angeles community since his return in 1985. His ability to reach out to today's youth and share with them his passion for Jewish learning and Jewish life has enriched many young lives. His talents, however, are not confined to the classroom - he is an accomplished storyteller, radio host and songwriter and has produced tapes of both his own stories and music. Rabbi Etshalom, whose first book "Between the Lines of the Bible" was published by Yashar Books in March, 2006, serves on the faculties of the Yeshiva of Los Angeles and the Simon Wiesenthal Center as Associate Director of Project Next Step, along with serving as chair of the Bible Department at the prestigious Yeshiva University High Schools of Los Angeles. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Stefanie and their 5 children.

JM in the AM:

JM in the AM, the morning Jewish music radio show hosted by Nachum Segal.

Dr. Norman Lamm:

Dr. Lamm has gained wide recognition for his writings and discourses on interpretation of Jewish philosophy and law, especially in relation to problems involving science, law, technology and philosophy in the modern world. He has authored 10 books, including The Religious Thought of Hasidism: Text and Commentary, which won the coveted 1999 Jewish Book Award in Jewish Thought.

Rabbi Lamm has edited or co-edited more than 20 volumes, including The Library of Jewish Law and Ethics. He was the founder and first editor of Tradition and associate editor of Hadarom, a journal of Jewish law; founder of the Torah U-Madda Journal; and founder of the Orthodox Forum.

Film Screening of Restoration:

Rabbi Moshe Shamah:

Rabbi Shamah-Rabbi Moshe Shamah studied in some of the finest rabbinical seminaries, including Ner Israel Rabbinical College and Beth medrash Govoha of Lakewood. He received a Master's degree in education from Loyola College of Maryland. He went on to found Sephardic Institue in 1968, which he actively heads until this day. Also in 1968, he began studying with Rabbi Solomon D. Sassoon and became his close disciple.

Rabbi Shamah served as the long-time principal of Sephardic High School, and leads a congregation in Brooklyn, NY where he currently resides with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Eli Lebowics:

Eli is an up and comer in the Jewish standup comedy world, and he is moving quickly. Before graduating Yeshiva College in 2011, Eli has already performed at different comedy clubs like Caroline’s on Broadway, Standup New York and Comix. He has also performed at Brandeis University, University of Maryland, and NYU, and won the HASC Comedy Contest in 2009.

Film Screening of For My Father:

The 2008 film, “For My Father,” will be shown on February 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lamport Auditorium. The film, from director Dror Zahavi, is about a Palestinian who finds himself in Tel Aviv for Shabbat with ulterior motives. Both films will be followed by a post-screening discussion with Noemi Schory, renowned Israeli filmmaker, educator and producer for Yad Vashem. Schory will also conduct workshops on campus and will screen her 2010 award-winning film, "A Film Unfinished," which examines how German cameramen manipulated film images in the Warsaw Ghetto to create Nazi propaganda.

Yisroel Juskowitz:

Yisroel’s spiritual and creative journey continued when songs began coming to him, often at significant moments in his life. He began singing the songs and playing the guitar to accompany them. He eventually met up with master guitarist and sound producer C Lanzbom. C Lanzbom accompanied the late Shlomo Carlebach for many years on his musical tours and later gained a worldwide following with his band Soul Farm. The CD also came with the help of other gifted musicians and singers, and is titled “The Narrow Bridge.”Yisroel hopes to continue his creative journey and entertain people and also inspire people to grow closer to G-d through his works.

David Gordon:

Ta-Shma Orchestra:

Ta Shma Orchestra is a young, vibrant group playing a well blended sound of Jam, Soul, and Funk with Jewish and Chassidic roots. The name Ta Shma is Aramaic and means "Come and Listen", and is what the band invites all to do. To come share a unique musical experience filled excitement and energy. Ta Shma Orchestras tries to present a innovative sound that can satisfy the pallets of all listeners.

Art Expo with Stan Lebovic:

Moments after entering the world on March 24th, 1963 in Los Angeles, California, the infant is cradled in his father’s arms, the left one tattooed with the concentration camp number B-14529.

Stan (Shlomo) Lebovic studied at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. He has owned several illustrative service companies, and before devoting himself exclusively to Black is a Color he published a children’s book, which received a Toy of the Year Award and was featured in Disneyworld and on the QVC Television Network.

Upon completion of Black is a Color, Mr. Lebovic’s spiritual appetite and perpetual existential angst set their sights on what is arguably the most widely read piece of literature in the Jewish world: The Passover Haggadah.

Titled Out of Bounds, his interpretation of the Haggadah has been hailed as a work, “... not only [to] be read but [to] be studied, absorbed and savored ...” Mr. Lebovic has once again exposed us to the richness and extreme relevance found deep within traditional Jewish thought.

His spiritual struggle as a survivor’s son has without a doubt molded him, and the art he creates.

Shlomo Gasin:

JudaBlue was formed in 2002 by band members Yaniv Hoffman and Shlomo Gaisin when they met at the MJBHA in 7th grade. Shlomo played saxophone and Yaniv played guitar and one day they started jamming together. The musical connection was great and after a few months of busking on the streets and playing with different people they decided to try to put a band together. At first they had planned to be called Yield to Pedestrians but that quickly faded. Yaniv transferred to a different school, CESJDS, a year later for 8th grade and there he met more musicians. Eventually the band had a group of two guitars, sax, vocals and drums. As a more serious band seemed to come together the members decided on the name JudaBlue. Because of the name’s very humble origin and good ring, they felt it fit them well and since then, they have never regretted the name. The band went through different changes in musicians until about 2007 when they took things to the next level and came together with musicians Shlomo Gaisin (vocals), Yaniv Hoffman (rhythm guitar), Moti Schnapp (lead guitar), Danny Feinberg (Bass), Ravi Brooks (drums). Their core genre is rock but their influences are collected from all sorts of musical spheres such as Pop, Reggae, Soul, Jazz, Classical, Funk etc.

David Shabtai:

Rabbi David Shabtai, MD is the author of Defining the Moment: Understanding Brain Death in Halakhah (New York: Shoresh Press, 2012) and is a fellow of the Wexner Kollel Elyon at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). He received his medical doctorate from NYU School of Medicine and rabbinic ordination from RIETS.

Rabbi Dr. Shabtai teaches Jewish Medical Ethics at Yeshiva University and RIETS and lectures on various topics in Jewish law. He is particularly interested in the interface between science, medicine, and Jewish law. He has authored numerous articles on a wide range of topics published in The Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society, Hakirah, Assia, Journal of Jewish Medical Ethics, and Beit Yitzhak. He is also a contributor and editor of Verapo Yerape

Rabbi Neil Winkler:

Rabbi Neil N. Winkler is the spiritual leader of the Young Israel of Fort Lee where he has served since 1978. He was graduated from Yeshiva University with a BA in History in 1969 and ordained with a Masters Degree in Biblical studies in 1972. Rabbi Winkler served in pulpits in Cincinnati and Trenton, before becoming the founding Rabbi of the Young Israel of Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

A well-known lecturer in Jewish History and Thought, Rabbi Winkler is a frequent speaker at the Jewish Community Center of Bergen County (JCC on the Palisades) and neighboring synagogues and yeshivot.
He is also closely involved in Israeli affairs, serving as the American liaison to the Ichud Harabbanim Haolami (The International Organization of Rabbis) and the vice president in charge of Israeli affairs of the Conference of Young Israel Rabbis. Rabbi Winkler was a founding member of, and spokesman for, the Committee for the Preservation of Eretz Hakodesh and, in that capacity, has met with the political leadership of both Israel and the United States. Over these past three years Rabbi Winkler and his wife have led three missions to Israel together with Emunah of America.

Joshua Golding:

In the fall of 2007, a few students at Yeshiva University came to a startling realization: Jewish collegiate a cappella groups had been formed on almost every college campus with a substantial Jewish student community - every campus, that was, except for YU! This realization soon led to the formation of the Maccabeats, YU’s all-male a capella group. At first, the Maccabeats sang mostly in the privacy of their own practice room, developing a repertoire. Soon, though, their music began to spread and be performed all over campus at a plethora of university events and atnumerous concerts. The Maccabeats have sinceperformed all around the country, from New York's Madison Square Garden to Los Angeles, California (and everywhere in between).

Strongly committed to the philosophy of Torah u-Madda, the integration of traditional and secular wisdom, the Maccabeats perform an eclectic array of Jewish, American, and Israeli songs. Their breakthrough piece,Lecha Dodi, is the epitome of this synthesis, combining some of the most beloved words of Jewish liturgy with Leonard Cohen's meaningful and melodic Hallelujah.

Rabbi Gil Student:

Student was raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, where his parents still live. A 1994 graduate of Yeshiva College, Yeshiva University.

Student's writings appear mainly on the Internet on his blog, Hirhurim Musings. They also appear in newspapers and journals on a variety of Judaic topics including Jewish medical ethics and Yeshiva University.

The Hirhurim blog was ranked "Best Jewish Religion Blog" and #3 in categories "Best Series" and "Best Overall Blog" for 2005 in the JIBs competition and has been mentioned in The Wall Street Journal for declining to run an ad for "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris. He has also been mentioned in "Yeshiva University's student newspapers The Commentator and The Observer.

Film Screening of Three Mothers:

The festival concludes with “Three Mothers” on February 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Lamport Auditorium. The 2006 film explores Israel’s history through the lives of three Egyptian-born sisters and is a powerful study of an Egyptian family of prominence that leaves Egypt for Israel in the 1950s. Director Dina Zvi-Riklis will take questions from the audience after the screening.

Professor Smadar Rosensweig:

Except Saturday:

Started in 2004, Except Saturday offers a new take on jewish music- mixing acoustic, alternative, rock, and pop sounds with both Jewish and secular concepts. Except Saturday was formed in Brooklyn, New York by Singer/Songwriter Erez Cohen. Soon joined by Jeremy Linder on keyboards, and Elan Kugel in the percussion section Except Saturday began to take form. Except Saturday became a band, not just an idea.

Maccabeats:

In the fall of 2007, a few students at Yeshiva University came to a startling realization: Jewish collegiate a cappella groups had been formed on almost every college campus with a substantial Jewish student community - every campus, that was, except for YU! This realization soon led to the formation of the Maccabeats, YU’s all-male a capella group. At first, the Maccabeats sang mostly in the privacy of their own practice room, developing a repertoire. Soon, though, their music began to spread and be performed all over campus at a plethora of university events and atnumerous concerts. The Maccabeats have sinceperformed all around the country, from New York's Madison Square Garden to Los Angeles, California (and everywhere in between).

Strongly committed to the philosophy of Torah u-Madda, the integration of traditional and secular wisdom, the Maccabeats perform an eclectic array of Jewish, American, and Israeli songs. Their breakthrough piece,Lecha Dodi, is the epitome of this synthesis, combining some of the most beloved words of Jewish liturgy with Leonard Cohen's meaningful and melodic Hallelujah.

Mazal Alouf-Mizrahi:

Rabbi Nati Helfgot:

Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot is Chair of the Tanakh and Jewish Thought departments, and a maggid shiur in Talmud at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. He served as Judaic Studies curriculum coordinator at the Maayanot Yeshiva High School in Teaneck ,N.J. for six years. He previously taught at the Frisch Yeshiva High School for 8 years. He received Semicha from the RIETS in 1989. A close student of Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein, he is co-editing two volumes of R. Lichtenstein’s Hebrew essays for publication, as well as a volume of letters written by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt”l for the Toras Ha-Rav foundation.