TORONTO, October 11, 1996 -- How can Jewishness and Judaism thrive in a period of unprecedented changes in North America and around the world? What will the Jewish future be in the 21st century?

Questions such as these will be addressed by international scholars and community and student leaders at an upcoming conference, Creating the Jewish Future, to be hosted by the Centre for Jewish Studies on Oct. 19 to 21 at York University.

The conference will be chaired by York University Professor Irving Abella. OtherYork professors on the organizing committee include: Michael Brown, Sydney Eisen, Bernie Lightman, and Rachel Schlesinger. The conference will bring together prominent international scholars, faculty and student leaders, and community leaders and professionals within the Jewish community, from Canada and abroad. They will consider the most important aspects of Jewish life as the next century approaches. Academic presentations and workshops will assess current conditions and suggest new strategies, policy guidelines, and model programs for Jewish continuity.

"What is happening now is that Jews inside and outside of Israel are at a crossroads," says Michael Brown, director of York's Centre for Jewish Studies.

"We are living in a period in which many people, Jews and non-Jews alike, are calling into question issues of tradition, beliefs and modes of organization that have been handed down over the centuries. Since Jews are a small minority group, these questions impact more severely than they might for a larger group, and this conference will attempt to explore these changes and challenges that we will face in the years ahead."

Approximately 300 people are expected to attend the conference, which includes six sessions and 14 internationally recognized scholars. This conference aims to encourage dialogue between scholars and community activists. During workshops, community leaders and professionals can interact with the speakers and with each other.

Bernie Ghert, a local business executive, philanthropist, and past president of the Toronto Jewish Federation, is sponsoring the conference. Among the scholars who will be participating are: Prof. Aviezer Ravitzky of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem; Rabbi Gunther Plaut, senior scholar at Holy Blossom Temple; Prof. Paula Hyman of Yale University; Prof. Alvin Schiff of Yeshiva University in New York; Prof. Norma Joseph of Concordia University; and noted Israeli author Hillel Halkin.

"With this conference, we are looking well beyond the local Jewish community," Brown says. "We will be trying to provide analyses and program suggestions that will be useful for Jews in North America and around the world."

Session topics include: