“As there is absolutely no anti-Semitism or attack against the Jewish faith or Judaism in general, we strongly reject any objections to our agenda.” I agree, XOXO, lean too toward the rabbis.  This statement sounds defensive, no?
Scholarship should be broad to include divergent minds to ascertain the truth pursued in investigating such issues.
I think the conference looks interesting but not a balanced representation of view points of interpretation.
As Nietzsche states: everything is subject to interpretation and the interpretation that prevails at any given time is a function of power and not truth.  Scholarship should pursue truth, not present a point of view from one side; then, it remains a function of power - of who controls the agenda.