Limmud Annual Review 2016 EVENTS IN 2016

Limmud’s promise is that, wherever you find yourself, Limmud will take you one step further on your Jewish journey.

In 2016 there were 84 Limmud groups in 44 countRies

Arava Chile Liverpool Philadelphia Arizona China Manchester Czech Republic Mar del Plata (FSU) Durban Melbourne St Petersburg (FSU) Baltics Mexico Barcelona Galil Miami Bay Area Michigan Belarus (FSU) Haifa Modi’in WM Helsinki Moscow (FSU) (FSU) Bogota (FSU) Netherlands Uruguay Boston New Orleans Vancouver India New York Vienna Italy New York (FSU) Volga-Ural (FSU) Cambridge New Zealand West Coast(FSU) Canada (FSU) LA Oresund Winnipeg Canberra Limmud Conference Ottawa Yeroham Limmud in the Woods Perth

2 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Message from the Chairs

Dear friends Limmud has had another strong year and it is a pleasure to be able to share this with you in this DAVID year’s Limmud Annual Review.

Volunteering is the beating heart of Limmud and I am HOFFMAN delighted that in 2016 we had some 4,000 volunteers involved in Limmud projects. If you’re not a volunteer, please do find your local Limmud community and join in; if I’d also like to thank our hard-working staff, led by Chief you are, please keep volunteering! Executive Eli Ovits, who has already made a real mark on the It’s a particular pleasure to be able to mark 10 years of organisation through his dedication to and enthusiasm for Limmud International, a project of which we are extremely the role, together with Alanna Lewis, Suzy Margulies, Max proud. You can read more about this in the message from Naar and Jonathon Leader, with a special mention to Dani David Bilchitz, Chair of Limmud International. Serlin who moved on this year after five years at Limmud and takes our very best wishes with her. Our thanks also to , Limmud’s Senior Consultant, who contributes In 2016 there were in so many ways, and to Sara Averick who has continued to 74 Limmud events ensure that Limmud’s profile is expanding worldwide. The work of Limmud is also made possible by the generous Run by 4000 support of many organisations and individuals, but in particular the Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe, volunteers UJA-Federation of New York, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the Natan Fund, the Dutch With 35,000 Jewish Humanitarian Fund (JHF), the Pears Foundation, the Jewish Youth Fund, the Shoresh Charitable Trust as well as participants the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee which directly supports many Limmuds around the world and our We’re also marking twenty years of the Limmud Chavruta other donors and supports. Project by revising and reissuing the first Limmud Chavruta And of course, all of this only happens because of the hard book. There have now been 20 different chavruta books, work and dedication of all the many thousands of people providing each with a different theme and a wide range around the world who generate Limmud communities of texts. Chavruta study, in pairs or small groups, is and create Limmud events. To all of you, my thanks, and the embodiment of learning in a community, which is congratulations on all the plentiful and various results of a core value of Limmud. A hearty shekoyach to all the your labours. many volunteers who have contributed to all of the chavruta books. Please do check it out if you’re coming to We have exciting plans to develop the support we provide Conference, or contact us to order your own copy. for our growing Limmud communities all round the world, but what we can do is limited most of all by the need for I’d like to take this chance to thank some of our volunteers in the leadership and organisation of Limmud, particularly volunteers to step forward and help. So if you want to get my colleagues on the board of trustees: Karen Radkowsky, involved with Limmud in any way, please do get in touch. David Bilchitz, Shoshana Bloom, Jonathan Walters and Thank you for your support and David Renton, with especial thanks to those who finished I look forward to seeing you at this year or are coming to the end of their terms. Thanks one of our Limmud events also to the UK Committee, the Limmud International Steering Group and all our teams of volunteers who work B’shalom behind the scenes to support everything that Limmud david Hoffman, does. There are too many to list them all here. Chair of Limmud

Limmud Annual Review 2016 3 kevinMe ssaseftonge & d afrovid bilchitzm th e Chairs message from the chairs

David bilchitz These organisational adjustments are part of our plans to sustain and increase the support we provide to volunteers world-wide. We are working to implement the five-year ‘Judaism is a religion of time aiming at the strategy which Limmud groups helped develop last year sanctification of time. Unlike the space-minded at Limmud Conference. That strategy includes more man to whom time is unvaried, iterative, individual attention for groups, the development of homogenous, to whom all hours are alike, better international systems, continued volunteer training, qualitiless, empty shells, the Bible senses the funding opportunities to build the organisational capacity diversified character of time. There are no of Limmud groups, and our dream of a global volunteer two hours alike. Every hour is unique and the mifgash (meeting). If you are interested in volunteering to only one given at the moment, exclusive and help us realise any of these initiatives, please let us know. endlessly precious’. During the time of my tenure as Limmud International AJ Heschel, The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man, 1951 chair, we have developed a regional approach to building Limmud across the world. The Limmud International These famous words uttered by the great thinker and Steering Group now includes volunteers from eight moral icon Abraham Joshua Heschel draw our attention to regions. We are also building regional structures to help the importance of time in Jewish tradition. Every occasion connect groups in these regions, to address common in our lives calls for celebration or commemoration. The difficulties and to create new opportunities and events. message of our tradition, expressed by Heschel, is to We are also investing in staff and systems to support our appreciate the diverse experiences we have at different regional and global network. moments and also to mark the key milestones on our journeys through time. I would like to thank everyone involved from the visionaries who founded Limmud and Limmud International to those Limmud International reaches the milestone of being who ensure it continues to develop each day. In particular, in existence for 10 years in 2016 and it has been a I would like to thank the Limmud International Steering remarkable success story. In 2016, Limmud groups around Group – which in the past year comprised Tamas Buchler, the world have run 74 events worldwide, with some Toby Axelrod, Shoshana Bloom, Shep Rosenman, Renato 35,000 attending. We now have 84 Limmud communities Huarte Cuellar, Tali Nates, Maya Wolk and Jenny Spektor – worldwide, on every continent. for their hard work in building the regions, their advice and The network of Limmud groups has over time become an strategic insights and commitment to the organisation. expression of Jewish people-hood in a way that reflects All in all, Limmud is continuing to innovate as we enter and celebrates the full diversity of Jewishness. The Limmud its next decade and I hope that the spirit of inclusion, leadership has sought to give expression to the idea that, in creativity and passion for all things Jewish will infuse the all that we do, we are one Limmud world-wide community, next decade of Limmud and beyond. connected by our values. As such, we do not see the need to continue with the brand “Limmud International” – as distinct from “Limmud”. We are all one Limmud community and, as such, we have developed a new logo that represents each group’s connection to the world-wide network. This will not replace anyone’s local logos: we are proud of our diversity across the world but we also want to David Bilchitz represent our unity visually. Chair of Limmud International

4 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Training on Tour

Now in its fifth successful year, Limmud’s regional development and connection programme took place in Lima and Prague in 2016, bringing together 63 leaders and organisers from 26 communities in Latin

America and Europe. Over an intensive weekend, participants shared their experiences and challenges as Limmud volunteers, exploring the possibilities for future collaboration.

LATIN AMERICA Limmud held it’s second Training on Tour seminar in Lima, There were sessions with a focus on key Limmud values Peru in April, doubling the number of participants from its such as inclusion as well as others that gave participants first iteration in Buenos Aires in 2014. Volunteers from all the chance to troubleshoot in small groups specific the Limmud communities in the region were represented, challenges they have faced in their communities. For the three of which – Bogota, Chile and Mar del Plata – had first time the topic of financial sustainability was a key formed in the two years since the first seminar. component in the programme.

Participant engagement was enhanced through the Being based in the heart of historic Jewish Prague, on the programme being facilitated almost entirely in Spanish Friday afternoon participants were given a guided walking and with a more structured Latin American connection tour of the surrounding Jewish sites. There was also focus and Jewish learning component, including morning learning each day, including an interactive role- an explanation of the Kabbalat service and play Talmud learning session with Elise Appelbaum-Peter, exploration of haggadot art with a depiction of the four wife of Prague’s Chief Rabbi on Shabbat. sons throughout the ages. Our thanks to all those who planned and led these At the close of the seminar, participants agreed to create seminars, our funding partners whose support has been a Facebook group for all the Limmud groups in Latin crucial, and to those who participated and made the America and to the formation of a Limmud Latin America seminars such a successful experience for themselves and Forum, whereby a representative from each Limmud each other. community would meet online on a monthly basis to We look forward to Training on Tour in Israel and Europe share news, best practice, troubleshoot and discuss in 2017! support emerging Limmud groups in the region.

EUROPE Limmud returned to Prague in September for the fourth Training on Tour in Europe. It was the largest intake to date, with 40 volunteers participating, representing 19 Limmud communities. Volunteers from two new communities in the region – FSU Europe and Helsinki – took part for the first time as well as other communities that had not yet participated in one of the last three seminars.

Training on Tour Europe provided a number of different learning and development opportunities. Three experienced Limmud volunteers from the UK, France and Serbia new to facilitating Training on Tour were engaged as trainers on the team.

Limmud Annual Review 2016 5 LIMMUD

ABOUT LIMMUD

From a 75-person conference just outside Thanks for Jewish educators from different Limmud acknowledges the generous support of parts of the community and their families individuals and Jewish foundations and organisations over the winter holidays in 1980, Limmud has who support our international volunteer development become a global movement. and connection activities (under the auspices of While each group is independent, we are connected by Limmud International), including Rothschild Foundation common values, training and community. (Hanadiv) Europe, UJA-Federation of New York, the Natan Fund, The Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund (JHF), Volunteers visit and support each others’ events, and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the week-long Limmud Conference each December in Pears Foundation, the Jewish Youth Fund, the Shoresh the UK remains a focal point for hundreds of volunteers Charitable Trust and the American Jewish Joint around the world to join 2,500 other participants in a Distribution Committee and UJIA. unique and intense celebration of Jewish learning and culture. SUPPORTED BY All this is held together by the Limmud organisation. Based in the UK, the organisation is the strategic Rothschild framework and governance structure for Limmud and Foundation (Hanadiv) our values. Europe

The Limmud organisation includes:

• Limmud in the UK that is responsible for all Limmud activities in the UK

• Limmud International that nurtures and supports the network of independent Limmud groups outside the UK

• Support and shared teams for marketing, finance, fundraising and other support activities

We thank everyone involved in making Limmud special, all our volunteers, our small professional team, our presenters, participants and financial supporters, without whom none of this would be possible. Each event has a story. Each person has a story.

Thank you.

6 Limmud Annual Review 2016 LImmud groups’ reports

Limmud SA Cape Town www.limmud.org.za Contact via website Last event: 19 – 22 AUG 2016 Next event: 11 – 13 AUG 2017 Africa

Limmud Cape Town 2016 exceeded all expectations on many levels. Even while celebrating 10 incredible years of Limmud in South Africa, Limmud Cape Town instituted a series of ‘firsts’ at conference:​ ​ A Shabbat Focused Mini-track, designed to give delegates ​ the option of participating in an enhanced Shabbat experience vis-a-vis pre identified text based sessions, a communal Shabbat lunch option, and a dynamic Seudah Shlishit panel on Halacha, featuring rabbis from Progressive, Conservative and Orthodox movements. All of this was in addition to the usual Shabbat conference offerings. Conference stats for 2016 proved once again that Cape Town Jewry loves Limmud. We were at venue capacity Limmud SA Durban with 550 delegates in attendance. The programme boasted 117 diverse sessions delivered by 20 international www.limmud.org.za and 68 local presenters. We are evaluating whether Contact via website Last event: 22 – 23 AUG 2016 an ample facility exists so Limmud Cape Town can be Next event: 9 AUG 2017 expanded to serve more people ​within​ the Cape Town Jewish community. Limmud Durban continues to be a precious jewel on the Limmud South African landscape. By David Jacobson, Co-Chair 2016 While Durban comprises a much smaller Jewish community the Limmud Durban team create great impact in their city. The conferences and events in Durban have a characteristic intimacy which allows participants and presents to mingle and converse in an enhanced way. The organizing committee of 10 volunteers decided to arrange two events for 2016. A Yom Limmud full day event was held in May on a public holiday. A total of 28 sessions plus young Limmud activities and a buffet lunch attracted a number of young families who had not previously attended a Limmud event as well as a core of regular Limmudniks, number over 100 participants. In August we held the traditional two evening mid- week event between the Cape Town and Johannesburg residential weekends as part of Limmud South Africa, attracting well over 120 people. In 2017 Limmud Durban will utilise a public holiday in August to hold a Yom Limmud with a specific view to building on attracting a younger demographic.

By Adina Roth, Chair of National Exec

Limmud Annual Review 2016 7 Africa Limmud groups’ REPORTS

Limmud SA Johannesburg www.limmud.org.za Contact via website Last event: 26 – 29 August 2016 Next event: 4 – 6 August 2017

2016 was a year of significant success for Limmud Johannesburg. Chief among our highlights was celebrating our largest ever residential conference with over 550 participants sharing a Limmud weekend and Shabbat filled with diverse learning and engagement. A further 400 participants joined for Sunday. This number included an unprecedented number of young adults and families, bringing a new dynamic to our community. For the first time we were also able to offer a specially designed teen track featuring some of the most innovative and diverse sessions ever seen at conference. By Adina Roth, Chair of National Exec As part of its year-long programme of activities Limmud Johannesburg hosted charity projects, quizzes, theatrical workshops and a Shavuot learning night focused upon the theme of “Ruth, the Convert” as a lens to engage with xenophobic attacks that have rocked South Africa. Beyond the traditional learning environment Limmud also hosted a walking tour of “Old Jewish Johannesburg”. Internally, 2015 was a year of important transition for Limmud Johannesburg as a core executive team with years of experience were bolstered by the addition of younger members who had not played as decisive a role in the past.

8 Limmud Annual Review 2016 limmud groups’ report

ASIA

Limmud India Contact via Facebook Limmud China Last event: 23 – 24 OCT 2015 www.limmudchina.org Next event: early 2016 [email protected] After a successful pilot residential event Last event: 2 – 4 DEC 2016 in 2014 that took place over two days Limmud China took place in outside of Mumbai, Limmud India Shanghai from 2 to 4 December returned with a one day event on 2016. The theme of this Limmud, 6 November to which about 70 people drawing inspiration from our dynamic location, was came. There were a lot of learning outcomes for next our role as a global people in shaping the future year including the need to find a bigger venue and of the global city. With sponsorship from Kehilat to recruit more local volunteers. Two volunteers are Shanghai, the city’s progressive Jewish community excited to be attending Limmud Conference UK 2016 and Shanghai’s Moishe House, as well as the JDC, for the first time and are looking forward to learning our Limmud drew participants from cities throughout more about structuring Limmud teams and also China and across Asia. Speakers covered a wide volunteer recruitment and management. range of topics, reflecting the range and diversity of knowledge and passion among Jews living in Asia.

By Rebecca Kanthor, Volunteer

Limmud Annual Review 2016 9 limmud groups’ report

AustralAsia

Limmud Canberra www.limmudshavuot.weebly.com Next event: 10 – 12 JUNe 2016

The ACT Jewish community held Limmud Shavuot again this year. It was a fantastic Limmud Melbourne three day weekend with over 30 presenters www.limmudoz.com.au including some of the top academics in the [email protected] country. Sessions ranged from improv and bibliodrama, Last event: 25 – 27 JUN 2016 to Israel and the history of Jewish rural Australia, from Next event: 9 – 11 JUN 2018 panels on youth engagement to LGBTQI and Judaism. It “Outstanding programme” was the was a fascinating spread that pleased over 220 people. constant refrain at this year’s main The atmosphere was incredible at meal times where 1600 Limmud Oz event, held in Melbourne. The plates of food left our kitchen. Kids and teens had a blast 3-day event kicked off with an innovative with an amazing youth program. Shabbat afternoon of programming, held at a community centre in the heart of Jewish Melbourne. Saturday Limmud FSU Australia night was an evening of lively and varied performances. Over the following 2 days, more than 900 participants, www.limmudfsu.org.au [email protected] including 160 presenters, were challenged, inspired and Last event: 17 – 18 SEPT 2016 entertained in 150 exciting and learning-filled sessions.

2016 has been a special year for Limmud FSU Each of the 20+ international and interstate guest Australia, marking the first Limmud FSU held brought something valuable and unique, making this in Sydney NSW! With an excited, energetic and probably the best Limmud Oz ever for Melbourne! enthusiastic group of volunteers ready to make By Annette Charak, Chair history in this unique community, many hours of planning and hard work went into making this unique festival a success. After its launch in Melbourne last year, a special community group was created called “Subbotnik”, a Shabbat project run by volunteers (some members continuing to be part of the Limmud FSU Organizing Committee in 2016). Initiatives like these show us how important it was for this special project to make its way down-under!

By Tania Shvartsman, Project Manager

10 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups’ REPORTS AUSTRALASIA

Limmud Perth www.facebook.com/lemidabekehila Contact via Facebook last event: 20 MAR 2016

With more than 35 presenters and over 350 participants, Limmud Perth’s first event at Carmel High School was a resounding success. The programme offered a diverse array of sessions facilitated by high-calibre presenters both from the local community, the eastern states and overseas. Participants experienced glass fusion art workshops to discussions on permaculture and politics in Israel, as well as exploring more local issues such as the role youth movements and whether Jewish schools should teach what Israel does wrong. Additionally, there was an interactive, fun and collaborative children’s program run by Habonim Dror, Netzer, AUJS, and Bnei Akiva. There was an inspirational environment of cross-pollination, collaborative thought and questioning that underpinned the entire day. Limmud Perth is set to become a fixture in the community calendar each year, working to contribute significantly to the strengthening and rejuvenation of Perth’s small, diverse and unique community.

Limmud NZ (New Zealand) Limmud Sydney www.limmud-oz.com.au www.limmud.org.nz [email protected] Contact via website Last event: 25 – 27 NOV 2016 Last event: 27 – 28 AUG 2016 Next event: 10 – 12 JUN 2017 Last event: 26 – 27 AUG 2017 2016 has been a sensational year for We had another huge success with Limmud Sydney. In early July we held a our LIMMUD weekend in August. Our one day Yom Limmud Sydney with over international presenters were diverse, 330 attendees, including a Young Limmud program. The knowledgeable and entertaining and program included 11 international presenters plus 20 locals. they were complemented by a large number of local presenters, many of whom have never spoken before We ran a successful event to thank our volunteer cohort and some of whom have never come to a Jewish event for their commitment. We piloted some volunteer before. A major development was the growth of a new training sessions, centred on participant experience and steering team, aided by the development step of sending worked to embed these learnings in our events. one of our team to Limmud Conference in the UK with In late November we held a residential Shabbat weekend the help of Limmud International. LIMMUD NZ is also very at a beautiful new site. We enjoyed the outdoor self-sufficient, and we had a local catering team run by atmosphere and over 32 presenters. We offered a first an 18 year old Jewish chef-in-the-making to produce a time teen program plus primary age Young Limmud as weekend’s worth of kosher food for all 350 attendees. well as some under 5s programming. Our Limmud Fest By Tanya Thomson, Limmud NZ Trustee 2017 is already sold out with over 220 people

BY Sharon Berger, Limmud Director

Limmud Annual Review 2016 11 limmud groups’ report

Limmud Belgium www.howdoyoujew.be Contact via Facebook EUROPE Last event: 21 JUN 2015 Next event: 26 MAR 2017

Limmud Belgium is at a very exciting milestone of the year: we have settled on a date for our 2017 edition! The conference will be held on Sunday 26th March at the Brussels Jewish Museum. Working on a name transition from ‘How Do You Jew?’ to Limmud Belgium, we’re Limmud Baltics brainstorming on exciting debates, workshops and talks,

Last event: 20 – 22 FEB 2015; 6 – 8 NOV 2015 both in French and in English. We hope to bring many people, including Limmudniks from around the world.

2016 has been a transitional year for Limmud By Kevin Szmir, Volunteer in the Baltics with a new team structure in formation and the possibilities of having three separate national events in Estonia, Latvia and Limmud Birmingham Lithuania as well as a pan-Baltics one every few years on www.limmud.org/day the cards. [email protected] Last event: 10 JUL 2016 Next event: 2018

Limmud (Limud) Barcelona Limmud Birmingham WM held its first day www.limudbarcelona.org Limmud in July 2016 in partnership with [email protected] the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Last event: 22 NOV, 18 DEC 2016 Foundation Trust which provided us with a free venue at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. After two years running a one day event 200 people attended the event, and for the majority it was in Barcelona, we decided to create the their first Limmud event. The feedback was overwhelmingly Asociación Limud España, aiming to positive, and we are planning another day Limmud in expand the scope of action for Limud Barcelona but also Birmingham in 2018. Two members of our team attended to implementing new programs in Barcelona and other Training on Tour in Prague, and one member of the team Spanish cities. attended the UK Northern gathering in Manchester Limud Express Spain is an initiative that brings Limmud By Marion Kinshuck, Programme Co-ordinator to other Jewish communities in Spain to enable them to experience a plural space favouring the inclusion of new voices, share knowledge and experience Jewish Limmud Cambridge life and diversity through different formats of learning www.limmud.org/day and exchange. We would like to plant the seeds for the [email protected] potential creation of future Limud activities on those cities. Last event: 19 JUN 2016

Our first activities were in Valencia and Mallorca. Limmud Cambridge had a very successful The Limud Continuous Learning project was created to 2016 event, with a strong programme, and maintain the connection within our community between a good attendance of some 550 people, plus Limud Barcelona events. For our inaugural activity a full young Limmud programme. Presenters we were joined by French rabbi Delphine Horvilleur, a highlights included Howard Jacobson, Rita Rudner and preeminent figure in the Jewish European world. More Lawrence Freedman. With new co-chairs in place, the team than 40 participants joined, learning in “chavruta” to are now starting to think about their next event, if you’d delve into the feminine world in Judaism. like to get involved please be in touch!

By Gerson Lerner, Chair

12 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups REPORTS Europe

Limmud (Limoud) France www.limoud.org [email protected] Last event: 4 – 6 MAR 2016 Next event: 3 – 5 MAR 2017

Limoud France was held in March for its 11th national event! The country we invited this year was Argentina, with a few sessions and a special tango lesson given by the consul of Argentina to France. It was a pleasure to walk in the corridor with Limmud Conference (UK) couples of all ages counting properly the right steps of www.limmud.org the dance! An exhibition of photos of Argentina was also [email protected] displayed in the lobby. The event, with 600 people, was Last event: 25 – 29 DEC 2016 a huge success on all levels. For 2017, we are planning Next event: 24 – 28 DEC 2017 our main weekend event from 3-5 March. Limoud day Limmud Conference 2016 will begin on Marseille will follow on the 30th of April and Limoud day Friday 23rd December 2016 and run Paris on the 2nd of July. for a week. Around 2,800 participants By Ruth Ouazana, Executive Director are expected for what will hopefully be the largest Limmud event to date; with hundreds of volunteers, over 400 presenters and more than 1,200 Limmud FSU Belarus sessions. www.limmud.by [email protected] Building on the successful move to Pendigo Lake, the Last event: 13 – 15 MAY 2016 team’s priorities for the year have been to deliver an Next event: 2018 event that offers Something for Everyone in terms of the programme, the social atmosphere, the facilities and On May 13-15 over 700 Russian-speaking accessibility. With chairs for 2017 already in place we Jews from all over Belarus gathered in the look forward to taking Conference one step further on its country’s capital Minsk for a third three- Jewish journey! day Limmud FSU festival. Much of this year’s Limmud was dedicated to two prominent pioneers of the Zionist By Ben Crowne and Steve Weller, movement: Abba Ahimeir and Berl Katznelson, both of Conference 2016 Co-Chairs whom had been brought up in the Belarusian town of Bobruysk. Limmud FSU founder Chaim Chesler together Limmud Czech Republic (CR) www.limmud.cz [email protected] Last event: 25 – 29 MAY 2016 Next event: 24 – 28 MAY 2017

Limmud CR’s hugely popular residential event once again sold out quickly this year. In September Limmud CR were honoured hosts for the second time to volunteers from all over Europe for Training on Tour in beautiful Prague. The volunteers provided key logistics support whilst also taking part, coming away from the valuable learning and networking experience with valuable skills, fresh ideas and inspiration for their next event.

Limmud Annual Review 2016 13 europe Limmud groups REPORTS

with members of the Katznelson and Ahimeir families Moldova participated in Training on Tour in Prague in opened a special exhibition on the history of the two September, taking many new ideas, solutions and points personalities which was shown in Minsk and later in of view back to the team. Bobruysk. Irina Abramovich, organising committee member commented “The success of this Limmud lies in the large number of participants and the special Limmud FSU Moscow programs for children. I really enjoyed the fact that there www.limmud.ru were so many participants from Ukraine, Russia and [email protected] Moldova and not just from Belarus”. Last event: 14 – 17 APR 2016 Next event: 20 – 23 APR 2017 By Larisa Popovskaya, volunteer The Moscow Limmud FSU 2016 Conference assembled together an unprecedented Limmud FSU Europe 2000 participants for its tenth anniversary www.limmudfsu.eu on April 14-16. The number of participants was so Contact via website great that two hotels were fully booked with Limmud Next event: 3 – 5 FEB 2017 participants. This was the first time that Limmud FSU has attracted such an enormous number of people. Over 200 Preparations for the first ever Limmud presenters conducted 200+ sessions. The team of some FSU Europe in London in February 2017 100 volunteers made this great event possible. Limmud are in a full gear following the hundredth Moscow for the second year in the row holds the title of anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in November 1917. the second biggest Limmud in the world. . It will be the first global Limmud event designed to attract participants from different countries in Europe. By Anna Adamskaya, Project Manager By July 2016, Limmud FSU Europe had recruited 20 “Ambassadors” in the following countries: Germany, Limmud FSU St Petersburg Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, France, Spain, Slovakia, www.limmud.spb.ru Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Switzerland, as well as in Contact via website / [email protected] other cities in the , including Jersey. Last event: 11 – 13 NOV 2016

In July also, members of the Organizing Committee and A three-day Limmud FSU festival was held in the Ambassadors gathered together for the first intensive November. The 5th Limmud FSU Petersburg 3 day preparatory seminar in London. At the seminar attracted the highest ever number of the volunteers began planning details of the event, participants, over 650 participants, more than double determining the main theme and content of the program than our last festival! The program featured lectures, as well as logistics and PR. workshops, and discussions, and included a special By Roman Kogan, Limmud FSU Executive Director presentation by Etgar Keret, an internationally-renowned best-selling Israeli author who discussed his new book “The Seven Good Years,” which was translated to Russian Limmud FSU Moldova with the assistance of Limmud FSU. www.limmudfsu.org By Yulia Karasik, Organizing Committee member [email protected] Last event: 15 – 17 MAY 2015 Next event: june 2017

Plans are underway for Limmud FSU Moldova’s biennial event in 2017, following their hugely successful 2015 event in Chisinau which was attended by over 400 people. Elena Turcan, a volunteer on the organising committee and secretary for the Jewish Community of the Republic of

14 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups REPORTS Europe

Limmud FSU Ukraine Limmud Germany www.limmud.org.ua (Limmud.de) [email protected] Last event: 3 – 6 NOV 2016 www.limmud.de/en [email protected] Some 900 young Jewish people gathered Last event: 5 – 8 MAY 2016 over the weekend for a Limmud FSU Next event: 25 – 28 MAY 2017 Ukraine’s 10th conference hosted in the Limmud Germany brought together Ukrainian cultural capital of Lviv. The conference featured hundreds of Jews for four days of senior representatives from the most important Zionist Jewish learning and bonding. The Youth Movements. Two of them, “Hashomer Hatzair” and program offered a range of topics as wide and as diverse “Bnei Akiva” have deep roots and extensive history in Lviv. as the unique Jewish community of Germany. “The greatness of Limmud FSU is its ability to gather The first and last day of this year’s festival fell together different people together, make them think, work and with Yom HaShoah and the anniversary of the end of cooperate, and even more important – to find together WW2. Both the program and a special ceremony put innovative ways to make our world a better place,” said on by young volunteers reflected on that, and many Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovoy, who attended the event’s participants felt that a Jewish event that celebrates closing ceremony at the Lviv Opera recognizing Limmud life and learning was just the right kind of symbolic FSU’s supporters. The ceremony also featured a concert response. by the Tel Aviv-based band Los Caparos. Volunteers from Limmud Germany also participated in By Iosif Akselrod, Chair Training on Tour Europe and in the LDC programme at Conference 2015. For the coming year, Limmud Limmud FSU Volga-Urals Germany is looking forward to its 10th anniversary, and to bringing Limmud further to many old and new www.limmudvu.ru [email protected] Limmudniks. The team in are also planning for Last event: 2 – 4 SEP 2016 their second Tag (Day) event in February..

The second Limmud FSU Volga-Urals conference of By Jonathan Marcus, Chair Russian-speaking Jews took place in September in the Muslim Russian republic Limmud Harrow of Kazan. Some 600 participants attended, including Kazan Jewish communal leaders, Russian and www.limmud.org/day/harrow [email protected] Israeli cultural figures, Israeli politicians and religious Last event: 15 MAR 2015 leaders and IDF generals. Like last year, the weekend Next event: 4 MAR 2017 began with the Kazan annual Jewish music festival, headlined by the Israeli band, The Shuk. The Conference Eagerly anticipated by Londoners and some featured more than 100 sessions on a broad range of Limmudniks further afield, Limmud Harrow topics including the Russian economy; balancing national held its biennial one day event in the spring, security and press freedom; Israel and global instability; drawing 1,000 participants to engage in a wide selection and a roundtable on Israeli-Russian trade. This was the of learning choices, from history and politics to the second Limmud conference in Kazan, the capital of the relationship between Buddhism and Judaism and much Russian Republic of Tatarstan, where more than 10,000 more. The team took moving to a new site, the Jewish Jews currently live Free School (JFS), in their stride and with a wider team of volunteers on the day it was a huge success. By Polina Galitskaya, Chair by Doreen Samuels, Co-Chair

Limmud Annual Review 2016 15 europe Limmud groups REPORTS

part in Training on Tour. Between May and November Limmud Helsinki Limmud volunteers received a six session training course www.limud.fi on organizational development at the Mozaik Jewish Contact via website Community HUB. This helped clarify our wider aspirations Last event: 30 – 31 JAN 2016 and more concrete goals and to get us more organized. Next event: 28 – 29 JAN 2017 Limmud Hungary will have a day limmud on 18 December in The very first Limud Helsinki was held in the Israeli Cultural Institute in central Budapest. January at the premises of the Swedish By Bálint Dóra, volunteer School of Economics in the center of Helsinki with some 250 people attending. The non- residential event opened on Saturday night after Shabbat Limmud in the Woods and went on late, and after a night’s rest also lasted all www.limmud.org/woods through Sunday. Sessions topics were on Culture, Texts & [email protected] Media, Judaism, as well as Politics & Society. Last event: 25 – 29 AUG 2016 Next event: 24 – 27 AUG 2017 Thanks to the very concept of Limud, and the fact that the steering group managed to carry out a true volunteer- We held our annual festival of Limmud led event in genuine Limmud spirit, the Limud Helsinki learning and fun in a beautiful setting in the weekend was the first time that Jews in Finland were able Oxfordshire countryside. Over a long weekend to attend an event that truly caters for everyone. of 5 days, 260 participants camping under the stars attended over 120 sessions in marquees. One participant commented in their feedback: “I never What did we do? Camp fires, Chavrutah, dancing, silent imagined I would be part of such open, tolerant, and vivid disco, religious services, live music from an international discussion about Jewish values and Jewish life in Finland”. collective, walking in the woods, singing. There were By Ariel Narbodnik, Chair sessions on inter-faith, LGBTQ Jews, Israel-Palestine, healing from our hurts, veganism & vegetarianism....and Limmud Hull many more. And of course we also just hung out in the sun (and occasional rain) on bales of straw!. www.limmud.og/day/hull By Debbie Young-Somers & Maurice Markham, [email protected] Co-chairs 2016 Next event: 7 MAY 2017

Hull now has a Limmud community planning its first event to coincide with Hull being the UK City of Culture 2017, which is likely to be an evening ‘Taste of Limmud’ style event. More information to come next year Limmud Hungary (Magyaroszág) www.limmud.hu Contact via website last event: 18 dec 2016

We had a volunteer day in April to brainstorm about the way forward for Limmud Hungary. Old volunteers as well as new “recruits” attended and the core of the current volunteer base was formed there. In September three participants travelled to Prague to take

16 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups REPORTS Europe

Limmud Keshet ExYu www.limmud-keshet-exyu.org Contact via website Last event: 7 – 10 NOV 2013 Next event: OCT 2017

Following the inspiring ideas of the new organisational team of Limmud Keshet Ex Yu and the growing interest of people from Jewish communities of ex Yugoslavia for a Limmud event in the region, after a three year break, Limmud Limmud Italia Keshet Ex Yu 2017 is beginning to be realised. With the huge support of Limmud International through education, www.limmud-italia.it [email protected] trainings and encouragement, the first preparations have Last event: 2 – 3 JUN 2016 already started. We expect about 200 people to come Next event: JUN 2017 and make Limmud Keshet Ex Yu 2017 a place to learn, Limmud Italia Day took place in June in the Florentine participate, inspire and keep up the Limmud spirit in the Renaissance spaces of Eurocentres, Palazzo Guadagni, region. in Piazza S. Spirito. During the two day event, 130 by Dragana StojanoviC, Organisation Team participants and volunteers coming from all over Italy, but also UK, Australia and USA, attended 40 presentations on various Jewish subjects, from Art to Midrash, from History Limmud Keshet Poland to Torah and Talmud, as well as workshops on Cuisine and www.limud.pl handcrafts. [email protected] Last event: 11 – 13 MAR 2016 In the evening a festive dinner was followed by a concert Limmud Keshet Poland’s hugely popular of Jewish Mediterranean Music by the singer Davide event returned in March in large part due to Saponaro and his colleague Andrea Martino, which was a social media and Kickstarter crowdfunding enjoyed by all the participants.. campaign last year. The theme of the event was By Silvia B. Servi, Co-chair 2016 ‘Responsibility’, with sessions asking participants to consider what it means to be responsible in Limmud Keshet Bulgaria the world today, to what we are and should be accountable and how being Jewish obliges us to be responsible for our www.limmud.info communities and the wider world. Participants were asked [email protected] Last event: 1 – 6 SEP 2016 to bring along dried and canned foods which were collected Next event: SEP 2017 in and donated to a local food bank for those in need.

For our 11th Limmud conference in Bulgaria we returned to the same venue as in the last three years but had more Limmud Keshet Romania international speakers than previously, including the Last event: 19 JAN 2014 Ambassador of Bulgaria in Israel and two of the World Jewish Congress vice-presidents. We are happy that we Refreshing Limmud in Romania, a small new team of doubled the volunteer team this year and have been enthusiastic volunteers re-launched Limmud with a day recognized as a major community event during a special event in Bucharest, attracting 120 participants in 2014. This meeting of Limmud volunteers with the Bulgarian Jewish was a great opportunity to introduce new local presenters Community Board. and to raise awareness of the Limmud phenomenon in the community. The team learnt a lot from this experience and By Daria Melamed and Maxim Delchev, Chairs although some key volunteers were unable to continue, there is now renewed activity, working on expanding the team and partnering with the JCC to continue the journey of Limmud in Romania.

Limmud Annual Review 2016 17 europe Limmud groups REPORTS

Limmud Leeds Limmud Netherlands www.limmud.org/day (Limmoed Nederland) [email protected] Last event: 1 NOV 2015 www.limmoed.nl Next event: 29 OCT 2017 [email protected] Last event: 20 NOV 2016 This past year Limmud Leeds have been Some 300 participants, presenters and working hard to broaden their core team and volunteers took part in a Limmoed day are now busy planning for their event to take on Sunday 20 November in the beautiful place later next year. The team will seek to location of Deventer in east Netherlands. continue to draw new people to the Limmud experience, A guided walking tour was organised for participants in including those who might not otherwise engage in the historic town of Deventer by a volunteer from the Etty Jewish learning activities. Hillesum Centre, taking them past ancient Jewish shops, By Linda Rosen, Chair houses and the old synagogue and telling the stories of prominent pre-war Jews from the town. A diverse Limmud Liverpool programme was offered featuring sessions on shechita, Jewish genealogy, Ritual and Halacha and a conversation www.limmud.org/day/liverpool between a rabbi and imam. [email protected] Last event: 6 NOV 2016

400 people flocked to Limmud Liverpool’s second biennial event at the King David School campus in November. Organisers were keen to offer a more challenging programme this year, with a choice of over 50 sessions, a strong contingent of presenting academics and themed tracks including interfaith and small communities, as well as external and internal challenges to Jewish life. Limmud Manchester www.limmud.org/day/manchester Limmud Oresund [email protected] Last event: 7 FEB 2016 (Ö / Øresundslimmud) Next event: 29 JAN 2017 www.oresundslimmud.org Moving to an annual cycle of events, no Contact via website sooner had Limmud Manchester had Last event: 28 FEB – 1 MAR 2015 Next event: 6 MAR 2016 another very successful day event in 2016, with a wide range of speakers and a very Approximately 200 participants attended enthusiastic attendance. The event is back at the same Limmud Oresund in Malmö in March venue in January 2017, so planning is well under way. where on offer were sessions in Swedish, Danish, and English. A good sign of the strength of the You can book places and find details of the exciting programme and presenters was the fact that the corridors speaker line up on our webpage. were empty! This year’s event brought five rabbis to Malmö, including four women. Many of the participants thanked us with the words “Interesting and very homey – just the right number of participants, the right number of presenters and right number of sessions. Count on me next year.”.

By Henryk Rozenberg, Lead volunteer

18 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups REPORTS Europe

Limmud Scotland Limmud Turkey www.limmud.org/day www.limmudtr.org [email protected] [email protected] Last event: 8 MAR 2015 Last event: 12 – 13 NOV 2016 Next event: NOV 2017 The Scotland Limmud team is starting to plan their next event. If you’d like to help The year 2016 has been and continues out, do get in touch! to be difficult in Turkey. Due to terror threats, numerous international presenters we wanted to invite did not accept our Limmud Stockholm invitation. Nevertheless, we were able to put together a www.limmud.se remarkable program and attract great numbers still for Contact via website our 12th Limmud conference. Limmud Turkey remains a Last event: 19 – 20 NOV 2016 unique fixture in the Turkish Jewish community, with no Next event: 18 – 19 NOV 2017 other programs like it.

Limmud Stockholm 2016 welcomed By Lina Filiba, Organizing Committee around 1000 delegates and 100 presenters offering more than 100 sessions. Probably the best Limmud ever! There were a few ‘firsts’ at our conference this year. A Nordic programme looking at the differences in experiences between the Nordic countries before the war and the holocaust. How have those experiences affected the way the countries deal with the wave of refugees from the south? Another new aspect was our Young Limmud programme for 3-11-year-olds. Now that we have piloted this we better understand the possibilities for next year. Last but not least, we launched our great looking app!

By Bo Albertsson. Communications Limmud Vienna Limmud Thames Valley www.limmuddanube.org www.limmud.org/day/thames-valley [email protected] [email protected] Last event: 27 NOV 2016 Last event: 4 MAY 2015 Limmud Vienna 2016 event took place at the prestigious Next event: 29 MAY 2017 Vienna Music Institute in November. With a varied Limmud Thames Valley is a joint production programme, sessions in German and English, special rate of the communities of Oxford, Reading, for families and a Young Limmud programme there was Maidenhead and Berkshire Jewish. The team something for everyone. The European Presenter Fund are planning their next day event for 2017. enabled the team to bring in high calibre speakers from For more information or to volunteer get in touch! Scotland and other parts of central Europe including Dr Fiona Frank and filmmaker Andrea Ausztrics to present on Scottish Jewry and Hungarian Jewish Poet Miklos Radnoti respectively. In September, volunteer couple Inbar Fruchsad and Tomer Weil took part in the European Training on Tour in Prague, coming away energised and inspired to take their next events to even greater heights.

Limmud Annual Review 2016 19 limmud groups’ report

ISRAEL

Limmud Arava www.arava.co.il/moatza/matnas/ limod/limod-english.htm [email protected] Last event: 18 – 19 FEB 2016 children do not have formal school classes, but we did Next event: 23 – 24 FEB 2017 not see any real jump in the number of kids participating Limmud Arava’s annual Conference took as a result, but was both refreshing and innovative for us. place in February 2016. It was one of our By Gila Raz, Chairperson most successful conferences to date with around 500 young (really young) and old(er) participants. Limmud FSU Israel We had an excellent mix of sessions, including Arts www.limmudfsu.org.il (the award-winning film “Mr. Gaga” and a talk with its Contact via website/ [email protected] producer), “hands-on” activities such a challah-making, Last event: 15 – 17 DEC 2016 a successful chavruta led in conjunction with our young Next event: DEC 2017 Mechina leaders, field trips in the desert, as well as new We’re delighted that the next Festival of and returning favorites among our presenters- both local Limmud FSU in Israel will be taking place in and from all over Israel. the city of Eilat between 15-17 December, This year we piloted a “Limmud Kids” programme which with over 2000 young Russian-speaking participants from was successful but logistically difficult. It took place all over the country. on Friday morning when the Arava The preparatory retreat of the volunteers team was held on September 9-10 in Tel-Aviv.

By Roman Kogan (Publication date prior to event) Limmud Galil www.limmudgalil.com [email protected] Last event: 26 – 27 DEC 2016 Next event: 9 – 10 FEB 2017

Limmud Galil continues its year round activities with “wandering” Beit Midrash meetings which add participants from local populations. The Shabbat Conference was held in March on the theme “Because you have tremendous power…”. TiyulLimmud in May combined hiking in the northern Galil with Hevruta study, nature and kabalat

20 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups’ REPORTS ISRAEL

Shabbat. The annual Conference takes place December 26-27 during Hanukka on the theme “Love…”. Our Limmud Modi’in 2017 calendar includes TiyulLimmud “Tu B’Shvat” in (Limmudi’in) February, Shabbat Conference in April and team Shabbat www.limmudmodiin.org in November, along with monthly Beit Midrash on various [email protected] topics: Seder Pesach, Tikkun Leil Shavuot, HaHachamim, Last event: 10 – 12 NOV 2016 Herzl’s Leadership, Tu B’Av, Piyutim and Tishrei holidays. Next event: 25 – 26 MAY 2017 Limmud Galil has expanded to additional regions and Participants in Limmud Modiin (or hevruta study continues to take an integral part in “Limmudiin”) enjoyed a variety of activities. interesting combination of meetings By Mary Azaria, Executive Team Member at our event in November. It was the seventh festival in the city and was defined by Mr. Haim Bibas, Mayor of Limmud Haifa Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, as a “major urban platform for celebrating the human mosaic that we have here, in the [email protected] city”. Last event: 31 APR 2016 Next event: 22 – 23 MAR 2017 The main theme chosen this year was “Identities in the Israeli society.” The festival’s program consisted of Limmud Haifa held its third successful event in lectures, discussions, panels and Playback theatre and April, including an expanded Teen Limmud track covered a wide range of fields such as literature (God in for the second year running. The team have got Israeli poetry), relationships (When your spouse decides underway with plans for their 2017 event and to become religious) Agricultural (no Zionism without look forward to welcoming participants from Haifa and agriculture), business (“women in business” panel), all over the Galil and other parts of Israel. Jewish family names and their origin and more. Among By Golan Ben-Chorin, Co-founding Chair other participants who taught this year, one could find Orthodox rabbis and Humanistic- secular rabbis, which Limmud was quite a novelty to the majority of the Israeli audience. By Riki Ashkenazy, Director of Urim www.limmudjerusalem.org.il [email protected] Last event: 27 – 28 AUG 2015

Since Limmud Jerusalem’s hugely successful two day event in August 2015, the team have been focussing their efforts on assessing its mission and vision, recruiting new volunteers and taking a strategic look at their place in the marketplace of Jewish educational events in Jerusalem and their place in it.

Limmud Annual Review 2016 21 israel Limmud groups REPORTS

Our plans for the coming year include activities Limmud Sharon which will strengthen and support our community Working in partnership with the local municipality, this throughout the year – such as short courses and new Limmud team in the west coast Sharon region of volunteer training opportunities. Our next festival is Israel, are starting small to raise awareness of Limmud planned for 29 June – 1 July 2016. and to develop its activities. They are starting from By Cygal Pellach, Head of Marketing scratch with weekly meetings for Parashat Shavua, & Tal Grunspan, Chair Tanach and Gmara, which are open to everyone who wants to explore these new worlds. Limmud Yeroham Contributed to by Itai Engelberg www.facebook.com/limudyeruhamisrael Last event: 22 DEC 2016

Limmud TLV (Tel Aviv) Limmud Yeroham is planned for December 22nd, www.limmudtlv.org 2016, the Thursday before Hannukah. We may offer [email protected] some sessions and hikes on Friday morning, too, and Last event: 29 JUN – 1 JUL 2016 a special Shabbat of Bakkashot. There won’t be an Next event: 18 MAY 2017 overall theme for this year’s Limmud, but one main In the past year, Limmud TLV has grown session will be dedicated to the late Bambi Sheleg. As through many new initiatives and events: in past years, we have planned some joint sessions with our partner community in Miami, using the Our year began in December 2015, with internet platform to do hevruta study with members of a Chanukah party which we hosted in a the Partnership2Gether Steering Committees in each central Tel Aviv bar. Participants enjoyed presentations community, discuss the Russian-speaking community in from four diverse young women on the theme of the two cities, and involve Diller Teen Leaders. “light”. By Debbie Goldman Golan, member of organizing team In January, we hosted a series of 4 weekly sessions (Publication date prior to event) about the Temple Mount. A dedicated group participated in sessions about this (often controversial) topic from different perspectives: A historian, two Jewish activists (left and right) and a Muslim. In honor of Tu B’Shvat, we hosted a morning event – “Eco-Limmud” – incorporating a variety of sessions on environmental topics. On Yom HaShoah, we held an open dialogue together with an ultra-orthodox group, on different narratives of remembrance. Our second annual Festival took place on 29 June – 1 July 2016. Over 350 participants joined in over 100 sessions. Prior to the Festival, Limmud TLV hosted our inaugral community Shabbat dinner. We would like to thank the Schusterman Foundation, ROI Community and the Academic College of Tel Aviv- Yafo for their generous support in 2015.

22 Limmud Annual Review 2016 limmud groups’ report

North america Limmud AZ (Arizona) www.limmudaz.org [email protected] ast event: 31 JAN 2016 Next event: 12 FEB 2017

Limmud AZ held its second annual event on January 31 from 9am to 5pm at the Memorial Union Conference Center at Arizona State University in Tempe. We had 63 presenters and a total of about 420 participated in the event. Camp Limmud AZ increased by about 300% from the previous year. In addition, about 20 college students also participated this year. Over 30 local Jewish organizations and synagogues participated as either community partners or community sponsors. Our Program Book included advertising for sponsorship organizations. We are busy planning our third event for Sunday, February 12, 2017.

By Sandy Adler, Team Leader

Limmud Atlanta+SE www.limmudse.org [email protected] Last event: 2 – 5 SEP 2016 Next event: 1 – 3 SEP 2017

LimmudFest 2016 was our smoothest running event ever, thanks to a great leadership team and the strong relationship we’ve developed with site host, Ramah Darom. We were honored to host the Limmud North American Summit, attended by Eli Ovits and representatives from nine other N.A. Limmud communities, and were delighted that several attendees stayed on (and offered sessions) for the remainder of the weekend. Other highlights: Strong camp program for kids; 25% of attendees were first- timers; and a live marriage proposal at Sunday lunch, right smack in our dining hall – the couple met at Limmud two years ago!

By Nina Rubin, Board Chair

Limmud Annual Review 2016 23 Limmud groups REPORTS

the community partnerships we enjoy with our local JCC – which has taken on responsibility for Camp Limmud kids – as well as Hebrew College, the Jewish Storytelling Coalition, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly, Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Mikveh, and nearly 30 area congregations. We strengthened our Board and Advisory Team structures this year, with members who have each taken responsibility for an area of expertise: Program, Media Relations, Site & Signage, etc. Building an Advisory Team increases the LimmudBoston relationship with our many organizational partners.

By Steffi Aronson Karp, Founder & President (Publication Limmud Bay Area date prior to event) www.limmudbayarea.org [email protected] Limmud Chicago Last event: 24 – 26 JUN 2016 www.immudchicago.org Limmud Bay Area returned to the [email protected] beautiful setting of Sonoma State Last event: 8 NOV 2015 Campus for its second full weekend This year the Limmud Chicago team have programme. The event sold out with taken time to review their structure, planning over 400 participants and made strides to make the and outreach. Reflecting on their six past weekend affordable through offering for kids to go free events and thinking towards the future, the and stipends to families and single parents. There was team are working on expanding their core team and a packed ‘Camp Limmud’ programme for children and event appeal to engage more with students, young young teens in partnership with Camp Gilboa based people and the wider Chicago Jewish community. on the theme ‘light’ which included games, scavenger hunts, skits, and puzzles. The Teen programme featured a session on of the image of light in the Torah, Talmud/ Limmud FSU Canada Midrash and contemporary English poetry with Jake www.limmudfsucanada.org Marmer, a prominent local poet and musician. [email protected] Last event: 11 SEP 2016 Limmud Boston Next event: 24 – 26 MAR 2017 September 11 marked the 3rd Limmud www.limmudboston.org FSU learning festival in Canada. Over 500 [email protected] Last event: 6 DEC 2015 Russian speaking Jews from the Greater Toronto Area came together at the Schwartz Reisman Greetings from LimmudBoston, in Centre to learn, grow and foster new connections. The Newton, Massachusetts, where we unique one-day format which differed from previous are busily putting together our 7th 3-day Limmud festivals, allowed guests to learn from annual LimmudBoston, with 80-plus world-renowned speakers without travelling far. More sessions, Camp Limmud and a grand musical finale. Some than 30 inspiring speakers and 40 panels, workshops and volunticipants share two minute Jewish memories in Chai discussions took place on subjects ranging from art, to Alive! videos for our website. Jewish culture and tradition, history, politics, academics, More than 85 presenters will teach, perform, demonstrate business and lifestyles. Children enjoyed a diverse and and join in our celebration of Jewish study at its finest robust program filled with workshops and interactive on Sunday, December 4. “Friends of LimmudBoston” are activities by leading experts.

24 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups’ REPORTS NORTH AMERICA

Our next festival is scheduled to take place at Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario. Out theme this year is Horizons, which is an excellent opportunity for all of us to develop new outlooks, discover new ideas and strengthen our connection to our Jewish community.

By Leon Martynenko, Chair Limmud FSU from Philadelphia just to spend three hours brainstorming New York about the next event to take place in May 2017. With this www.limmudfsuus.org type of commitment, we have no right to fail. Here’s the [email protected] best Limmud FSU ever – Limmud Legacy! Last event: 1 – 3 APR 2016 Next event: 12 – 14 MAY 2017 By Yuliya Mazur, PR & Marketing Committee. Chair Limmud FSU NY organizing committee is staying busy preparing the event all Limmud FSU West Coast year long. During late summer a group of www.westcoast.limmudfsuus.org volunteers gathered in the beautiful Catskill Mountains for [email protected] a weekend of debriefing, new ideas, hard work and fun. Last event: 29 – 31 JAN 2016 These are people that love the Limmud concept and are Next event: 17 – 19 NOV 2017 able to somehow come up with new ideas all the time. Earlier this year, we held our first ever For me, the best part of the gathering was the fact that Limmud FSU West Coast conference children – from babies to toddlers and tweens were a part in beautiful , California. of this group. Talk about Jewish continuity, our people are There were about 50 speakers who taught and inspired so enthusiastic! For the committee’s most recent meeting, Valeria, our new conference co-chair came all the way more than 700 participants, in what was one of the largest gathering of Russian speaking Jews within that community in many years. The conference drew major figures including Jewish Agency Chair, Natan Sharansky, Russian rock star Andrey Makarevich, among many other incredible speakers and entertainers. The overwhelming response from participants was they were inspired and grateful that such an event was brought to their community and they can’t wait till next year.

By Eric Fihman, Co-Chair

Limmud Annual Review 2016 25 North America Limmud groups REPORTS

We had planned for 250-300 attendees, but we must Limmud LA (Los Angeles) have done something right: 465 attended, from across www.limmudla.org the state, and over 90% replied to evaluation surveys as [email protected] having been extremely or very satisfied. Yes, we’re proud, Last event: 24 SEPT 2016 but not complacent. We’re in the thick of planning our After some timeout to regroup and focus 2017 event to take place on Sunday, March 19, at the on assessing its mission and vision, Limmud beautiful new Student Center at Wayne State University, LA returned this September with a multi- in the heart of Detroi.

layered, diverse ‘Taste of Limmud’ evening By Sue Birnholtz, Secretary programme for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in which traditional, non-traditional and egalitarian approaches to the High Holy Days were explored. A broad spectrum Limmud NY (New York) of session types were offered including design thinking, www.limmudny.org mindfulness workshops, music, text investigation and [email protected] creation and comedy.. Last event: 12 – 15 FEB 2016 Next Event: 17 – 20 FEB 2017

Limmud NY’s twelfth annual Limmud Miami conference in February was a www.limmudmiami.org resounding success with more than Contact via website 800 participants. Highlights included open conversations Last event: 21 FEB 2016 on Zionism with Ruth Calderon and Yehuda Kurtzer, Next event: 26 FEB 2017 and on searching for God with Shai Held and David Limmud Miami’s February event saw the Ingber, along with over 300 other sessions. Following return of brightly coloured clad volunteers the conference, participants appreciated how the and drew more than 850 people to Florida environment created at Limmud NY fosters connections International University’s Biscayne Bay and community through learning across diversity. Campus. The objectives that the team set last year for In July, the Limmud NY Board of Directors passed a their 2016 event were carried through including offering strategic plan, focusing on celebrating our strengths and 100% kosher BBQ for lunch and introducing a closing magnifying our impact. We are excited to continue to gala concert. The the diversity of the sessions, the build this movement with all of our partnersme. intergenerational presence and opportunity to connect with people from different places and with different By Daniel Infeld, Director of Programming and Operations religious points of view made it an event that had something for everyone and created a special sense of community.

By Michelle Strulovic and Federico Pallas Limmud Michigan www.limmudmichigan.org Contact via website Last event: 13 MAR 2016 Next event: 19 MAR 2017

Limmud Michigan 2016 was the premiere event planned by a group of highly- motivated and diverse volunteers who came together to bring the world-wide Limmud phenomenon to our region. The event was held in Ann Arbor on Sunday, March 13 at the University of Michigan Union.

26 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups’ REPORTS NORTH AMERICA

Limmud NOLA Limmud Ottawa (New Orleans) www.limmudottawa.ca [email protected] www.limmudnola.org Last event: 20 NOV 2016 [email protected] Last event: 18 – 20 MAR 2016 On a bitter cold November morning Next event: 2018 Limmud Ottawa welcomed over 300 participants to its 4th Limmudfest New Orleans’ fourth biennial held at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre. By all LimmudFest, which was held March accounts, at the end of the day it was our largest turnout 18-20, 2016, again made New so far. In the early planning stages we decided to extend Orleans and Limmud history by having local Reform, our program’s mandate to include an expanded Young Conservative, and Orthodox synagogues offer Shabbat Limmud program (from what was offered last year) and services under one roof under Limmud auspices. After offer a Human Library Experience . services, the 450 participants came together for spirited learning and for sharing what they learned with new The team also agreed to prioritize efforts to include and old friends over meals and in the corridors. An unaffiliated individuals, couples, families and groups not experiment this year—holding the Shabbat component part of the Jewish mainstream. Preliminary contacts were in a Reform synagogue in a suburb and the Sunday made through FB, neighborhood events and liaising with sessions at Tulane University in the city—proved quite third parties. We also upped our advertisement strategy successful and will be repeated. In addition, a new track by placing ads in the various neighborhood community on Food, playing to one of New Orleans’ strengths, was centres and boards. We were tempted to try the provocative, popular, and delicious. Saturday night and full day Sunday program. After much

By Gail Naron Chalew, Program Chair discussion, the Team felt it did not have enough volunteer muscle to run both – hopefully in the future!.

By Jenny Roberge, Chair

Limmud Annual Review 2016 27 North America Limmud groups REPORTS

information. We are restructuring our teams – one Limmud Philly of which planned a fantastic “Taste of Limmud”. (Philadelphia) Learning from Limmudniks at Training on Tour and the Limmud North America Summit, including www.limmudphilly.org attending Limmud Miami and Limmud Atlanta + SE, [email protected] Last event: 4 DEC 2016 we continue to constantly improve and offer an event and volunteer experience that’s aligned with Limmud After taking some time to develop a values and our mission. sustainable structure and leadership, Limmud Philly returned after three years By Shimona Hirchberg, Co-Chair with a reinvigorated team and enriching day of learning in partnership with the Center City Kehillah. Limmud Vancouver www.limmudvancouver.ca Limmud Toronto [email protected] Last event: 30 – 31 JAN 2016 www.limmud.ca Next event: 14 – 15 APR 2018 [email protected] Last event: 18 SEPT 2016 For the third year in a row, Limmud Next event: 19 MAR 2017 Vancouver held a weekend festival of learning and culture. Our Saturday Limmud Toronto created a new logo, night cabaret began with a mass participatory havdalah, website, promotional materials, and followed by stories, teaching, musicians, trivia quiz and a infrastructure for March 2016. In cantata of Jabberwocky in Yiddish. Sunday brought 550 preparation for our upcoming conference on March people to 40 different sessions on text, history, culture 19, 2017 we implemented a new welcome guide for and social action. As usual, different musicians played in incoming team members and are using a new team the halls between sessions and the starts of sessions were communication tool and a new database for presenter announced by shofar blast. Our new venue this year – a recently renovated synagogue with ample space to eat and talk– was well received by the attendees.

By Avi Dolgin, Chairperson

28 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups’ REPORTS NORTH AMERICA

Limmud Winnipeg www.limmudwinnipeg.org [email protected] Last event: 12 – 13 MAR 2016 Next event: 4 – 5 MAR 2017

Our 6th annual Limmud was a tremendous success bringing together over 400 participants, our highest number ever. The weekend started with our traditional Havdalah on Saturday night after which participants had the choice of attending 2 sessions and one play followed by a freilach reception with Israeli and Jewish music. Sunday provided a full day of diverse sessions featuring both local and out of town talent. The content balanced Jewish issues with culture and the arts, covering diverse topics such as Judaism, Science and the First Seven Days, Antisemitism in 2016, Art Workshops, Cooking Workshops plus a full day program for children including a PJ Library Lego family Program. The 7th annual Limmud Winnipeg is scheduled for March 2017 and promises to be another successful event; new ideas and potential presenters are already been suggested and discussed by a strong and growing group of volunteers who are part of the planning committee.

By Julie Pfeffer, Limmud Winnipeg Co-Chair

Limmud Annual Review 2016 29 limmud groups’ report

Limmud Buenos Aires (Limud BA) www.limudba.org latin america [email protected] Last event: 26 JUNE 2016

Limud BA started its 9th year of activities with renewed challenges. As in previous years, the main events were Dia Limud (Limmud Day) and Rosh Hashana Urbano. Over 900 people took part in Dia Limud. 100 of them were involved as volunteers and 60 more were Limmud speakers. Rosh Hashana Urbano welcomed over 50,000 Bogotá people, and was organised by 150 volunteers. www.limmudbogota.org This year was different in that the professional staff has Contact via website been completely renewed. We started 2016 working Last event: 28 FEB 2016 with a new fundraising team focused on large donors. Next event: 12 FEB 2017 This year, Limud BA also focused on organising special In February activities aimed at volunteers, conference speakers, and we held the donors such as conferences with international guests. In first Limmud 2017, Limud BA will celebrate its 10th anniversary!

in Bogotá. By Leo Naidorf, Executive Director It was a one-day event held in a hotel and brought together close to 250 people, about 10% of the Jewish community in town. The event showcased 21 sessions, a morning Chavruta session, afternoon movie showing a documentary about Argentina’s first LGBTQ community, a room dedicated to children’s activities, stands of various community institutions, and a closing ceremony with cocktails presenting the country’s top magician. Speakers included a Jewish senator, a former director of the Central Bank, a Colombian-Palestinian journalist, the local sunni Sheikh and the President of the biggest national University. The topics ranged from kosher wines, to Evangelical Zionism, major literary works of jewish writers, women’s power, mysticism and yiddish songs. Limmud Bogota was also represented at Limmud Conference UK 2015 and Training on Tour Latin America in Lima, Peru.

By Jack Goldstein, Director

30 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud groups’ REPORTS latin AMERICA

Limmud Chile www.limud.cl Contact via website Last event: 5 JUN 2016

Four Limud Chile volunteers participated in Training on Tour (ToT) in Lima. Many of the experiences learnt there were implemented in our Limud day, showing the high impact of the training. ToT proved to be an invaluable tool, allowing for face to face interaction with volunteers from other countries and to learn from each other’s best practices. At our second day Limmud in June we had 3 parallel programs. The main programme featured over 39 presenters with an attendance of more than 435 people plus all the volunteers. The Tnuati program offered a pioneering experience to reunite more than 200 madrijim from different tnuot with a common goal, besides each Limmud Mar del Plata tnua’s ideals. Limmud values were in the center. Finally the Kids programme offered 16 special programs for different (Limud MDQ) ages with a closing play specially created for them. www.facebook.com/LimudMdQ/ Limud has earned its space in the Chilean community. Contact via Facebook We have more than re-enchanted the audience and our Last event: 15 MAY 2016 Next event: APRIL 2017 volunteers and are already working towards our third Limud Day in 2017! A dream come true… By Vivi Kremer and Abraham Yudelevich, In May Limud Mar del Plata held a very Core Team members successful Jewish event, something never seen before in our city. This year we Limmud Costa Rica developed a relationship with the University CAECE, which allowed us to realize our main annual event in a place Next event: 5 FEB 2017 more spacious and comfortable for learning. Having been inspired and galvanised by a number of 200 people enjoyed around 36 sessions, with presenters Limmud communities forming across South America from several places in Argentina and the region which in recent years, a team of volunteers in Costa Rica are made for an incredible day with a lot of topics to choose thrilled to be planning towards their first day event from such as spirituality, technology, arts, history, religion, next year in the capital San Jose, anticipating 300-350 business, cooking lessons, comedy and much more. participants. The programme will offer a track for children and sessions presented by Costa Rican Jewish politicians Seven members of our team also had the pleasure of and media professionals. A roundtable discussion is also participating in Training On Tour in Lima. planned with leaders of the community on the future of In September we developed the proposal of ‘Havruta Jewish life in the diaspora! Rosh Hashanah – Yom Kippur – “New questions for Old Knowledges”, in which we debated texts and established ties, strengthening our identity under a plane of diversity and respect for all the ideas.

By Gabriel Finkielsztein, Co-Chair

Limmud Annual Review 2016 31 latin America Limmud groups REPORTS

Limmud Mexico Limmud Peru (Limud Perú) (Limud México) www.facebook.com/limud.peru [email protected] www.limudmexico.com Last event: 29 NOV 2015 Contact via website Last event: 6 NOV 2016 This year Limud Perú held its third annual Next event: 29 OCT 2017 event in Lima, drawing together hundreds of local residents to participate in a day of Comenzamos el año 2016 con la división Jewish learning through discussion, dance, film, song de nuestro único equipo de trabajo en un and of course eating! Limud Perú is now a key fixture in Board y una mesa de trabajo dedicada a the in the Jewish communal calendar, giving people the la organización del Día Limud (nuestro evento principal), opportunity to explore their Judaism in many new and esto con el fin de optimizar nuestro funcionamiento y inspiring ways. crecer. Gracias a esto, se duplicó el número de miembros de nuestro equipo. Organizamos un evento de Limud express en febrero. Posteriormente, uno de nuestros Limmud Uruguay (Limud.uy) nuevos miembros participó en el Training on Tour en Perú. www.facebook.com/limuduruguay En mayo comenzamos a juntarnos para la planeación Contact via Facebook del Día Limud 2016. El evento se llevó a cabo el 6 de Last event: 13 – 15 MAY 2016 noviembre. Con 60 expositores de los cuales 8 fueron Limmud Uruguay’s third event was a mini internacionales; 300 participantes y 20 voluntarios. Limmud spread over three evenings and at Fue sumamente exitoso y, actualmente, existen varios three different locations over a Friday night, interesados en el proyecto. Shabbat and Sunday in May. There were sessions on We started 2016 by dividing our one working team into a the Genesis, Job, the Philosophical and Ethical Dilemma Board and a working team assigned to planning our Day presented by the Tower of Babel. Professor Santiago Limud (main event) in order to optimize our functionality Kovadloff, Argentinian Jewish philosopher, essayist and and increase our numbers. Thanks to this, the Limud poet joined especially for the even. Mexico team has grown from 5 to 10 members. We organized one Limud express event in February. In April, we had a new team member attend Training on Tour in Lima. Then in May, we gathered to plan our Mexico Day Limud 2016. In its 5th year, the event took place on 6 Nov, with 60 presenters, 9 of which were international. We had 300 participants and 20 volunteers. It was by all accounts an extremely successful event and there are now a great deal of people interested in it!.

By Renato Huarte Cuéllar, Chair of Limud México

32 Limmud Annual Review 2016 limmud mission and values

Community and Mutual Responsibility Limmud is a community of learning. Mission: Limmud’s PromisE We can achieve more together Wherever you find yourself, than we can individually. We gain from, and should give Limmud will take you one step something back to, the Jewish and wider community. further on your Jewish journey Learning Everyone should be a student Arguments for the and anyone can be a teacher. sake of Heaven Arguments for the Participation Learning embraces personal We recognise and appreciate development, knowledge and skills. that ‘arguments for the sake Sake of Heaven of Heaven’ can make a positive Religious Learning changes people, inspires contribution to furthering our action and opens new worlds. education and understanding. Community Observance We encourage the creation of a We do not participate in and Mutual learning environment in which legitimising or de-legitimising Respect people are able to reflect and grow. any religious or political position Responsibility found in the worldwide Jewish There are many inspirations that community. Anyone coming to can offer opportunities for learning. Diversity Limmud seeking opportunities for this will not find them. We have Empowerment no part to play in the debates Enabling between/across denominations. We inspire people to be Connections ambitious about their Sessions which encourage contribution. vigorous debate are entirely acceptable but we will seek to Empowerment We challenge people, and trust avoid religious or political conflict. them to rise to that challenge. Sessions should be educational, We see the potential of and not polemical. Expanding Jewish individuals and communities, Horizons and support their development. Religious Observance We empower people to We seek to create an inclusive Learning Diversity make choices and provide the environment for all participants information they need to inform whatever their religious We value the rich diversity those choices (including in observance practices. among Jews, and so we seek the biographies which we ask to create cross-communal and presenters to provide). We believe in the importance of inter-generational experiences. enabling Shabbat and kashrut to be kept in all public areas as far as We value accessibility, Participation possible, so that Jews do not have and aim to be accessible to all. Volunteerism is a key feature of to separate themselves one from We value choice in form, content almost everything we do. another. and style in our programmes. We are all responsible for each We recognise that in private We encourage people not to other and for the communities areas, people will behave as stereotype others. we create – everyone has an they wish. important contribution to make. We ask that in matters of Respect We encourage participants to Shabbat and kashrut all take an active part in all we do. participants behave in a way No-one is more important than which is respectful of the religious anyone else. observance of others. Enabling Connections We expect all participants to be respectful of one another, and to We aim to create opportunities Expanding Jewish recognise that all volunteers are for communities and individuals Horizons also participants. to connect. We strive to create individual, Personal attacks are not We recognise the strength of collective and communal acceptable in any Limmud providing a space where spiritual, experiences, through which context, especially within emotional and intellectual we strengthen and develop our sessions at events. connections are made. Jewish identity.

Limmud Annual Review 2016 33 limmud events in 2017

limmud events in 2017 (THAT WE KNOW ABOUT so far)

28 to 29 JAN – Limmud Helsinki 4 MAR – Harrow Limmud ‘After Dark’ www.limud.fi www.limmud.org/day/harrow

29 JAN – Manchester Day Limmud 5 MAR – Limmud Oresund www.limmud.org/manchester www.oresundslimmud.org

3 to 5 FEB – Limmud FSU Europe 19 MAR – Limmud Toronto www.limmudfsu.eu/en www.limmud.ca

5 FEB – Limmud Costa Rica 19 MAR – Limmud Michigan www.limmudmichigan.org 9 to 10 FEB – Limmud Galil Tiyul www.limmudgalil.com 23 to 25 MAR – Limmud International Training on Tour – Israel 12 FEB – Limmud AZ (Arizona) www.limmudinternational.org www.limmudaz.org 24 to 26 MAR – Limmud FSU Canada 12 FEB – Limmud Bogota www.limmudfsucanada.org www.limmudbogota.org 20 to 23 APR – Limmud FSU Moscow 12 FEB – Limmud Tag Essen www.limmud.ru www.limmud-tag.de 30 APR – Limmud Marseilles 17 to 20 FEB – Limmud NY (New York) www.limoud.org www.limmudny.org 7 MAY – Limmud Hull 23 to 24 FEB – Limmud Arava www.limmud.org/day/hull www.jewishagency.org/he/limmud-arava 12 to 14 MAY – Limmud FSU NY 26 FEB – Limmud Miami www.limmudfsuus.org www.limmudmiami.org 18 MAY – Limmud TLV (Tel Aviv) 3 to 5 MAR – Limmud France www.limmudtlv.org www.limoud.org 24 to 28 MAY Limmud Czech Republic 4 to 5 MAR – Limmud Winnipeg www.limmud.cz www.limmudwinnipeg.org

34 Limmud Annual Review 2016 Limmud international Limmud events 2017

“Limmud is igniting Jewish conversations, including about Israel, in over 80 communities and 40 countries on six continents. For The Jewish Agency for Israel, Limmud is a valued partner in these efforts.” Natan Sharansky

25 to 28 MAY Limmud Germany 6 NOV – Limmud Mexico www.limmud.de www.limmudmexico.org

25 to 26 MAY – Limmud Modi’in 17 to 19 NOV – Limmud FSU West Coast www.facebook.com/limmud.modiin www.westcoast.limmudfsuus.org

10 to 12 JUN – Limmud Oz Sydney 18 to 19 NOV – Limmud Stockholm www.limmud-oz.com.au www.limmud.se

23 to 25 JUN – Limmud Bay Area 25 to 27 NOV – Limmud Oz Sydney www.limmudbayarea.org www.limmudoz.com.au

2 JUL – Limmud Paris 3 DEC – Limmud Boston www.limoud.org www.limmudboston.org

4 to 6 AUG – Limmud Johannesburg 26 to 27 DEC – Limmud Galil www.limmud.org.za www.limmudgalil.com

9 AUG – Limmud Durban 22 to 28 DEC – Limmud Conference www.limmud.org.za www.limmud.org/conference

11 to 13 AUG – Limmud Cape Town www.limmud.org.za/limmud-cape-town For an up-to-date list of events go to: 24 to 28 AUG – Limmud in the Woods www.limmudinternational.org/calendar www.limmud.org/woods

1 to 6 SEP – Limmud Keshet Bulgaria www.limmud.eu

1 to 4 SEP – Limmud Atlanta+SE www.limmudse.org

29 OCT – Leeds Day Limmud www.limmud.org/leeds

Limmud Annual Review 2016 35 Wherever you find yourself Limmud will take you one step further on your Jewish journey...

Africa Italy Miami SA Cape Town Keshet Bulgaria Michigan SA Durban Keshet ExYu New York SA Johannesburg Keshet Poland New Orleans Keshet Romania Ottawa Asia Netherlands Philadelphia China Oresund Seattle India Stockholm Toronto Tag Essen Vancouver Australasia Turkey Winnipeg Canberra Vienna FSU Australia Latin America Melbourne Israel Bogota New Zealand Arava Buenos Aires Perth FSU Israel Chile Sydney Galil Costa Rica Haifa Mar del Plata Europe Jerusalem Mexico Baltics Modi’in Peru Barcelona Sharon Uruguay Belgium Tel Aviv Czech Republic Yeroham UK France Birmingham FSU Belarus North America Cambridge FSU Europe Arizona Conference FSU Moldova Atlanta+SE Harrow FSU Moscow Bay Area Hull FSU St Petersburg Boston In the Woods FSU Ukraine Chicago Leeds FSU Volga-Urals FSU Canada Liverpool Germany FSU New York Manchester Helsinki FSU West Coast Scotland Hungary Los Angeles Thames Valley

Contacts / Resources To learn more, or to find a Limmud anywhere around the globe, visit www.limmudinternational.org or email [email protected] To join the Online Forum: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/limmud-international-forum To access the Limmud International Resources Directory email [email protected]

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 youtube.com/USER/LimmudInternational

Limmud International is a project of Limmud, a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1083414 for updates List as of D ecember 2016. S ee www.limmudinternational.org