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Л и м у д S L I M M U D F S U Canada 2017

REVIEW March 24-26 marked the fourth Limmud FSU learning festival in Canada. A record- breaking number of 700 Russian speaking Jews from across Canada came together at the Blue Moun - tain Village Conference Centre to celebrate their Russian Jewish identity and expand their horizons through learning, dancing and connecting. The program featured many note- worthy lecturers, including political scientist Ariel Cohen; Director of Education for the Canadian branch of Jews for Judaism Rabbi Michael Spitz; Consul General for Galit Baram; Professor Leonid Livak of University of Toronto; Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption Zeev Khanin; international lecturer for The Jewish Women’s

Igal Hecht; Victor Shenderovich, a well-known Russian journalist and writer. Discussion topics ranged from Jewish history to politics, spirituality to cooking tutorials, literature and and interactive ac by leading experts.

As expressed by one of our participant families that arrived in Canada a few years ago, Limmud gave them a sense of belonging, helped them connect to the community, and feel at home.

The culmination of the festival was marked by a celebratory gala which featured notes of traditional Hebrew melodies were heard, the 700- person crowd got on their feet and couldn’t stop dancing! The performance perfectly captured the spirit of Limmud FSU

Alex Katz, a member of the organizing committee who attended all four Limmud FSU Canada learning festivals, shared his experience following the conference through an open letter:

“Dear Limmud FSU family, I wanted to express my words of gratitude to everyone for an amazing job done! If I may get a little deep here... There were two temples ever built and destroyed in the history of the Jewish people. Only a few hundred years have passed waiting, more than 2,000 years after the destruction of the second temple, for the the third of transgressions committed by the Jewish people, but the people themselves were united. When the second temple was destroyed, the Jewish people were “pious” but they had what is called “Sinat Hinam” - disunity and strife with each other. This, in our sages minds’ was is for the Jewish people to unite again, to feel Ahavat Hinam - love and respect your fellow without any preconditions, even if you do not agree with him or her, even if you are dif- ferent than he or she! And this is what Limmud is all about! I bet you never realized it, but you are all doing G-d’s holy work (and it’s not just because of some holes in the schedule)! Without any regard for your free time, your health, your other commitments, you have spent countless hours to bring the Jewish people together - religious and secular, Ash- kenazim and Sefardim, right and left, Canadian, Israelis, Russians, Ukrainians! All these labels didn’t matter - 700 people were all together as one, celebrating our identity, being proud of who we are and continuing to carry a torch lit more than 3,000 years ago when our nation was born! You have done in one weekend, what many Rabbis have been trying to do their entire lifetimes - you have brought the rebuilding of the third

sitting at a Pesach Seder and you say - Be Shana Habaah be Yerush- alaim, Next Year in - know that you made these words so much more real when you made Limmud happen!” Testimonials

“I am so proud of all of you and honored to be part of this amazing initiative. Your lives are enriched, informed, and guided by the power of human connection in the context of Jewish tradition. I realize how especially challenging it was to maintain this identity considering that there was hardly any access to any type of Jewish learning. The Soviet rule chal- lenged families’ ability to pass down traditions.

So now Limmud FSU encourages you to learn from one another and have a stronger sense of community and one- ness. All that makes Limmud FSU movement very important

- Harry Rozenbaum, Limmud FSU Canada Honorary Chair

“The Canadian Russian-Jewish community is experiencing a remarkable renaissance and we’re thrilled that Limmud FSU Canada can be a part of it. This is our fourth annual event in Canada and we are very happy. We are getting bigger and big- ger. People come because of the program and because they want to be together”

- Chaim Chesler, Founder and Executive Commttee Chair, Limmud FSU

“UJA Federation continues to invest in our community’s Russian-speaking Jews, and with the important contributions they are making across the GTA, it’s an investment that contin- ues to pay tremendous dividends. UJA Federation is pleased and proud to support Limmud FSU Canada, a wonderful initiative that promotes Jewish learning and empowers these men and women to shape the future of our community.”

- Adam Minsky, President & CEO, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto “It’s heartwarming to see so many motivated young Russian- speaking Jews getting together in the framework of this major Jew- ish event in the heart of Canada and to witness the inspiring work it is incredible! So many people came here to learn and widen their horizons!”

- Galit Baram, Israel’s Consul General in Toronto

“We thoroughly enjoyed the recent Limmud FSU, both as

were extremely impressed by the range of topics in the workshops, the quality of the presenters and the audience participation. No less important, we greatly appreciated the hospitality of the Limmud FSU team including the amazing volunteers. The positive spirit and friendly atmosphere contributed greatly to making the weekend a most satisfying experience for both of us. Congratulations on a highly successful event, which augurs well for future growth.”

- Robert & Galya Sarner (Presenters)

“I have been going to Limmud FSU Canada since it started, and attending Limmud is always the highlight of my year and my Jewish journey. For me, going to Limmud means making new friends. It means learning new things, it means making memories that will last me a lifetime. Limmud is also that time a year when all my friends and I get riled up and get excited to have an amazing weekend, where we can learn more on just about anything, but also have an unforgettable experience! Limmud has been improving every year, and I cannot wait until 2018!”

-Nick Gordon (Participant, 16 years old)

“Limmud is all about learning, and you get to have fun - ties. Limmud. It’s amazing!”

-Emily, Young Limmudnik 2014 2017 450 Participants 700 Participants 75 Children 164 Children

92% - Committed to attending Limmud FSU Canada in 2018

74% - Learned about the event through friends

50% - Attended a Limmud FSU conference for the first time Goals for 2018

• Increase number of participants from 700 to 850 • Grow attendance of 25-35 demographics and spread awareness of Limmud FSU • Enhance outreach to the R of C (Rest of Canada) • Develop a new comprehensive user-friendly website with improved registration technology • Intensify development of local financial resources • Develop new partnerships and better leverage existing ones Throughout the year, the organizing committee continues to be involved in community initiatives such as UJA’s Walk with Israel and Circle of Care’s Passover Food Drive

Volunteers of the year

Evgenia Founk and Alex Katz were recognized as volunteers of the year for their tremendous contribution to the success of the 2017 Horizons conference Limmud FSU Canada 2017 Horizons Conference Team

The Limmud FSU Canada 2017 Horizons Conference could only have taken place thanks to our amazing team of volunteers who put their time, energy, hard work, commitment and enthusiasm into making it a reality.

Harry Rosenbaum - Honorary Chair Fundraising Organizing Committee and Resource Group Alex Sadovsky Boris Varshavsky – Conference Chair Meir Osipov Mila Voihanski – Country Director Sergey Petrenko Alexander Kutman – Chair, Adults’ Program Alex Plotkin - Chair, Fundraising Marketing Eithan Dudnick - Co-chair, Logistics Ilia Dobkin – Co-chair, Logistics Dave Polvanov Ella Petrenko – Chair, Marketing Dima Ivanovski Irene Vaksman – Chair, Volunteer Coordination Dina Dryden Viktoria Feldman - Chair, Children’s Program Evgenia Founk Igor Kozak Adults’ Program Ilia Rabkin Janna Gorfel Alex Katz Liora Amrom Irina Levit Maria Konikov Leon Martynenko Regina Amrom Logistics

Children’s Program Natasha Brodsky Vadim Brodsky Dan Guterman Yuliya Pinsky-Ivanisova Ilan Fainer Ilana Golzman Volunteer Coordination Mark Umansky Raya Klichinsky Anat Demb Veronika Ressina Mirit Scoblo Yelena Gordon Yan Katcherovski Limmud FSU Canada Supporters

Limmud FSU Canada gratefully acknowledges the support of our Partners, Donors and Sponsors. Without their commitment our events could not take place.

Partners

Acheinu Organization, Ottawa Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at University of Toronto Canadian Courier Canadian Jewish News Channel 9 Canada Congregation Darchei Noam, Toronto EMET employment - JVS Toronto Hillel Ontario Hilton Israel J. Projects - Russian-Speaking Jewish Community Initiatives J. Roots - Hebrew Supplementary School JAM - Jewish and Modern JCC Chai Sports Maon Noam Congregation Canada Miles Nadel Jewish Community Centre Torontovka.com RAJET Ameinu Organization - Russian Adult Jewish Education of Toronto Successful Woman Council UJE - Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter U.M.C.A. Rich Tree Academy YEDI - York Entrepreneurship Development Donors and Sponsors

Limmud FSU International UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Genesis Philanthropy Group Great Gulf Group Nathan and Lily Silver Family Foundation The Binah Charitable Foundation Fiera Foods Steeles Memorial Chapel Warren Kimel State of Israel Bonds Canada CIBC Riviera Parque Dining Banquet and Convention Centre Orion Eco Technologies Canada YYZ Travel Group Hilton Tel-Aviv PRI Limmud FSU International Sponsors and Funders Limmud FSU gratefully acknowledges the support of our Donors and Sponsors. Without their backing our events would simply not be possible. Matthew Bronfman Aaron Frenkel for Jewish Material Claims against Germany American Joint Distribution Committee Diane Wohl Yuriy Zelvenskiy Jewish National Fund (KKL) Genesis Philanthropy Group

Jewish Agency for Israel

Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund Edward Mermelstein Feliks Frankel IKEA (Israel) Israel Bonds Israel Ministry of Immigrant Absorption

Israel Ministry for Jerusalem and the Diaspora Jerry Levin Jewish Federation of Los Angeles Keren Hayesod L.A. Pincus Fund for Jewish Education in Diaspora Michael Zurahinsky Ruben Landsberger Sandra and Stewart Cahn Shulem Fisher UJE – Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter UJA Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto UJA Jewish Federation of New York Wilf Family Foundations World Zionist Organization We would also like to thank our international colleagues for their assistance

Chaim Chesler (Israel), Founder, Chair of Executive Committee, Limmud FSU International Sandra Cahn (USA), Co-founder, Chair of FRD Committee, Limmud FSU International Roman Kogan (Israel), Executive Director, Limmud FSU International Yan Birbraer (Israel), Logistics Director Chaim Nagus (Israel), Financial and Management Consultant Natasha Chechik (Israel), Director of Communications and Public A airs Puder PR (USA), Public Relations Asher Weill, (Israel), English Editor Katya Dymshits (Israel), Information and Resources Development Roman Yanushevsky (Israel), PR (Russian), Central Website and Social Media Krasny International Consulting (USA), Fundraising Want to be involved / contribute / present - get in touch with us: 9600 Bathurst st., Maple, ON L6A 3Z8 [email protected] Tel. 416-618-0278

SEE YOU IN 2018! www.limmudfsucanada.org