ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 CHAIR’S THE YEAR MESSAGE IN STATISTICS

Dear friends. It is a great pleasure to be able to share with you this year’s report of Limmud’s activities round the world. We In ... have had another strong year and continue to grow and develop worldwide. 2018 In 2018 we held our first global volunteer forum, Limmud Connect, in ; ran a very successful Training on Tour in Warsaw and held regional leadership gatherings in Berlin and . Limmud NA has had a very productive board retreat and we have launched Limmud Israel, our amuta (charitable entity), with an After there Limmud Dark event in . were 116 events I’d like to take this chance to thank some of our volunteers in the leadership and organisation of Limmud, particularly my colleagues on the board of trustees: David Bilchitz, Shoshana Bloom, Miriam Edelman, attended participants, Robert Owen, Shep Rosenman, Danielle Nagler, Shana Boltin, Debbie Staniland, Yszi Hawkings and by Mike Gladstone. Thanks also to the various teams of volunteers who support our events, the Connections 41,000 Team who support volunteers round the world, and all our teams of volunteers who work behind the scenes to support everything that Limmud does: too many to list them all here. run by volunteers. I’d also like to thank our hard-working, dedicated and enthusiastic office team, Chief Executive Eli Ovits, 4,800 Jon Freedman (our new Deputy Director), Alanna Lewis, Suzy Margulies, Max Naar, Magda Rubenfeld- Koralewska and Péter Neumann, as well as all those who work for us in other ways, especially Sara Averick, Renanit Levy, Ruth Rotenberg, Michael Frankfurt, and Rebecca Lewis. An especial thanks to , Limmud who is retiring as Limmud’s Senior Consultant after many years. Clive’s contribution to Limmud has of course There been so much more than this and I am quite sure will continue; but this has been a notable chapter and Clive are now 91 communities takes with him our profound thanks. The work of Limmud is also made possible by the generous support of many organisations and individuals – in countries. who are listed elsewhere further in our review. We would also like to thank the individuals and organisations 42 that have helped us this year and in particular allowed us to pilot our programme ‘Something for Everyone’ to increase accessibility for families and young adults. We are looking forward to discussing with you how to partner with us over the year ahead. A total Limmud And of course, all of this only happens because of the hard work and dedication of all the many thousands of NEW people around the world who generate Limmud communities and create Limmud events. To all of you, my of 9 communities thanks, and congratulations on all the plentiful and various results of your labours. Do get in touch if you’d like to know more about volunteering for Limmud or getting more involved in our organisation. held As I head towards the end of my term as chair, I am extremely proud of all that events in 2018 we have achieved together in the last few years. I am also very pleased that Shoshana Bloom will be taking over from me as chair of Limmud. I am sure that under her leadership, and with the continuing support of the board, Limmud will keep growing from strength to strength. Thank you all for your support. , B shalom David Hoffman, Chair of Limmund

2 3 “It was my first experience in such a seminar. I feel more confident in what we are doing now. I found a lot of answers to my questions, a lot of inspiration and power”

Irina Shlik, Limmud Baltics

“There were numerous opportunities for me to discuss leadership issues. Meeting other Limmud coordinators from around the globe provided me with a sense of collective responsibility. To have been together with like-minded people was truly inspirational.”

Jenny Roberge, Limmud Ottawa

“It was a stimulating, exciting and dynamic experience. Wonderful LIMMUD CONNECT opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, and understand their Global Volunteer Forum cultures, backgrounds and experiences both within and outside of Limmud.”

In May 2018, Limmud successfully launched its first ever Global Volunteer Forum – “Limmud Connect”. 150 Gabriella Saven, Limmud participants from 50 Limmud communities spanning 25 countries came together in Israel for four days of learning, community building, visioning and networking. The global gathering, predominantly planned and executed by an international volunteer team, inspired people to continue their communal leadership journeys and return home with new skills, networks and knowledge for the future. The programme launched at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was filled with leading Jewish voices and thought leaders. Highlights included a workshop facilitated by the Global Leadership Institute Adaptive Leadership Lab, the future of experiential education taught via robots, intergenerational Chavruta text study and intimate working groups that pitched new innovations and infrastructure for Limmud communities around the world. Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs also conducted a focus group with a selection of participants to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing world Jewry and how Limmud can play a unique role in bringing people – of all ages and backgrounds – together to learn. The event attracted local and global interest, including messages from the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin, the Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat and former of the and Commonwealth, Rabbi Lord “There is an unbeatable sense of being part of a global Jewish people when we Jonathan Sacks. The international and Israeli media also captured the remarkable diversity of participants, the all come together from so many places volunteering spirit across Israel and diaspora communities, and significance of this global gathering. to work on global vision and share so Limmud looks forward to planning the next Global Volunteer Forum in 2020 and implementing legacy projects. many common issues.” Faye Rosenberg Cohen, 4 Limmud Winnipeg 5 LIMMUD ELEMENTS Training on Tour Europe

This was our sixth Limmud Elements seminar in Europe, taking place for the first time in Warsaw. The weekend-long residential development and networking programme was again a great success, with 32 volunteers representing 17 Limmud communities. “It was a very important and valuable experience for me. I really took one more step in my Jewish journey. I felt like part of a huge Limmud family. I was We taught a spectrum of tangible skills which were key to helping participants develop as organisers and recharged with the idea and values of the Limmud and I am proud of the leaders. These included fundraising, inclusivity, building a programme and volunteer development. opportunity to carry it on. Again, all new connections, the diversity of the Limmud This year we created more opportunity for participants to explore the city space and local Jewish history and that you showed us – all this is difficult to overestimate.” heritage. Programming at the POLIN ( Jewish) museum followed by tours of historical Jewish sites Paulina Sokolova, allowed for meaningful learning experiences that employed a variety of learning methodologies. We were Limmud FSU Moscow based at JCC Warsaw which was open for normal activity, so that participants could also interact with local community members in addition to the large cohort of Limmud Poland volunteers that took part. A second improved feature was a conscious effort to encourage as much participant-driven content as possible. There were slots with a choice of sessions, as well as other Jewish learning sessions and rituals which were led by participants. A number of participants also delivered three minute presentations thematically connected to the sessions they preceded and drawing from their personal experience and the expertise of the other participants. As a result, more than 80% of participants, and every Limmud group represented, had an opportunity to contribute something to the programme.

“It was an extremely inspiring and uplifting weekend. I feel that I learned so much about everyone and their unique communities, while bonding over common challenges.”

Yochi Simon, Limmud Mallorca

“I joined a community of amazing Limmudniks, made connections and discussed common questions. I feel that I have now a better understanding of Limmud’s scope and structure and know where to turn with a problem.”

Izzy Posen, Limmud Bristol

6 7 REGIONAL LIMMUD IMPACT STUDY LEADERSHIP GATHERINGS June 2018 saw the release of the results of our Global Impact Study. Carried out by independent professional researchers, the Some highlights of our 2018 regional leadership gatherings, which fostered deeper study aimed to investigate the impact of Limmud on the lives of the volunteers within the organisation, surveying ten Limmud connections between volunteers and sowed the seeds of cross-group collaboration. communities in eight countries, together with focus groups conducted with Limmud volunteers from around the world. 504 responses were collected from the survey representing a 23% response rate. The results provided clear evidence that Limmud advances the majority SYDNEY of its volunteers on their Jewish journeys, and, for a significant proportion, it LIMMUD ADVANCES takes them ‘further’ towards greater interest in and commitment to Jewish life JEWISH LEARNING AND CURIOSITY • Volunteers from eight Limmud groups in Africa, Asia BERLIN and Jewish communal involvement. of respondents agreed that and Australasia travelled to Sydney in March Here are some of the key findings: Limmud increased their Jewish • Exploring funding opportunities, programmes for • Leaders from 17 European Limmud groups gathered 89% knowledge young adults and families, volunteer retention and in November agreed it exposed them to a development. • Opening address from Israeli Ambassador to LIMMUD EMPOWERS wider variety of Jewish • Presentations from the Jewish Funders Network and H.E. Jeremy Issacharoff on Israeli-German relations today INDIVIDUALS FOR 68% traditions Shalom College • Conversations around partnership building with external LEADERSHIP said it led them to a greater engagement with Jewish • Participant-led sessions on Jewish themes, Limmud organisations, inclusion, alumni networks, collaboration agreed that involvement with 65% Limmud helped them develop learning Values and Volunteer Succession. across Europe and the big issues facing European Jewry 55% leadership skills and an equal agreed it made them more today • Celebrating Shabbat together with the Or Chadash percentage said it enhanced curious about Jewish life and community in Bondi • Participants created a ‘marketplace’ of personal their confidence 62% Judaism advertisements, sharing their expertise and • New initiatives agreed upon included a shared troubleshooting skills database of presenters. • Participants committed to support at least one other LIMMUD IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON CONNECTIONS WITH volunteer with their area of expertise. DIVERSE • Jewish learning continued as almost all participants stayed Limmud enables its volunteers to make new on for Limmud Berlin, with a number of leadership friends (84%), to meet Jews who are different participants also presenting at the event. from themselves (82%), and deepens a sense of connection to the Jewish people (68%)

LIMMUD VOLUNTEERS LIMMUD CATALYSES IMPACT THE WIDER JEWISH SOCIAL JEWISH COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP

agreed or strongly agreed reported that involvement that Limmud had changed 20% in Limmud led them to set 53% their Jewish community and up (alone or with others) a more than a third reported new Jewish initiative or that Limmud had led them to organisation. These include become more involved in launching educational

their communities initiatives, cultural events, and new religious LIMMUD HAS THE community communities. GREATEST IMPACT Limmud has even inspired similar initiatives outside the “I just want to thank Limmud for providing this ON YOUNGER JEWS Jewish community, such as opportunity. Valuable relationships were established as of volunteers under 40 the Muslim New Horizons well as a better understanding of the challenges and the 73% agreed that their Jewish lives project in the UK, which was rewards of other Limmud communities in our region. “I believe that during gathering the links were built between were strongly impacted by founded by a Muslim leader What we all agreed we wanted to be able to do is to people who care for Limmud. Even after the gathering is their experience at Limmud who had visited Limmud, promote each others Limmuds and endeavour to over, these links will stay and help to make Limmud better and Lsaran, an event for the encourage our community to attend.” in every place.” Armenian Diaspora whose founder was inspired by Viv Josephs, Limmud NZ Irina Belskaia, Limmud FSU Belarus Limmud FSU

8 9 REGIONAL HUBS

In 2017 we incorporated Limmud Israel – a new amuta (charitable entity) In 2017 we established Limmud NA () as a 501c3 (charitable presenting the next step on our journey in expanding the Limmud model in entity), helping one of our fastest growing regions to develop sustainably. The Israel. Limmud Israel will support existing Israeli Limmud groups and seek to next phases of operation will include governance, a strategic plan and establish partnerships with like-minded organisations that share our values. professional coordination. The Limmud Israel Board and representatives from Israeli Limmud groups convened for the first Annual General Meeting in autumn 2018 to plan and strategise Residential Retreat for the year ahead, In November, current and prospective members of the Limmud NA Board as well as members of our International Advisory Committee came together for an intensive Limmud After Dark Tel Aviv two-day residential retreat. Based at the beautiful grounds at Leichtag Commons, Encinitas CA, the meeting sparked many exciting and important conversations as well To officially launch Limmud Israel, in October we held ‘Limmud After Dark’ in Tel Aviv. Over as clear action items. 300 participants took part in a sell-out evening of learning organised in partnership with organisations including the Am Yisrael Foundation and Brodt Center for Jewish Culture. Many who attended were first-timers to Limmud and included funders and participants from the concurrent Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.

Speakers included top Israeli thought leaders and decision makers, offering their visions on the shared destiny of the Jewish people, including: , Ruth Calderon, Einat Wilf, , Jon Medved, Michael Eisenberg, David Horovitz, Gil Troy, Sarah Tuttle-Singer, Alon Friedman and Benji Lovitt. In addition, the event featured a wine tasting run by the Golan Heights Winery and performances from young rising stars of Tel Aviv Cantorial School.

10 11 SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Limmud FSU NY + FSU West Coast A joint SFE grant for Limmuds FSU (Former Soviet Union) NY and FSU West The start of 2018 saw Limmud launch Something for Everyone Coast is being used to initiate innovative Jewish educational enrichment (SFE), an exciting initiative which aims to expose new audiences to and leadership development opportunities for select volunteers who show innovative Jewish learning by increasing involvement of families, potential to become organisers for these groups. These opportunities consist young adults and others, thereby driving up engagement and of pre-conference studies and training such as specially-designed team- volunteer leadership. building activities and Study Sundays featuring topics spanning Jewish history and culture, organisational management, fundraising, and development. In a Jewish world that is increasingly post- and non- Through enriching the knowledge, commitment and leadership ability of the denominational and where growing numbers of Jews of all ages volunteers, they hope to increase their outreach to new audiences. are unaffiliated, SFE is intended to attract families of all stripes, including non-traditional families; young adults; and, individuals of all ages not engaging fully in Jewish life. Limmud events provide a inclusive, diverse and welcoming point of entry. The initiative makes grants available for a host of projects to bolster scholarships, marketing, recruitment, programming and partnerships. SFE was piloted in Limmud communities in the US, with nine Limmud groups receiving grants. In the autumn SFE was introduced to groups in Central and Eastern Europe. We hope to broaden the initiative out to other regions in the future.

Limmud NY Limmud NY used their SFE grant for a College Student Leadership Track. 25 student leaders from Hillels from all around the New York area experienced the entire Limmud NY 2018 conference as participants and volunteers, and took part in four facilitated group discussions designed specifically for them to help process their experience and share their hopes and dreams for Jewish life on campus and beyond. Each campus group met with a mentor, either a leading conference presenter or long time Limmud NY volunteer, who helped them brainstorm how they might take what they learnt at Limmud NY back to their campus and turn their visions into reality.

Limmud +SE Limmud Atlanta+SE applied their SFE grant to broaden their highly successful Young Adult Development (YAD) programme and capabilities to offer affordable prices to young families to attend their annual Labor Day weekend Limmud festival. Limmud Atlanta+SE’s YAD programme offers year-round enrichment and empowerment opportunities including tailored seminars, mentoring and Jewish communal Supported placements, to emerging young leaders by the Legacy who go on to plan and implement every Heritage aspect of Limmud Atlanta+SE’s festival. Fund.

12 13 A SELECTION OF LIMMUD EVENTS IN 2018

LIMMUD LIMMUD BALTICS

LIMMUD WINNIPEG LIMMUD FSU CANADA LIMMUD LEEDS

LIMMUD TAG LIMMUD CZECH REPUBLIC LIMMUD

LIMMUD CHICAGO MW

NEW LIMMUD BOCA GROUP Limmud Boca’s eagerly anticipated first event in December drew 300 participants and offered more than 120 sessions and 80 speakers.

LIMMUD EX YU LIMMUD KESHET

NEW LIMMUD MADRID GROUP Limmud Madrid’s first full day event was attended by over 80 people – double the turnout of their successful taster event in 2017. In 2018 a core group of volunteers formed and have increased awareness of, and interest in, Limmud in the city. LIMMUD ARIZONA LIMMUD CARACAS LIMMUD FSU ISRAEL

NEW LIMMUD FSU LIMMUD RÉUNION GROUP With support from afar from Limmud , a first Limmud event took place on the small French-speaking island of Réunion at Neve Chalom Community Center in Saint-Denis – perhaps the most LIMMUD CHILE LIMMUD excotic of all locations for a Limmud event!

14 15 For an up-to-date list of global Limmud events

NEW in 2019 visit: www.limmud.org/events LIMMUD BRISTOL SW GROUP Despite the South West of England being an area without a large Jewish population, over 240 people turned out for the first Limmud Bristol SW in June 2018, including those from the local area and many people who are unaffiliated to synagogues or Jewish organisations. NEW Their next event is planned for 2020. LIMMUD TAG FREIBURG, GROUP LIMMUD FSU ST PETERSBURG MANNHEIM & COLOGNE 2018 has seen Limmud go on tour in cities across Germany, including for the first time to Freiburg, Mannheim and Cologne. LIMMUD FSU MOSCOW LIMMUD The events have opened up these communities to Limmud, helping to bring in new participants, volunteers and ideas.

LIMMUD VANCOUVER

LIMMUD FSU GLOBAL SUMMIT WARSAW LIMMUD OTTAWA LIMMUD FSU

NEW NEW LIMMUD SEATTLE GROUP LIMMUD BOGOTÁ LIMMUD MALLORCA GROUP LIMMUD ITALY Limmud Seattle’s first event was a sell Over 85 people flocked to Limmud LIMMUD INDIA out, with 550 tickets sold vs. the team’s Mallorca’s inaugural full day event in a goal of 450. More than 150 volunteers community of roughly 150–200 Jews on supported the event featuring 60 sessions the Island. A tri-lingual event with and 80 presenters. Over 90% of sessions in Catalan, Spanish, and English participants said they would recommend brought together community members of or strongly recommend Limmud Seattle! traditional background, secular Israeli residents as well as Mallorquin families descended from Conversos. Participants and speakers arrived from Germany, UK, Switzerland, Madrid and Barcelona.

LIMMUD MELBOURNE

LIMMUD BAY AREA LIMMUD CAPE TOWN LIMMUD PERTH

LIMMUD MAR DEL PLATA

16 17 LIMMUD EVENTS IN 2019 LIMMUD MISSION

Limmud Seattle Limmud Michigan Limmud Manchester 19–20 January 2019 31 March 2019 30 June 2019 Wherever you find yourself, Limmud www.limmudseattle.org www.limmudmichigan.org www.limmud.org/venue/manchester will take you one step further on your Limmud Oresund: Taste of Limmud Limmud Midlands Limmud FSU Europe Jewish journey. 20 January 2019 31 March 2019 July 2019 www.oresundslimmud.org www.limmud.org/event/ www.limmudfsu.eu limmud-birmingham-wm/ Limmud Yeroham Limmud SA 24–26 January 2019 Limmud Ottawa 16–18 August 2019 www.facebook.com/limudyeruhamisrael 31 March 2019 www.limmud.org.za www.limmudottawa.ca Limmud FSU St Petersburg Limmud SA Durban LIMMUD VALUES 1–3 February 2019 Limmud Perth 21–22 August 2019 www.limmud.spb.ru 7 April 2019 www.limmud.org.za Arguments for the Sake of Heaven www.facebook.com/lemidabekehila Limmud Helsinki Limmud SA Cape Town Community and Mutual Responsibility 2–3 February 2019 Limmud Tag Freiburg 23–25 August 2019 www.limud.fi 7 April 2019 www.limmud.org.za Diversity www.limmud-tag.de Limmud Baltics Limmud NZ Enabling Connections 8–10 February 2019 Limmud FSU Moscow 24–25 August 2019 www.limmudbaltics.eu Empowerment April 2019 www.limmud.org.nz www.limmud.ru Limmud Arizona Expanding Jewish Horizons Limmud Atlanta+SE 10 February 2019 Limmud Mallorca 30 August–2 September 2019 www.limmudaz.org Learning 11–12 May 2019 www.limmudse.org www.limudmallorca.com Limmud NY Participation Limmud Keshet Bulgaria 15–18 February 2019 Limmud CR-SR 4–8 September 2018 Religious Observance www.limmudny.org 22–26 May 2019 www.limmud.eu www.limmud.cz/ Respect Limmud Arava Limmud Leeds 21–22 February 2019 Limmud Marseille 15 September 2019 www.facebook.com/Limmudaravaa 26 May 2019 www.limmud.org/venue/leeds www.limoud.org Limmud Bogota 24 February 2019 Limmud Buenos Aires: Thanks Limmud Mar del Plata Rosh Hashana Urbano www.limmudbogota.org May 2019 22 September 2019 Limmud acknowledges the generous support of individuals and Jewish foundations and organisations who support our www.facebook.com/LimudMdQ Limmud Tag Essen www.limudba.org international volunteer development and connection activities including Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe, UJA-Federation February 2019 Limmud FSU Belarus of New York, the Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, Dangoor Education, The Pincus Fund for Jewish Education, the Limmud FSU Volga-Urals www.limmud-tag.de May–June 2019 September 2019 Natan Fund, The Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund (JHF), the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Pears Foundation, www.limmud.by Limmud Winnipeg www.limmudfsu.org/comm/volga-urals The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation, the Jewish Youth Fund, the Shoresh Charitable Trust, the American Jewish Joint 2–3 March 2019 Limmud Canberra Distribution Committee, UJIA, UIA Canada, the Edith and Ferdinand Porjes Charitable Trust, Metta Saade Foundation, Mizrahi Limmud Kingston www.limmudwinnipeg.org 8–9 June 2019 Family Charitable Fund, The Davis Foundation and anonymous donors. 3 November 2019 www.actjc.org.au/limmud-shavuot.html Limmud Oresund Limmud Toronto 3 March 2019 Limmud Day Buenos Aires 10 November 2019 www.oresundslimmud.org 15 June 2019 www.limmud.ca www.limudba.org Limmud France Limmud Stockholm 8–10 March 2019 Limmud Oz Sydney 16–17 November 2019 www.limoud.org 15–18 June 2019 www.limmud.se www.limmudoz.com.au Limmud Harrow After Dark 9 March 2019 Limmud Elements: Limmud Galil www.limmud.org/event/ Training on Tour Americas December 2019 limmud-harrow-after-dark 20–23 June 2019 www.limmudgalil.com Limmud Vienna Limmud Bay Area Limmud ExYu 10 March 2019 28–30 June 2019 December 2019 www.limmudwien.org www.limmudbayarea.org www.limmud.org/venue/leeds

For an up-to-date list of global Limmud events in 2019 visit: www.limmud.org/events

18 19 CONTACTS / RESOURCES AFRICA ISRAEL Réunion Arava SA Cape Town FSU Israel To learn more, or to find a Limmud SA Durban Galil anywhere around the globe, visit: SA Johannesburg Golan www.limmud.org/network-of-communities Haifa ASIA Jerusalem or email [email protected] Beijing Modi’in Shanghai Tel Aviv For an up-to-date list of global Limmud India Yeroham events in 2019 (that we know about so far) visit: www.limmud.org/events AUSTRALASIA NORTH AMERICA Canberra Arizona To join the International Online Forum: FSU Australia Atlanta+SE www.limmud.org/volunteers/resources Melbourne Bay Area New Zealand Boca To access the Limmud Resources Directory email: Perth Boston Sydney Chicago MW [email protected] FSU Canada FSU New York To Donate to Limmud visit: EUROPE Baltics FSU West Coast www.events.limmud.org/donate Barcelona Kingston Berlin Miami Brussels Michigan Czech Republic New York ExYu New Orleans twitter.com/limmud France Ottawa FSU Belarus Seattle facebook.com/Limmud.org FSU Europe Toronto youtube.com/user/LIMMUD FSU Moldova Vancouver FSU Moscow Winnipeg FSU St Petersburg FSU Ukraine LATIN AMERICA FSU Volga-Urals Bogotá Germany Buenos Aires Limmud Helsinki Caracas 1a Hall Street Hungary Chile Italy Mar del Plata Keshet Bulgaria Mexico N12 8DB Latvia Telephone: +44 (0)20 3115 1620 Lithuania UK Netherlands Bristol SW Email: [email protected] Madrid Cambridge Mallorca Festival Marseille Harrow Oresund Leeds Poland Liverpool Stockholm Manchester Tag Cologne Midlands Tag Essen Scotland Tag Freiburg Thames Valley Tag Leipzig Tag Mannheim Vienna

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