Programme - What's on offer?
Limmudfest is an exploration of the Jewish world and beyond; together we will be walking, learning, dancing, singing, reflecting and more, with presenters from across the world and spectrum of religious, cultural and political beliefs. At night time Limmudfest really comes alive with cutting edge performers, DJs, jamming sessions and a chance to talk to new and old friends in the bar. It's an opportunity for everyone to teach, learn, rest, play, tell stories, explore and to try new things.
Our provisional programme is now available online so that you can have a look at what is in store over the 4 days, please bear in mind that there may be some minor changes....
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
and here are the biographies of all of our presenters...
The line-up
Added recently:
Sophie Hannah is a bestselling crime fiction writer and poet.
Matt Beynon Rees is an award-winning crime novelist who lives in Jerusalem. Major authors have compared his writing with the work of Graham Greene, John Le Carre, Georges Simenon and Henning Mankell.
Judah Passow - winner of four World Press Photo awards for his coverage of conflict in the Middle East, his photographs have been exhibited widely throughout Europe, the United States and Israel.
Maurice Stone - popular Israeli folk dance teacher who leads prize winning dance groups to competitions and trips across Europe.
Natan Levy - Natan is the incoming community rabbi for Shenley United Synagogue and a consultant for the London School of Jewish Studies' Centre for Faith, Society and Citizenship. He works with the Chief Rabbi's Office to promote issues of ecological justice.
Colin Shindler - Colin is Professor of Israeli Studies at SOAS, University of London. His 'History of Modern Israel' was published by Cambridge University Press earlier this year. He heard the Beatles live in 1963, the Stones live in 1969 and 2006 and attended the first Limmud conference live in 1980.
Zachary Katznelson - Zachary is Legal Director of British charity Reprieve. He represents more than 30 prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and has been to the base 10 times, meeting with prisoners one on one. Joan Michelson - Joan is a lecturer in Literature/Poetry/Creative Writing at Birkbeck College, University of London, Formerly, Senior Lecturer in English, Head of Creative Writing with responsibility for Holocaust Literature, University of Wolverhampton,
Already part of our incredible programme:
Adam Overlander Kaye is a fundraising manager for United Jewish Israel Appeal and a popular Jewish educator.
Akiva The Believer - Master handrummer, singer, drumming workshops, USA
Anat Hoffman - campaigner and Director of the Israel Religious Action Centre.
Bernard Zissman - former Lord Mayor of Birmingham, this Knight of the realm has also found time to write the award-nominated "Herzl's Journey", labelled "required Zionist reading" by The Evening Standard.
Chaim Weiner - Director of the European Masorti Bet Din
Claire Nacamuli is Education Officer at JCORE. She has a background in international development and has worked in Zimbabwe with Tzedek, an international development charity and in Guatemala for an ethical trade organisation.
Clive Lawton is one of the co-founders of Limmud and 29 years is still educating both Limmud and Tzedek
Dan Berelowitz - Director, Tzedek (Jewish overseas and development charity), UK
Diwon - a.k.a DJ Handler; a.k.a. Erez Safar; founder of The Sephardic Music Festival and of Shemspeed, the most influential and diverse Jewish music site; described by the Jerusalem Post as "Jewish music's multimedia mogul"
Golda Zafer-Smith is a psychologist, family therapist, teacher and writer.
Hannah Weisfeld is the Social Action and Campaigns , Coordinator for the JCC . Previously she worked for The Pears Foundation and compiled the booklet ‘Darfur: A Jewish Response'.
Helena Miller is the Director of Research and Evaluation at the UJIA, London. She has a doctorate in Jewish education and has taught in a diverse range of educational contexts
Jacqueline Nicholls is an artist and Jewish educator. She uses her art to explore traditional Jewish ideas in untraditional ways."
JCC Tribute Troupe - A collective of up and coming Jewish talent brought together by the Jewish Community Centre for London (JCC), their performances have previously delighted Limmud audiences. The troupe includes singer/songwriters Ilana Bendel, Jonny Berliner and Jen Charlton, musician and actor Daniel Hart, storyteller Mekella Broomberg and writer and director, Claire Berliner.
Jen Charlton is a Canadian folk chanteuse, her voice somewhere between crystalline and smoky, her songs caught between America and Europe.
Jess Gold is a musician, aunt, educator, campaigner and lover of dance and will be not only entertaining us with her stunning voice and modern ethical lyrics but also staging an activity where you can measure your carbon footprint.
Los Desterrados - unique Ladino-singing sextet of Sephardic musicians, who play and sing what The Metro described as a "series of rousing, melancholic songs that pulse with rhythm and feeling"
Marc Soloway is currently the Rabbi at Congregation Bonai Shalom having tried his hand at massage therapy and acting and is excited to come back to Limmud after a few years away in Colorado.
Marcus Freed is an educator, performer and writer, and the creator of Bibliyoga, a dynamic system for experiencing spirituality through the body.
Nigel Savage - Founder Hazon - Creating a sustainable Jewish Community, USA
Nigel Varndell - Interfaith Manager Christian Aid
Paul Freedman - Rabbi of Radlett Reform Synagogue.
Raphael Zarum - Chief Executive and Senior Lecturer of the London School of Jewish Studies; creator and writer of numerous popular Jewish educational works; and one of the JC's 30 most influential people in the British-Jewish community.
Mark Novak and Renee Brachfeld are world famous Jewish Storytellers who include storytelling, juggling and, cantorial singing into their mix
Smadar Levi - Israeli singer and peace activist from Sderot, of whom a reviewer recently wrote "When those stirring vocals came alive, the hairs at the back of my head began to stand". She is also the producer and mixer of Yemenite / Sephardi sounds with hip-hop beats (formerly performed as DJ Handler), USA
The Apples - the Israeli funk collective, fresh from their sell-out tour across Europe. Catch the hottest band in Israel at their only UK summer festival of 2008
Vivian Silver who does fascinating work at the Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development with Jews and Arabs in Israel, with Palestinians in cross border projects and with people from developing countres
Yehudah Shaul - Breaking the Silence who raise awareness of the issues faced by soldiers in the IDF serving in the territories
Y-Love - Hassidic hip-hop star; one of the undisputed highlights of Limmud Conference 2007 and one of the most sought after performers in the USA's growing Jewish hip-hop scene.
and many, many more are being confirmed ...
...and for teenagers?
From social action to socialising, philosophy to football, discussions to dancing, we give you all you need to make your own Fest experience a truly memorable one. Look out for our recommended Youth programmes or just hang out in the Youth area.
You can view the Limmudfest07 programme here.
