Limmud around the world
Since 1999, Limmud has been spreading at an unprecedented rate throughout the Jewish world. Inspired by their visits to Limmud Conferences in the UK, tens of activists have returned to their home communities enthused and invigorated by Limmud's unique model of cross-communal, volunteer-led, dynamic Jewish education - and sought to replicate some of the Limmud magic in their own community. Indeed, as the Jerusalem Report astutely observed in 2000: "wherever there are Jews, there should be a Limmud".
Today, we are proud that Limmud events have been run in the following communities: New York, Moscow, the Galil, Jerusalem, Turkey, Holland, France, Germany, the Baltics, Switzerland, Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto, South Africa, Los Angeles, Serbia (Ex-Yu) and Hungary . We are also delighted to be working to assist the birth of new Limmud events in Argentina, Colorado, Atlanta, Sweden and Ashkelon.
Whilst these international Limmuds operate independently of Limmud in the UK, we are incredibly proud of their achievements - and wish them every success in their endeavours. They are achieving true greatness and are rapidly disseminating the Limmud message across the globe!
As you can see, no month of the year passes by without an organised Limmud event somewhere in the world..... want to get more information? Please click here to download the first Limmud International Newsletter
Limmud FSU
Limmud FSU, driven by Chaim Chesler, Sandy Cahn, Matthew Bronfman and led by Sasha Pityagorsky, was launched in 2006 with an event in Moscow attended by over 1000 people. Keynote presenters included both Chief Rabbis of Moscow, the Reform Moscow Rabbis, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, historian Deborah Lipstadt and Avraham Infeld. As with all Limmud events, Limmud FSU was driven and organized by a dedicated group of over 100 volunteers. The group is now planning a series of events across the former Soviet Union.
Limmud Galil
A group of Israelis from the Galil, inspired by their visits to Limmud Conference in the UK organised by the UJIA/Jewish Agency Partnership 2000 programme, set about trying to replicate the Limmud magic in their home communities. Limmud Galil has been highly successful; since its launch over three years ago it has run three major conferences, each attracting over 200 people. Guest presenters have ranged from internationally renowned musicians to Israeli government ministers. The group are now planning a massive expansion of their activities - including expanding their "year-round" programme of events aside from their annual conference.
Limmud-Oz
http://www.limmudoz.com.au/
peta@shalom.edu.au
Limmud-Oz, Australia's version of Limmud, made its debut in Sydney in 1999. The Limmud experience proved to be as uplifting, intoxicating, stimulating and exciting here as it has elsewhere. With ever-increasing numbers of participants (over a thousand in Sydney this year and 850 in Melbourne in 2004), it was held in Sydney in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and in Melbourne for the first time in 2004.
Limmud (Toronto) Canada
http://www.limmud.ca/
info@limmud.ca
Limmud (Toronto) Canada held its first one day event on 21 November 2004 at York University's Founder's College attracting over 400 people. They had 60 home-grown presenters presenting 46 sessions and three films.
Limoud France
http://www.limoud.org/
contact@limoud.org
After three years of planning, Limmud France was launched in the luxurious setting of the Palais de Congres just outside of Paris. Attended by 700 participants from all over France, the event boasted some 160 sessions presented by over 100 educators from across mainland Europe. Ruth Ouzana, the President of Limoud France, explains: "We wanted to replicate the look and feel of Limmud Conference in the UK - therefore we wanted to offer our participants as much choice as possible." Under Ruth's leadership, nearly 80 volunteers - most of whom have attended Limmud in Nottingham - have created an event that Ruth says "will revolutionise the way that the French community thinks about Jewish education".
Limmud NY
http://www.limmudny.org/
info@limmudny.org
Limmud NY was established by six volunteers who were inspired by the annual Limmud Conference in England. With the help of UJA-Federation of NY, this group undertook a year-long needs assessment and strategic planning process. At the conclusion of this process in December 2003, UJA-Federation - through a grant from the Picower Foundation - provided funds to seed the creation of Limmud NY. Additionally, Limmud NY became one of the select residents of Bikkurim: An Incubator for New Jewish Ideas. The first Limmud NY conference was held in January 2005. 700 people gathered in upstate New York (including a sizeable delegation from Limmud UK) for three days of lectures, workshops, text-study sessions, discussions, exhibits, performances and much more - all planned by a community of volunteers. Now in its third year, Limmud NY has become an annual fixture in the calendar of New York Jews.
LimmudLA
Based in Los Angeles, LimmudLA's first conference took place on Presidents' Weekend Feb 15-18, 2008 at the Hilton in Costa Mesa.
For more information visit http://www.limmudla.org/ or email ruthie@limmudla.org.
Limmud Colorado
The inaugural Limmud Colorado conference will be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, 2008 at the Keystone resort. From Friday evening to Monday afternoon, participants will enjoy torah study, hiking, interactive workshops, live music, films, yoga,
lectures, and more! Anyone from Colorado or around the country who is interested in Jewish learning, from every age group and background, is welcome to attend
Limmud Colorado. We anticipate that some participants will have been Jewishly involved their whole lives, while others will be just beginning to explore their Jewish journeys. Join us for a celebration of Jewish life, learning, and culture in the Rocky Mountains!
Contact Karli Sherwinter at karli@limmudcolorado.org for more information.
Jom Ijun (Switzerland)
http://www.jomijun.ch/
info@jomijun.ch
Jom Ijun, created in 2001, is a Limmud style initiative from the Swiss community based in Basel. The goal of the organisers of Jom Ijun is to bring together people with diverse interests and backgrounds to study Jewish issues. An inclusive, integrative event, Yom Ijun emphasises what the participants have in common - interest in and curiosity about Jewish issues and Jewish sources, as well as the desire to learn and to exchange ideas. This day event has taken place every November since 2003.
Limmud Turkey
Led by a dedicated group of volunteers who were inspired by their visit to Conference in the UK, the first Limmud in Turkey took place in Istanbul on 20 November 2005 with approximately 450 participants. Over 60 presenters, both local and overseas (with simultaneous translation), presented a choice of nine sessions at any one time. Last editions of Limmud Turkey hosted 1000 participants.
Limmud Germany
Launched with a highly successful one-day event in August 2007, planning is now well under way for the first Limmud Germany Conference will take place in Werbelinsee north of Berlin between 16 and 18 May 2008. It will be an opportunity to study all kinds of Jewish topics, to learn together, to discuss and to celebrate - in German, in Russian and in English. There will be workshops on difficult topics and more relaxing ones, food for thought and more practical courses such as cooking or singing. And if you need a break from thinking and discussing, there will be lots of opportunities for sports or taking a walk in the beautiful nature of Brandenburg.
Limmoed Holland
A dedicated group of Dutch volunteers (and others living in The Netherlands..) inspired by their visits to Limmud Conference in UK decided to join forces to import the concept into The Netherlands. Though Limmoed has existed in Holland for 3 years, organised by local institutions, next February will be the first fully volunteer-led/run Limmoed . Preparations are undergoing to make this event fantastic.. So, if you can plan a visit to Amsterdam for February 3rd, better not to miss it...Experience the diversity and creativity that the Dutch Jewish community has to offer in fully Limmud Style!
Limmud South Africa
After 2 years of preparation and some months of hard work , in August 2007 Limmud South Africa was launched . In rapid succession in Johannesburg and then in Cape Town, with more than 700 people attending...a total of more than 100 sessions all over the country. For 2008, they are adding in an event in Durban in the same period to enrich the mix still further. With such fantastic programmes, there is no doubt that Limmud SA will double in numbers next year. Kol Ha kavod!
Limmud Israel
www.limmudisrael.org.il
limmud_yisrael@yahoo.com
Limmud Israel is a Jerusalem-based initiative led by an ever-expanding group of immigrants to transport the vision and share the spirit of Limmud with the wider Israeli community. Initiated in 2001 and registered as an Israeli NGO in 2003, Limmud Israel's activists now comprise a cross-section of immigrant and native Israelis. Their first event took place in September 2003, attracting some 200 people to a Jerusalem hotel for a stimulating learning and social evening program. Sessions, almost all presented in Hebrew, featured some of the most prominent local figures in Jewish Education, Philosphy, Literature, Music, Meditation and Media. Building upon the success of the launch, Limmud Israel's next event is in the planning stages, and organisers hope to expand the scope of their future activities accordingly.
Limmud Atlanta + Southeast
Kinda like kudzu, Limmud is spreading to Atlanta. Be Your Own Jew March 1-2 and meet some other cool ones too. The Southeast's first Limmud will celebrate over 80 sessions at Oglethorpe University (okay, a small tribute to where Limmud was started).
Where next?
Limmud volunteers are starting events all round the globe. You may be far away from a Limmud event, or there may be one happening only a few miles from your doorstep. If you want to get involved with an existing event, contact the teams above. If you want to bring Limmud to your own community, contact Andrew Gilbert, Chair of Limmud International, on internationalchair@limmud.org and we will help you get started.