Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By popular demand we are bringing back themed Surgeries. These are more informal smaller post-lunch discussions to raise questions from your own Limmud group on a specific topic with an experienced volunteer in that field. Discover whether other Limmudniks have had a similar experience and how they have dealt with it and offer your own suggestions. Provisional Surgery themes: Young Limmud Family provision Shabbat planning Organizational development We are also happy to arrange One to One Meetings and Introductions for any international delegates who would like them.
As a people, our story has been about Journeys. It is about physical journeys from Canaan to the land of Israel in ancient times, and from Central and Eastern Europe to the UK, North America, South Africa and beyond more than one hundred years ago. These days, our journeys include making Aliyah from all parts of the world to Israel, but also moving from Canada to the Netherlands, Hungary to Germany, the UK to Australia. No wonder we Jews are called the wandering people! It is also about Jewish journeys, as we travel through our lives. Again, as our story unfolds in Torah we go from being a disparate group of ancient people, to a nation with codes and rules to govern our day to day, moral and religious lives. Through modern history, the spiritual journey of the Jewish people has reflected changing times, both political and environmental. From the period of enlightenment, when Jews began to explore their relationship with the modern world in previously untried ways, to the present day, when alternative minyanim (prayer groups) and multiple expressions of Jewish religious and cultural practice expand the possibilities for Jewish life, we are on a journey. The experiences we have within Limmud International are about both our physical journeys and our Jewish journeys. As we co-chairs have travelled to a variety of Limmud events and training in Berlin, Budapest, Toronto, Israel and more this year, in every place we have met Limmudniks who have physically moved from
AN INTERVIEW WITH
www.limmoed.nl
Linked to what I have said previously, our proudest achievement is that in some way we have been able to overcome our challenge - and that all sorts of Jews from Holland and local environs volunteer and participate in Limmud. From the extremely Orthodox to the completely unaffiliated, young and old as well as Amsterdamers and those from more remote parts of the country. Limmud has engaged them in questions about the past, present and future. What is the most important advice you would give to other Limmud groups? The most important advice was given to me from other Limmud volunteers. Often people complain - it is easy to complain. They complain about the food, they complain about the lack of presenters coming to speak about a particular theme. They complain about the music, they complain about the programme book. It is essential to put the complaints into the hands of the participants. If they want to see something different, then bring them on board. Use them as a springboard for positive change. Don't always feel that you have to change because of their complaints. Get them to ensure that your future Limmud is to their liking by enabling them. It makes all the difference!
PROGRAMME CONTENT
The first part of the programme, before LimmudFest, focused on core training sessions, steeped in discussion about how to effectively implement Limmuds values and create teachable moments. Participants challenged themselves by debating against their adopted and sometimes comfortable views, for example, on the type of events they hold, whether one day or many, and whether to have a paid staff member. Skills workshops were a key part of the training programme, practically addressing the challenges of volunteer recruitment and retention, the practicalities of fundraising effectively and using free technology for effective and efficient marketing. Optional clinics were held over three days of LimmudFest, providing a space for smaller groups to focus intensely on one particular topic at a time. These included a how to on using facebook as a marketing tool, creating an inclusive Shabbat environment at Limmud events and how to develop sustainable organizational leadership structures. The programme as a whole was enriched by the trainers and participants drawing on their own Limmud group experiences to provide examples and suggestions for moving forward. And of course, some volunticipation! What Limmudnik could go to another Limmud group event and not volunteer?! On the night before LimmudFest, the Training on Tour participants gathered to help put together the participant welcome packs and name badges and could be seen amongst the rocking chairs at the helpdesk throughout the LimmudFest weekend.
PARTICIPANTS
Volunteer team members, including first timers, seasoned event chairs and board members took part from the following Limmud groups: Limmud Atlanta+SE; LimmudBoston; Limmud Chicago; Limmud Colorado; Limmud FSU Hamptons; Limmud NOLA; Limmud NY; Limmud Philly & Limmud Winnipeg Limmud Atlanta + SE has existed for 5 years and we have seen a tremendous momentum of growth and enthusiasm and community involvement. This was our largest conference yet and being able to use it as a chance for our volunteers to learn and share with other North American Limmud and Limmud International was incredible. It was transforming to us to be able to be immersed in whats core to Limmud both right before and while implementing our conference at the same time. The relationships our volunteers formed with other Limmud volunteers and Limmud International has already helped strengthen what we have here. This needs to be an annual event! Eric Robbins, Limmud Atlanta+SE, Board Chair
SHARED CHALLENGES AND INNOVATIONS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE LIMMUD INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON TOUR 2011 10 SHARED LEARNING TIPS
During the concluding session of the Training on Tour programme, participants shared their reflections with each other as a whole and also in teams of their local Limmud group to consider how they could change their experiences at the programme into action. Here are 10 learning tips we would like to share with all Limmud volunteers. Start every team meeting thinking about a dilemma (this can be from experience or why not be creative?). Draw on the Limmud values to think about how you would resolve the problem whilst reminding ourselves about the kind of community we are trying to develop. Limmud's Training on Tour programme was a wonderful opportunity to connect with participants from Limmudim around the world. I learned so much from their experiences that I want to be able to bring back home! Sara Levy, Limmud Philly, Co-chair As part of volunteer training and development, encourage people to take the opposite view in a debate when deciding a significant issue or policy. It can be helpful to stand in different shoes and think through the pros and cons. Limmud groups should be more confident in their fundraising ask. Dont forget that we are not asking for ourselves but for a crosscommunal learning community. In appealing for funds to participants at a Limmud group event be direct and honest about the costs involved and where their money goes Ask volunteers at other Limmud groups if they have experienced similar challenges and how they have approached them. This is a resource we should use more often. Be aware of different peoples styles when creating a team to find a good working balance
Pair experienced volunteers on teams with less experienced ones, different generations and backgrounds etc. Think about performance programming and social spaces for making connections and learning from one another outside of timetabled sessions at events Use social media (facebook, twitter etc) for marketing and public relations to reach a wider audience, but dont forget the importance of personal face-to-face contact and building relationships By meeting people from all over the world and listening to their knowledge and experiences about Limmud, I feel part of something that can really make a difference in the lives of Jews in New Orleans. Limmud is unlike any other group or organization that I have ever been in involved with, and I am glad it found me! Marisa Kahn, Limmud NOLA, Marketing Invest in volunteer development and leadership potential, make this a focus all year round build a community not just an event
WHAT NEXT?
With a successful first Training on Tour programme behind us and a strengthened network of volunteers sharing resources and advice, we now aim to bring this programme to other regions across the world. Watch this space for information about Training on Tour in Europe in 2012.
CHAVRUTA
David Brown
Co-Chair Participant Care, Limmud Conference 2011 and Social Action Coordinator, JHub Meeting fellow Limmudniks at ROI in June was great. It was really interesting to hear how Limmud develops in countries such as Hungary and Ukraine, and meet people involved in reinvigorating Judaism in places where it is relatively new to be able to express Judaism openly. It was also clear that Limmud is a platform for generating new Jewish ideas, and
Shoshana Bloom
Co-Chair Limmud Conference 2011, HeadJewish Culture Department, Norwood There was an amazing sense of connection with other Limmudniks at both the ROI Summit and JPropel and a shared sense of pride at being a part of something
Limmud France
11 - 13 March www.limoud.org It has been said in a previous issue of the newsletter, that the French Jewish Community, although being the largest Diaspora community in the world after the US, was kind of ... asleep. Nothing better than the 5th edition of Limmud France, known here as Limoud, can show this is not true anymore. Limoud is actually THE place to find and meet the new Jewish French innovators. Creativity and innovation in Education, Arts, Music, Torah as well as Politics and Interfaith. Well, if you are willing to discover the new French Jewish World, Limmud France is "the place to be!" (according to the very terms of a famous acticipant)! [volunticipant]
For a whole weekend 500 acticipants took part in what is described in France as the biggest "Forum de la Vie Juive". From 0 to over 100 years old, from different backgrounds, orientations and tendencies, all of them came to discover and explore the innumerable facets of the rich Jewish life in the famous city of Fontainebleau. This year, the emphasis was put on three original themes: Jews and Rock music; Jews and cinema; and the renewal of the German Jewish community. Beyond that Limoud hosted more than 150 sessions dealing with an incredibly broad selection of topics. From the most unexpected ones like Next year in ... Bombay to the most pioneering ones like Jews of France in 2030, Melodies of the Spanish and
Portuguese Jews, and How to be a Jewish, French and European citizen in the 21st century. Inspired by their English neighbours always proposing to share their very valuable knowledge and experience, the French team of volunteers, growing bigger and bigger, is excited to make the best of Limmud. The next French edition of Limmud already promises to be even greater: most of the acticipants left Limoud saying that next year they will come back with families and friends of them! So, let's be clear: the French Jewish Community has tremendous potential and, thank G-d, Limmud By Ilana Amalzag, Torah Theme Manager (Programming) & Sarah Simha Benkemoun, Fundraising, & Scheduling, Limmud France
for Russian speakers in New York will take place at the end of March 2012 and for the first time will be a three-day conference. Location and exact dates to be confirmed soon. Chaim Chesler and Sandra Cahn, the co-founders of Limmud FSU, motivated and showed their appreciation to the volunteers for giving their time and effort to the project. We were very much impressed by the calibre of the people in our team and the qualities that we found there. By Roman Kogan, Limmud FSU, Chief Operating Officer
This year saw a whole host of innovations, including Caf Conversations (small group text learning); dance/dream/art/writing workshops; a number of young adult related sessions; Limmuds Got Talent; use of a teen friendly icon in the programming book; and an authors forum where they presented their own works.
Looking forward we now need to focus our marketing attention on including social media to sustain a young participant base and to target our marketing effectively to ensure we get a good mix. We are proud to be able to say that a number of new faces and voices of Jews involved in the broader society but who have not previously been involved Jewishly came, spent the weekend and presented! By Viv Anstey, National Chair, Limmud SA Cape Town
Limmud SA Johannesburg
19-21 August 2011 www.limmud.org.za Limmud South Africa (SA) Johannesburg held its first residential conference this August. As we mentioned in the previous Limmud International newsletter in the volunteer engagement section, there was great deal of tension as to how Limmud SA Johannesburg would pull off Shabbat at its first residential conference. Limmud Johannesburg has traditionally attracted many Jews who would see themselves as secular and cultural and we had concerns about their civil liberties being affected and that they would feel they were at a "Shabbaton". At the same time, we had an increased amount of people who came to Limmud SA Johannesburg for the first time who define themselves as "Shabbat observant". The first two sessions started well, the services went off well, but Shabbat dinner would be when everyone would come together. There was an underlying tension. I was apprehensive and anxious. All of a sudden, I saw a group of volunteers wearing black with black sunglasses standing on their chairs with their right finger raised. Daniel Herman, a volunteer and now Co-Chair of our 2012 Conference, shouted Shalom! and all of a sudden the Limmud SA Joburg Shabbat Flash Mob sprung into action and started clapping and singing Shalom Aleichem at their table. They formed a train and moved to the middle where they got the entire audience to join in and kids rushed forward to dance in the middle. Limmud Joburg's residential had begun with a bang!
Limmud NZ
27-29 August 2011 www.limmud.org.nz Limmud NZ (New Zealand) has just celebrated its second annual conference in Auckland making it a firm fixture on the Jewish calendar for our small but dedicated community. We had over 300 participants from around the country. With an active Jewish population of around 3,000 people nationwide, this is a great participation rate, making Limmud NZ the biggest community event of the year. A special feature of Limmud NZ is that we involve all segments of the population. As well as six streams of learning for adults and teens, we provide special programmes for children, the local Jewish day school Kadimah, and educators. Our youth groups Habonim and Bnei Akiva also linked in their national seminars with Limmud NZ, giving the event a youthful and energetic vibe. As all Limmudniks know its hard to pick highlights because its each to their own and all thatbut as Im writing this article I can give you mine! We were extremely privileged to have Maureen Kendler, Joel Grishaver and Anat Hoffman with us - three longstanding and incredibly popular presenters over many years at the UKs Limmud Conference and elsewhere. As well as being fabulous speakers, they were also all lovely people who really wanted to share their knowledge to make the conference a great experience for everyone a real bonus for us newbies! Other highlights were our first Limmud NZ Shabbat programme a wonderful shared experience; having four Rabbis under the same roof (and giving a joint session in one case); a fire eater to celebrate Havdallah and finding the hidden gems in our own local community (who knew?) and (after a slight panic the previous week) having so many people pitch in to volunteer over the weekend. As well as Shabbat Limmud, other innovations this year were interspersing cultural sessions including films and an art exhibition into our programme. This and our Limmud Lounge hang-out space were really well received. Although there was a
real eagerness for some serious learning, sometimes we all needed something a bit lighter to get through the long days. The main challenge is the one a small community always faces the huge task of planning and running Limmud NZ falls on very few (and quite narrow) shoulders. Our key challenge is to spread the load so the Steering Group doesnt burn out and go up in flames at least not before Limmud NZ 2012. I leave the last words to our participants: Thank you so much for an exciting opportunity to listen, learn and talk about the huge spectrum of things Jewish. I appreciate it is a huge task to organize and run such an event. I am very grateful that this wealth of riches was made available to us. It is truly humbling to see the quality and depth of our local speakers. It is too easy to take our friends and neighbours for granted and Limmud seemed to bring out the best in people to give their all. Thank you to all the local speakers. By Tanya Thomson, Limmud NZ 2011 Steering Group
LIMMUD INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 9
Limmud Atlanta+SE
2-5 September 2011 www.limmudse.org. "Mommy, I love Camp Limmud more than anything in the WHOLE world (except for you)" -- Joey Rabkin Nearly 300 Limmudniks gathered in the north Georgia Mountains for the third Atlanta+SE LimmudFest weekend. Attendance was up by 38% and 8 different southeastern US states were well represented. We are very proud of our musical talent both homegrown and imported. Limmud Atlanta+SEs sponsorship of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival has led us to discover new artists like Sun Moon Pie and singersongwriter Ariel Root Wolpe. A partnership with the Israeli Consulate of the Southeast brought us Israeli hip-hop artist Onili and
high up in a tree house, Camp Limmud Kids Chorus and an early Family Shabbat dinner option. Representatives from 9 North American Limmuds shared best practices and common challenges under the leadership of Limmud International. Staying on for LimmudFest training sessions continued, connecting theory and practice as the weekend unfolded. Southern hospitality oozed like honey. There were many sessions on Southern Jewish life and lore, including a screening of the film Shalom Yall. Southern food ways were celebrated at mealtimes with fried chicken, black eyed peas and sweet tea on the menu. Participation from the observant community was way up and mealtimes rocked with rousing zmirot and lots of lchaims. By Nina Rubin, Limmud Atlanta+SE, Board member
the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival and the Atlanta Jewish Gene Screen collaborated on a "Jam and Juice" cocktail and music session. Twelve Limmudniks took advantage of our first camping option and pitched their tents on the grounds of Camp Ramah Darom. Taking advantage of our wonderful natural resources, we added boating, fishing, a bike trip, and expanded access to the climbing wall to our program. Moonlight hikes to the waterfall and a huge havdallah bonfire and drum circle are now firmly established Limmud Atlanta+SE traditions. Camp Limmud enrolled more kids than ever, expanding its programming to include a PJ Library party, Tot Shabbat services
Israel; musical master-classes and study groups (Batei Midrash). Matthew Bronfman, Chairman of the Limmud FSU International Steering Committee said, "For me, Limmud is the most important expression of the desire to deepen and strengthen a sense of belonging and solidarity among Jews around the world. It is the ultimate exchange of knowledge and experience in an atmosphere of Jewish wisdom, respect, humor and tolerance." Our excellent team of volunteers, together with Jenya Nemirovsky the Project Manager and Roman Kogan the Limmud FSU COO, managed to mount a great Limmud this year. We will have an even bigger festival here next year, said Chaim Chesler and Sandra Cahn, co-chairs of Limmud FSU. By Roman Kogan, Limmud FSU, Chief Operating Officer
By Jessica Elgot, The JC.com, 11 August 2011 http://jewi.sh/zsf3 The Chief Rabbi and community leaders have spoken of their shock after the three days of rioting this week but praised community efforts to help rebuild the cities.... Raymond Simonson, executive director of Limmud, said: "People live in flats above shops that have been set on fire, so their homes have been badly or permanently damaged. We found out Haringey Council needed bedding, clothes and toys. We asked people to give donations to the Limmud office and we drove a couple of car loads over." RSY-Netzer have donated spare t-shirts and sweatshirts to the Limmud campaign. Mr Simonson added: "We want to show people that London is not made up just of those who break things, but those who try and repair a damaged world tikkun olam in a pure sense."
LIMMUD IS A MITZVAH
http://jewi.sh/zsf4
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of filming The G-d Project and hosting two learning sessions as Limmudfest Atlanta + Southeast, a weekend-long retreat that brings together Jewish folks from around the country (primarily the South) at Camp Ramah Darom for learning, celebration, friendship and outdoor fun. Diverse types of people including LGBT activists, comics, young families, seniors, filmmakers and musicians, Jewish non-profit executives and business people, hippies and non-Jewish family are included in this camp havurah. It was this sense of diversity that really impacted me the most. From the Chabad rabbi kashering the camp kitchen to the tai chi teacher, everyone had their place at Limmud. Including me. ...Torah gives us the opportunity, no matter where we are in life, to come home to the heart of the Jewish experience. And the staff and volunteers of Limmud are doing that exact same thing. Limmudfest therefore, is a living Torah value. Yasher koach to those who have brought this experience to the world and may it be Gods will that there be a Limmudfest in every town, on every weekend, forever and all time. Yhi ratzon.
By Keith Kahn Harris, The JC.com, 4 July 2011 http://jewi.sh/zsf5 Organisations that aspire to create a grassroots movement should, at the very least, be clear to themselves and others what it is they really want. Largely, it is a kind of "managed" movement that leaders desire - and this is not an illegitimate aim - but in such cases unwarranted claims about people power should not be made. In any event, the most far-reaching grassroots movements tend to be those that develop slowly, without shrill, public campaigning. Limmud is the prime example of this. For over 30 years, the organisation has built up a radical challenge to the anti-intellectualism and communal divisions that have bedevilled the UK Jewish community. Limmud has done this by developing a substantial, constantly self-renewing community of volunteers people who are prepared to work hard in the background to create a welcoming and dynamic Jewish space. Limmud is now big enough, and its roots deep enough, that not only is its future existence guaranteed, it has created change across the community. Can we say the same about those grassroots protests and movements that are so much in the news today? Ultimately, people power can only be truly established through hard work, time and a refusal to go for easy headlines.
LIMMUD INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER 11
LIMMUD BRINGS UNIQUE LEADERSHIP TRAINING OPPORTUNITY TO ACTIVISTS ACROSS THE USA
By Dani Serlin, ejewishphilanthropy.com, 18 September 2011 http://jewi.sh/zshy Demonstrating the depth and geographical spread of the grass-roots cross-communal concept of Limmud transported from the UK, Limmudniks involved in this volunteer development seminar came from North American Limmud communities from far and wide, including Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Limmud FSU Hamptons, and Winnipeg amongst others.
Limmud Hungary www.limmud.hu Limmud FSU Odessa www.limmudfsu.org Limmud Keshet Poland www.limud.pl Cambridge Day Limmud - www.limmud.org/day/cambridge Limmud Stockholm www.limmud.se Limmud Turkey www.limmudtr.org Limmud Oz Fest Melbourne www.limmudozfest.com Limmud Day Berlin - www.limmud.de LimmudBoston www.limmudboston.org Limmud Day Hamburg - www.limmud.de Limmud Galil - www.limmudgalil.com Limmud Conference (in the UK) www.limmud.org Limmud NY www.limmundny.org Limmud Colorado - www.limmudcolorado.org LimmudLA www.limmudla.org Limmud Bay Area www.limmudba.org Limmud Chicago www.limmudchicago.org Limmud Arava - http://limmud.arava.gonegev.co.il Limmud NOLA www.limmudfestnola.org Liverpool Day Limmud www.limmud.org/day/liverpool Limmud Winnipeg www.jewishwinnipeg.org/page.aspx?id=225687
NOVEMBER 2011
DECEMBER 2011
JANUARY 2012
FEBRUARY 2012
MARCH 2012
TO SEE THE MOST UPDATED CALENDAR OF LIMMUD EVENTS AROUND THE GLOBE VISIT http://tinyurl.com/6eqfehf
The Limmud International family wishes long life to Noa Hundert, former Limmud International Project Coordinator, on the sudden passing of her father on Kol Nidre.
As the voice of our Limmud International community, we would like to spread the news of significant life events for people in our group. If a Limmud activist in your local community experiences a special life event youd like to share, please send your news to the Limmud Office by emailing: dani@limmud.org
Limmud International 1A Hall Street, London N12 8DB, UK +44 (0)20 3115 1620 skype limmud.international 12 LIMMUD INTERNATIONAL international@limmud.org
Limmud International acknowledges the generous support of individuals and Jewish foundations and organisations, including: Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe, the L.A. Pincus Fund for Jewish Education for the Diaspora, Pears Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the JDC
NEWSLETTER