One Limmud, Many Limmuds

By David Hoffman, Limmud International Chair

It is one of the most remarkable things about Limmud that it is now a truly international Jewish movement. Although Limmud’s roots are in the UK, with the first Limmud Conference in 1980, it is many years since Limmud started spreading around the world - with Limmud-Oz being one of the first outside the UK. That makes it an especial treat that the Limmud International regional volunteer development seminar, Training on Tour, is coming to Sydney this September (more about that later).

The spread of Limmud means that today Limmud has over 80 Limmud communities creating events around the world – in 2013 there were 52 events in 38 countries, with 3,000 volunteers creating events attended by over 25,000 people. Limmud events now take place on every continent where there are Jews – recent additions to the Limmud family who have had an event or are working towards one include India, China, Peru, Vancouver, Miami, Barcelona, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Italy, Tel Aviv and Haifa.

So how does all of this happen? Well, the starting point is the 3,000 plus volunteers. Each Limmud around the world is its own organisation – most for a single country, state or city. And each organisation is driven by its volunteers. And its volunteers are inspired by the common values which underpin all of Limmud. 

Limmud International Training on Tour in Europe, Berlin May 2014

Limmud is very much a value-driven organisation. They really are the underpinning of debates within Limmud about what we should do – one of the key values for Limmud as an organisation is ‘Arguments for the sake of heaven’ – that we can disagree about what is right, but still decide what we should do without losing respect for each other, and that we can revisit issues without it being about individuals.

So where does Limmud International fit into Limmud? Limmud International is one of Limmud’s support teams. The role of our particular team of volunteers, with sterling professional support from the Limmud Office in the UK, and funded by Limmud in part through specific fundraising and donations, is to support all the different Limmud communities round the world.

We do this in several ways. One is through volunteer support and development: events such as our regional Training on Tour, which is coming to Australia this September, or bringing volunteers from round the world to Limmud Conference in the UK are all about ensuring that individual volunteers progress the skills and understanding which allow them to confidently run Limmud events. It is always a privilege that we have Australian volunteers willing to make the long trip to the UK to take part in the Conference programme!

Natan Sharansky and David Hoffman at the Limmud International reception at Limmud Conference 2013

We also keep in touch with our volunteers through through regular emails, and use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter, and through our annual review, we want all Limmud volunteers, wherever they are, to feel like part of a Limmud family, knowing what else is going on around the world of Limmud. We provide resources and support through our website as well as opportunities for sharing documents, questions, experience and information. Whether for general volunteer support, helping a new group get off the ground, or just seeing how an event is going, one of Limmud International’s most rewarding activities is helping individual groups to develop.

Limmud’s promise is that "Wherever you find yourself, Limmud will take you one step further on your Jewish journey." Limmud International seeks to deliver that promise to volunteers around the world, to support them as they take each of their Limmud groups one step further on their Limmud journey!

And of course, for all of you Limmudniks in Sydney, your next chance to take one step further on your Jewish journey with Limmud is on Sunday 15 June - don't miss Yom Limmud 2014. As always, Limmud International will be sending its support and encouragement to the Limmud-Oz team for their event, and hope that you can join them there - and we hope to see you at Limmud anywhere in the world soon!

Some handy links for Sydney Yom Limmud 2014: click here to book; more information on the full program here; details of the children's programme (ages 3-12) here; and you can become a Limmud-Oz volunteer here!