By Simon Holloway, presenter and participant at Limmud-Oz 2015
It is almost here: Limmud-Oz 2015! The name alone is enough to arouse excitement in the hearts of Limmud junkies everywhere, of whom I confess to be one.
I have been addicted to Limmud since the first time I attended a session back in 2007, and I have missed only one (alas!) since then. Whether in Melbourne or in Sydney, I can honestly say that no two Limmud events that I have been to have ever felt the same. The very format is a recipe for diversity, and the atmosphere is one that encourages both discussion and debate. Whether in a session or in one of the many spaces where people congregate, the excitement is palpable and there's a permanent buzz.
In some respects, Limmud is an ancient phenomenon. Every year, in the months of Elul and Adar, Jews once gathered in the famous Talmudic academies of Babylonia to share their methodologies for teaching and learning Torah. The symposia in which they participated are known as "Yarchei Kallah" (although I like to think of them as a kind of Limmud Bavli). There, the process of engaging with old texts and with modern issues, of delving into ideas and of exploring their meanings, of analysing the principles of the law and of revealing its inner mechanics, were not just pastimes but formed the very fabric of Jewish identity.
What could be more wonderful than uniting for such a purpose? At a time when it is so easy to focus on the things that divide us, an opportunity to come together on the strength of those we share with one another is most welcome. In providing such an opportunity, Limmud-Oz also allows for a friendly exploration of those issues on which we do disagree, and a reminder that such disagreement need not engender any real division.
A truly pluralistic forum, Limmud is open to everybody, regardless of their political views or their religious observance. Based on the philosophy that everybody is a student and that everybody is a teacher, Limmud encourages both intellectual and practical explorations of Jewish identity. The greatest Limmud-Oz that I have been to was the one in 2013, which enjoyed a phenomenal turn-out and an unprecedented diversity of speakers. I don't think I've ever seen so many people congregating in Sydney before, discussing with passion such a wide range of Jewish issues!
I can't wait for Limmud-Oz this year, hope very much to see you there, and look forward to attending many more in the years to come.
***
Limmud-Oz - The Festival of Jewish Ideas
Festival dates: 6 - 8 June 2015 - Book NOW!
For more news and updates Like our Facebook page and Follow-us on Twitter - #LimmudFever.
Limmud is a not-for-profit, volunteer based event supported by the Shalom Institute. Our valuable volunteers get a generous 50% discount from any festival ticket - join our volunteering team today!
Love it!
ReplyDelete