Limmud goes to Canberra

 By Caelan Macbeth, Program Manager at The Shalom Institute

On the weekend of Shavuot I had the pleasure of attending and presenting at Limmud in Canberra, hosted there, for the second year now, by the ACT Jewish Community. The three day experience was jam-packed with sessions and panels addressing key areas of religious, cultural, social and political topics our communities are engaging with all around the world.

It was awe-inspiring to see 200 attendees from across Australia congregate in the country's capital to join in a festival of learning - so appropriate for the Chag! Furthermore, it served as an opportunity to visit and see our country’s capital, with the programme offering Shabbat and Chag friendly walking tours of the National Gallery and Parliament Building.

A topic that consistently arose and was discussed was how the religious Jewish community may best include and welcome Jews from the LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer) community. This was made all the more vital a discussion following the events following Shavuot in Orlando, and I'd like to dedicate this learning to the memories of those fallen.

Rabbi Meltzer deserves significant credit in bringing about so much learning to one of our smaller communities. His constant effort in the months preceding the event was noteworthy, as is the transformation and revitalisation his recruitment in Canberra has brought Jewish life there - Kol HaKavod (well done)! 

The experience was exhausting and I enjoyed every minute of it.

My experience in Canberra has truly left me, and I'm sure many other participants, all the more excited for Yom Limmud Sydney!"

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Yom Limmud Sydney - Experience New Jewish Ideas

Book Now: 3 July 2016 

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Limmud is a not-for-profit, volunteer based event supported by the Shalom Institute.