Email no 19 - 7 December - Chanukah

No clever headings this week - last week's weren't popular.

So, happy Chanukah.  14 days to go!

We're missing accurate participant numbers this week as I'm sending the email out before I've received the stats from the office (the figures online say 1962 but that excludes paper forms and other applications which I normally update manually).

IGNORING YOU

I had a BAD email week and several hundred messages were lost due to server failure - if you think I'm ignoring you, then resend it to me (I may then still ignore it, but at least it will be deliberate).

PRE-SIGN-UPS

Sign-ups coming in well for the programming day at the Beth Shalom holocaust centre (sessions cover a wide range of topics), the kids' theatre show on Sunday, Tikkun Limmud in the Community, the tzedakah (charity) skills auction, scratch Fiddler and bone marrow donations. Remind your friends that they need to book ahead.

PRESENTER UPDATE

We're so so proud of our programming team. As promised, the programme is now live online at www.limmud.org/conference/programme/schedule (for now this is just a link for volunteers and isn't part of the live site).

It includes names you'll be familiar with, and one or two that are new, including Saeb Erekat, who has led Palestinian negotiation teams for many years and was a close aide to Yassir Arafat.

We also had confirmation this week that Maureen Lipman will be joining us and presenting sessions over Shabbat - well done Graham Newman for that.

An update in the JC today - www.tinyurl.com/2j7bwe
A shame that our press methods meant that people responsible for the programme didn't get credited; David, Asher and your team - you deserved a mention and we will make arrangements to fix this for the future (and a reminder to everyone who wants to be on the PR team to drop me an email).

I also note that Ruth Gruber was the feature of a big article in the Jewish Telegraph last week.

EXPRESSION OF THE WEEK

Hapax legomenon - a word that occurs only once in a single text (or written body of a language etc).

Used in the context of the sedra portion we're reading over Conference - Vayechi - (though I'm not sure which word in the Hebrew is actually the hapax).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon

SHUT

Single and twin non-ensuite accommodation is now closed. Ensuite and hotel rooms still available, but we may find we fill them as well. Main reason is many more people staying on site than in the past - exactly as we'd hoped for what is primarily a residential conference.

HANDBOOK

Jessica Feldman, Michael Wohl, Claire Lobel and co are working round the clock on this. Printers are on standby (and thanks for everyone who's reviewing the drafts).

CHAVRUTA BOOK

Looks amazing - really well done to Eloise Gluckman and Danielle Nagler and the team.  I can't put all the details online yet, but just look at Uri Berkowitz's cover for something that's a work of pure beauty www.limmud.org/pictures/conference/creativity.jpg

LEND A HAND

The office guys have been taken sick (wish them well). If you can lend a hand just to help them answer phone calls at this busiest of times - just off the North Circular near Neasden in London - then please email raymond[at]limmud.org

GIG IN THE US

Pshutei Ha'am are in the US this week - December 8 in Boston and December 10 and 11 in New York City. Take a sneak preview if you're in town (search for details online).

IUJF

Well if those initials meant much to you, then wake up. The Inter-University Jewish Federation was the predecessor to UJS. If you were there in the 1960s (go on, we'll extend it either side as well), then Gill Simmons (nee Rubens) gilsimmons[at]aol.com wants to hear from you - she's arranging a chance to get together and share memories at Conference. Please drop her a line if you (or family) would like to know more.

DATES (not long to go!)

For volunteer roles - Charles Darwish charlesdarwish[at]hotmail.com / Dan Musikant danw777[at]zoom.co.uk

16 December - YAD training (essential for all YADs) 1pm-5pm London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC), Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, London NW11 7SX

16 December - Fire training available to all 1.30pm London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC), Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, London NW11 7SX

19 December - be the first on-site as set-up starts and excitement builds conf07-logistics[at]limmud.org

21-22 December - pre-Conference Shabbat

23-27 December - Conference

January 2008 - Torah L'Am

MISSED IT? NOT MISSED OUT

Email archive www.limmud.org/conference/newsletters

Anyone can join the volunteer list even if you're not sure yet what you might do. Charles Darwish charlesdarwish[at]hotmail.com / Dan Musikant danw777[at]zoom.co.uk

When is a teaspoon like a good book?

[I have no idea, but it was the first line of a joke from a volunteer's mother this week.]

Kevin