History

As the global pandemic continues, Limmud launches online training courses on Fundraising and Participation, ensuring that Limmud volunteers can access the tools and resources required to continue building sustainable learning communities, even during lockdown. Abi Jacobi and Yszi Hawkings become Limmud Executive Co-Chairs. Alan Silman, Natalie Grazin and Natan Tiefenbrun join the Limmud Board of Trustees.

Limmud communities around the world respond to global pandemic by creating online gatherings. Limmud Together UK (Spring), Limmud Together UK (Summer) and Limmud Festival 2020 become the largest ever UK events, with 5000 people tuning into Festival. Carolyn Bogush, Elliott Goldstein and Ben Crowne join the Limmud Board of Trustees and a structural review of Limmud was undertaken by Michael Weiger and Natalie Grazin. Limmud Mediterranean holds an inaugural event, bringing together communities across Southern Europe. Limmud Europe Values launches a 12-month series of webinars exploring the values behind each of our communities.

A pan-American leadership and training gathering was held in Mexico City, with participants attending from North, Central and South America.

First Limmud Connect global volunteer forum in Israel with volunteers from Limmuds all over the world. Shoshana Bloom becomes Limmud Global Chair. 

Limmud Conference became Limmud Festival. Limmud set up affiliates in North America and Israel. Now 40,000 participants in a Limmud worldwide, run by 4,000 volunteers. Limmud wins Jerusalem Unity Prize for contribution to Jewish life, presented by Israeli President Rivlin.

David Hoffman took over as chair, and Eli Ovits as Executive Director/CEO. Limmud International and Limmud FSU celebrated their 10th anniversaries and the Chavruta Project celebrated its 20th anniversary. Limmud International was folded back into a single Limmud brand, with a new logo, and its team became the Limmud Connections Team.

Limmud Conference moved to Birmingham for Conference 2015, with a record 2,800 participants. Limmud volunteers were named by the Jewish Chronicle among the top ten most powerful people in the Jewish community. New Limmuds include Arizona, Mar del Plata, FSU Australia, Tel Aviv, Chile and Essen.

Limmud International’s Training on Tour takes place on three continents and multiple languages – Berlin, Buenos Aires and Sydney.

Kevin Sefton takes over as chair of Limmud with first international board members, and Shelley Marsh as Executive Director. Limmud’s summer event became Limmud in the Woods. Ephraim Mirvis became the first Orthodox Chief Rabbi to participate in Conference, and we also  welcomed Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharanksy.

One in four of the Conference Steering Group had been at the event as children.

Carolyn Bogush takes over as chair of Limmud.

More new Limmuds include Arava, Boston, Chicago, Modiin and New Orleans.

By now 7,000 people are attending a Limmud event in the UK and 25,000 internationally. New Limmuds include Atlanta, Buenos Aires, Bulgaria, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Poland, Stockholm and Ukraine.

Conference moves to Warwick University, with over 2,000 participants. Limmud Fest now has 600 participants. New Limmud events include Cape Town, Johannesburg and Hungary.

Limmud’s first full-time Executive Director is Raymond Simonson. New events in FSU (Moscow), Germany and Turkey. Elliott Goldstein takes over as chair of Limmud and Andrew Gilbert is first chair of Limmud International (international support project).

‘Taste of Limmud’ weekly emails on the sedrah (now ‘Limmud on one Leg’).

First summer Limmud Fest in Shropshire. International events now include Toronto, New York and France.

First day events in South East London and Newcastle. Limmud Live in Camden. Limmud Jerusalem, Galil and Netherlands all launch. Claire Mandel takes over as chair.

First day events in Essex and Thames Valley.

Claire Straus takes over as chair and Helen Lyons is first full-time administrator. Limmud honoured by World Jewish Congress with award for services to Jewish education.

First Manchester Day Limmud.

Family Camp and South London Day Limmud. Limmud Oz in Sydney – first non-UK Limmud.

Limmud helped to launch the Florence Melton Adult Education Programme. Judy Trotter and Natan Tiefenbrun chairs of Limmud. Conference went to Nottingham and had grown to 1500 people. Plus first intensives, acoustic café and bar!

Conference moved to Manchester, first Shabbat and Shabbat book. Limmud comes to Harrow. Clive Lawton appointed as part-time Director.

Conference topped 1000 people, now Europe’s largest Jewish educational event. First Chavruta programme with Tzedaka as a theme.

Last Conference in Oxford, featuring Debbie Friedman, now 250 sessions and 140 presenters.

First Leeds Day Limmud.

Andrew Gilbert was elected as first Limmud Chair (serves 7 years).

Limmud Conference moves to Oxford. Grows steadily.

First Young Limmud. Alastair Falk was Limmud’s first part-time Director.

Steve Miller coordinated Limmud Conference for the next few years. First one day Limmud in Glasgow.

First Limmud Conference for 80 people, organised by Alastair Falk, Michael May, Jonathan Benjamin and Clive Lawton, inspired by a visit to CAJE in North America. Limmud was initially aimed at building bridges between professional and nonprofessional educators and between those of differing religious commitments. Participation had doubled the next year and the programme expanded to start to cover all aspects of Jewish learning.