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Every year, Limmud participants old and new come together for an enriching Shabbat to kick off Festival. 

Shabbat at Festival is a relaxing start to the week; a chance to get settled in, catch up with old friends or make new ones whilst easing yourself into the programme. 

So, what actually happens on Shabbat at Limmud Festival? 

From the moment you arrive there’ll be plenty to do, whether you want to go to sessions, explore the site, or find a quiet corner to catch up with friends over a board game. Shabbat meals are an opportunity for our whole community to come together. There will be delicious food which meets all dietary requirements and it’s the perfect chance to share Shabbat with someone new. 

For those who want to participate in prayer, there will be a variety of services organised by participants from a range of religious denominations. This will include Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening and Shacharit and Mussaf (morning/additional service), Mincha (afternoon service), and Maariv (evening service) on Saturday. On Friday night, many people engage in a celebration called Oneg Shabbat, meaning the ‘Joy of Shabbat’. There’ll be singing, storytelling, chatting and quite possibly a Shabbat tipple. 

What about Shabbat observance? 

People who attend Shabbat at Limmud come from a variety of backgrounds and observe Shabbat in different ways. We ask you to be respectful of how each participant chooses to observe Shabbat. 

Please be aware that all the hotel bedrooms require the use of electronic keycards and manual keys are not available. Participants may wish to leave their doors open throughout Shabbat. Each room is equipped with a safe to store high value items, and facilities will be available to store larger items safely if necessary. Please note it is the responsibility of all participants to ensure their items are secure in their room, if they choose to leave their door open over Shabbat. Limmud takes no responsibility for any damage or loss of items. 

Those who do not use lifts on Shabbat will be able to access their rooms via the stairs. If you have indicated on your registration form that you do not use electricity on Shabbat, we will endeavor to provide bedrooms on the lower floors.  There will not be an Eruv (ritual boundary) installed outside, as most accommodation and programming for Shabbat will be inside the Hilton. Please note this information if you choose to stay in the Crowne Plaza premium rooms for Shabbat. 

I’d love to come. Can I bring the kids too? 

We love welcoming families to Shabbat at Limmud Festival, and we’re very excited to see more young participants join us this year. There will be programming to suit all ages and interests throughout Shabbat and the entire Festival. 

That all sounds great, but I still have questions! Who do I get in touch with? 

If you have any questions about Shabbat at Festival, please click here to contact our Limmud Office.