After a successful debut in Tempe last year, Limmud returns to Arizona for a day of learning designed to take everyone who attends “one step further on your Jewish journey.”
Last year more than 400 people turned out for more than 40 talks on such diverse topics as Jewish cowboys and Talmudic ethics. This year nearly 70 talks will range from serious exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – with a look at water wars and how friendships might bring peace – to lighthearted programs on film. Yoga, Israeli dance and other moving topics are also on the schedule.
“We are planning for more this year,” says organizer Sandy Adler. “We have moved to larger rooms in the conference center to accommodate more people, as some presentations were over full last year.”
The 2016 program will be held from 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday, Jan. 31, at Arizona State University Memorial Student Union Conference Center in Tempe.
Limmud (from the Hebrew word meaning “to learn”) was originally a conference for educators in Great Britain. During the 1990s there was a significant change as Limmud reinvented itself as a community gathering, opening its reach to include the greater Jewish population. It adopted a volunteer ethos, not paying presenters and not using titles. The Limmud model quickly spread to many other countries.
The day literally will include something for everyone.
“We have a huge array of interesting offerings; there are about a dozen presentations during each of the six periods of the day,” says Sandy. “The great thing about Limmud AZ is that it offers an opportunity for Jews from all over the Jewish spectrum to learn and share together.”
Suzanne Swift and Michelle Mandell have joined Sandy on the leadership team. They have gathered a strong committee to help with areas of hospitality, marketing, programming and the overall logistics. Rabbi Elana Kanter, who helped spearhead last year’s Limmud, serves on the programming committee this year.
The cost for the full-day program, including kosher lunch and snacks, is $50 for adults over 40; $36 for ages 18-40; and $15 for participating teens or child care. Teens are invited to actively participate in the sessions.
With support from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Jewish Studies Department at ASU, as well as some personal contributions, the entire day is being offered for the low fee. Limmud is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation under the auspices of the Women’s Jewish Learning Center and is actively seeking donors to the program. Since it is a volunteer-run organization, 100% of donations are directly applied to the programming and scholarships.
