Limmud has become one of the fastest growing
phenomena in the Jewish world, one that is transforming how Jewish
communities learn. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1980, Limmud has
grown into Europe’s largest and most influential Jewish educational
event, attracting over 2500 participants and 350 presenters from across
the globe for a five-day residential festival.
Since its
inception, Limmud has generated festivals in 46 communities worldwide –
each producing a unique festival while adhering to the same core values
of volunteerism, diversity, and learning of Limmud UK. Each festival
aims to reflect the diversity of its community by creating an accessible
cross-communal and cross-generational experience.
After years of
planning by local volunteers, Limmud Toronto was first held on
November 21, 2004 at York University. Over 400 participants enjoyed
close to 50 sessions, including a Young Limmud program for children aged
5 to 12, and reported an overwhelmingly positive response.
Three
years later on December 2nd, 2007, Limmud Toronto was held at
the University of Toronto. Despite coinciding with the first major
snowfall of the year, the conference drew nearly 500 enthusiastic,
however late, participants.
Limmud Toronto held its third
conference, again at the University of Toronto, on February 15th, 2009.
Capped off by a wonderful cabaret show produced by Limmud's partners at
the Koffler Centre of the Arts, the program offerings and the audience
for Limmud Toronto continued to expand in exciting new directions.