Limmud International

Limmud International, founded in 2006, is a volunteer-led Jewish international organisation, based in London and chaired by David Bilchitz, who leads a steering group which was supported by Dani Serlin, Director 2012-2016.

Limmud (from the Hebrew word meaning "to learn") is a British-Jewish educational charity which produces a large annual winter conference at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole and several other events around the year in the UK on the theme of Jewish learning. Limmud events are organised by volunteers who, as "volunticipants", also take part as equals in the conference. Limmud's largest group of volunteers are in their 20s and 30s.

The Limmud model, first developed in the UK, has now spread to many other countries. Over eighty communities in 43 countries on six continents have active Limmud groups, including, in 2016 for the first time, Bogota, Helsinki, Michigan and Perth. There are 18 Limmud communities in North America and ten in Israel.

Limmud International supports networks of Limmud volunteers in establishing and developing Limmud communities overseas. It provides training, mentoring and support for Limmud groups, and offers a forum for the sharing of ideas and best practices.

Limmud arrived in New York in 2005. Limmud events have also been held in Los Angeles, Colorado and Atlanta (2008), Philadelphia (2009), New Orleans, Chicago and Boston (2010), Miami (2014), Arizona (2015), Michigan (2016) and in Canada Ottawa (2013), Toronto (2004), Vancouver (2014), Winnipeg (2013) and Montreal. There are also a number of Russian language Limmud groups operating in North America under the Limmud FSU Umbrella- Limmud FSU New York started in 2009, Limmud FSU Canada in 2014 and Limmud FSU West Coast in 2016.

After years of planning by local volunteers, Limmud Toronto was first held on 21 November 2004 at York University. Over 400 participants enjoyed close to 50 sessions, including a Young Limmud programme for children aged 5 to 12. Three years later on 2 December 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 participants. Limmud Toronto had its third conference, again at the University of Toronto, on 15 February 2009. After a hiatus, Limmud returned to Toronto in 2015. As of 2016, it is an annual event; the 2016 event was held at St. Andrew's Club and Conference Centre on March 6, and drew over 600 participants to nearly 80 sessions.

...
Wikipedia