The Limmud Festival of Jewish Learning is coming to Canada, thanks to Peter Sevitt and a committed group of volunteers.
Limmud, the Hebrew word for learning, originated in Britain almost 25 years ago and is Europe’s largest and most influential Jewish educational event, attracting more than 2,300 participants and 370 presenters from across the globe, according to the organizers in Toronto. Limmud offers a unique blend of formal and informal education, drawing on resources from all sectors of the Jewish community — from the orthodox to the unaffiliated.
The first conference to use Limmud UK’s principles and format in Canada will be on Sunday, Nov. 21 at York University’s Founder’s College. Sevitt, a Toronto accountant, attended Limmud for several years in England and was so impressed that he decided to bring the experience to Canada.
“It’s incredible to see people of all ages and backgrounds come together to learn and discuss topics that are meaningful to them,” he said. “The spirit and energy (at Limmud UK) are unforgettable, and I want to re-create that in Toronto.”
At Limmud Canada, 50 presenters will speak on topics including Jewish text, Israel, history, cooking, philosophy, contemporary issues, and the arts. Presentations include spiritual music, an improv workshop, Rambam, Kabala, healthy Jewish cooking, spiritual parenting, identifying media bias against Israel, and the history of Yiddish. Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler will speak on Jewish values and public policy at the festival.
Limmud is a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization without a denominational or political agenda that believes in the inherent value of Jewish education. The festival is supported by the Board of Jewish Education, the Toronto Board of Rabbis, and the Jewish Studies Departments of both York University and University of Toronto. The cost for the day, including a kosher lunch, is $60 for adults and $36 for children and students. A family rate of $145 will cover attendance for up to two adults and four children.
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