Does Limmud reflect a false picture of British Jewry?
In their typically self-deprecating way, British Jews describe Limmud as "our best and only product." The annual Jewish-learning festival takes place every Christmas on a wind-swept university campus somewhere in England and, regardless of whether the British community has any other products to be proud of, Limmud has proved itself a remarkably resilient brand.
What began 31 years ago as a small conference for Jewish educators has since become a global phenomena throughout the Jewish world. It has spawned popular gatherings in 60 communities across the globe, in 24 countries (with Shanghai soon to be added to the list), where Jews of all religious strands and colors, and from all walks of life, attend a wide range of sessions, lectures, workshops and performances.
The yearly British conference remains the largest though, last week attracting over 2,300 participants who spent their Christmas break at Warwick University attending 900-plus sessions, eating, sleeping and endlessly socializing on campus. But this isn't just an alternative way for Jews to spend their time during the holiday period. Aside from trudging from session to session, Limmud necessitates a certain type of dedication. The food, in the words of one surprised and disappointed American presenter, "combines all the stereotypes of British cuisine and Kosher cooking"; the accommodation, while adequate, is still rather spartan. And for this, the participants have to fork out an average of 350 pounds (some NIS 2,100), which for families with children - and many turn up with full families - totals a tidy sum.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/does-limmud-reflect-a-false-picture-of-british-jewry-1.405385
