At Limmud Canada,over 60 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. To attract all ages, a special Young Limmud will offer programming for youngsters age five to 12. “Limmud is for everyone, whether they are five or ninety-five,” Sevitt emphasizes.

Toronto -- Where can people learn about Jewish text and Jewish cooking, Yiddish songs and feminist Israeli poetry, sexuality in biblical narrative, and Trudeau and Canadian Jews – all in one day? Where can they mingle with some of Canada’s top Jewish educators, community organizers, writers, and rabbis?

At the Limmud Festival of Jewish Learning about to be launched in Toronto by Limmud chair Peter Sevitt and a committee of volunteers. The Hebrew word for learning is limmud and this word is the inspiration for the gathering. Limmud originated in the UK almost 25 years ago and is Europe's largest and most influential Jewish educational event, attracting over 2,300 participants and 370 presenters from across the globe. 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 held on Sunday, November 21, 2004 at York University’s Founder’s College.

Mr. 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. The spirit and energy [at Limmud UK] are unforgettable, and I want to re-create that in Toronto. By offering Limmud to Canadians, we are creating opportunities for participants to widen their Jewish horizons while having fun and meeting new people .”

Limmud Canada is proudly sponsored by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

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 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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