Limmud shrinks as partner pulls out over controversial speaker

The annual Jewish learning festival Limmud has always prided itself on a big tent. But the tent proved too big for its intended partner Adamama, which pulled out on Friday, just nine days before the festival begins.

The sticking point was the inclusion in the program of comedian and activist Jacob Sacher. Sacher is a member of the Jewish Council of Australia and has been active in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

He was scheduled to run a session that had nothing to do with politics: looking at the difference between the comic figures of the Yiddish archetypes the shlemial and shlimazel and their influences on contemporary comedy.

But Adamama, and its parent body Shalom, argued the inclusion of Sacher was divisive and did not provide the community with the experience of coming together with shared values.

"We wanted to create a beautiful experience that brought people together and it became impossible to agree on a program that did that," said Shalom CEO Robert Samuel.

The JNF's Sarah Vanunu said she would not participate if Sacher was on the program. "When individuals who have actively campaigned against my country’s legitimacy and participated in movements that seek its dismantling are given a platform within our communal institutions, we need to ask ourselves: where is the line?" she said.

Limmud organiser Sarah Charak said the principle of Limmud was that everyone could participate in Jewish learning.

"In Pirkei Avot, it says: 'who is wise? One who learns from everyone'. At Limmud everyone is a student and anyone can be a teacher. Anyone who wants to learn is welcome at Limmud."

She said Limmud did not see itself as providing a platform for any point of view and opinions expressed at Limmud did not represent the organisation itself.