Unmoored from Shalom, Limmud stays close to home this year

Facing transition in Sydney and a shortage of volunteers in Melbourne, Limmud Oz has opted for a less demanding, more intimate format.

Private homes across Sydney will be the stage for this year’s Limmud festival of learning with Limmud In Your Lounge (LIYL) replacing the traditional Limmud Oz conference.

Held over the King’s Birthday long weekend on June 10-12, the immersive three-day program aims to inspire familiar Limmud conversations but in a personal and accessible way, with small living-room sessions hosted by volunteers in nine suburbs throughout the city.

The alternative format is a sign of change for the much-loved festival of Jewish culture and ideas, which is transitioning to an independent community organisation separate from long-time backer in Sydney, Shalom.

Shalom’s new strategy is to act as an incubator by nurturing the development of new programs, and then empowering the community to grow them “to the best of their ability”, says program director Rabbi Alon Meltzer.

Limmud Oz Sydney is the first of Shalom’s programs – which also include the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, LaunchPad and Thinktrepreneur – to undergo the three-year transition process, so its success in re-establishing itself independently will act as a test case for Shalom’s incubator process.

The partnership will end formally next year, but Meltzer said Shalom will remain a close support for as long as required.

“We've spent over 20 years building up Limmud and see it as a vital part of the fabric of communal life and conversation. If Limmud feels they need extra support for a longer amount of time, we will be there. We don't want to see this fall. For us, this is about building Limmud up with the strongest foundation possible,” Meltzer said.