Ottawa Limmud draws 250 for day of Jewish learning

Israeli musicians Nori Jacoby, left, and Yonatan Niv, right, post with organizer Jenny Roberge. ROBIN CHERNICK PHOTO

OTTAWA — This city’s second Limmud festival, a full day of Jewish learning, culture and creativity, attracted an audience as diverse as the topics on the day’s schedule.

More than 250 participants came to the Soloway Jewish Community Centre (SJCC) for the Nov. 2 event, which was like no other in the community. For one thing, the entire program was organized and executed by volunteers.

Jenny Roberge, chair of the organizing committee of 10, said: “We are really out of the box. We have no hierarchy.”

Planning began with a group of people on an education committee at Congregation Beth Shalom and evolved into what is now a program affiliated with Limmud International.

The umbrella organization, which started 30 years ago in the United Kingdom, organizes a week-long yearly event attracting 20,000 people from around the world. For the past few years, there have been smaller versions of the program in Canada.

“We put out a call for presenters,” said Roberge. “You name a topic, we will research it and find a Jewish perspective. It is all across the board.”

University professors, doctors, lawyers, clergy, librarians, scientists, authors, artists and musicians and experts of all kinds volunteered their time to present such diverse topics as “What does Classical Jewish Text say about Climate Change?” and “Extraordinary Sexual Intimacy: Which Way to Transcendence?” A group of local Jewish artists exhibited their work as well.

“There is something for everyone,” Roberge said. “Some people call this Jewish education without borders.”

One thing was not permitted, however. “We will not be used as a forum to delegitimize Israel.”

Though the event is run by volunteers, the community support has been very strong and includes the SJCC, the Ottawa Vaad Hakashrut, Hillel Ottawa, Canada-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. The Vered Israel Cultural and Educational Program and the Israeli Embassy assisted and, with the help of a special grant from the Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies at Carleton University, the innovative, Jerusalem-based musical group Tafillalt made its premiere appearance in Canada. The group gave a master class during the day and performed an evening concert at Carleton University as the festival’s closing event.

“This was my first time at Limmud, and I found it a really interesting and thought-provoking day, thanks to the wide variety of topics covered,” said Louise Rachlis, one of the exhibiting artists. “I also appreciated the opportunity to show my art. The day after the event, I was still sharing with others what I’d learned from the Limmud speakers. I’ll definitely be back next year.”

Planning is already underway for next year’s program. Roberge is hoping to add even more variety and to reach out to people who aren’t affiliated with a Jewish organization or synagogue, as well as to feature programming of specific interest to the local Russian-Jewish community.