FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jerusalem Joins the Worldwide Limmud Family
Taste of Limmud Jerusalem Promotes Diversity, Inclusiveness and Tolerance
for Jews of Every Stripe

Featuring 50 sessions - from Sexuality & Jewish Ethics, Torah Yoga and
Bibliodrama to cutting edge Israeli music and Jerusalem’s first open mic
Dvar Torah Slam
Thursday, May 10, 2012, Herzl Center, Mt. Herzl, 9 am - midnight

Jerusalem – May 7, 2012 – MK Haim Amsalem and Rabbi Uri Regev, who heads
“Hiddush – For Freedom of Religion and Equality,” will be among the
presenters at Taste of Limmud Jerusalem, on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at the
Herzl Center, on Jerusalem's Mt. Herzl. At a time when extremism and
discrimination against women and immigrants is grabbing headlines, Limmud
Jerusalem joins the worldwide Limmud family to promote and celebrate
diversity, inclusiveness, dialogue and tolerance.

“Limmud Jerusalem is the beginning of a revolution to break down the ghetto
walls separating Jews of all stripes in this city,” says Limmud Jerusalem
Founding Co-Chair Yogev Karasenty. “We are bringing to Zion Limmud’s
grassroots, volunteer-led, cross-communal, multi-generational Jewish model,
underscoring the strength in diversity and the beauty of dialogue, which we
will send forth from Zion."

Taste of Limmud Jerusalem, supported by the Nadav Foundation, Melitz,
Gesher, World Zionist Organization, the Herzl Center and Limmud
International, boasts an exciting lineup of diverse presenters, including
comic and columnist Jackie Levy, Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, political
commentator Shmuel Rosner, HUC’s Rabbi Dr. Dalia Marks, musician Shai
Tzabari, Malka Puterkovsky, Professor William Kolbrener, Dr. Jennie
Rosenfeld, and Amit Assis.

In addition to Jerusalem’s first open mic Dvar Torah Slam, Limmud organizers
anticipate 300 "volunticipants," who can choose from among 50 sessions
throughout the day, including Torah Yoga, the Jerusalemite as a new Jewish
denomination, practical Kabbalah, Judaism as fundamentalism, and sexuality &
Jewish ethics, as well as hikes in the Jerusalem forest. Other sessions will
focus on leadership as a feminist challenge in the Jewish world, Jewish
lyric writing and piyutim (liturgical poems), and in-depth Talmud study.

“Our 40-strong volunteer committee has worked for months to make this
happen,”
said Founding Limmud Jerusalem Co-Chair Nadia Levene. “We cannot change this
city in one day, but our aim is to create an open, accepting space where
individuals from across our diverse Jewish population can express their
points of view, listen and be listened to. The rest will take much more
time, but we pray that we've started the ball rolling."

In 2011, over 30,000 Jews gathered for Limmud events. All told, 60
communities in 24 countries are part of the Limmud global movement. Limmud
International, which promotes Limmud events in countries as far flung as
Argentina, New Zealand, Russia and Turkey, welcomed the newest Limmud in
Israel.

“Limmud Jerusalem, now on its way with this ‘Taste of’ launch, is a dynamic
addition to the Limmud network in Israel, which includes Limmud Arava,
Limmud FSU Beersheva, Limmud FSU Jerusalem, Limmud Galil, Limmud Modiin, and
Limmud Negev,” said Limmud International Co-Chair Uri Berkowitz. “Even
though Jerusalem is rich in learning opportunities, there is nothing quite
like the way Limmud approaches learning - of the people, by the people, for
the people.”

About Limmud International

Limmud began in Britain in 1980 as a retreat attended by 80 participants.
The weeklong conference has become a major fixture in the UK Jewish
calendar, drawing around 2,500 participants in late December each year.
The outstanding success of Limmud in the UK has inspired over 60 communities
in 24 countries to run local Limmud gatherings. Limmud International’s credo
is “wherever you find yourself, Limmud will take you one step further on
your Jewish journey.” It facilitates the establishment of new Limmud
communities, provides training, mentoring and support for Limmud groups
around the world, and creates a forum for the sharing of ideas and best
practices.
Contact: Sara Averick, 052-867-4966, sara@leadstoryplus.com