jews d

in
the

Barry and Barbara Skarf
of Southfield study as a
pair at Limmud 2016.

Let’s Learn!

Limmud Michigan offers Jewish education in a one-day format.

BARBARA LEWIS JN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Participants can register for
the Sunday, March 19, event
on the Limmud Michigan
website, limmudmichigan.org.
Also check out the Facebook
page, Limmud Michigan.
Registration for students
is $18. Early-bird adult
registration, at $25, ends
Feb. 24. After that,
registration will be $36 per
person. Limmud Michigan
is looking for additional
donations, which can be
made via the website or by
contacting Irv Goldfein at
irv@limmudmichigan.org.

O

rganizers of Limmud Michigan, a
one-day Jewish educational experi-
ence for the entire community, are
building on the success of last year’s inau-
gural effort in Ann Arbor. They hope atten-
dance at the Sunday, March 19, event will
surpass last year’s 465 participants.
This year’s program will be held at
the new Student Center at Wayne State
University. The steering team promises
something for people of all ages and at
every level of Jewish knowledge and obser-
vance.
“More than 90 percent of last year’s par-
ticipants who responded to a survey said
they were extremely or very satisfied with
the program, and the narrative comments
were over the top,” said Irv Goldfein of
Southfield, a member of the 17-member

steering committee.
“So much to learn, so little time!” said
Wendy Robins of Huntington Woods. “An
awesome day of learning and community. I
can’t wait for March 19.”
Sharon Levine of Oak Park agreed. “It
was absolutely an amazing day of learning
and being with friends, some we hadn’t
seen in years.”
At this year’s Limmud Michigan, approxi-
mately 60 presentations, most by partici-
pants from Southeast Michigan, will be
grouped into six tracks: Israel, arts and
culture, text and thought, body and soul,
identity and community.
Participants can attend up to six ses-
sions and enjoy a kosher box lunch from
Chef Cari.

EVENT ORIGINS
Limmud, a Hebrew word meaning “learn-
ing,” got its start in the early 1980s in
England. Its goals and philosophy have
spread around the world, with 85 cities on
six continents now holding local Limmud
programs.
Sue Birnholtz of Sylvan Lake, one of the
Limmud Michigan co-chairs, spent the last
week of 2016 at LimmudUK, considered
“the mother ship” by Limmud organizers.
Held in Birmingham, England,
LimmudUK attracted 2,800 participants.
Birnholtz met other Limmud organiz-
ers from Australia, South Africa, Sweden,
Mexico, South America, India and Israel
and returned with lots of ideas.
This year’s Limmud Michigan will
emphasize support for young Jewish adults

continued on page 22

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February 16 • 2017

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