This year the festival will take over two locations and broadcast live online

For the first time in the history of Limmud, its family-friendly event will take place across multiple locations. Usually pitched up in the Midlands each December, the four-day festival of Jewish learning will this year be accessible in Manchester, London and the world (to those viewing virtually). It’s all scheduled for different dates too, so fanatics can go every day: Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 December online, Wednesday 29 December in Manchester and Thursday 30 December in London.

“We have all been longing for a return to the spaces where we can gather, connect and learn from each other,” said Ben Combe, Chair of Limmud Festival, “and I am delighted to be a part of the volunteer team creating such a critical moment in 2021. We are working hard to make sure that we can bring the community together this year.”

The organisers proved in 2020 that they could successfully present Limmud on the web after the pandemic put a hault to all in-person activities. It turned out to be their biggest year yet, enabling them to broadcast to millions around the world, but a return to real, physical events was calling, as Limmud’s deputy director Jon Freedman wrote earlier this year. “The recovery from Covid-19 offers the opportunity to ask ourselves: what truly needs to go back to the way it was? Where are we confusing familiarity with quality? These are questions we are asking ourselves as we think about festival 2021, but they are concerns that the whole community should consider.”

If nothing else, the past 15 months have certainly taught us to adapt and in many ways for the better. As the world moves forward, so does Limmud, promising as always to take you “one step further on your Jewish journey”. We can’t wait to get going.

By Danielle Goldstein

Limmud Festival will run Monday 27 & Tuesday 28 December online; Wednesday 29 December in Manchester; and Thursday 30 December in London. Times vary. Prices TBC. limmud.org/festival