ThebluesinCambridge

THE FIRST Cambridge Limmud to be held in summer will also be the last, cochair Julian Landy revealed during the biennial event on Sunday.

Howard Jacobson, Rita Rudner and Sir Lawrence Freedman captivated those who made the trip to Anglia Ruskin University for the day.

The warm weather and picturesque surroundings were a world away from the cold winds of Limmud Conference, with dozens of attendees chatting and eating in the university courtyard.

But Mr Landy, who organised the event with his wife Jo, said that the “very disappointing” turnout of 550 adults and 60 Young Limmud participants meant the experiment would not be repeated. In 2013 it attracted 660 adults and 108 younger attendees.

Mr Landy blamed the drop in numbers on the event’s timing, which occurred on the first Sunday following the Omer, when he said many couples would hold weddings. “Also it’s Father’s Day. That apparently is a draw as well.”

The fall in numbers did not matter to stand-up American comedian Rita Rudner. Along with Martin Bergman, her husband and producer, she kept the audience laughing. “I was really boring in class — I was known as the class anesthesiologist,” she quipped.

“I was introverted and shy. I only had two friends, who were imaginary — and they would only play with each other.” The 62-year-old, who has the longestrunning solo comedy act in Las Vegas history, said there was only one stain on her first Limmud experience.

“I love it. I love Cambridge. Except I don’t like how Martin tells me about all his ex-girlfriends when we come here.”

Howard Jacobson, the Man Booker Prize-winning author, kept 150 attendees fixated. He said that his new work, a modern adaptation of The Merchant of Venice called Shylock Is My Name, was “the easiest novel I’ve ever written.

“I enjoyed it the most because I didn’t have that feeling of never knowing where I was going. I loved not having to care about plot. I don’t like plot. I love story, but plot and machinations — no.”