Where young minds are shaped
Children from toddlers to teens get their own dedicated Limmud events
Besides Limmud, the only other conferences I’ve regularly attended are the political parties’ annual efforts. The Jewish version is in many ways far more impressive. The Limmud handbook and app are both works of art — superbly put together, they help the festival run like clockwork. It may be difficult at times here to walk two yards without having to stop to chat to someone whose great-uncle you once sat next to in shul, but this Birmingham conference has the immense benefit — for Jewish political correspondents at least — of providing a feeling of belonging, something sadly sorely missing these days on the wider scene.
WHILE THE grown-ups are engrossed in midrash and mindfulness in the main Hilton site, it is across the lake at the Crowne Plaza hotel where the real fun is happening.
This is the centre of the action for children and families — and the youth programme is one of Limmud’s greatest success stories.
It is here that hundreds of kids are taking the first steps to further their Jewish journeys and continue the festival’s ethos.
“Ladod Moshe hayta chava, iya iya oh…” may read oddly, but it is the Hebrew version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm and the sound of a room packed with participants under the age of two singing reverberates as Raya Even David leads a session on the opening afternoon of the festival.
Public nappy bins on every corridor may not fit with the sort of footloose frolicking being enjoyed by some festival-goers over in the Hilton but it is a nod to the thoughtfulness that has gone into preparing the families venue.
Meal-times are organised with all ages of children in mind; milk is readily available for those with younger children; and the walls are plastered day by day with paintings and decorations created by the youngsters.
Every aspect of the families set-up is developed around Limmud’s wider themes, Gabi Markham and Sam Marine explain. They are the co-chairs of the family provision, providing education, entertainment and food for some 250 children and their parents for the whole of the festival.
“It’s like running your own Limmud programme,” explains Ms Markham, a 25-year-old yoga teacher. “We deal with catering, accommodation, the hotel’s needs.”
She is a former participant in the youth sessions herself and a firm believer in their benefits.
“We can shape new Limmud minds and teach Limmud values. We’re also helping the madrichim [leaders] gain experience.”
Ms Marine adds: “We have international presenters who we have invited for the sessions, the same way the main programme would for adults. But we feel part of the whole festival. This is not just bolted on to what’s happening in the Hilton. We’re not an after-thought.”
The two co-chairs, their six person sub-team and the nursery staff are all volunteers and have themselves paid to be at Limmud. The provisions are not cheap — for those booking early and getting the best deals, it costs from around £46 per child per day if you stay all week. A family of four, with two parents and two children, could find themselves spending in the region of £1,000 for the full Limmud experience.
Whether that is value for money is open to interpretation — but the cost covers accommodation, all meals, childcare for younger children and the educational and entertainment options for older kids. The speed with which family places are booked up, and the number of regular annual attendees, The festival provides entertainment for children of all ages