Festival tips from the organisers Q&A
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES! Hannah Brady, 26, commercial conference producer from Newcastle. Dan Heller, 30, NHS Programme Manager from Sutton.
Ben Lewis, 27, chemistry PhD student from Manchester.
YOUR COMMUNAL BIOS? HB: Hanoar Hatzioni madricha, UJS President 2015-16.
DH: National chair of AJ6, Interfaith Co-ordinator for Nottingham Uni JSoc.
BL: RSY-Netzer movement worker, Communications Consultant for Reform Judaism, Rene Cassin volunteer.
HOW MANY LIMMUD FESTIVALS HAVE YOU ATTENDED?
DH: I got asked if I’d like to be a madrich for Limmud Fest, which was a summer festival version with camping, 11 years ago, about two weeks before the start of the event. I thought it sounded like fun!
BL: Many of my university friends told me the festival was not to be missed — they were right!
FAVOURITE LIMMUD ANECDOTE
HB: Tequila and a Matisyahu concert, enough said.
DH: The heckling in a session demonstrating the making of gefilte fish: “My grandmother would be shocked to see how much salt you’re putting in to that!” “What make of mixer do you use?”
BL: Dealing with the national press and Limmud becoming the BBC top story in 2017 when then-minister Jo Johnson announced a new policy at the festival — a pretty big day!
DESCRIBE LIMMUD
DH: Amazing people, fun atmosphere, learn a lot.
BL: It contains all the things our community needs more of.
WHICH THREE LIMMUD SESSIONS WOULD BE YOUR FIRST PICK?
HB: I’m presenting a Lizzo-inspired feminism session, so I have to go to that one! Otherwise, don’t miss Abby Stein or Yiddishspiel — a Yiddish theatre first at Limmud Festival!
DH: I can’t wait to see Idan Raichel perform, Kfiir Damari from SpaceIL will be cool and — based on the gefilte fish anecdote — the cooking sessions BL: I wouldn’t want to miss our political presenters just after the election, the Challah Back Girls disco will be great as ever — and I’ll leave one session free as everyone should for whatever this year’s big thing ends up being!
TOP SURVIVAL TIP FOR LIMMUD FIRST-TIMERS
HB: The more you put in, the more you get out — get stuck in and push yourself to participate!
DH: Suspend your fear of missing out. You’re bound to miss something great, but that’s most likely because you’ve been doing something else great!
BL: Take your chances and discover something new!