Phillips and Mann join Limmud speakers’ list
V SOME POLITICAL heavyweights and one of Israel’s biggest musical names have been added to the bill for this year’s Limmud Festival.
Jess Phillips, Wes Streeting, Lance Forman and Lord John Mann will be speaking at the Birmingham event. Idan Raichel, who has worked with stars including Alicia Keys, is joining the festival as part of the World Zionist Organisation team and, as well as performing, will participate in an interactive musical lecture.
For Ms Phillips, who is defending Birmingham Yardley for Labour in the general election, the festival is a local engagement. Mr Streeting, who is campaigning to retain Ilford North for Labour, is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews.
Mr Forman — who heads the Forman & Son smoked salmon business — will explain why he joined the Brexit Party, for which he is an MEP, and discuss the future of UK-EU relations.
Formerly Labour
MP for Bassetlaw, Lord Mann was recently appointed an independent adviser to the government on antisemitism. Programming co-chair Jake Berger said: “At a time of such political intrigue, Limmud will be the place to engage with key issues for the Jewish community post-general election.”
As for the musical addition, Idan Raichel’s songs have roots in Ethiopian folk — he was inspired early in his career by Ethiopian Jews he met in Israel. His most recent album, And If You Will Come To Me, was released at the beginning of the year.
Limmud’s Emma Brand said his music symbolised the 2019 festival, “with its global array of presenters from a myriad of different Jewish backgrounds. Limmud brings people together across the barriers which divide us and we are absolutely thrilled that Idan will be contributing his acclaimed talents to our festival community.” Well over 2,000 participants from more than 30 countries are expected at the festival.