What is Limmud NY?

In Hebrew, Limmud means "learning" – and that's what it's about. Limmud NY is a 4-day getaway to the Catskills, a festival, a gathering of 900 Jews from all walks of life, all Jewish backgrounds, all lifestyles, and all ages. Limmud NY is four days of lectures, workshops, text-study sessions, open forums on hot topics, exhibits, music, film, performances and much more – all planned by a community of volunteers.

What are Limmud NY's values and objectives?

    * Learning. To nurture and support people in their Jewish discovery, providing them with informal mentorship and educational experiences.

    * Volunteerism and Leadership. To foster a strong volunteer corps who, through planning, implementing, and attending our annual event, find new ways of building their Jewish identity and connecting to community.

    * Diversity. To provide a wide variety of Jews with numerous points-of-connection to Jewish life, including intellectual, spiritual, emotional, familial, and communal.

Who attends Limmud NY?

Anyone from the New York area who is interested in Jewish learning or learning more about the Jewish experience, from every age group and background, is welcome at Limmud NY. This includes singles, couples, parents and kids, students, retirees; people from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions (not just the Jewish world); Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews, gay Jews and straight Jews; interfaith couples and families. Some participants have been Jewishly involved their whole lives. Others are just beginning to explore their Jewish journeys. 

What to expect at Limmud NY?

When you arrive at Limmud NY you are immersed in a totally Jewish environment, where everything is Jewish in content or examined through a Jewish lens. You can customize how you want to experience Limmud NY and can choose from up to 15 different sessions at any given time. You can come to Limmud NY with no specific agenda and feel comfortable that Limmud NY has no agenda for you. You can go in and out of sessions, explore areas of Judaism that you’ve never considered, stick with the subjects you know, or just hang out and relax as part of this emerging Jewish community. 

Where is Limmud NY 2012 being held?

Limmud NY 2012 will be held in Kerhonkson, NY at the Hudson Valley Resort (formerly The Granite), just a 90-minute drive from New York City. 

How is Limmud NY different from other Jewish educational programs?

It’s the first and largest multi-day, multi-generational, non-denominational Jewish festival of life, culture and learning in North America that is planned almost entirely by volunteers. 

Who are Limmud NY’s presenters?

Every year they are different. Over 135 presenters from around the world, including scholars of text, artists, professors, musicians, rabbis, poets, activists, and performers, lead more than 300 sessions – up to 15 concurrently. Participants are encouraged to present their own work, and presenters attend others sessions, modeling how we can all be both “presenters” and “participants” in Jewish communal life.

How was Limmud NY founded?

Limmud NY was established by six volunteers who were inspired by the annual Limmud Conference in England, which has been taking place for over 25 years. UJA-Federation of NY – through a grant from the Picower Foundation – provided funds and staff time to start Limmud NY. Additionally, Limmud NY was a resident of Bikkurim: an Incubator for New Jewish Ideas.

How is Limmud NY supported?

More than 100 volunteers devote their time planning and creating Limmud NY. In addition, Limmud NY is supported financially by the Samuel Bronfman Family Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, the Genesis Philanthropy Group, and many other generous anonymous foundations and individuals.

How can I register for Limmud NY?

You can register for Limmud NY online via http://www.limmudny.org/register in the fall. You can also call to register at 212-908-2525. Scholarships are widely available. We are also working to accommodate adults and children with accessibility issues or who needsupport. People who have questions should e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it before they register. For children needing special accommodations, their parents should contact us first to discuss.

If you have any other questions about Limmud NY, go to www.limmudny.org or contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 212-908-2525