Limmud Michigan returns to Ann Arbor

Mira Sussman, special to the WJN

For the first time since its inaugural event in March 2016, Limmud Michigan returns to Ann Arbor. The next Limmud Michigan celebration of learning will be on Sunday, October 29, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence building at Washtenaw Community College.

Limmud Michigan brings together people from all walks of life, ages, Jewish backgrounds, and interests from all over southeastern Michigan and beyond to spend the day learning about dozens of topics. The group is volunteer-driven and the event provides “Torah li’shma,” or “learning for its own sake.” This year will be the seventh Limmud event in Michigan.

There are opportunities for everyone, regardless of one’s experience or background in Judaism. Limmud Michigan strives to be as “little d” democratic as possible, encouraging volunteer participation, open-mindedness, and involvement from people from all denominations and beliefs, and providing an atmosphere of joyful immersion in Judaism.

Limmud events happen all over the world, each with their own leadership, event schedule, and style. Over 80 Limmud groups exist in communities throughout the entire world; there is a Limmud event happening somewhere in the world nearly every week of the year.

Over the course of the day, Limmud Michigan participants can choose from around 40 sessions. There will be 8–10 sessions offered each hour throughout the day, covering topics from Jewish culture to current events and text study. Presenters include known educators and figures in the community as well as volunteers — anyone can propose a session!

As always, many of the presenters are Washtenaw locals — Robert Dobrusin will present on “Jacob’s Voice, Esau’s Hands, and Isaac’s Nose;” Genevieve Zubrzycki will present “Making Sense of Poland’s Perplexing Jewish Revival;” Joel Goldstein will speak on “Making Mistakes So the Next Generation Can Succeed;” a panel will be led by Deborah Greene on the experiences of Jews of Color; Yael Keller will talk about “Being Thankful the Jewish Way;” filmmaker and visiting Frankel Fellow Tamar Kay will present on her recent project “Matir Agunot,” (“Unchained,” about women who are bound by Jewish divorce laws), Aviva Panush will explore troubling Torah texts, and so much more.

Limmud Michigan will also host presenters from outside of Michigan whose travel and accommodations are sponsored by foundations and organizations, including Rabbi Aliza Libman Baronofsky of Yeshivat Maharat in New York (courtesy of the Micah Philanthropies); Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer from Philadelphia (a Covenant Award Scholar, courtesy of the Covenant Foundation); and Adam Mansbach from Los Angeles, author of best-selling books including the newly published The Golem of Brooklyn (courtesy of REBOOT).

This year’s event will be sure to have something for everyone, including the joy of learning together in the same space.

For more information or to register, go to www.limmudmichigan.org.