LIMMUD FSU ANNUAL NEW YORK EVENT TOOK PLACE IN MANHATTAN
The conference was packed with dozens of activities and lectures
June 16, 2019
Several hundred Jewish young adults from the Russian-speaking community attended Limmud FSU’s conference in New York, taking place today for the second time in a row in the center of Manhattan – this time at the UJA Federation of New York conference center.
During the annual conference packed with high-quality lectures and activities in the very spirit of Limmud, an emotional commemoration event in memory of the victims of recent anti-Semitic attacks on US Jewish institutions and synagogues took place. It was led by Chabad Rabbi Avi Bukiet, from Center for Jewish Life in Arlington-Belmont, that was set on fire in May twice in the framework of a hate crime.
The Rabbi told the participants about the horrific incidents and said that “We, as a Jewish people, have to show we are united, and we not going anywhere”.
The program of the annual conference included dozens of activities on wide range of topics by noted speakers and lecturers, among them the noted Canadian author and filmmaker David Bezmozgis; prominent American historian Deborah Lipstadt; a popular Australian broadcast and TV personality Rabbi Mordechai Becher; Writer and teacher Rachel Sharansky Danziger; Writer, literary critic, and radio broadcaster Alexander Genis; Israeli Actress and granddaughter of the famed Yiddish writer Avraham Sutzkever, Hadas Kalderon; The Operations Officer in an Israeli special commando unit under the command of Yoni Netanyahu Rami Sherman, Limmud International chief executive Eli Ovits, and many more.
The packed event also featured an interactive children’s program for ages 3-13, and also a special teen program, “Discovery Day – Israel” in partnership with ClubZ.
Founder of Limmud FSU, Chaim Chesler said: “We couldn’t feel more blessed - the program of Limmud FSU NY this year is extremely rich, high-quality and packed with the best speakers from so many different fields of work.” Sandra Cahn, co-founder of Limmud FSU added that “We’re excited to continue to take an active part in the vibrant and ever-evolving life of the Russian-speaking Jewish community of New York, and the amazing program this year is a great example”.
“It’s a great experience to be here, one day which is so packed with different activities, learning, sharing” said Marina Kagan (28) from New York who attended the conference for the second time, “It’s a truly unique event, and it never disappoints.”
Supporters of the event included UJA - Jewish Federation of NY, Genesis Philanthropy Group, World Zionist Organization, Jonathan Leader, Mark Tsesarsky, The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Tom Blumberg and others.
In the best tradition of Limmud FSU, the event was made possible by its team of local leaders and volunteers led by Limmud FSU Executive Director Roman Kogan and Project Manager Noam Shumakh – Khaimov, co-chairs Alina Bitel and Roman Sidler, as well as Yuliya Mazur, Inna Penek, Nina Faynberg and many others.