Limmud FSU Arrives in Tbilisi
First-Ever Mini-Gathering in Georgian Capital
June 9, 2024: Tbilisi, Georgia - For the first time in its 18-year history, Limmud FSU mounted an event in Tbilisi, the capital of the Caucasus country, Georgia, this past weekend, that attracted 150 young Jews to more than 6 hours of Jewish programming and some 15 sessions, master classes, performances and exhibitions.
It was a unique, multicultural event, with sessions in Russian, Georgian and English, that attracted both members of the local Jewish community, as well as those Jews from Russia who moved to Georgia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The unique cultural history of the Jewish community of the Caucasus was discussed, alongside the specificity of the fate of the Jews living in Georgia during the Holocaust. Other sessions focused on models of Jewish leadership and the current situation in Israel and how the business world is affected by the war, while workshops ranged from halla-making to a master class on enamel.
“This was a modest, first step, to test the waters,” said Limmud FSU founder, Chaim Chesler; “our first but definitely not our last. It introduced Georgian Jewry to a new approach to Jewish learning, and it was greeting with great enthusiasm.”
The conference also featured the exhibition about the history of antisemitism developed by the World Zionist Organization, while an online exhibition introduced the audience to the wider story of the Holocaust of the Jews of Europe, a chapter in human history that is rarely taught in the local school curriculum.
Limmud FSU was founded in 2006; since its first conference 19 years ago, over 80 events have been mounted and Limmud FSU events have reached out over the years to more than 80,000 Jews with roots in the FSU who today live across the globe.
Since its creation in 2005, Limmud FSU has held nearly 90 festivals worldwide, drawing over 80,000 participants. The organization is led by Matthew Bronfman, Chesler, co-founder Sandy Cahn, and executive director Natasha Chechik, and its work is supported by individuals and organizations including the WZO, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, Nativ-Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Jewish National Fund – KKL, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Wilf Family Foundation, Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund, Diane Wohl, Bill Hess and others.
In the best tradition of Limmud, the event was made possible by its team of local leaders and volunteers, led by Limmud FSU Executive Director Natasha Chechik, Director of Operations, Gabi Farberov, and the project coordinator, Mariia Simanovich and an entire team of volunteers.