Limmud Fest's mystical quest

There is a mystical theme to this year's Limmud Fest, which takes place in Sussex at the end of next month: Pardes, meaning "orchard", a richly symbolic idea in Jewish tradition.

"The orchard is a mystical place for coming close to God, for finding connections and delving into multi-levels of meaning," explains artist Jacqueline Nicholls, who has jointly overseen the event's programme.

But the orchard has worldlier aspects, too. It is "one of the sensual settings of the Song of Songs, an intimate fragrant place of love," she says. "And a place of food production. Through the laws of owning fruit trees, we see a vision of society of giving to the vulnerable, a sensitivity to consumption and a nurturing relationship to the environment."

This summer's guests include two spiritual teachers from Israel inspired by Kabbalah. Rabbi David Aaron, the founder of the Isralight organisation, has taught Kirk Douglas and Ehud Olmert among others.