The first woman to be a spiritual leader of an Israeli Orthodox community is among a strong international line-up booked for this year's Limmud Festival.

Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis made history earlier this year when she was chosen to lead Shirat Hatamar in Efrat, on the West Bank.

She graduated from the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership at the Torah Ohr Stone Institute, one of the institutions established by Efrat founder Rabbi Shlomo Ruskin.

Already more than 50 speakers and performers have confirmed their place in the online programme, which will run from Sunday to Tuesday, December 26 to 28, with pre- and post-Shabbat sessions on Friday and Saturday. Bookings for participants opened this week.

From the academic world, speakers include Professor James Diamond from Waterloo University, Ontario, author of Jewish Theology Unbound and Professor Adam Sutcliffe of King’s College London, whose book What Are Jews For? featured in the JC last year.

There is focus on those with a strong social media profile like comedy writer Sara Gibb and, from the USA, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, sometimes dubbed “the Twitter Rabbi”.

Another visitor from the USA is Rabbi Jill Jacobs, director of T’ruah-the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, while Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge will be returning for a second year.

Musicians include Joanie Leeds, who won a Grammy for best children’s music album in spring, and composer Ilan Eshkeri from the UK, whose film score credits range from Young Victoria to Shaun the Sheep.