SHELLEY MARSH
Limmud executive director, from Hertfordshire
Day job: She is the only full-time Limmud worker.
Years at Limmud:
“14 or so.”
What made you first want to
be involved?
“It was a fantastic opportunity to work with a grassroots organisation.”
What makes Limmud so special?
“It simply is the place to be – both as a student and a teacher.”
What are your aims for this year?
“I have two —that participants will really push themselves to learn something new, and that the volunteers get what they need to develop themselves.”
How do you respond to uproar over the Chief Rabbi’s attendance?
“I was delighted he wanted to come because he is an amazing teacher. I know he will have a very warm welcome. The fact that there was uproar - well, it’s a small community.”
OLIVER MARCUS
Co-chair, aged 27, from Southend
Day job: Programme manager at JHub
Years at Limmud: Six, including this year.
What made you first want to be involved? “Limmud spoke to me as a place that I would be able to have a real impact. It is not scared of giving young people positions of responsibility.”
What makes Limmud special?
“You can debate with those who don’t share your views and have dinner with a participant from a different generation.”
What are the biggest challenges?
“Finding things to talk about that aren’t Limmud Conference.”
And your most memorable moment?
“During the year our team of volunteers came together for a Shabbat to socialise and plan. It was invigorating to see a room of diverse people learning together with such enthusiasm.”
RICHARD VERBER
Co-chair, aged 29, from Manchester
Day job: Campaigns manager at World Jewish Relief
Years at Limmud:
Four years.
What made you first want to be involved?
“I came as a volunteer when I worked for UJS. I got to see things from the inside.”
What makes Limmud special?
“It is truly cross-generational and one of the few genuinely cross-communal arenas.”
What are your aims for this year?
“We want Limmud 2013 to look and feel different. We’ve encouraged all of our teams to innovate — even down to new dinner menus.”
What are the biggest challenges?
“Like Oliver, not talking about it.”
And your most memorable moment? “Planning. The hubbub and the excitement in the room is electrifying.”
HARRIS LORIE
Programming co-chair, aged 27,
from Leeds
Day job: Education development manager at World ORT
Years at Limmud:
“This will be my 8th conference.”
What made you first want to be involved?
“Rave reviews from my parents. I became more involved as a volunteer, and liked what I saw.”
What makes Limmud special?
“The buzz — created not only by the presenters and the sessions, but more fundamentally by the fact that it is a volunteer-led event which anybody is welcome to contribute to.”
What is the biggest challenge?
“Developing a rigorous approach to time-management. And managing the expectations of those presenters.”
And your most memorable moment?
“Episodes of laughing hysteria.”
TONI RICKENBACK
Programming co-chair, aged 33,
from London
Day job: Director, UK Task Force
Years at Limmud:
Two
What makes Limmud special? “The combination of hundreds of volunteers and presenters, thousands of participants and sessions, and educational opportunities on a huge variety of subjects.”
What are your aims for this year?
“That every participant will have a moment of inspiration and excitement from some aspect of Limmud.”
What is the biggest challenge?
“That we physically can’t fit every session submitted into the schedule.”
And your most memorable moment?
“When we were given a sneak preview of what the Shabbat team was planning. It was incredibly exciting.”
