LIMMUD FSU CANADA
ANNUAL REPORT
2015
Limmud FSU International
Limmud FSU was founded in 2006 by Chaim Chesler and
Sandra Cahn. Matthew Bronfman joined shortly after
as Chairman of the International Steering Committee,
followed by Aron Frenkel as President of Limmud FSU
International. Together, they have brought Limmud FSU
conferences to Russia, Ukraine, and other countries of
the Former Soviet Union (FSU), as well as to Israel, the
USA, and now, Canada. All around the globe, Limmud
FSU brings together and empowers young Jewish
adults, who are revitalizing Jewish communities and
culture. This successful model and continuing efforts will
ensure a vibrant and sustainable Jewish future for young
Russian-speaking adults in the FSU, in Israel, in America,
in Australia and throughout the world. Built on the experience of an international group of Jewish leaders, working in close partnership with Limmud FSU volunteers,
Limmud FSU provides a rich educational and cultural
experience — for the community, to the community and
by the community. Limmud FSU shares in the core goals
of diversity, learning, community and volunteerism with
the other Limmud conferences throughout the world.
www.limmudfsu.org
Limmud FSU Canada
Canada has been one of the most active centres of
Soviet/Russian-Jewish immigration over the past four
decades. Today, among young Russian-speaking Jewish
adults in Canada, there is a growing interest and involvement in Jewish life, activism, volunteering in the community, and an expression of Jewish identity. Curiosity,
social reasons, and a desire to reconnect with their roots
appear to be driving this aspiration to become more
involved in Jewish communal life. With the support of
Limmud FSU International and local community leaders,
we were happy to host the first Limmud FSU Canada in
October 2014 - a conference,which focuses on restoring
the tradition of life-long Jewish learning and strengthening Jewish identity through its educational opportunities and leadership training.
www.limmudfsucanada.org
The Limmud FSU Canada 2015 Connections Conference could only have taken place thanks to our amazing
team of volunteers who put their time and energy into making it a reality. Their hard work, commitment and
enthusiasm, was exemplary.
Over 35 organizing committee members listed below took part in putting together this amazing event.
An additional 70 volunteers joined the effort on the day of the event, making it a real success.
Organizing Committee and Resource Group
Zarina Aksmanov, Natalya Brodsky, Vadim Brodsky, Roman Bronfman,
Alexander Curlat-Rozenberg, Anna Curlat-Rozenberg, Ilia Dobkin, Dina Dryden,
Eitan Dudnik, Viktoriya Feldman, Jenia Founk, Yelena Gordon, Tova Hovich,
Kirill Kanevsky, Oren Kats, Galit Keisar, Maria Konikov, Elena Kovarsky, Yael Kogan, Inna
Kravitz, Ksenia Kuzmin, Dahlia Levitin, Leon Martynenko, Renat Mataev,
Kate Noam, Meir Osipov, Ilia Rabkin – Marketing, Alexander Tarasov, Irene Vaksman,
Boris Varshavsky, Mila Voihanski, Helena Yakovlev-Golani, Dina Zalkind
Connections
LEON MARTYNENKO
Connections was chosen as a theme for the 2nd Limmud FSU Canada conference by the organizing committee seeing it as a great opportunity to learn, educate,
celebrate and connect! Limmud FSU Canada provides
an opportunity for its participants to connect with each
other, their community, their heritage, their religion,
their culture and discover new personal connection,
business opportunities, and connect to a whole new
world intellect!
This is the second year in a row that Leon is chairing
the Conference and the organizing committee of Limmud FSU Canada. Leon was born and grew up in Krivoy
Rog, Ukraine until 1996, when his family decided to
emigrate to Israel. After graduating from high school
Leon served in the Givati Infantry Brigade and worked
in the Ministry of Defence Security Unit, achieving
leadership roles in both. After arriving in Canada and
graduating from University of Toronto with a double
major in Economics and History of Religion (concentrations: Judaism and Islam), Leon became involved in
numerous community initiatives and projects ranging
from Israeli advocacy on university campuses, RSJ social projects and Limmud FSU Canada itself. Currently,
Leon is working on expanding his professional knowledge of Business Analysis and Project Management.
Havdallah celebrations
Gala concert
leadership
JAM after party
Community Building
Teen engagement
Volunteerism
“Connections” TEAM
Interactive workshops
Jewish education
Family EXPERIENCE
80 different
500
sessions paticipants
40
speakers
70
volunteers
100 children
and teens participants
94% of the participants said that Limmud FSU Canada Connections
conference exceeded their expectations
Sandra Cahn
Yosef Mendelevitch
Yosef Mendelevitch , Jewish refusenik from the former Soviet
Union, also known as a “Prisoner of Zion”. Politically unaffiliated rabbi living in Jerusalem.
“People come once to Limmud, they will try to come again
and again for the very feeling of
being together, hundreds of people. You meet people. You
have very interesting lectures.”
Mila Voihanski
Sandra Cahn, Co-Founder, Limmud FSU
“The spirit of Limmud is something very special and our ability
to bring people together is even more important. The Limmud
framework reaches out to all, and the hundreds of young people
who are here for the second time is proof of the atmosphere of
meaningfulness which marks all our programs.”
Mila Voihanski, Country director, Limmud FSU Canada
“I am very proud of what we have accomplished in just two years. Limmud FSU in Canada has
become a very important and valuable part of our community life and strengthened our sense
of unity. It gives us an idefinable, spiritual, electric charge that binds us all together that cannot be found in any book.”
Alexander Kutman
Shoel Silver
Shoel Silver, Co-Chair, United Jewish Appeal Campaign 2016
“The objective of bringing all elements of the Toronto Jewish community, and especially our young people,
closer together and closer to their Jewish heritage is one in which UJA Federation believes strongly, and it is
one I share. So it was gratifying to see so many GTA Jews who came from the former Soviet Union or are the
children and grandchildren of those who did, coming together to engage in a weekend of Jewish learning
and culture. It was great to see so many young families. The range of sessions (some in Russian but most in
English) gave all of us who participated numerous opportunities to broaden our knowledge, in an atmosphere of fun and of community. And the first snowfall of the year was a nice touch.”
Gidi Grinstein
Gidi Grinstein, President and Founder of the Reut Institute.
“It is a festival of learning that offers a myriad of structured and random opportunities every day for enlightenment through engagement with inspiring
speakers and co-Limmudniks. It is an immersive experience of ongoing intellectual and sometimes emotional stimulation that continues during meals
and in the corridors for 18 hours a day. The menu of options is rich, and the
atmosphere is elating.”
Alexander Kutman, participant from Ottawa
“Limmud FSU conferences are a unique platform where I find myself surrounded by hundreds of
intelligent like-minded people sharing the same goal: to learn, socialize and make new connections,
maintain the otherwise-slowly-escaping jewish identity. The amazing energy and vibe of Limmud is
what brings me back, and I hope to have even larger participation from Ottawa next year!”
Etya Kanevsky
Etya Kanevsky, participant from Toronto
“For just 3 short days you are completely immersed in rich educational and
cultural experience; you learn about Jewish values, history, heritage, social
justice, art and culture, etc. I would never have imagine that a relatively small
group of people could organize such an incredible event, incredible in program contents, most engaging presenters, great entertainment, and of course,
delicious food”
Ilana Golzman
Ilana Golzman, University student and Childrens programming volunteer
“Volunteering at Limmud FSU Canada was an extremely rewarding experience. It was incredible to
see Russian Jews of all ages connecting with their roots and simultaneously engaging in developmental activities/workshops”
LIMMUD FSU CANADA PARTNERS
AND SPONSORS
Limmud FSU gratefully acknowledges the support of our donors.
Without their backing our events could not take place.
LIMMUD FSU CANADA SUPPORTERS:
Grantors: Limmud FSU International Foundation, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Limmud FSU Canada Partners and Sponsors
Donors:
Apotex Foundation
Binah Charitable Foundation
Nathan and Lily Silver Family Foundation
State of Israel Bonds
Steeles College Memorial
The Jewish Legacy Charitable Foundation
Ukrainian Jewish Encounter
Ilia Dobkin
Victoria Heifets
Alex Katz
Yan Kotliarski
Carl Loweth
Ben Megidish
Marat Ressin
Polina Spektor
Mara Vexelman
Limmud FSU Canada Governing Council:
Alexandra Pelts, Anna Shternshis, Ida Tilis, Igor Sorokin, Jane Katkova - Brow, Julia Koschitzky, Lorne Goldstein, Rabbi Tina
Grimberg and Shoel Silver.
Limmud FSU international sponsors:
Matthew Bronfman
Aaron Frenkel
Ronald Lauder
Conference for Material Claims against
Germany
American Joint Distribution Committee
Diane Wohl
Vadim Shulman
Jewish National Fund (KKL)
L.A. Pincus Fund for Jewish Education
Diaspora
Nativ - Israel Prime-Minister’s Office
Jewish Agency for Israel
Chester Fund
Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund
David Kislin
Edward Mermelstein
Eugene Grant
Felix Frankel
Jerry Levin
Joe Cooper
Dr. Nona International
UJA Jewish Federation of New York
Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
IKEA (Israel)
Israel Bonds
Israel Ministry for Jerusalem
and Diaspora Affairs
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Israel Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
Keren Hayesod
Michael Zurahinsky
Richard Maidman
Ruben Landsberger
Ruth Salomy
Sandra and Stewart Cahn
Shulem Fisher
World Zionist Organization
Want to be involved / contribute / present - get in touch with us:
9600 Bathurst St., Maple, ON L6A3Z8
[email protected]
Tel. 416-618-0278
SEE YOU ON THE 11TH OF SEPTEMBER 2016,
AND MARCH 24-26 2017!