Our values.
Learning.
Everyone should be a student and anyone can be a teacher
Learning embraces personal development, knowledge and skills
Learning changes people, inspires action and opens new worlds
We encourage the creation of a learning environment in which people are able to reflect and grow
There are many inspirations that can offer opportunities for learning
Participation.
Volunteerism is a key feature of almost everything we do
We are all responsible for each other and for the communities we create – everyone has an important contribution to make
We encourage participants to take an active part in all we do
Arguments for the sake of Heaven.
We recognise and appreciate that ‘arguments for the sake of heaven’ can make a positive contribution to furthering our education and understanding
We do not participate in legitimising or de-legitimising any religious or political position found in the worldwide Jewish community. Anyone coming to Limmud seeking opportunities for this will not find them. We have no part to play in the debates between/across denominations
Sessions which encourage vigorous debate are entirely acceptable but we will seek to avoid religious or political conflict. Sessions should be educational, and not polemical
Expanding Jewish horizons.
We strive to create individual, collective and communal experiences, through which we strengthen and develop our Jewish identity
Empowerment.
We inspire people to be ambitious about their contribution
We challenge people, and trust them to rise to that challenge
We see the potential of individuals and communities, and support their development
We empower people to make choices and provide the information they need to inform those choices (including in the biographies which we ask presenters to provide)
Community and mutual responsibility.
Limmud is a community of learning
We can achieve more together than we can individually
We gain from, and should give something back to, the Jewish and wider community
Religious observance.
We seek to create an inclusive environment for all participants whatever their religious observance practices. We ask that all participants behave in a way which is respectful of the religious observance of others
Shabbat and kashrut are observed in all public areas, so that Jews do not have to separate themselves one from another
We recognise that in private areas, people will behave as they wish
Enabling connections.
We aim to create opportunities for communities and individuals to connect
We recognise the strength of providing a space where spiritual, emotional and intellectual connections are made
Diversity.
We value the rich diversity among Jews, and so we seek to create cross-communal and inter-generational experiences
We value accessibility, and aim to be accessible to all
We value choice in form, content and style in our programmes
We encourage people not to stereotype others
Respect.
No-one is more important than anyone else
We expect all participants to be respectful of one another, and to recognise that all volunteers are also participants
Personal attacks are not acceptable in any Limmud context, especially within sessions at events
Sustainability.
Sustainability means applying Limmud values in a way which delivers the present and supports the delivery of the future. The sustainability and continuity of a Limmud community includes:
Investing in the people who make up that community
Ongoing financial stability
Minimising our environmental impact