Limmud FSU

Limmud FSU holds educational conferences in Ukraine, Moldova, Israel, Europe, Australia, Canada, Azerbaijan and the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/limmud-fsu-1st-ever-pan-european-conference-opens-friday/|title=Limmud FSU 1st-ever Pan-European Conference Opens Friday|website=ejewishphilanthropy.com|date=29 January 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}}{{Cite web|title=Limmud FSU|url=http://www.limmudfsu.org/limmud-fsu|access-date=2020-12-21|website=www.limmudfsu.org}} Limmud FSU engages with young Jewish adults of Former Soviet Union backgrounds, offering them the tools to gain a better understanding of their Jewish identity and if they wish, to assume leadership roles in their local communities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.limmudfsublog.com/single-post/2016/12/18/From-the-Black-Sea-to-the-Red-Sea-Summing-Limmud-FSU-Israel|title=From the Black Sea to the Red Sea-Limmud FSU Israel {{!}} Limmud FSU Official Blog|website=Limmud FSU Official Blog|language=en|access-date=2018-08-01}}

Limmud FSU events present Jewish learning and culture in its broadest sense through pluralistic, egalitarian volunteer-run conferences covering traditional subjects like the Bible and Talmud, to history, politics, Israel, the Middle-East conflict, theater, music and dance, the arts, literature and poetry, to Jewish cuisine, humor and folklore and much more.{{Cite news|url=http://www.limmudfsucanada.org/horizons-2017-conference-overview/|title="Horizons" 2017 Conference Overview - Limmud FSU Canada|work=Limmud FSU Canada|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-US}}

Limmud ("study" in Hebrew), the volunteer-driven Jewish learning experience, started in the United Kingdom in 1980{{cite news | url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/114276/how-limmud-has-grown | title=How Limmud has grown | work=The Jewish Chronicle | date=23 December 2013 | accessdate=7 January 2014 | author=Easterman, Daniel}} and since then has spread to over 80 Jewish communities across the world, awakening inspiration in tens of thousands of participants. In the words of The Jerusalem Post, "Every place that has Jews should have its own Limmud."

In adapting the Limmud model to the special requirements of Jewish audiences from the Former Soviet Union world-wide, Limmud FSU has developed a unique approach to cultural and educational activities, through lectures, presentations and workshops specially designed for the needs of young Jewish adults who were deprived of the opportunity to learn about their culture during 70 years of Communist rule in the Soviet Union.{{Cite web|url=http://www.limmudfsu.org/mission-and-values.html|title=Limmud FSU-Our Mission and Values|website=www.limmudfsu.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}} File:Limmud FSU New York.JPG

Limmud FSU is governed by an International Steering Committee (ISC), which approves its programs and budgets. The ISC has representatives from supporting organizations, donor foundations and sponsors, as well as individuals who actively promote Limmud FSU’s educational and cultural work.{{Cite web|url=http://www.limmudfsu.org/international-steering-committee.html|title=Limmud FSU-International Steering Committee|website=www.limmudfsu.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}}

An Executive Committee sets operational policy for Limmud FSU, authorizes budgetary adjustments between ISC sessions and sets guidelines for the preparation of the annual work plan. Currently, its members include: Matthew Bronfman, Chairman, International Steering Committee; Aaron Frenkel, President; Sandra Cahn, Co-Founder and Chair of the FRD Committee, and Chaim Chesler, Founder, Limmud FSU, and Chair of the Executive Committee.{{Cite news|url=http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/at-limmud-fsu-donors-share-advice-on-giving/|title=At Limmud FSU, Donors Share Advice On Giving|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/a-conversation-with-chaim-chesler/|title=A Conversation With Chaim Chesler|website=ejewishphilanthropy.com|date=7 September 2014|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}}{{Cite news|url=http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/limmud-fsu-in-eilat-well-bring-with-us-pride-and-jewish-brotherhood/|title=Limmud FSU in Eilat: 'We'll bring with us pride and Jewish brotherhood'|access-date=2018-08-01|language=en-US}}

A professional project manager in each country reports to the Executive Director, Natasha Chechik.{{Cite web|title=Limmud FSU confirms Natasha Chechik as Executive Director|url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/308935|access-date=2021-11-16|website=Israel National News|date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Leadership and Management|url=http://www.limmudfsu.org/leadership-and-management|access-date=2020-12-21|website=www.limmudfsu.org}} File:Beersheba LIMMUD FSU.jpg

Limmud FSU International Foundation is registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization,{{cite web | url=http://nccsweb.urban.org/orgs/profile.php/261870256?popup=1 | title=Limmud FSU International Foundation | publisher=National Center for Charitable Statistics | accessdate=31 August 2014}} recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).{{Cite web|url=http://www.limmudfsu.org/reports.html|title=Limmud FSU-Reports and Financial Accountability|website=www.limmudfsu.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}} Limmud FSU follows a policy of gradual incremental rises in the level of participation fees to ensure appropriate payment for a quality program. The aim is to bring each community to a level of 80 percent of the direct costs of their conferences. Currently, a global network of private individuals and partner organizations funds annual Limmud FSU conferences and volunteer training sessions.{{Cite web|title=Sponsors and Partners|url=http://www.limmudfsu.org/sponsors-and-funders|access-date=2020-12-21|website=www.limmudfsu.org}}

Limmud FSU Labs is a joint project of Limmud FSU and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs of the State of Israel, established in 2019.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-30|title=Jews from the former Soviet Union have had an outsized tech impact. Israel's government wants to harness that.|url=https://www.jta.org/2020/10/30/global/jews-from-the-former-soviet-union-have-had-an-outsized-tech-impact-israels-government-wants-to-harness-that|access-date=2020-12-21|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}} The goal is to create a meaningful and ongoing platform for varying forms of Jewish expression among different communities of young Russian-speaking Jews around the world, in order to promote a sense of national, collective and personal identity with the Jewish people and with the State of Israel.

File:Limmud fsu labs logo.png

Through the project, regional "Laboratories" are being created to provide comprehensive support, both professional and financial, for the development of educational and community initiatives among young Jews with roots in the FSU. It operates in the 11 centers where Limmud FSU annual conferences currently take place, with an aim to provide an ongoing Jewish experience between the main Limmud FSU events.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-06|title=Creating local programming, Jews bolster unique Jewish identity|url=https://www.jta.org/2021/01/06/global/with-new-local-clubs-russian-speaking-jews-bolster-unique-jewish-identity|access-date=2021-01-14|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}} However, initiatives can be realized not only in the cities where Limmud FSU events have already occurred, but also in any other city in the following countries and centers: Ukraine, Moldova, Australia, Canada, United States and Western Europe.

Below is a timeline of Limmud FSU's key conferences:

• Limmud
• Limmud International
• Limmud South Africa

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Category:Jewish charities based in the United States

Category:Jewish educational organizations

Category:Commonwealth of Independent States

Category:2006 establishments in the United States

Category:501(c)(3) organizations