October 3, 2012 – London, U.K. – Limmud has appointed Shelley Marsh, currently UJIA’s Director of Informal Education UJIA, as its new Executive Director. Based in the UK and with global responsibility, including for Limmud International, Ms. Marsh will work closely with Limmud’s new Chair Elect, Kevin Sefton, who will take over from Carolyn Bogush as the Chair of the organisation at the end of 2012.

Ms. Marsh holds a Masters’ degree in Community Leadership and has worked in the informal Jewish education sector in the UK for the past fifteen years. She succeeds Raymond Simonson who leaves after Sukkot, following six years as Limmud’s first full time Executive Director, to take up the position of CEO Designate of the new Jewish Community Centre for London. 

These past six years has seen the organisation go through a period of unprecedented growth in the UK and internationally. During this time, Limmud has grown into a worldwide movement spanning some 60 Jewish communities in over 25 countries as far and wide as Argentina, China, Moldova, South Africa and Turkey. It is understandable why it has become known as “British Jewry’s greatest export”, with global growth being supported by Limmud International, which remains a flagship-project of Limmud.

Ms. Bogush said she was happy that she will be able to look back over her tenure as Chair of the Limmud Board with great pride, knowing that “during the toughest global financial climate of our lifetime, Limmud has defied the odds and continued to grow and develop across the world in ways we could not have imagined”.

Mr. Sefton is almost as well known amongst the Limmud International community as he is amongst UK Limmud volunteers. He has for the past four years been very involved supporting the Chairs of Limmud International in his role on the Limmud board in the UK. He has presented at Limmud conferences in various communities and has also long been one of Limmud International’s trainers, planning and facilitating development seminars and sessions for Limmud volunteers from across the USA, Europe, Israel, South America and South Africa.

In additional news from Limmud International, the organisation is partnering with ROI Community and will award 15 grants to ROI members to help support participation in Conference this December. This new initiative has been put in place in recognition of existing, and potential, ROI Community contributors to the various Limmud programmmes around the world. The Conference programme will provide dedicated sessions to better understand what Limmud is about, how to develop local Limmud communities including shared peer experiences and a chance to spend time with Limmud community organizers in person from across the globe. Limmud International will help facilitate connections between ROI grantees and the leadership of their local Limmud group.