International Development Minister Ivan Lewis and Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein added some high-powered local interest to the return of Manchester Limmud on Sunday.
A lull in leadership had left Manchester without a regional Limmud since 2005. Didsbury barrister and former national Limmud co-ordinator David Hoffman, who organised the 2009 event, was encouraged by the turnout of 300 from across the Jewish spectrum, adding that plans for further events were in the pipeline. Fears that some Orthodox elements would attempt to dissuade people from taking part had proved groundless.
“We’re pleased with the good Orthodox, Reform and Progressive contingents who attended. I’m staying involved and already thinking about having another main-day Limmud late next year and some smaller events as early as January, so we don’t lose the momentum.”
Educationists Clive Lawton and Raphael Zarum were also among the speakers at the Limmud, held at Hopwood Hall Sixth-Form College in Middleton.
