From its humble beginnings at a provincial boarding school in 1980, Limmud has grown into a global phenomenon spanning 60 Jewish communities across five continents.

1980: The first Limmud Conference takes place at Carmel College, Oxfordshire, with 80 people in attendance. Lord Sacks, before he becomes Chief Rabbi, is one of the participants. He does not return during his time in office.

1984: Limmud temporarily relocates to Portsmouth Polytechnic.

1985: The first conference to offer Young Limmud, and to welcome guests from Israel.

1986-1990: Conference is moved to Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University), which becomes its home for nine years.

1994: First Limmud interfaith colloquium, bringing together priests, nuns, imams and scholars from a range of religions.

1995: First United Synagogue rabbi, Michael Harris of Hampstead Synagogue, attends the conference.

1996: With the number of participants hitting the 1,000 mark, Limmud becomes the largest Jewish educational event in Europe.

1997: The number of volunteers reaches 100 for the first time.

1998: Avram Burg, the then Speaker of Israel’s Knesset, attends Limmud at its new Nottingham University venue.

1999: Australia launches the first-ever Limmud event outside the UK.

2002: Limmud Galil launches in Israel.

2005: Limmud arrives in New York.

2007: Conference moves to Warwick University, after nine years at Nottingham.

2012: Limmud China brings together Jews living in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Shanghai, Beijing and Mumbai for Asia’s inaugural conference.

2013: In September, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis announces he will attend Limmud, against the wishes of many Orthodox rabbis.