Watch presentations from first "Limmud Israel: Tel Aviv at Night" conference, "The Shared Destiny of the Jewish People"

Israeli decision makers and thought leaders came together on October 22, 2018 for the launch of Limmud Israel in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America’s "General Assembly."

Staff for Limmud Israel poses with Eli Ovits, CEO, at Tel Aviv event

The first ever Limmud Israel event was held at Tel Aviv's Brodt Center for Jewish Culture. An array of Israeli thought leaders and decision makers in politics, media, finance, high tech, and culture offered their visions on the shared destiny of the Jewish people.

"This launch of Limmud Israel is a momentous event for the Jewish people, convening participants from across the country together with communal leaders from across North America,” said Limmud Israel event chair and president of the Am Yisrael Foundation, Jay Shultz.

Each talk revolved around the broad concept of "The Shared Destiny of the Jewish People" and include a Q&A session with the audience. Most of the audience members were Anglo-Israeli citizens, at a greater proportion of dati'im than attending the General Assembly.

JooTube.TV chronicled a session in each of the evening's 3 time-slots.

Limmud CEO Eli Ovitz introduces Tel Aviv Councilmember Lior Shapira to present a welcome from Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai's office. (0:23) 



Part 1: Tel Aviv Councilmember  Lior Shapira presents remarks from the municipality. Allison Kaplan Sommer introduces Panel: "Torah & Technology - Towards Wealth and Wellbeing" - Michael Eisenberg (Alef VC) and Jon Medved (OurCrowd).Part (0)(13:32) 


Panel : "Torah & Technology - Towards Wealth and Wellbeing" - Michael Eisenberg (Alef VC) and Jon Medved (OurCrowd); moderated by Allison Kaplan Sommer.

Israeli V.C. Michael Eisenberg's D'var Torah emphasizes ethics over avarice at Limmud Israel (16:24) 

Financier, Jonathan Medved, explains how he sees foreign companies' visiting and investments in Israel validate biblical prophecy (25:41) 


Second panel: “Israel At 70 - Looking Forward” Jewish Agency longtime, recently-retired  leader, Natan Sharansky, interviewed by Times of Israel's David Horovitz on issues of Zionism and Aliyah. (48:32) 


Third panel: "Investing In Shared Destiny- Economics & The Israel-Diaspora Relationship" Michael Freedman (Asquith Israel), Joanna Landau (Vibe Israel), Oren Charnoff (Hanaco Ventures) & Prof. Avi Weiss (Taub Center). (48:58) 

"Investing In Shared Destiny - Economics and The Israel-Diaspora Relationship"  with Prof. Avi Weiss (Taub Center), Joanna Landau (Vibe Israel), Oren Charnoff (Hanaco Ventures) -moderated by Michael Freedman (Asquith Israel). Economics & The Israel-Diaspora Relationship."  (2:19)

“Heartfelt thanks to our partners,” said Limmud chief executive Eli Ovits. “We call on visionary organizations and individuals to join us in order to enable Limmud to reach a new level of impact across Israel.”

Socio-economist Dr. Avi Weiss (The Taub Center)

Limmud Israel — Tel Aviv After Dark was produced in partnership with the Am Yisrael Foundation, Times of Israel, Jewish Federations of North America, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Brodt Center for Jewish Culture, Tel Aviv International Salon, White City Shabbat, Hillel Israel, Aleph VC, OurCrowd, Golan Heights Winery, Limmud, Limmud Jerusalem and Limmud FSU.

Limmud is a cross-communal, multi-generational, grassroots, volunteer-led international network of communities celebrating Jewish learning and culture.  Founded in the UK in 1980, today there are 90 Limmud communities in 42 countries. The Limmud communities in Israel include Limmud Arava, Limmud Galil, Limmud Golan, Limmud FSU Israel, Limmud Haifa, Limmud Jerusalem, Limmud Modi’in, and Limmud Yeroham.   (Some text adapted from Times of Israel with thanks).   

Anglo-oleh warns potential olim: Israeli failings are hurting their end of the aliya proposition

Having immigrated to Israel 10-years ago from South Africa, 25-year-old Adam Segal exposes the harsh economic realities of moving to live and work in modern Israel.

Israel ain't what it used to be in JPost.com

This land that we call home needs to be more than a mere ideological vision; I need to be able to afford to live here.


The average Israeli cannot afford to live in an average household.

Ten years ago, the people pushing hardest for me to come to Israel were the Zionist Federation and the Jewish Agency, despite their knowledge that many olim would not learn fluent Hebrew, and that many would be unemployed for months or even years. Many immigrants do not survive in their professions due to over-saturation, protektsia (connections), or language issues. Many immigrant children drop out of school, develop behavioral problems and, due to the elitist nature of the education system, may not get a university- level education. And still, the recommendation from the shaliach is the same: “Come home to Israel.” . . .

I call on the Jewish Agency to get involved in the housing crisis and create feasible solutions for the people who gave up everything to be here. Zionism will not pay the bills or put food on my table, and it definitely won’t provide me with the capital I need to house my family in the land that is supposedly my home. If you ask me to choose between Zionism and the well-being of my family, I will choose my family. They are my responsibility.  Keeping me here is yours.