First-Ever Limmud FSU Israel Conference in Zikhron Yaakov Celebrates 20 Years of Impact
Bringing together approximately 500 participants from across Israel, the landmark conference marked a new chapter for Limmud FSU
December 2025: From December 4–6, 2025, Limmud FSU Israel held its annual flagship conference for the first time in the historic town of Zikhron Yaakov, welcoming approximately 500 participants from across the country for a vibrant and deeply meaningful weekend of Jewish learning, cultural dialogue, leadership development, and community connection.
Reflecting the diversity, dynamism, and evolving identity of Israel’s Russian-speaking Jewish community, the pluralistic and volunteer-driven conference explored a broad range of topics connected to Jewish identity, Israeli society, leadership, culture, Holocaust remembrance, media, geopolitics, and the challenges facing Israel and world Jewry in the post–October 7 reality. Through lectures, panel discussions, workshops, cultural programming, and communal activities, participants engaged in thoughtful conversations about the future of Israeli society while strengthening their sense of belonging within both the Israeli and global Jewish communities.
The conference featured an impressive lineup of prominent Israeli public figures, educators, journalists, cultural leaders, and intellectual voices, including Minister Zeev Elkin; renowned culinary writer and television personality Gil Hovav; former Vice President of the Supreme Court of Israel Elyakim Rubinstein; former Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force Eliezer Shkedy; retired IDF spokesperson Ephraim Lapid; and comedian and media personality Ilia Akselrod, alongside civic leaders, educators, emerging young voices, and community activists.
A particularly emotional highlight of the conference was a special opening ceremony commemorating 20 years since the founding of Limmud FSU. The celebration reflected on two decades of extraordinary educational and communal impact across the global Russian-speaking Jewish world. During the ceremony, special recognition awards were presented to Chaim Chesler, Sandy Cahn, and Matthew Bronfman in honor of their vision, leadership, and enduring contributions to the development and international growth of the organization.
The conference also featured a special exhibition dedicated to the life and legacy of the late Rabbi Menachem HaCohen, highlighting his profound contributions to Jewish life, Israeli society, and Jewish intellectual thought. The exhibition program included participation by his son, Prof. Aviad HaCohen, who curated the exhibition, as well as renowned Israeli writer Haim Beer and additional scholars and public figures who reflected on Rabbi HaCohen’s spiritual, intellectual, and civic legacy.
