If you enjoy taking part in events that are so inspiring and invigorating that even the air itself seems to be electrified, then the place to be was the Limmud Arava Conference on February 10-11, 2011. Limmud Arava, which is part of the well-established international Limmud organization, began activities in the region in 2009, initiated by our Australian partners, and run by enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers in the Arava, who give of their time and talents voluntarily in the true spirit of Limmud.

Limmud's general aim is to broaden the range of activities connected to Jewish identity while encouraging discussion of a diverse range of issues, and this year's Arava conference focused on leadership. The conference took place on the community settlement of Sapir, the figurative and literal center of the region, and included so many simultaneous workshops, lectures, panels, study sessions and other wonderful activities that participants were hard-pressed to decide between them (and it should be said that all of the outstanding lecturers, including Peta Jones Pellach who made aliyah from Australia just this past year, and conference organizers also gave of their time and knowledge on a voluntary basis).

Avishai Berman, Arava Leadership Academy director, said: "…the third Limmud Arava Conference was excellent, both as regards content as well as in the atmosphere at the conference. The Leadership Academy students participated in the conference and led a group Hevruta session. In general we all felt that we had gained much from the conference. A big thank you from all of us to the Limmud Arava people for the wonderful work they did in arranging the conference."

And a few words from new immigrant Peta Pellach: "It was truly exhilarating to be back at Limmud - the vibe was definitely there and we had lots of old and new friends around… Sapir has a wonderful community centre full of joyful pieces of art that added to the atmosphere…. The final session on Friday was an early Kabbalat Shabbat singalong which, not unexpectedly, led to spontaneous dancing… Limmud-Arava was a joyful experience."

The conference was sponsored by The Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 project in cooperation with the Arava Community Center and Regional Council, and in the words of conference coordinator Gila Raz: "This conference was outstanding, even better than the last conference, and we know that next year's conference will be better yet." Our Australian partners are warmly invited to join us in our Limmud experiences, both for meetings during the year, and for the February conferences. For more information please contact Gila Raz at graz@arava.co.il