Presenter FAQs
Q: Will I receive an honorarium?
A: No. LimmudLA, like other Limmud conferences worldwide, is volunteer-driven. We do not pay for participation. All participants – whether speaking or not – are expected to volunteer in some way.
Q: Can I bring my family?
A: By all means! We will have a full children's program, babysitting, and teen program. Reduced rates are available for students and children.
Q: How does the conference work?
A: Starting Friday at noon and continuing throughout the day and into the evening, 5-9 presenter sessions at a time are offered, each lasting 75 minutes. We encourage presenters to engage the participants through an interactive approach and to include time for Q&A. Participants, of which you are one when you are not actively presenting, are given a program book at the beginning of the weekend and are encouraged to attend whatever sessions they like. Browse the 2009 Conference Program and see a LimmudLA conference in action.
Q: What topics can I cover?
A: The choices are yours. We ask only that all of the topics relate to Judaism in some way. We encourage presenters to think outside the box, and talk about not only their areas of specialty but also their areas of passion, including topics that may be offbeat. We organize the sessions into the following tracks: Arts and Performance, Global History and Culture, Identity and Responsibility, Israel, Jewish LA, Ritual and Prayer, Text and Thought. Sessions involving interaction or movement are especially welcomed.
Q: How many presentations can I give?
A: Most of our local presenters give one session only, though we encourage you to submit more than one topic in case we have several people who wish to speak on the same subject. Presenters from out of town (and some locals) may do between three to five. We try very hard to maintain diversity and balance in our topics, presenters and the timing of our sessions.
Q: Do I need to clear my topics with you?
A: You need to provide a topic title and brief description as part of the registration process. Also, we need to know whether you will require any special audiovisual equipment, room arrangements or props. We ask that you consider the diversity of the audience, which includes Jews across the religious, political, ethnic and educational spectrum. LimmudLA also draws across generations. Please let us know if your session is particularly appropriate for teens, families or young adults.
Q: Can I choose when I give the talks?
A: Sorry, no. We try very hard to maintain diversity and balance in our topics, presenters and the timing of our sessions. Over the course of the three days, we will have more than 200 presentations, films, panels, services, etc. We will let you know which of your topics have been chosen and when you will present before the conference. Please note though, if you use A/V, we cannot schedule that presentation on Shabbat. Also, if you do not want to be scheduled against a religious service, you can note that too.
Q: I am a secular Jew. Will that be an issue?
A: No. All religious services and programs are optional. LimmudLA actively strives to have Jews from across the religious spectrum.
Q: I am observant. Can you accommodate me?
A: Yes. All food is kosher and under RCC Orthodox rabbinic supervision. There will be Shabbat elevators available. Participants are free to organize and lead a variety of religious services. Finally, we ask presenters to refrain from using overhead projectors or requiring writing on Shabbat.
Q: Is LimmudLA affiliated with other groups?
A: LimmudLA is a separate non-profit entity. It does, however, reach out to and has worked closely with a range of Jewish organizations, synagogues and groups throughout the city. Further, it is part of a movement of volunteers that sponsor Limmud programs worldwide.
Q: Who is in charge at LimmudLA?
A: LimmudLA is all volunteer run. It has a volunteer board and a Conference Planning Committee composed of various teams that handle the planning and logistics of conference. This year's conference chair is Caroline Kelly and the Deputy Chair is Wendy Jackler.
Q: Does LimmudLA own my presentation or otherwise profit from my appearance?
A: No. LimmudLA is a nonprofit organization. We do not record the material for sale or promotion. LimmudLA may ask you for permission to include your presentation on its website or as a podcast for educational purposes. LimmudLA may use your name to attract participants to the conference.
Q: Is there an opportunity for me to promote my upcoming engagements or books that I have written?
A: Yes, we will include a bio of you in our program guide and throughout the year on our website that can include information about your website, book information or other material you provide. We reserve the right to edit this for style and space reasons.
Q: Can I sell my book or promote my film or other products?
A: Yes. We are currently in the process of arranging for an independent bookseller and will provide details closer to the time of conference.
Q: Whom do I contact if I have additional questions?
A: If you have questions about presenting, please email our Programming Team.