Bet Halimoud, Toulouse

Location:Toulouse, France
Name of implementing organization:Hebraica Association
Date of initial project approval:January 2005

Brief description of the local Jewish community

 

• Number of Jews : 20,000 – 25,000 Jews live in Toulouse
• Local Jewish schools, and other Jewish organizations :
  Jewish schools: Gan Rachi, Ozar Hatorah, ORT
  Jewish organizations: Fonds Social Juif Unifie (FSJU), Association Consistoriale Israélite de Toulouse (ACIT), Hebraica, Conseil Representatif des Institutions Juives de France (CRIF), Bnai Brit, Association France-Israel, WIZO

 

Project aims and objectives

The Bet Halimoud project aims to introduce Jewish culture to the general public. We intend to include the religious (Torah, Talmud, Halacha), historical, sociological, philosophical and literary aspects of Jewish culture.

The project aims to provide the very highest quality of teaching.

Project Description

The Bet Halimoud of Toulouse began operating in 2006. It provides high quality Jewish Studies about all facets of Jewish culture and religion. It aims to promote Jewish education within Toulouse and the Southwest.

Bet Halimoud is composed by five different projects: Mahanaim; University Institute for Jewish Studies of Toulouse;  Conferences;  Yom Shekoulo Limoud; and Seminars.

Mahanaïm provides courses on Jewish thought, of Halacha, and Gemara (separately for men and women).Theses courses meet every week and some of them have different levels. They are taught by local rabbis.

Conferences are conducted for Rosh Hodesh and during the end of the month.  The conferences deal with all subjects related to Judaism, including news, politics, the Shoah, Israel, literature, cinema, relations with other religions, philosophy, and important figures. The choice of the themes appeals to a large public.

The University Institute of the Jewish Studies of Toulouse conducts conferences every Wednesday evening, taught by university professors. Topics include Sociology, History, Philosophy, Law and Literature.

The organization of the programs has evolved during the course of the project. The organization of Mahanaim changed in order to satisfy more students. All the subjects related to Halacha and the Gemara are approached in the same course on two levels.One course was canceled in order to add two series of conferences (one for men and women) at the end of each month, and one on the day of Rosh Hodesh. The schedule for the conferences was changed in order to better meet the needs of students who participate in various  other activities.

The Yom Shekoulo Limoud and the seminars provide week-ends of reflection on themes related to Judaism, Jewish Culture, Jewish Law, and Israel. They offer an opportunity for dialog and group work.

All the activities proposed by Beth Halimoud are open to and shared by a large public, especially students. Participants can take part in one project or participate in every activity.

Main budget elements

Teaching salaries, Administration, Seminars, and Operating Expenses

The project's successes

The Bet Halimoud project has gained a following among the Toulousain public, who attend the courses, activities and seminars. Participants have expressed satisfaction with the project. On the weekends, the seminars attract an important new public who have not attended the other activities.

Difficulties encountered along the way

The religious and lay public sometimes have difficulties mixing each others.

Each participant chooses what he prefers. Few people attend all the courses.

The course on Philosophy has not proved to be in demand.