What is Azara?
Azara is dedicated to opening the complex world of Torah to everyone, and building the skills to unlock our texts and traditions. The Temple had an azara in which all the Jews could gather, regardless of gender or priestly status, and we aim to be a space where Jews of all denominations, backgrounds, and genders can gather to learn and to make religious meaning.
Our aim is to build a culture of Jewish text learning in the UK through our summer intensives and year-round programming.
This year, we’re delighted to be partnering with Limmud (learn more about Limmud here – www.limmud.org) to deliver the intensive. We are excited to work together to express our shared values through the programme. In particular, our hope in partnering is to deepen our commitment to cross-communalism, embed a vibrant volunteer culture into the experience, and offer opportunities for leadership development. Thanks to this partnership, we will be offering a new pedagogy track, led by Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, to support those who’d like to build skills as Jewish text teachers.
What will the Azara x Limmud Summer Beit Midrash involve?
We will be spending Sunday evening – Friday lunchtime in the beautiful surroundings of Sadeh Farm near Orpington. Everyone is welcome, and you’ll be joining a diverse group of participants of all Jewish backgrounds from Liberal to Orthodox, young and old, straight and queer. Five days of learning, starting with optional tefillah (prayer) followed by breakfast, three hours of discovering Talmud in the original with world-class teachers (classes at multiple levels, from complete beginners to experienced yeshivaniks), lunch, your choice of afternoon classes and evening programming.
All food is supervised kosher. Tefillah (prayer) will be participant-led and cater to a range of styles and traditions.
Who is the Azara x Limmud Summer Beit Midrash for?
Everyone! All adults who are motivated to learn Jewish texts are eligible to take part in the Summer Beit Midrash, regardless of gender, denomination, or background. Whether your interests lie in Talmud, halakha, Tanakh, Chasidut, or developing your skills as a teacher, there’s something for everyone on the programme.
The Talmud classes will be conducted in several levels to accommodate different levels of experience. We ask that all participants are familiar with their alef-bet (Hebrew alphabet), and we can provide resources to help you reach this before the programme starts if necessary.
What learning is available to me on the Azara x Limmud Summer Beit Midrash?
Days on the Summer Beit Midrash follow the traditional yeshiva learning schedule. Participants will study the Talmud in its original Hebrew and Aramaic each morning, whether you’re learning your very first perek (chapter) of Gemara or used to unravelling thorny kashyas (difficulties) with Rashi, Tosafot, and other commentators.
There will be two blocks of elective classes during the afternoon. This year’s electives include Tanakh, Chasidut, and ‘how to’ options, including a pedagogy track learning to teach texts with Aviva Lauer from Pardes, and a halakhah track learning how to do Teshuvah [repentance].
Our teachers are drawn from Jewish institutions all around the world, and span a range of denominational backgrounds. Confirmed teachers for the Summer Intensive include:
- Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz
- Michael Pollak
- Yael Roberts
- Leah Jordan
- Laynie Soloman (SVARA)
- Benji Stanley
- Aviva Lauer (Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies)
- Lara Haft Yom-Tov
Additional programming will take place during the evenings. Previous evening programming has included skill-shares, participant-led teaching sessions, song circles, classes with guest teachers, and shiur klali (whole-cohort classes).
We are also committed to building our vibrant volunteer culture, and providing opportunities for leadership development. Azara is built by its participants, and everyone in the beit midrash will contribute to keeping it running, whether that be through toranut (chores) or skill-shares and community activities. Tefillah is participant-led and we are happy to support participants to build their skills in leading services.
Sample schedule:
8.00am Shacharit
8.45am Breakfast
9.30am Talmud
12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm – 3pm First block of afternoon classes
3.30 – 5pm Second block of afternoon classes
6.30pm Dinner
8pm evening activities
What does the Azara x Limmud Pedagogy Track involve?
We are very excited to announce that this year’s Azara x Limmud Summer Beit Midrash will include a Pedagogy Track for those who are interested in building their skills for teaching Jewish texts. This track, supported by Limmud, will be led by Aviva Lauer from Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and aims to support you to create your own class you can teach in the future. The classes for the Pedagogy Track will take place during one of the afternoon elective sessions and attendance is required if you’re part of the track.
This track is an investment in Azara x Limmud learners to become teachers that feel confident to share their Torah in their own communities and beyond. Azara x Limmud Pedagogy fellows will be expected to teach a session at a Yom Iyun (day of learning) in early September.
We are also excited to share an opportunity for Azara x Limmud Pedagogy Fellows to attend and share their session at Limmud Festival and support the Azara x Limmud Beit Midrash at the event. Fellows will receive a free day place (or equivalent discount) if they decide to participate.
If you are interested in becoming a Pedagogy Fellow, please fill out the relevant section of the enrollment form.
What accommodation is there?
A Jewish farm on the edge of London, Sadeh, will be our home. You can camp in the beautiful Sadeh field or stay inside at Sadeh, or make this an urban retreat, staying at the nearby Premier Inn Orpington, or coming from London.
Limited accommodation is available in group rooms or camping at Sadeh. In the main house, rooms are dormitory-style with a mix of bunk-beds and single beds. Every room has an en-suite bathroom with a shower, sink, toilet etc. Bedding and towels are provided by Sadeh. All rooms are up at least one flight of stairs apart from one wheelchair accessible room on the ground floor with an accessible bathroom next door.
Camping ground is available close to the main house with access to bathroom facilities. A limited number of tents (but not other camping equipment) are available, so please let us know if you would like a tent on the enrollment form.
You can also stay offsite. We will work to get a preferential rate at the Premier Inn in Orpington for participants who would like to stay there. (Please be aware that you’ll have to arrange your own travel back and forth to Sadeh; we can put you in touch with other participants staying in Orpington to coordinate transport.)
If you would like to commute to the programme from outside Orpington, there is a direct train from London Bridge to Orpington, and we can put you in touch with other participants to discuss lift-sharing.
How do I register for the Summer Beit Midrash?
Please fill out the enrollment form by the 3rd of May 2026. We hope to be able to accommodate all applicants on the Summer Beit Midrash, but, in the event that we are oversubscribed, we will make decisions about participation based on your answers to the enrollment questionnaire. If you have any questions about the form, please get in touch!
How will you make decisions about participation if you are oversubscribed?
We hope to be able to accommodate everyone who wants to join the Summer Intensive. We are committed to creating a cohort made up of participants with diverse backgrounds and to ensuring Jewish learning is open and accessible to all. We value that learning with those different to us can be transformative. We are also invested in empowering leaders to continue to build Azara and Limmud’s work and will prioritise applicants who are invested in this kind of work. Applications will first and foremost be reviewed based on your interest and commitment to Jewish learning.
Will the programme meet my access needs?
All programming will be wheelchair accessible, and we will endeavour to meet other access needs wherever possible – more information about the site is available here. Once places are confirmed, a form will be sent out to participants asking in further detail about your needs so we can best enable you to participate in the programme. If you have specific concerns that you would like to discuss with us before enrolling, please do contact us.
I’m interested, but I don’t think I can join for the whole programme.
If you’re interested in coming for a day or two, please get in touch and we will assess capacity once applications have been reviewed.
If I have children, can they accompany me on the Summer Beit Midrash?
All participants for the Summer Beit Midrash must be 18 or above by the 12th of July 2026. If you have childcare concerns, please reach out, and we can discuss this on a case-by-case basis. Please note that we will not be able to offer accommodation in shared rooms at Sadeh for children.
How much does the Summer Beit Midrash cost?
| Shared room at Sadeh | Camping at Sadeh | Staying offsite | |
| Waged | £450 | £370 | £280 |
| Unwaged | £320 | £240 | £150 |
Azara is committed to providing access to Torah regardless of financial circumstances. If the cost is a barrier, please get in touch to discuss.
We don’t want money to be a barrier to anyone attending the programme and there are scholarships available for those who need them. We have some specific funding to empower Jews of Colour to attend the programme as well. Please be in touch confidentially at info@azara.org.uk to request a scholarship.
Can I donate to support Azara’s work?
Yes! Please visit our donations page here if you would like to support Azara.
What do I do if I have additional questions?
Please contact us at info@azara.org.uk.