On June 14, Lisbon hosted a one-day Limmud event, and it was a particularly special occasion.

For those unfamiliar with it, Limmud (from the Hebrew word for “learning”) is an international movement dedicated to Jewish education and culture. There is no distinction between “teachers” and “students”: everyone can be both a participant and a speaker. The program spans a wide range of topics, from history and religion to dance, music, technology, and contemporary politics.

The biggest development this year was the introduction of the first Russian-language track at a European Limmud. It brought a genuinely warm and vibrant atmosphere to the event. English-speaking and Russian-speaking expats came together around shared interests, and linguistic boundaries seemed to fade away.

For example, Jewish dance workshops were led by participants originally from Kazan and conducted in both languages. Meanwhile, a lecture by Grigory Asmolov on the use of artificial intelligence in anti-Israel propaganda, delivered in English, attracted an audience split almost evenly between English-speaking and Russian-speaking Jews, who sat side by side.

That was perhaps the day’s most important takeaway. There is little value in remaining confined within the bubbles of our own diasporas. We face many of the same challenges: in Portugal, we are newcomers trying to put down roots and build a new life. The communities we form should be shaped not by passports, but by shared interests.

This was also the theme of a presentation by Ilya Zhegulev, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Xpat.Land. In his talk, he outlined the key challenges facing media serving expats in Portugal and announced the launch of a new bilingual publication in English and Russian. The new outlet will focus on helping expats navigate the practical difficulties of life in Portugal and support them in truly putting down roots in their new country.