The Deputy Mayor of Odessa Pavel Vugelman told the participants during the opening event on Thursday night: "To host Limmud FSU is a great honor for us. The best people of the world come to Odessa, share their experiences, educate our youth and pass on the centuries-old wisdom of the Jewish people. We are pleased that such distinguished guests visit us, thereby glorifying our long Jewish history, strengthening our ties with the state of Israel, with the Israeli cultural center "Nativ", which is one of the landmark projects in the city."
Chaim Chesler, founder of Limmud FSU, said; "It is a great honor for us to be here again, in the historical city of Odessa, and to celebrate this Limmud FSU festival with a wonderful, prosperous local Jewish community." Osik Akselrud, Limmud FSU Ukraine Chair and Director of Hillel in Ukraine added: "Limmud FSU is all about the people, knowledge, communication and a vivid example of community life. In Odessa, more than 600 people from 14 countries of the world took part in our annual event, including many of young adults, which is extremely important to Hillel, and to our whole community as well."
Dorit Golender: "It is highly symbolic and appropriate that Limmud FSU comes to Odessa - the historical center of Jewish national and intellectual revival, the city from which the pioneering spirit of Russian Jewry came all the way to the Land of Israel. Genesis Philanthropy Group, whose main mission is to develop and enhance the Jewish identity of Russian-speaking Jews, is happy to support Limmud FSU - one of the leading initiatives of Russian-speaking Jews worldwide."