London School of Jewish Studies

Last updated

The London School of Jewish Studies (commonly known as LSJS, originally founded as Jews' College) is a London-based organisation providing adult educational courses and teacher training to the wider Jewish community.

Contents

Many leading figures in British Jewry have been associated with the School, including Michael Friedländer, Principal from 1865 to 1907; Isidore Epstein, Principal 1948–1961; Louis Jacobs, Moral Tutor 1959–1961; Jonathan Sacks (later Lord Sacks), Principal 1984–1990 and in recent years Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth.

Translation works, including for Tanach and the Talmud, were made by "Scholars involved with Jews' College." [1]

History

The London School of Jewish Studies was founded as Jews' College in 1855, a rabbinical seminary in London. The organisation was re-focused and given its present name in 1999, with an emphasis on providing a broader range of adult educational courses and training to the wider Jewish community. The rabbinical training programme was suspended, and much of the historical holdings of the library were sold off. [2] LSJS has had growing success in its new role, and started offered rabbinical training again in 2012, in partnership with the programme set up by the London Sephardi community.

Jews' College

Jews' College was opened in Finsbury Square, London, as a rabbinical seminary in 1855 with the support of Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler and of Sir Moses Montefiore, who had conceived the idea for such a venture as early as 1841. The college quickly established itself as a place where high quality rabbinical training was available and its alumni and staff often became prominent in Anglo-Jewry.

In 1881, the College moved to larger premises in Tavistock Square, close to University College, where it was envisaged that Jews' College students would be able to combine their religious studies and university studies to degree level. As early as 1904, the University of London granted an Honours degree in Hebrew and Aramaic, all of the candidates being from Jews' College. In 1932, with the building of Woburn House, a centre for Anglo-Jewry, still in Tavistock Square, Jews' College moved again.

During the Second World War, despite the bombing of London, the College kept its doors open. Apart from the rabbinical studies and degree course, Chazzanut courses and teacher training programmes were now offered.

In 1954, the College moved, yet again, to larger premises in Montagu Place. That building in central London was sold in the early 1980s and now houses the Embassy of Sweden. The College operated from temporary premises at Finchley Synagogue for a number of years, under the leadership of Rabbi Dr Nahum Rabinovitch. Under the auspices of Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks and with the financial backing of Stanley Kalms, chairman of Dixons, the College relocated in 1984 to its current building, now known as Schaller House, in Hendon, North-West London, close to the hub of London's Jewish community.

London School of Jewish Studies

In 1998, the University of London announced that it would be terminating the "Associated Institute" status that the College and three other small institutions enjoyed. Jews' College was forced to seek an academic partner within the University in order to be able to continue its degree programmes. Without the freedom to determine its own curriculum and the financial security that came from student fee income, it became increasingly difficult for the College to survive in its previous form. Rabbinic training was also uneconomic as many students looked to the Torah centres of Israel and America for their education and the number of available rabbinic posts in the UK decreased.

In 2002, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) decided to terminate its relationship with LSJS, which threatened the organisation's status. A small team of young community leaders and educators, led by the late Marc Weinberg, presented the then Chair of Council, Howard Stanton, with a proposal to use the human and financial resources available to refocus the School's activities and to secure its future as a hub of academic study and lifelong learning, catering to a wide spectrum of the community.

Since then, under the leadership of Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum and Joanne Greenaway, LSJS has welcomed hundreds of students to a range of adult education courses and events. In addition to numerous community-focused offerings, more formal programs include the following degree programs: [3] The M.A. degree in Jewish Education with Middlesex University; and the BA (Hons) in Jewish Education, also in partnership with Middlesex University.

Alei Tzion

The London School of Jewish Studies houses the synagogue Alei Tzion. Services take place regularly. These include; Shacharit, Mincha and Maariv prayer. The complete Shabbat services include two children's services.

Notable alumni

Principals

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Theological Seminary of America</span> Religious education organization located in New York, New York

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism and a center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies. The Jewish Theological Seminary Library is one of the most significant collections of Judaica in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits</span> British rabbi (1921–1999)

Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1967 to 1991. Prior to this, he had served as Chief Rabbi of Ireland and as rabbi of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue in New York City. In addition to his official duties he was regarded as an authority in medical ethics from a Jewish standpoint. He was knighted in 1981 and became the first Chief Rabbi to enter the House of Lords in 1988 as Baron Jakobovits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shlomo Riskin</span> American-Israeli Orthodox Jewish rabbi

Shlomo Riskin is an Orthodox rabbi, and the founding rabbi of Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York City, which he led for 20 years; founding chief rabbi of the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the Israeli-occupied West Bank; former dean of Manhattan Day School in New York City; and founder and Chancellor of the Ohr Torah Stone Institutions, a network of high schools, colleges, and graduate Programs in the United States and Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks</span> British Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, author, and politician (1948–2020)

Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks was an English Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, and author. Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. As the spiritual head of the United Synagogue, the largest synagogue body in the United Kingdom, he was the Chief Rabbi of those Orthodox synagogues but was not recognized as the religious authority for the Haredi Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations or for the progressive movements such as Masorti, Reform, and Liberal Judaism. As Chief Rabbi, he formally carried the title of Av Beit Din (head) of the London Beth Din. At the time of his death, he was the Emeritus Chief Rabbi.

Jewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history, Middle Eastern studies, Asian studies, Oriental studies, religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages, political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies. Jewish studies as a distinct field is mainly present at colleges and universities in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simeon Singer</span> English rabbi

Simeon Singer (1846–1906) was an English Rabbi, preacher, lecturer and public worker. He is best known for his English translation of the Authorised Daily Prayer Book, informally known as the "Singer's Siddur".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hermann Gollancz</span> British rabbi and Hebrew scholar

Sir Hermann Gollancz was a British rabbi and Hebrew scholar. Gollancz was the first Jew to earn a doctor of literature degree from London University and the first holder of the degree to be ordained as a rabbi. He was also the first British rabbi to be granted a knighthood, when he was knighted in 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movement for Reform Judaism</span> Jewish denomination in the UK

Reform Judaism, formally the Movement for Reform Judaism (MRJ) and known as Reform Synagogues of Great Britain until 2005, is one of the two World Union for Progressive Judaism–affiliated denominations in the United Kingdom. Reform is relatively traditional in comparison with its smaller counterpart, Liberal Judaism, though it does not regard Jewish law as binding. As of 2010, it was the second-largest Jewish religious group in the United Kingdom, with 19.4% of synagogue-member households. On 17 April 2023, Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism announced their intention to merge as one single unified progressive Jewish movement. The new movement, which may be called Progressive Judaism, will represent about 30% of British Jewry who are affiliated to synagogues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Union for Progressive Judaism</span>

The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) is the international umbrella organization for the various branches of Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism, as well as the separate Reconstructionist Judaism. The WUPJ is based in 40 countries with 1,275 affiliated synagogues, of which 1,170 are Reform, Progressive, or Liberal and 105 Reconstructionist. It claims to represent a total of some 1.8 million people, both registered constituents and non-member identifiers. The WUPJ states that it aims to create common ground between its constituents and to promote Progressive Judaism in places where individuals and groups are seeking authentic, yet modern ways of expressing themselves as Jews. It seeks to preserve Jewish integrity wherever Jews live, to encourage integration without assimilation, to deal with modernity while preserving the Jewish experience, and to strive for equal rights and social justice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nahum Rabinovitch</span> Israeli rabbi

Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch, born Norman Louis Rabinovitch, was a Canadian-Israeli Religious Zionist rabbi and posek. He headed the London School of Jewish Studies from 1971 to 1982, and the hesder yeshiva Birkat Moshe in Ma'ale Adumim from 1982 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary</span>

The Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary was founded in Berlin on 22 October 1873 by Rabbi Dr. Israel Hildesheimer for the training of rabbis in the tradition of Orthodox Judaism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raphael Meldola (rabbi)</span> British rabbi (1754–1828)

Raphael Meldola was a Rabbi who served in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Born in Livorno, he died in London.

Rabbi Morris Aaron Gutstein was an American Rabbi. He was a prominent congregational Rabbi in Newport, Rhode Island, and Chicago, Illinois, and a historian best known for his work on the history of the Jewish community of colonial Newport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Cohen</span> British rabbi (1914–2007)

Isaac Cohen was a Talmudic scholar and Chief Rabbi of Ireland for 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Woolf Marks</span>

David Woolf Marks was a British Hebrew scholar and minister. He was the first religious leader of the West London Synagogue, which seceded from the authority of the Chief Rabbi, where he advocated a quasi-Karaite philosophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Jews</span> Ethnic and religious group in Australia

Australian Jews, or Jewish Australians, are Jews who are Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. In the 2021 census there were 99,956 people whom identified Judaism as their religious affiliation and 29,113 Australians who identified as Jewish by ancestry, an increase from 97,355 and 25,716, respectively, from the 2016 census,. The actual number is almost certainly higher, because being a Jew is not just about being religious, but the census data is based on religious affiliation, so secular Jews often feel it would be inaccurate to answer with "Judaism". Also, since the question is optional, many practicing Holocaust survivors and Haredi Jews are believed to prefer not to disclose their religion in the census. By comparison, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz estimated a Jewish-Australian population of 120,000-150,000, while other estimates based on the death rate in the community estimate the size of the community as 250,000. Based on the census data, Jewish citizens make up about 0.4% of the Australian population. The Jewish community of Australia is composed mostly of Ashkenazi Jews, though there are Jews in Australia from many other traditions and levels of religious observance and participation in the Jewish community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ephraim Mirvis</span> Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth

Sir Ephraim Yitzchak Mirvis is an Orthodox rabbi who serves as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Ireland between 1985 and 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobias Jakobovits</span>

Tobias Jakobovits was a Rabbi, historian and Czech librarian, historian of Czech Jewry, and an expert in ancient Hebrew manuscripts. He was the chief librarian of the Prague Jewish community in the inter-war period, and the professional manager of the Jewish Museum in Prague during the Nazi Occupation. He was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in the fall of 1944 and was murdered there along with his wife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Kimche</span> British Rabbi

Alan Abraham Kimche is a British-Israeli Orthodox rabbi and community leader. He was the rabbi of the Ner Yisrael Synagogue in Hendon, London, until his retirement in 2019. He currently works as a teacher, writer, and lecturer in Israel.

Abraham Levy was an English Orthodox rabbi, theologian, and author. He served as spiritual head of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community in Britain from 1962 to 2012, and was a founding member of Naima Jewish Preparatory School. Levy was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services on inter-faith co-operation in the 2004 New Year Honours.

References

  1. Dan Rickman (3 September 2009). "Fundamentalism's flaws". The Guardian . Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. Hebraica Libraries Group Report: London School of Jewish Studies Archived 2014-03-02 at the Wayback Machine , via Cambridge University Library, accessed 11 October 2013
  3. "Degrees" Archived 2020-03-24 at the Wayback Machine , lsjs.ac.uk
  4. Milson, Menahem (22 March 1996). "The beginnings of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem". Judaism: A Quarterly Journal of Jewish Life and Thought. 45 (2).
  5. "Lord Jakobovits". The Guardian . 1 November 1999. Retrieved 21 August 2022. ordered his son to enter Jews College
  6. "Introduction - Rabbi Sacks - Testimony". 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2023.

Further reading