London School of Jewish Studies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Origins
2 Growth
3 First move
4 Second move
5 Third move
6 Fourth move and change of name
7 External links

[edit] Origins

Jews' College, now known as the London School of Jewish Studies, was opened in Finsbury Square, London as a rabbinical seminary in 1855 with the support of the then Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler and of Sir Moses Montefiore, who had had the idea for such a venture as early as 1841.

[edit] Growth

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

Many leading figures in British Jewry have been associated with the College, including Michael Friedländer, Principal from 1865 to 1907; Isidore Epstein, Principal 1948–1961; Louis Jacobs, Moral Tutor 1959–1961; and in recent years Jonathan Sacks, Principal 1984–1990.

[edit] First move

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 sudies 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.

[edit] Second move

In 1932, with the building of Woburn House, a centre for Anglo-Jewry, still in Tavistock Square, Jew's 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.

[edit] Third move

In 1954, the College moved, yet gain, to larger premises in Montague Place.

[edit] Fourth move and change of name

The College experienced serious financial problems in 2002 and was at one point on the brink of closure. Under the auspices of Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks, later to become Chief Rabbi, the College relocated to its current building, Schaller House in Hendon, North-West London, a large and modern campus close to the hub of London’s Jewish community. The financial difficulties led to the end of its rabbinic programme, and the sale of many of the rare books from the College's library.

With the massive changes in Anglo-Jewry, Jews’ College has become the London School of Jewish Studies, shifting its focus to secure a vibrant future as hub of academic study and lifelong learning, catering to a wide spectrum of the community and attracting world-class Rabbis and educators.

A new Council, headed by Howard Stanton, together with Directors Dr Raphael Zarum and Dr Tamra Wright, have overseen the rejuvenation of LSJS, whose programmes are are attended hundreds every week.