Oxford University L'Chaim Society

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Oxford University L'Chaim Society
Formation1989
FounderRabbi Shmuley Boteach
Founded atUniversity of Oxford
Dissolved2001
Location
LeaderRabbi Shmuley Boteach
AffiliationsChabad

The Oxford University L'Chaim Society was a student society at the University of Oxford from 1989 to 2001. At its peak, it was the second-largest society within the University of Oxford.[1]

Name

L'Chaim (לחיים le-KHA-im) in

Hebrew is a toast meaning "to life".[2]

History

The Oxford University L'Chaim Society was established in 1989 by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who had been sent to Oxford by the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson in 1988.[3][4] Accordingly, at its onset the society formed part of the Chabad movement. However, L'Chaim Society evolved to become an independent interfaith, debating society, with thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish members.[5] The society grew to be the second-biggest student organization ever in Oxford, with a membership that included over 5,000 non-Jews.[6][7]

The society held communal

Shlomo Carlebach, singers Michael Jackson and Boy George, football player Diego Maradona, and actor Jon Voight.[10][7][4][11][12][5][6]

Some

Orthodox patrons became concerned about the direction of the group and the percentage of non-Jewish members, and Boteach was asked to remove some non-Jewish students from the society; others wanted him to exclude gay students.[6] Boteach refused on both counts, and converted the L'Chaim Society from a student society into an independent organization.[13][14]

Notable members

Many of the Oxford University students who were elected presidents of the society ended up becoming international public figures. For example, presidents of the society included American

Mormon and future president of Southern Utah University Michael Benson.[8][15][6][14][16][12]

Other Oxford University students who were members of the Oxford University L'Chaim Society include

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and British-Italian United Nations official Maurizio Giuliano.[17][18]

References

  1. ^ Michael A. Jolles and W. Rubinstein (editors) (2011), The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History, Palgrave Macmillan, p. 116.
  2. ^ Sex guru rabbi gets passed over, The Observer, September 5, 1999.
  3. ^ Boteach, Shmuel (1994). Moses of Oxford (2 volumes). London: André Deutsch, Vol. 1, pp. xix-xx.
  4. ^ a b Soskis, Benjamin (29 March 2001). "Who is Shumuley Boteach?; He's the Jewish missionary in the A-list position". Slate. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  5. ^ a b It’s very hard to be a proud Jew here, Naomi Firsht, The Jewish Chronicle, January 4, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d Jenni Frazer (October 17, 2019). "‘I come from a pretty broken place’ - Shmuel Boteach, self-styled ‘America’s rabbi’ and friend of celebrities, opens up; He talks about Michael Jackson, Roseanne Barr, and the end of his relationship with Democrat presidential hopeful Cory Booker," The Jewish Chronicle.
  7. ^ a b Rippingale, James (2 December 2014). "A Conversation with the 'World's Most Controversial Jew'". Vice. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b Rabbi in spotlight over 'Kosher Sex', Thomas K. Grose, USA Today, February 12, 1999.
  9. ^ Ariel Sharon, Israeli Housing Minister (and later Prime Minister of Israel) visits Oxford in 1991 to speak at the Oxford University L'Chaim Society
  10. ^ "Sex book rabbi reveals new plan". Oxford Mail. 15 May 1999.
  11. Washington Post
    , May 31, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Researcher Profile: Prof of Linguistics & Endangered Languages
  13. ^ Berrin, Danielle (15 June 2010). "Shmuley Boteach's 18-Hour Day". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  14. ^ a b Sullivan, Kevin (31 May 2019). "Cory Booker and the Orthodox rabbi were like brothers. Now they don't speak". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  15. ^ Jessica Ravitz (23 June 2012). "A rabbi, a Mormon and a black Christian mayor walk into a room..." CNN. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  16. Observer
    , February 22, 2016.
  17. ^ Stop Ostracizing Those Who Marry Out, Shmuley Boteach, Huffpost, July 22, 2007.
  18. ^ Medina, Jennifer (8 October 2019). "The Yom Kippur Prayer on Cory Booker's Lips". The New York Times.
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