Oxford University L'Chaim Society

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,[3] who had been sent to Oxford by the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson in 1988. 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.[4]

The society held communal Sabbath dinners every Friday evening. It organized numerous other events and brought to Oxford famous guest speakers such as the following non-Jewish/non-Israeli public figures: Michael Jackson, Diego Maradona, Mikhail Gorbachev,[5] Boy George, Norman Lamont, Bob Hawke, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, John Patten, David Young, Robert C. Oaks and Stephen Hawking.[6]

Among the Jewish/Israeli speakers were all Israeli Prime Ministers from 1983 until 2020 except Ehud Barak, namely Yitzhak Rabin,[7] Yitzhak Shamir, Shimon Peres, Ehud Olmert, Ariel Sharon[8] and Benjamin Netanyahu.[4] Other Jewish/Israeli guests included Elie Wiesel, Simon Wiesenthal, Natan Sharansky, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Haim Be'er, Edmond Safra, Shlomo Carlebach, Elyakim Rubinstein, Isser Harel and Benzion Netanyahu.

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 current senator Cory Booker, ambassador Ron Dermer,[9] language revivalist Ghil'ad Zuckermann[6] and university president Michael T. Benson.[7]

Other Oxford University students who were members of the Oxford University L'Chaim Society include Australian politician Joshua Frydenberg, United Nations official Maurizio Giuliano and law academic Noah Feldman.[10]

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. It’s very hard to be a proud Jew here, Naomi Firsht, The Jewish Chronicle, January 4, 2016.
  5. Cory Booker and the Orthodox rabbi were like brothers. Now they don’t speak., Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post, May 31, 2019.
  6. Researcher Profile: Prof of Linguistics & Endangered Languages
  7. Rabbi in spotlight over 'Kosher Sex', Thomas K. Grose, USA Today, February 12, 1999.
  8. Ariel Sharon, Israeli Housing Minister (and later Prime Minister of Israel) visits Oxford in 1991 to speak at the Oxford University L'Chaim Society
  9. Cory Booker Refused to Meet With Ron Dermer and Elie Wiesel Over Iran Deal, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Observer, February 22, 2016.
  10. Stop Ostracizing Those Who Marry Out, Shmuley Boteach, Huffpost, July 22, 2007.
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