Oxford University Jewish Society

Oxford University Jewish Society is a student-run organization at the University of Oxford, aiming to provide a community and support network for Jewish students at the university. The society has a long history, with roots dating back to the early 20th century, and has been affiliated with various Jewish organizations, including the Union of Jewish Students of the United Kingdom and the World Union of Jewish Students. Many notable figures, such as Isaiah Berlin, Leonard Woolf, and Vladimir Jabotinsky, have been involved with the society, which has also had ties to institutions like Balliol College, Oxford, Brasenose College, Oxford, and the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. The society's activities have been influenced by events like the Balfour Declaration and the Yom Kippur War, and have been supported by organizations such as the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

● History

The history of the society is closely tied to the history of Jewish students at the University of Oxford, with many notable alumni, including Chaim Weizmann, Abba Eban, and Shimon Peres, having been involved in the society's activities. The society has also had connections to other Jewish organizations, such as the Jewish Chronicle, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. Throughout its history, the society has been influenced by major events, including the Holocaust, the Establishment of the State of Israel, and the Six-Day War, and has had ties to institutions like the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science. The society's development has also been shaped by the contributions of individuals like Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, and Golda Meir, who have all had a significant impact on the Jewish community and the State of Israel.

● Activities and Events

The society organizes a wide range of activities and events, including Shabbat dinners, High Holy Days services, and Israel Independence Day celebrations, which are often attended by guests from organizations like the Embassy of Israel, London and the Jewish National Fund. The society also hosts lectures and discussions on topics related to Jewish history, Jewish culture, and Israel, featuring speakers from institutions like the University of Cambridge, the London School of Economics, and the Tel Aviv University. Additionally, the society participates in interfaith events and initiatives, such as the Oxford Interfaith Forum and the Council of Christians and Jews, and has ties to organizations like the Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester and the London Borough of Hackney's Interfaith Forum. The society's events have been supported by organizations like the Pears Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and have been attended by notable figures like Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and Ambassador Daniel Taub.

● Membership and Governance

The society is open to all University of Oxford students, regardless of their Jewish background or affiliation, and has a diverse membership that includes students from colleges like Christ Church, Oxford, Magdalen College, Oxford, and St Anne's College, Oxford. The society is governed by a committee of student members, who are elected annually and are responsible for organizing events and activities, as well as representing the society in the University of Oxford's student union and in the wider Jewish community. The society also has ties to other student organizations, such as the Oxford University Student Union and the National Union of Students, and has been supported by organizations like the UJS and the Jewish Leadership Council. The society's governance has been influenced by the contributions of individuals like Rabbi Hugo Gryn, Rabbi Albert Friedlander, and Lady Jakobovits, who have all played a significant role in the Jewish community and the University of Oxford.

● Interfaith and Community Relations

The society is committed to building bridges with other faith communities and organizations, and has established relationships with groups like the Oxford Muslim Community, the Oxford Hindu Society, and the Oxford Buddhist Society. The society also participates in initiatives like the Oxford Interfaith Week and the National Interfaith Week, and has ties to organizations like the Three Faiths Forum and the Interfaith Youth Trust. The society's interfaith activities have been supported by organizations like the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and the World Council of Churches, and have been attended by notable figures like Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and Bishop of Oxford Steven Croft. The society's community relations have also been influenced by the contributions of individuals like Rabbi Marc Saperstein, Imam Monawar Hussain, and Reverend Giles Fraser, who have all played a significant role in promoting interfaith understanding and cooperation.

● Notable Alumni and Affiliates

The society has a long list of notable alumni and affiliates, including politicians like Benjamin Disraeli, Herbert Samuel, and Michael Howard, as well as academics like Sir Isaiah Berlin, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, and Professor Avi Shlaim. The society's alumni have also included business leaders like Sir Ronald Cohen and Sir Victor Blank, as well as community leaders like Sir Trevor Chinn and Lady Levy. The society's affiliates have included organizations like the Jewish Care, the Jewish Museum London, and the Wiener Library, as well as institutions like the London School of Jewish Studies and the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. The society's notable alumni and affiliates have been recognized for their contributions to the Jewish community and to society at large, with awards like the Order of the British Empire and the Israel Prize.