Rabbi Solomon Schonfeld’s place in the annals of British Jewish history can be linked to three distinctive fields: 1. Jewish education; 2. the separatist Orthodoxy associated with the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (the Adath); and 3. the rescue of Jews, especially children, from Nazi Europe.
This new lecture series (inaugurated in Trinity Term 2023) honouring his memory provides opportunities to examine Rabbi Schonfeld’s legacy by creating a space in which to consider the state of contemporary British Jewry in light of his efforts across these three fields. The series also provides a multi-disciplinary space for thinking about Jews, Judaism and religious leadership, alongside issues including educational theory, politics and the role of institutions. Each year, a different speaker is invited to address a topic that relates to at least one of these themes.