200 at UK Campus Shabbaton

Over 200 students attended a groundbreaking Chabad on Campus UK student Shabbaton in Oxford this past weekend that attracted students from over seventeen universities across the UK, as well as many locals.

The program that took place at the Slager Chabad Jewish student centre in central Oxford featured international guest speakers, including Israeli Nobel Prize Winner Professor Robert Aumann, former NBC news producer Molly Resnick, Dr. Naftali and Professor Kate Loewenthal, Chabad on Campus rabbis as scholars in residence, in addition to Indie Jewish rock sensation the Moshe Hecht band from NYC.

Rabbi Eli Brackman, Chairman of Chabad on Campus UK and director of Oxford Chabad Society, commented that “the weekend was a success beyond all expectations and this will no doubt help further strengthen and energize Jewish life at universities nationwide.”

“The large attendance reflects the desire of Jewish students to connect with Jewish life in a stimulating and exciting atmosphere and we look forward to having this Shabbaton become part of the Jewish student calendar in the UK for years to come,” said Rabbi Brackman.

“It was nice to meet so many students from all over the UK,” said Lauren and Roxanne from Edinburgh University. “And it was well worth the travel all the way from Edinburgh.”

The program that ran from Friday until Sunday opened with an inspirational talk by Molly Resnick describing highlights from her illustrious career at NBC including a famous interview with John Travolta and how she balanced it with her Jewish identity. Her talk was followed by a well received presentation on the ‘Spirituality of Shabbat’ given by Dr. Tali Loewenthal.

Nobel Prize winner Professor Aumann captivated the crowd of well over 160 at the Friday night dinner with a talk on Game Theory and the unity of the Jewish people, exploring the concept of the collective in conjunction with the role of the individual.

In another talk on Torah and Science during the weekend, he defined Torah as ‘a way of life’ and insisted that it cannot be seen as contradicting the purpose of science. He urged Jewish students to focus on living Jewish as opposed to just “believing”.

Professor of Psychology Kate Miriam Loewenthal spoke on the relationship of Psychology and Judaism, claiming that there is no conflict, notwithstanding some of Freud’s published views. She related how the Lubavitcher Rebbe urged her to continue in academia despite the challenges of raising a family in North London.

The Shabbaton also included the good-old Oxford tradition of punting on the Cherwell and a walking tour of medieval Jewish Oxford. The weekend climaxed with a rocking performance from the Moshe Hecht Hasidic rock band on Saturday night, at one of Oxford’s most exclusive clubs.

“The weekend was absolutely amazing,” said Michael Karlinski from Cambridge University.

“It was unexpectedly sublime,” said Saoirse Mcentee-Velloza from Cardiff University.

“It was awesome,” said Joel Hamilton an undergrad from Nottingham University, “especially the gig on Saturday night.”

The Shabbaton attracted students from over 17 Universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Heythrop, Westminster, Imperial, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Sheffield, Oxford Brookes, Regents College and European Business School London.

The weekend was generously sponsored by the Slager and Tajtelbaum family foundations and was organised by Chabad on Campus UK, serving thirteen campuses across the UK. For more information please visit www.chabadoncampus.org.uk