Janice Lozano
Oxford University has a long and complex history with its Jewish students and community members. The university town of Oxford experienced anti-Jewish violence in the 12th and 13th centuries, and in 1290, only around 10 Jewish property holders were left in the area. In the early 17th century, the first Jews arrived at Oxford University, with German-born Jacob Wolfgang matriculating in 1608 and enduring years of anti-Semitic bullying and violence. Since then, Jewish life at Oxford has become more confident and outward-going, with between 7 and 9% of students currently identifying as Jewish. The university offers a range of courses and societies for Jewish students, including the Oxford University Jewish Society, which organises social and educational events, interfaith projects, and meals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Jewish students | 7-9% |
| History of antisemitism | Yes |
| Jewish societies | Oxford University Jewish Society (JSoc), Oxford University L'Chaim Society |
| Jewish Studies courses | Undergraduate and graduate courses in Hebrew and Jewish Studies |
| Jewish Studies research centres | Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages |
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What You'll Learn
- Jewish students at Oxford University face antisemitism from the student left
- Jewish students at Oxford University have societies and groups for support and community
- The history of Jewish students at Oxford University
- Jewish students at Oxford University have been allowed to take exams on Sundays instead of Saturdays
- Jewish students at Oxford University can study Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Jewish students at Oxford University face antisemitism from the student left
Oxford University has a long history of Jewish students and academics. The first Jew known to be a member of the university was Jacob Wolfgang, who joined in 1608. However, he endured years of antisemitic bullying and violence from students and tutors. During the 1730s, a small Jewish community was established in St Clements village, just outside the religious and civic jurisdiction of the university. The post-war era saw a significant increase in the number of Jewish students and academics at Oxford. Today, between 7 and 9% of students at Oxford University are Jewish.
Despite this long history, Jewish students at Oxford University continue to face antisemitism from the student left. In 2016, the co-chair of the Oxford University Labour Club resigned due to claims of antisemitism within the club. This came as no surprise to Jewish students, who had experienced the student left as the most aggressive and virulent propagators of antisemitism on campus. The left-wing movement claims to battle racism, yet antisemitism is shockingly commonplace. For example, some members of the OULC have argued that Hamas was justified in killing Jewish civilians and that all Jews are legitimate targets. Left-wing student leaders have also rallied against "any Rothschild" and "Zios" in their Facebook statuses.
In 2024, an open letter was sent to the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, and Proctors of the University of Oxford, describing an "escalation of antisemitic and anti-Israeli incidents" and a "frightening climate" of antisemitism at the university. The letter was written by both Jewish and non-Jewish students, staff, academics, and alumni, who called on the university to take action to create a safe and protected environment. It included a list of 75 antisemitic incidents affecting Jewish and Israeli students, tutorial fellows, professors, and staff. The letter also mentioned conspiratorial narratives in university forums and the university's failure to act on harassment and discrimination complaints.
Jewish students and faculty at Oxford have also challenged the university's accusation that pro-Palestinian encampments were antisemitic. They argued that such allegations undermine the student right to protest and that the university's claims were "reductive and misleading." They further stated that the "characterisation of Jews as a uniform mass with a single viewpoint is itself a common and insidious antisemitic trope." Jewish students have expressed fear and concern about the upsurge in antisemitic rhetoric and incidents on campus, highlighting the need for a safe and inclusive environment for all.
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Jewish students at Oxford University have societies and groups for support and community
Jewish students at Oxford University have a rich history, facing anti-Semitic bullying and violence in the past but also thriving in the present with the support of societies and groups.
The first Jew known to be a member of Oxford University was German-born Jacob Wolfgang, who joined the university in 1608. Jacob endured years of anti-Semitic bullying and violence, with students and tutors making fun of his Greek pronunciation and throwing rotten eggs at him. Despite this difficult start for Jews at Oxford, the university now offers a range of support and community for Jewish students.
The Oxford University Jewish Society, or JSoc, is a central hub for Jewish life on campus. The society organises social and educational events, interfaith and social action projects, as well as meals. During the pandemic, they adapted to COVID-19 restrictions by organising safe in-person events such as movie nights, guest speakers, kosher meals, and a Shabbat programme. They also held online events, including a meditation session, discussion groups, and a Zoom Challah bake.
In addition to the Jewish Society, there is also the Oxford University Chabad Society, which was established in 2001 and has since expanded with the purchase of additional buildings and the opening of the David Slager Jewish Student Centre in 2006. The Oxford Chabad House serves the Jewish community and students, providing a rabbi to support the local synagogue, which is unique in supporting Liberal, Reform, and Orthodox congregations under one roof.
Jewish students at Oxford also benefit from academic resources such as the Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies and the L'chaim Society, which support Jewish studies within the university. The local Jewish community is small, with around 200 families, but it is dominated by university members, fostering a sense of community and support for Jewish students.
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The history of Jewish students at Oxford University
In the 1800s, with liberalism sweeping across England and academia, old barriers began to fall away, and openly Jewish students were allowed to study at the University starting in 1856. However, snobbery and prejudice kept the number of openly Jewish students very low. It wasn't until the post-war era that there was a significant increase in the number of Jewish students and academics at Oxford. The war brought a massive, temporary swelling of the Jewish population in Oxford, including the arrival of European refugees such as Einstein.
In more recent times, Jewish life at Oxford has become much more confident and outward-going. The formation of the Oxford University L'Chaim Society in 1989 brought local, national, and international publicity to Jewish life on campus. Additionally, Jewish studies and societies have thrived within and around the University, with the Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies offering a range of courses and events for students interested in exploring Jewish history, culture, and languages. Today, it is estimated that between 7-9% of students at Oxford University are Jewish.
Throughout the years, several notable figures have contributed to the history of Jewish students at Oxford University. For example, Dr. Cecil Roth, one of Britain's greatest historians, became a reader in Jewish Studies at the University in 1939, making it easier for Jews to study there. Additionally, Sir Isaac Wolfson, a Jewish philanthropist, founded one of Oxford's newest colleges in 1966. The University also has a rich history of Jewish scholars, including Sir Isaiah Berlin, who became the fifth Jewish academic at Oxford when he received his fellowship in 1932.
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Jewish students at Oxford University have been allowed to take exams on Sundays instead of Saturdays
Oxford University has a long and complex history with its Jewish students and community members. The university town was once home to a flourishing and vibrant Jewish community, one of the most significant in England, which is largely forgotten today. Jews were strictly barred from Oxford and were subjected to anti-Jewish violence in the 12th and 13th centuries. During this time, Jews were rounded up and imprisoned, accused of attacking a university procession and stomping on a crucifix.
In the early 17th century, Jews began to return to Oxford, with some teaching Hebrew to university students. German-born Jacob Wolfgang became the first known Jewish member of Oxford University in 1608, enduring years of anti-Semitic bullying and violence. In 1654, Cirques Jobson, possibly the same person as Jacob the Jew, established the Queens Lane Coffee House, which still serves coffee today.
In the 19th century, with the rise of liberalism, openly Jewish students were allowed to study at the university from 1856 onwards. However, prejudice and snobbery kept the number of openly Jewish students very low. The post-war era saw a significant increase in the number of Jewish students and academics at Oxford.
Today, between 7% and 9% of students at Oxford University are Jewish. The university hosts a Jewish Society (JSoc), which organises social, cultural, and religious events, as well as interfaith and social action projects. The society is described as a “home away from home” for Jewish students.
Jewish students at Oxford University have faced recent challenges, with reports of antisemitism and intimidation on campus. In response, university leaders have met with Jewish students and staff to address concerns and strengthen their response to harassment. Oxford University has also issued a statement condemning antisemitism and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety and inclusion of all students.
Historically, Jewish students at Oxford University were allowed to take exams on Sundays instead of Saturdays, the Jewish Shabbat, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Cecil Roth, a reader in Jewish Studies at the university. To prevent Jewish students from gaining an unfair advantage, Dr. Roth proposed that they stay at his home on Saturdays when their classmates were taking exams, and then take their exams on Sundays. This arrangement continued until the mid-1960s when Dr. Roth moved to Israel.
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Jewish students at Oxford University can study Hebrew and Jewish Studies
Jewish students at Oxford University have a variety of options to study Hebrew and Jewish Studies. The University's Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies is the leading academic Jewish studies centre in Europe, offering undergraduate and graduate courses in Hebrew and Jewish Studies. These courses cover the study of Jewish history, culture, and relations with other traditions from antiquity to modern times, as well as the study of Hebrew of all periods, including classical, rabbinic, medieval, and modern. The Centre also offers language classes in rare Jewish languages such as Judeo-Greek, Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Italian, and Judeo-Provençal.
In addition to the Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Jewish students at Oxford can also study Hebrew and Jewish Studies through the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Here, students can choose to focus entirely on Hebrew for a BA in Hebrew, which deals primarily with language and literature, with a study of Jewish culture and history as background. Students can also study Hebrew in combination with a subsidiary language or as part of other degrees within the Faculty. This course is designed for students with no prior exposure to Hebrew, but candidates with limited experience are also considered.
Furthermore, Jewish students at Oxford can also take advantage of the Oxford University Jewish Society, which organises social and educational events, interfaith and social action projects, and meals. The Society serves as a hub for Jewish life on campus, providing a sense of community and support for Jewish students.
Oxford has a long history of Jewish presence, dating back to the early 17th century when Jews assisted with cataloguing Hebrew manuscripts in the Bodleian Library or taught Hebrew privately to University students. However, it was not until 1856 that openly Jewish students were allowed to study at the University. Since then, Jewish life and studies at Oxford have thrived, with a growing number of Jewish students and academics, as well as a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for Jewish students to engage with Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
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Frequently asked questions
Between 7% and 9% of students at Oxford University are Jewish.
Yes, there is a Jewish Society (JSoc) at Oxford University, which organises social and educational events, interfaith and social action projects, as well as meals.
Jewish students were allowed to study at Oxford University beginning in 1856, but prejudice kept the number of openly Jewish students very low. The war saw a great expansion in the numbers of Jewish students attending Oxford, and an exceptional growth in the numbers of Jewish academics.
The Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies is the leading research centre for academic Jewish Studies in Europe. It offers undergraduate and graduate courses in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, covering the study of Jewish history, culture, and relations with other traditions.
