Dear Friends,
Some important events ahead of us over the next few months, which are the main topic of this blog post!
Ivor and I have been busy uploading more files on a weekly basis on the website. The number of located book reviews written by Rabbi Jacobs has grown significantly, with now nearly 100 of them available! Some are short and highly positive (for example, a review of Lee I. Levine’s Caesarea under Roman Rule); others explore the topic to a greater depth (such as a review of Solomon Goldman’s The Ten Commandments). We also have more articles than ever on the website, on topics ranging from the concept of Property in Jewish Law (published early in his career, in 1958) to the validity of marriages conducted by the Masorti movement (an issue which arose much later, in 1995).
The Foundation is also extremely busy and excited about forthcoming events! First, we are delighted to host an Honest Theology session run by Rabbi Herzl Hefter, a prominent Modern Orthodox scholar, founder and head of the Beit Midrash Har’el in Jerusalem for advanced rabbinic studies for men and women. Rabbi Hefter came out last year in favour of Orthodox ordination for women in a viral Times of Israel blog post. He will be giving a session entitled ‘Saving God from True Believers’, in which he will address the issue of religious passion without fanaticism. Booking available online here!
Following that, the Friends of Louis Jacobs will be hosting a number of events between the 8th and 11th of July. These will centre on the 10th Louis Jacobs Annual Memorial Lecture, delivered by our keynote speaker Rabbi Jeremy Rosen on the topic of ‘Religious Authority and Individualism: can they co-exist?’. The event will take place at JW3, and bookings are available online here!
Surrounding Rabbi Rosen’s visit, we will be hosting several other events, including a Sunday brunch, generously sponsored by a supporter of the Friends of Louis Jacobs, during which our speaker will be talking about the recent history of Anglo-Jewry, including some comments about his father, Rabbi Dr. Kopul Rosen, a long-time friend of Rabbi Dr. Jacobs. We will also be hosting an intimate discussion between Rabbi Rosen and Rabbi Naftali Brawer on Sunday afternoon. Advanced booking is required for both events via this link.
All these events commemorate the 10th yahrzeit of Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs. The New North London Synagogue and the New London Synagogue will also be organizing special shabbatot, on 9th July and 23rd July respectively, with special lectures and discussions surrounding his impact on Anglo-Jewry and his legacy.
More details will be sent out in due course regarding many of these exciting events. In the meantime, shavua tov to all our friends and supporters!
Ezra
For information or feedback, please contact info@louisjacobs.org.
