Before inaugurating Chabad-Lubavitch of Oxford’s Sir Isaiah Berlin memorial lecture, renowned scholar Rabbi Adin Even Yisroel Steinsaltz took some time to tour the city’s Jewish sites with students from Oxford University’s Chabad Society.

Among the stops was an afternoon prayer service at the presumed location where Haggai of Oxford, a 13th-century convert to Judaism, was executed for his religious beliefs, and the university’s Bodleian Library to peruse its collection of rare Jewish manuscripts.

In his talk at the David Slager Jewish Centre, Steinsaltz analyzed the existential challenges facing the modern world.


Rabbi Adin Even Yisroel Steinsaltz, fifth from right, joined students and Rabbi Eli Brackman, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Oxford, for an afternoon prayer service at the presumed location where Haggai of Oxford, a 13th-century convert to Judaism, was executed for his religious beliefs. (Photo: Frederic Aranda)


Steinsaltz, a renowned Talmudic scholar, dined with faculty and members of the local Jewish community. (Photo: Frederic Aranda)


He also went to Oxford University’s Bodleian Library, where he viewed ancient Jewish manuscripts, including the oldest known copy of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah. (Photo: Frederic Aranda)


The Bodleian Library is typically closed to members of the general public. (Photo: Frederic Aranda)


In his lecture at the David Slager Jewish Centre, Steinsaltz analyzed the existential challengers facing the modern world.