The David Slager Jewish Student Centre
The Slager Jewish student centre was opened by the Oxford Chabad Society during Michaelmas 2006 in the heart of Oxford. Surrounded by Oxford’s medieval college buildings, the 2,100 sq ft centre is located on George Street, just off Cornmarket, the main street in Oxford, and round the corner from Oxford castle.
The centre serves as a venue for Jewish student activities, including Shabbat dinners for over 100 students and lectures with ability to seat over 150. This major development has been made possible with a grant from the Slager family foundation and will be called after the benefactor's grandfather, The David Slager Jewish student centre.
The Oxford Chabad Society was established in 2001 by Rabbi Eli Brackman and his wife, Freidy. "This project is long overdue", says Rabbi Eli Brackman, director of Chabad of Oxford. It comes after 5 years of using every large venue in Oxford, including college auditoriums for Seder nights, the town hall for Shabbat dinner and college lecture theatres for the prominent lectures hosted by the Chabad Society every term.
With the new centre, there will be sufficient space to host the high profile speakers in comfortable facilities with a Jewish ambience without having to search elsewhere. The Centre has already hosted many personalities, including talks by former Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada, Prof. Irwin Cotler and famed historian Prof. Deborah Libstadt.
In addition to a venue for lectures and large Shabbat dinners at this central location, the centre also houses a comfortable lounge with viewing facilities for a collection of Jewish films, Beit Hamidrash and an extensive Judaica library established with the help of the Samson family.
This allows Jewish students to study Jewish subjects in a comfortable and welcoming setting, whilst doing their university course. The centre also serves as a venue for the Oxford Chabad Society’s offices and offers internet access for students.
This centre compliments the Rohr Jewish student centre, “George and Pamela Rohr House”, purchased in 2006 with a grant from the Rohr Foundation, which is situated adjacent to the Oxford Chabad House - E. Alec and Eileen Colmen Centre - on the Cowley Road, where the Brackman family reside. The Chabad House and Rohr Centre serve the Jewish students with a warm home away from home and a centre for the Jewish students at all hours.
The David Slager Chabad Jewish Student Centre
61 George Street
Oxford, OX1 2BQ
United Kingdom