13 April 2020

Dr Jeremy Schonfield has been appointed as Leo Baeck College’s new professor of liturgy.

Jeremy began his career at the College in 1995, originally as temporary cover for the late Rabbi John Rayner while he was unwell. He later took over from him permanently to teach liturgy and prayer.

A year later he took over the lifecycle and festival cycle course from Rabbi Sybil Sheridan. He subsequently developed other modules on liturgy, rabbinic texts and piyyut, five of which he still teaches, one of them in tandem with Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh, dean and director of Jewish studies at LBC. Jeremy also taught a research colloquium with the late Rabbi Sheila Shulman for several years.

In total, Jeremy has lectured for more than 25 years at Leo Baeck College, and 30 years at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, having a strong influence on successive cohorts of Progressive Judaism rabbis, many of who he remains in touch with and advises on academic and other queries.

Jeremy’s book Undercurrents of Jewish Prayer was a runner up in the National Jewish Book Awards in the category of Modern Jewish Thought in 2006.

He is currently in the later stages of writing a sequel, to be called Why Jews Pray. Several papers relating to liturgy or to the subject in this book have also appeared in the journal European Judaism, published at the College.

Speaking about his new appointment, Jeremy said: “I am delighted and honoured to have my work at Leo Baeck College recognised in this way by colleagues whom I respect and admire. I see it as a gesture of esteem.”

Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh, dean and director of Jewish Studies at Leo Baeck College said: “Jeremy Schonfield has been and continues to be a symbol of the highest academic quality, combined with personal integrity and empathy, for his students and faculty colleagues. He has been influential to several generations of LBC rabbinic students and helped many develop a passion for the liturgy they use throughout their working lives.”

College principal Rabbi Dr Deborah Kahn-Harris added: “When I first moved to the UK 30 years ago, Jeremy welcomed me to life in the UK as my teacher in Oxford. I am immensely proud that, as principal, I am now able to welcome him to his new role as professor of liturgy here at Leo Baeck College.”