Tributes paid to Orthodox educator and expert on Chasidism, who dies aged 75
Ada Rapoport-Albert was known for having developed the world-leading Hebrew and Jewish Studies Department at University College London after a career lecturing around the world
Tributes have been paid to the well-loved Orthodox educator and historian Professor Ada Rapoport-Albert after she died in London this week aged 75.
Rapoport-Albert, who had both British and Israeli citizenship, developed the Hebrew and Jewish Studies Department at University College London (UCL), and specialised in the Chasidic movement, which began in Poland in the 18th century.
Her other interests included gender issues in the history of Judaism, as well as the linguistic and literary context of the Zohar, the most influential literary product of the Jewish mystical tradition.
“Ada worked assiduously to build up the department and developed it into one of the foremost in this country,” said Professor Emeritus Colin Shindler, speaking to Jewish News on Friday, following news of his peer’s death.
“She always worked hard for her students and her colleagues. Her insights into the life and times of the false messiah, Shabtai Zevi, were a real contribution to our understanding of the origins and evolution of the Chasidic movement.
“As a visiting examiner and supervisor to UCL, she always welcomed me with grace and kindness. She will live on through her exceptional contribution to academic Jewish Studies.”
Rapoport-Albert, who was born in Israel, lectured all over the world. Before setting up at UCL she taught at Oxford University, and held visiting professorships are esteemed US institutions such as Harvard and Stanford.
In later years she waded into the debate around antisemitism in the Labour Party, describing as “absolutely absurd” claims that former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was himself antisemitic.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
