By Hadar Katsman, Features Editor
Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, originally from London, England, has been a full-time Judaic Studies faculty member at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women for the past 25 years. After graduating with honors from Manchester University with a degree in political science, Rabbi Hajioff worked as a journalist at MTV. He then attended Yeshiva Ohr Somayach in Monsey, New York and received semicha (rabbinical ordination). He also got his master’s in education from Maimonides College through Ohr Somayach.
What inspired you to pursue a career teaching Judaics?
I never thought I’d be a rabbi. This was a later life decision. One of my rabbis I used to study with was an incredible man, who knew all areas of Torah and Kabbalah. He told me my life’s soul mission was to teach Torah to young men and women who have no background in Judaism. So I did. I have never been a pulpit rabbi, although I’ve spoken at synagogues throughout North America. Instead I worked at Birthright Israel as their official rabbi for over a decade and led many trips with them.
What do you like most about the YU community?
I have only ever taught at Stern [College for Women]. The best part of the YU community is working with young women who have had no formal Jewish education. In some cases I’m the first rabbi they’ve ever met and asked questions to!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students?
I give my students many pieces of advice. Most importantly is to choose their marriage partner very carefully. Find someone you can create a Jewish future for yourself with. Also to find an inspiring community and rabbi before and after you’re married. Without that you’re setting yourself up for failure.
What’s a favorite hobby or talent of yours?
I don’t have many talents but I’m a good tennis player and now a top tier pickleball player. I play a few times a week.
If you could add one course to YU’s curriculum, what would it be and why?
I don’t work with the men at YU, so I would add a course for the women on how to do outreach from your home and how to teach Torah to non-observant Jewish women. All the classes I teach can be used for the totally irreligious to the most religious, but a real prep course to teach everyone how to speak to secular Jews is incredibly important. Teaching about Mashiach and the World to Come is also lacking in the Jewish world, but that’s actually my biggest class at Stern.
You have a very large following on social media. Can you please give an overview of the content you post, who your target audience is and how you got started? Why do you think having a social media presence is important?
I use social media extensively, primarily Instagram and YouTube. I find I can reach a larger audience than just sitting in a classroom. I don’t know percentages but many of my followers are not actually Jewish. Most of my content are classes and the ones that draw the most interest are on Mashiach and the End of Days.
I don’t think every rabbi should be on social media, but many should because that’s where people are hanging out, and so we need to reach out to them because that’s their only resource of true Torah content. I receive a lot of feedback (most of it positive) from my social media content. Most people across the United States and the world don’t have access to a synagogue or a rabbi, so this is their only gateway into Judaism. I also assist many people who are on their way to convert to Judaism or are Bnei Noach.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lawrence Hajioff