Project LeChaim began in 1974 with the name 'Project Return' and was directed by Rabbi Shlomo Levin, now Rabbi of the South Hampstead Synagogue.
At that time Project Return was the only broad-based Jewish Adult Education structure in London. It had a wide reach and there are many people now prominent in Jewish life who began their experience of Judaism at Project Return/LeChaim.
Among the former teachers at Project LeChaim are Rabbi Shmuel Lew FRSA and Rabbi Tzvi Telsner, now Rabbi of the Lubavitch Community in Melbourne. For many years an important adjunct to Project LeChaim was the wonderful Lubavitch Lending Library, run by Zvi Rabin A.L.A and his wife Feige. Today the very extensive Library is moving to a new building, the Lubavitch Centre, next door to Lubavitch House.
Another feature of Project LeChaim going back many years is the Lubavitch Bookshop. Today too the bookshop is open during the hours of Project LeChaim, for particpants to buy a book, CD or a Jewish toy. It is run by Mr Yehuda Leib Ives, who himself for many years gave a Shiur in Talmud in Project LeChaim.
In the 1980s Project Return changed its name to Project LeChaim. At that time Moshe Melech Lewis BA was directing the programmes. Eventually Project LeChaim was included among the Chabad Research Unit range of Jewish educational activities.
Today Project LeChaim runs as an intimate family. When there is a celebration, everyone shares it, and when G-d forbid something unfortunate happens, everyone cares.
Yet Project LeChaim is open to all Jewish people. LeChaim means 'to life', and the Torah which one can study at Project LeChaim gives life and strengthens life. Lechaim!
