Jewish Law Not Opposed to Woman’s Franchise, British Chief Rabbi Says

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Orthodox Jewish law is not opposed to granting the franchise to women in synagogue affairs, notwithstanding the fact that this matter is a religious question in the minds of many people.

This opinion was expressed by Dr. Joseph H. Hertz, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, in a letter which he addressed to Lionel de Rothschild, president of the United Synagogue, which recently voted to grant the franchise to women. The matter has caused considerable discussion in Anglo-Jewish circles.

Jewish law has no objection whatever to granting the vote to women, Rabbi Hertz stated. The proposal, however, to grant the vote to women is bound up with other measures, some of which are religiously questionable, he said.