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Mayor to Defy Opponents of Reform Synagogue in Jerusalem

August 8, 1956
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The Jerusalem City Council will definitely take action next week on a request for a projected American School of Archaeology here which will house a Reform synagogue in its library, Mayor G. Agron announced here tonight after a fifth attempt to consider an application for a building permit was foiled by a boycott of a religious and Herut members of the council.

Mayor Agron noted that the boycott had resulted in a failure to secure a quorum, but that the next meeting of the council would be legal even without a quorum under municipal regulations. If the religious and rightwing councillors continue to boycott the council meetings, the Mapai and Progressive members will grant the building permit.

The boycott developed after the Israel Chief Rabbinate issued a statement opposing the introduction of Reform services in Israel. The School of Archaeology would be sponsored by Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, leading Reform seminary in America.

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