British Liberal and Reform Rabbis Merge Movements, Create Joint Council

The Liberal and Reform rabbis of Britain have combined their movements which will hereafter be known as the Progressives, it was announced here today. The rabbis have established a joint council under the chairmanship of Dr. W. Van Der Zyl, senior minister of the West London Reform Synagogue, who will also serve as its official spokesman. Rabbi John D. Rayner, of the St. Johns Wood Liberal Synagogue, has been elected Vice Chairman.

The move was seen here as an assertion that there are different points of view on Judaism as well as on Jewish affairs among British Jews, but not as a revolt against the status of Immanuel Jakobovits. Orthodox Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth who is regarded as the religious spokesman for Anglo-Jewry. It was pointed out, however, that there has been little cooperation between the Orthodox and the Progressive Jews.