British Chief Rabbi Explains Stand on Synagogue Rift to 134 Rabbis

Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie publicly stated for the first time–at a specially assembled convocation of 134 rabbis of the United Synagogue and other synagogues–his stand in the debate over his refusal to re-appoint a controversial rabbi to one of London’s leading synagogues. The attending rabbis included many from provincial centers.

Chief Rabbi Brodie’s refusal to reappoint Dr. Louis Jacobs to the pulpit of the New West End Synagogue, a constituent of the United Synagogue, has touched off a storm of controversy among British Jewry. The United Synagogue ousted the officers of the synagogue and appointed a caretaker administration when the officers defied the Chief Rabbi in insisting that Dr. Jacobs occupy the pulpit.

Rabbi Brodie told the rabbis today that Dr. Jacobs “has traveled far from the accepted norms of Judaism.” Dr. Jacobs’ writings and utterances, he added, “make it abundantly clear that his views cannot be accepted as in accordance with the position of Orthodox Judaism. Dr. Jacobs went so far as to say that in modern times, the Jew no longer asks why did God tell us to keep certain commandments but did God tell us to keep certain commandments but did God tell us to keep certain commandments,” the Chief Rabbi asserted.

Rabbi Brodie said he was “saddened by the thought that a group of individuals are contemplating a new synagogue outside the framework of the United Synagogue,” a reference to announced plans of Dr. Jacobs’ supporters to set up a new synagogue with Dr. Jacobs as minister. The Chief Rabbi added he hoped that “under the impulsion of faithfulness to our sacred heritage and loyalty to our communal solidarity, no action will be taken that may tend to create a schism in our old and all-embracing religious community.”