British Government Leaders Send Condolences on Death of Chief Rabbi Hertz

On behalf of the British Government. Prime Minister Clement Attles sent condolences to the family of the late Dr. Joseph H. Hertz, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, who died earlier this week.

In a message to the Chief Rabbi’s Religious Emergency Council, which Rabbi Hertz headed, Foreign Minister Bevin said, “Dr. Hertz will be missed not only by the Jews whom he served so faithfully, but by millions of others for whose liberty he strove hard.” He also stressed that Britain would miss “his wise counsel which he was always ready to give freely to His Majesty’s Government.”

Speaking before a special meeting of representatives of the United Synagogues of Great Britain, Sir Robert Waley-Cohen, its president, declared that Rabbi Hertz was “profoundly moved by the frustrations which our people suffered in regard to Palestine.” Sir Robert emphasized that the Chief Rabbi’s death will be felt throughout the world by those “trying to share the exacting tasks” confronting the Jews.

At an emergency meeting of the Mizrachi Organization of Great Britain, it was decided to establish a memorial wing in the Kfar Etzion Convalescent Home for Rabbis in honor of Rabbi Hertz. The Poale Mizrachi in Palestine will establish a Hertz memorial settlement for religious chalutzim, the meeting was informed by cable.