Participation of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, the most important Liberal congregation in England, in the forthcoming Anglo-Jewish conference on the Jewish Agency, is precluded since representation at such a conference would indicate the expression of a desire to play a part in giving effect to the British Mandate for Palestine. This was the conclusion of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue of England which, at a meeting held Sunday, decided to inform the Zionist Organization that it would not participate in the conference called by the Board of Jewish Deputies to indicate Anglo- (Continued on Page 4)
At its meeting yesterday, the Liberal Jewish Synagogue decided to inform the Zionist Organization that although it would like to accept the invitation to participate in the Agency conference in order to demonstrate the unity of the Anglo-Jewish community, the meeting’s purpose precluded the Liberal Synagogue’s participation as a congregation because its presence at the conference would indicate expression of a desire to play a part to give effect to the British mandate for Palestine.
The congregation, however, maintains to the mandate and the Zionist movement an attitude of complete neutrality. It is ready to cooperate in any effort Anglo-Jewry makes in order to help Jews in other lands establish for themselves a position which would give them adequate economic opportunities and assure them political and cultural rights.
Claude Montefiore, president of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, who was unable to attend the meeting because of illness, recommended the stand taken in a letter he sent to the meeting. “Liberals include Zionists and non-Zionists, even anti-Zionists,” Mr. Montefiore wrote. “but as a congregation we should remain neutral.”
Debate on the stand to be taken by the congregation developed at the meeting, some members suggesting noncommittal participation in the conference. This it was explained was impossible and not in accordance with the terms of the invitation.
During the discussion it was disclosed that the United Synagogue is also not expected to participate in the conference, such participation being outside its scope because of technical difficulties connected with an act of Parliament.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
