Some 250 former members of the New West End Synagogue attended the first service yesterday of the newly established New London Synagogue in temporary quarters in Montefiore Hall of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue.
The New London Synagogue was established last week with Rabbi Louis Jacobs as spiritual leader after Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie barred his appointment to the pulpit of the 700-member New West End Synagogue on the grounds that Dr. Jacobs’ views “cannot be accepted as in accordance with Orthodox Judaism”
The use of the Montefiore Hall by the new synagogue has been challenged and they will be forced to find a new conation for next Sabbath. In his sermon yesterday, Dr, Jacobs congratulated his new congregation on taking part in what he said was the struggle to “reinvigorate” the religious life of the British Jewish community. For their services yesterday, the new congregation borrowed a 200-year-old Torah Scroll.
Meanwhile, a “unity appeal committee” established by a group of younger, British-educated Orthodox members of the United Synagogue, the governing congregational body in Britain, reiterated their determination here today to continue working fora reconciliation, which they believe can be achieved by behind-the-scenes negotiation, if tempers are allowed to cool.
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.
