Sentiment Strong Against Women’s Vote in United Synagogue of Britain

(J. T. A. Mail Service)

The proposal to grant equal voting rights to women members of the United Synagogue was rejected by a majority of 44 at the conjoint meeting of the Council of the United Synagogue and the delegates elected by the constituent synagogues held here today.

Sir Robert Waley-Cohen, who presided, appealed to the delegates to listen to the discussion with an open mind. They were there, he said, not as automatons or as postmen to deliver other people’s opinion but to consider this important matter with open minds and toleration.

Dr. Epstein said that they had assembled in the true interests of the United Synagogue and Judaism in this country. Some said that this proposal was not in accordance with the Jewish Din, but they were provided with requisite recognized authority such as that of the Chief Rabbi, who stated that the granting of votes to women was not against the Din.

H. H. Gordon said that this was not a trivial question but one of great importance to the future of the Orthodox community in England. The Chief Rabbi, he said, had uttered a negative opinion from which they could not create a positive attitude. He did not believe that by the granting of this franchise they would enlarge the number of women members of the synagogue. The Liberal Synagogue had tried it but had failed. Their halls were deserted and empty. They should not copy reform movements which in their origin were not Jewish. They had no demand from the women of the Orthodox synagogues for such representation and those who wanted to assimilate men and women were degrading womanhood.

Isaac Landau said that if they would concede the proposition to grant this vote they would undermine the fundamentals of the United Synagogue.

Joseph Prag said that it was not the business of the Chief Rabbi to say whether women should have their votes or not; it was for the United Synagogue to decide this vital question. The world had greatly benefited by the reform movements, and from his fifty years of experience of social work he could testify that women, especially Jewish women, had strengthened every movement.

Gustave Tuck said that those who were propagating the granting of this vote were as anxiously concerned as their opponents regarding the future of Judaism in this country and he himself would have nothing to do with the proposal if it were to menace Judaism. He had spoken that very morning to the Chief Rabbi who had stated that this question had nothing to do with Judaism. This main issue was not whether women should have a say in the election of their Minister or Chazan but what could be done to put a halt to the drifting away from Judaism of their children.

Michael Schiff and Dr. Israel Feldman advocated the adjournment of the meeting to arrange a conference with the opposition to reach some compromise. Sir Robert Waley-Cohen said that the honorary officers were unable to accept a compromise which would endanger their Constitution. He deplored the suggestion of the opponents that this vote would undermine traditional Judaism in this country. On the contrary; the admission of women to the administration of the United Synagogue would strengthen their hands for the upkeep of Judaism. The division showed 167 votes for the resolution and 211 against.

Dr. J. H. Hertz, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa, American scholastic fraternity.

The Earl of Balfour, head of the Phi Beta Kappa in Great Britain, was to have presided at the ceremony initiating Dr. Hertz into the fraternity, but was prevented by illness from attending.

Ten acres on shores of beautiful Devils Lake, near Grande Ronde, Oregon have been given to the B’nai Brith Center of Portland, Ore., as a memorial tribute to Mrs. Jeannette Meier, their mother, by Jullus L. Meier, Abe Meier, and Mrs. Sigmund Frank.

The gift will be used for the summer camp and construction of permanent log buildings on the tract to be used when the season’s camp opens July 7 has been started.