The British Chief Rabbinate: A Viable Institution?
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Abstract
Is the British Chief Rabbinate still a viable institution? Two recently published books on
Anglo-Jewry construct differing arguments about the influence and power of the office of
chief rabbi. This paper examines the positions presented in these works and considers how
changes in theology, cultural identity, and demography among Jews in Britain could lead
to a reconsideration of the nature of the chief rabbinate. It questions whether Britain’s
chief rabbis have influenced the religious direction of Anglo-Jewry or merely overseen inexorable
religious shifts that reflect the growing stringency to be found in Orthodox Judaism
beyond British shores. While some measure of theological consistency may be identified in
Orthodoxy on interpretations of the principle of Torah min hashamayim, is this a sufficient
criterion for arguing against any evidence of religious shifts? More broadly, the role of
theology and religious leaders in determining how a religious community develops is
worth considering. These can be contrasted with the influence of social, cultural, and historical
factors. Even if the chief rabbinate has been a force for good in the past, this paper
examines whether the current state of Anglo-Jewry calls for a rethink of how the post should
function as it moves forward.
Anglo-Jewry construct differing arguments about the influence and power of the office of
chief rabbi. This paper examines the positions presented in these works and considers how
changes in theology, cultural identity, and demography among Jews in Britain could lead
to a reconsideration of the nature of the chief rabbinate. It questions whether Britain’s
chief rabbis have influenced the religious direction of Anglo-Jewry or merely overseen inexorable
religious shifts that reflect the growing stringency to be found in Orthodox Judaism
beyond British shores. While some measure of theological consistency may be identified in
Orthodoxy on interpretations of the principle of Torah min hashamayim, is this a sufficient
criterion for arguing against any evidence of religious shifts? More broadly, the role of
theology and religious leaders in determining how a religious community develops is
worth considering. These can be contrasted with the influence of social, cultural, and historical
factors. Even if the chief rabbinate has been a force for good in the past, this paper
examines whether the current state of Anglo-Jewry calls for a rethink of how the post should
function as it moves forward.
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Volume/Issue
10(1)
Page Number
43-64
Link
Link to article (paywalled), The British Chief Rabbinate: A Viable Institution?
The British Chief Rabbinate: A Viable Institution?
The British Chief Rabbinate: A Viable Institution?
Bibliographic Information
The British Chief Rabbinate: A Viable Institution?. 2011: 43-64. https://archive.jpr.org.uk/object-uk218
