Joseph Herman Hertz served as Chief Rabbi of the British Empire from 1913-1946. His Pentateuch and Siddur influenced traditional Jewish communities around the world through the 20th century. He was not so much a controversial figure as he was a fearless blunt spokesman for Orthodox Judaism in the first half of the 20th century. His causes and clashes with his lay leadership are documented is this very readable biography by Derek Taylor, one who has intimate knowledge and understanding of the organization of the United Synagogue of England.
Taylor describes the clashes with the rabbi's primary antagonist Sir Robert Waley Cohen, lay leader of the United Synagogue. There are some interesting issues raised in the book: the status of the Jewish theological seminary, Hertz position as orthodox, his clashes with the 'right wing' and his desire to improve Jewish education and stem the tide of assimilation, and his unpopular Zionist position.
Hertz was the first graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, now considered the flagship rabbinical school for Conservative Judaism. As a matter of fact, Conservative Jews claim Hertz as one of their own by adopting his Chumash for many years and often giving a Bar Mitzvah boy his siddur as a gift (I have one). However, the book makes clear that he never identified with any reforms. Hertz was trained as a rabbi when Sabato Morais and Bernard Drachman were running the Seminary before Solomon Schechter became chancellor in 1902. Hertz was ordained in 1894 and also awarded a PhD. in Philosophy from Columbia University. Morais and Drachman were never associated with any reforms and considered themselves Orthodox. Their vision was to prepare Orthodox rabbis conversant in contemporary life in America. Throughout his career as a rabbi, Hertz accentuated his Orthodoxy and Mitzvah observance, demanding Kashruth, Sabbath and Mikvah during his tenure as rabbi.
Hertz being on the one hand blunt to those obviously trying to usurp his authority but quite diplomatic and flexible with his non Jewish colleagues was seen by some as controversial, however, he was a very effective orator and communicator and gained a large following in England among the Jewish and non Jewish worlds. The Jewish world in England was divided between the native born and the Eastern European immigrants. The native born were concerned about appearances and socially conscious wanting to fit in to British culture. Those from Eastern European extraction tended to be more aloof to the outside and more traditional in observance. From this community the chief rabbi felt pressure that he was not observant enough and had to prove his Orthodox bona fides. This community did not concern itself with the United Synagogue despite Hertz's efforts to improve the Jews' College and make upgrades to the Beth Din with the appointment of Dayan Yechezkel Abramsky.
Hertz was a Zionist but his community that he served was not! The lay leadership was embarrassed to push a Zionist program because of the implication that a Zionist could not be a loyal subject. Hertz nevertheless forged positive relationships with Chaim Weizmann and others and was instrumental in the drafting of the Balfour declaration. He visited the Holy Land and was present at the opening of the Hebrew University. Hertz was skeptical from the beginning whether England would keep its promise about help making Israel the national home for the Jewish People. Nevertheless, his lay leadership tried to keep the chief rabbi out of politics, however, the chief rabbi would not be intimidated.
The tenure of the chief rabbi was constantly distracted by one who believed he knew better for what was good for the Jewish community. At almost every turn, Rabbi Hertz had to contend with a powerful executive from the Shell Oil Corporation, Sir Robert Waley Cohen. Cohen was a hot tempered reformist that wanted the rabbi and United Synagogue to "modernize." Hertz was smart enough, blunt enough and strong enough to withstand Waley Cohen's interruptions, objections and tantrums.
The book is informative and a good read.
