THE CHIEF RABBINATE,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1764, 31 May 1913, Page 9

THE CHIEF RABBINATE,

INSTALLATION OF DR. HERTZ,

Dr Joseph Herman Hertz was installed as Chief iiabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of tho British Empire at tho Great Synagogue, London, on April It. Lord Rothschild, President of tlio Synagogue, and ill'. A. H. Jessel, VicePresident, were present, and others who attended were tho Marquess of Crewe, tho Earl of llosebery, Lord Swaythling, Sir Marcus Samuel, Sir Stuart Samuel, Sir Philip Magnus, M.P., Sir Bdwnrd Stern, Sir Herbert Cohen, Sir Charles Henry, Mr. li:cpold de Rothschild, Boron. James d 3 Rothschild, and Mr. David Alexander. Tho Lord Mavor and Sheriffs attended in state. The floor of the synagoguo was crowded with male members of tho Jewish community, and the galleries were packed with ladies. Flowers were massed on either side of the. steps leading up to tho Ark, but apart from that ' there were 110 decorations. The choir was placed 111 a gallery, but tho singing throughout was unaccompanied, as owing to the recent death of the Chief Rabbi's lather it was decided to make the ceremonial as simple as possible. Dr. llcrtz was conducted to a stall near tho ATk by tho officers of the United Synagogue, and tho service opened Willi ))raver in Hebrew. ' Then, escorted bv Lord 'Rothschild and other officers, lio took a Scroll of the Law out of the ArK and carried it to Hie reading desk, rhero' lie banded it to the Reader, who recited verges from Ezckiel, Zechariah, ami Malachi, and afterwards prayed, by name for the Chief Rabbi. The Chief Rabbi than read tho prayer for the lun? ami the Roval Family, and when the Scroll of the Law had liecii returned to the Ark, he went up into the pulpit, laking his (j. Xt from the last three verses of Malachi, which he read both in Hebrew and in English, Dr. Hertz, speaking in English, made a strong plea for unification 111, tho community, lie urged that there should 1)- a «prcail of Jewish knowledge and a strengthening of tho Faith and a spirit of reconciliation and peace, lho most aiarmiii,./ in Jewish lifo was a growing ignorance of the sac.Rd language. Hebrew w-is the key to the sacred life, and ll they threw that key to the ocean of fortf.'tiiilno~s at the end of the century nothing i\on,!d* remain but the grave Israel's memory must lie kept alive. Religion was the secret of their Aathlessness, and only a i"'li"ioiis Israel was a national asset to tiio°Statb whoso citizens they were. Speaking of the ofiico to which he had Iron called ho paid a tribute to his predecessor ami pleaded for charity, patience, and moderation. Ho could not hope to succrod unless there was co-operation and understanding. Ho asked also for loyalty in tho light against crime, ignorance, and irreligion. He declared that tho potentialities of British Jowry .ivcro gfleat, and ho .insisted oa tkoir lojalty. to tlio JDmpiro.

T)io service closed with, "an extempore prayer in English by the Chfcf Rabbi, anil a hymn in Hebrew.