CHIEF RABBI

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 191, 9 May 1921, Page 6

CHIEF RABBI

DR. HERTZ DUE THIS EVENING

AN ORGANISING TOUR JEWISH MINISTRY AND WAR MEMORIAL The Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire (the Very Rev. Dr. Joseph 11. Hertz, M.A., Ph.D., D.H.L., will arrive in Wellington from Australia this evening by the Moeraki, accompanied by Mr. Albert M. Woolf, 0.8. E., a vice-president of the United Synagogue, an<! his official secretary (Mr. A. Henriques Valentine). Dr. Hertz was born at Rebrin, Czechoslovakia, in 1872, and was educated at the New York City College, Columbia University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. His first post was that of Rabbi at Syracuse (N.Y.). In 1898 he was appointed Rabbi of the Witwatersrand Old Hebrew Congregation, Johannesburg. Remaining in South Africa till 1911, he took an active part in the social and educational life, of the general community, filling several important posts. lie was appointed Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire in 1913. He is also the. head of the Misrnchi (religious Zionist) movement in England. He is the author of several works, including “The Ethical System of James Martineau’’; “Bachya, the Jewish Thomas, a Kempis”; “The Jew in South. Africa ; “The Place of the University in Modern Life’’; “A Book of Jewish Thoughts’’ (just published by the Oxford University Press). Among the many public organisations with which Dr. Hertz is or has been associated in recent years Is the Anglo-Jowish Association, the League ot Nations Society, the Anglo-American Society, the National Council of Public Morals, and the Society for Hebraic Studies. Objects of Mission.

The Rabbi’s visit is in connection with the Jewish war memorial. It is a notable occasion in local Jewish annals, and has been awaited eagerly. Great enthusiasm has marked his visit other capital cities, in the course of his tour and his welcome in Wellington is sure’ to be characterised by the same cordiality. Sympathy with the objects of the Jewish war memorial has been reflected already in the support which has been accorded the movement wherever Dr. Hertz has spoken in furtherance of it. . On the occasion of the Rabbi s visit to Sydney, Mr. Albert M. Woolf explained the essential features of Dr. Hertz’s mission, which began last October. Since then the Rnbbi has toured the greater part of South Africa, and visited Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne. “The Chief Rabbi," Mr. Woolf stated, “will take advantage of the tour to invite support for the Jewish War Memorial scheme, under which it is hoped to raise £1,060,000. This money will be used in the endowment of religious education, the establishment of a college of .lifewish learning for the training of Rabbis, ministers, and teachers, and making better provision for the Jewish ministry." But the main object of the memorial, Mr. Woolf added, is the endowment o‘ religious education to ensure that every child of Jewish parents growing up in the British Empire shall be given a thorough religious training and a knowledge of the great traditions of then race. Whether the college which it is proposed to establish will be located in one of the older seats of learning oi retained in London has to be decided by the council of the memorial in the light of evidence which’ is being obtained bj a special committee. In either case scholarships will bo created tenable at the existing colleges or Oxford oi- Cam bridge. It is sought, morever, to remove the scandal of an underpaid ministry, and to set them free for collaborating in vital constructive work in the larger issues affecting Judaism throughout the British Empire. Mr. Woolf said that £32,000 had been raised in South Africa, and between .£9OOO and .£lO,OOO in Perth, Adelaida, and Melbourne. It is proposed to leave the money in the country until the financial conditions in Australia become more settled. Mr. Woolf’s Activities. Prior to his election as vice-president of the United Synagogue Mr. Woolf acted as overseer of poor for 21 years, and instituted many reforms. During the war he acted as vice-chairman of the Jewish War Refugees’ Committee, and rendered valuable service in relieving distress, and in recognition of his, work he was decorated by the King with the Order of the British Empire. He was also decorated with the. Order of Leopold by the King of the Belgians for his activities on behalf of the Belgian refugees ivho flocked to England soon after the German invasion of Belgium.