The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1911. THE LATE DR. ADLER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, 2 September 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1911. THE LATE DR. ADLER.

Dr. Hermann Adler, the Chief Rabbi, who died in London last month, was seventy-two years of age. He is described as being one of the most charming of men, a profound scholar, deeply learned in the rites and ceremonies of his faith, a fervid preacher, a witty and amusing speaker upon the public platform, a true friend and brother among his own community, a good man and a generous one. He was, of course, officially recognised as the ecclesiastical head of the Jews of the British Empire, although it is probable that considerably less than half owned allegiance to his authority. In London alone the whole of the East End was practically outside his diocese, for the United Synagogue (the Intersyucgogal Federation which appoints the Chief Rabbi) is only represented further East by the Stepney Synagogue, whereas the Federation of Synagogues has a total of over forty places of worship scattered over the district. The history of the present Chief Rabbinate dates only from 1870, before which time English Jewry had no official head. The Jews owning allegiance to the Chief Rabbi today do not number more than 10,000, and,, according to one authority, it is very probable that with the death of Dr. Adler the office of Chief Rabbi will cease to exist. In addition to the synagogue where he Held sway and the Hock who followed him, there are three other sections of Jews possessing their own ecclesiastical chiefs—the Federation of Synagogues, the Spanish and Portuguese community with their own magnificent meetingplace in Bevis Marks and with their own Chief Rabin, and the Reform lews, who- meat in their synagogue in Upper Berkeley Street. There arc two other Reform synagogues in England—one in Manchester and one in Bradford—and the communities in Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, and other great towns all of which arc independent of the sway of the Chief Rabbi. Since the Chief Rabbinate was formed there has been a tremendous influx of foreign Jaws from Eastern Europe, and their ideals are not those of their Englishborn brethren. They hold that the Anglo-Jewish ministry is not sufficiently orthodox for them, and their arguments certainly carry an overwhelming majority in the matter of numbers.