THE BRITISH CHIEF RABBINATE: A VIABLE INSTITUTION?

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.