ORTHODOX JUDAISM AND CHIEF RABBIS IN BRITAIN

Abstract

MIRI J. FREUD -KANDEL , Orthodox Judaism in Britain Since 1913: An Ideology Forsaken, xvi 240 pp., Vallentine Mitchell, London and Portland, OR, 2006, £19.95 (hardback, £45.50). DEREK TAYLOR, British Chief Rabbis 1664–2006, xiv 457 pp., Vallentine Mitchell, London and Portland, OR, 2007, £19.95 (hardback, £45.00). NY study of ‘orthodox Judaism’ treads several minefields. Until well into the nineteenth century there was no such thing: the adjective ‘orthodox’ was adopted and applied to distinguish the Judaism practised (or at least professed) by the majority of European Jews from that professed (or at least practised) by adherents of various ideologies now often referred to as ‘Progressive’ Judaism. Many did not understand the underlying theological meaning of ‘orthodox’. Although we may agree that in this context ‘orthodox’ means ‘traditional’, we need at the same time to acknowledge that there is not, and never has been, a universally accepted body of dogma and deeds which might for the sake of convenience be called ‘orthodox’ Judaism: in truth, that Judaism is a very broad church.