A WOMAN SCORNED
At least, that is how Reform Jews regard the succession to the famous rabbi
THE MASSIVE west London synagogue near Marble Arch is the 'cathedral' of Britain's Reform Jewish movement. The synagogue has over 2,000 members, among them many leading lawyers, industrialists and company directors. The Reform movement prides itself on rejecting Ortho- dox taboos, especially regarding women. Ever since the charismatic senior minister, the Czech-born Auschwitz survivor Hugo Gryn — he of Radio Five's Moral Maze died 18 months ago, there has been intense speculation as to who would suc- ceed him and whether it could possibly be a woman.
What should have been axiomatic was the choice of Rabbi Gryn's deputy, pupil and follower, Jacqueline Tabick, a small, dark, vivacious woman with a vivid turn of phrase and a command of all the Judaic sources, an inspirational preacher with over 20 years of devoted and unblemished service to the congregation.
Neither the synagogue leadership nor the wider Reform movement could, of course, admit even to themselves, far less to • cynical outside observers, that Rabbi Tabick's being a woman would make her less appealing as the permanent occupant of Hugo Gryn's pulpit, which she had occupied temporarily since his death. In considering their choice, the Reform leaders were aware that the rest of Anglo- Jewry was watching. The majority Ortho- `It looks like it's been Boycotted.' dox group, the United Synagogue, led by the former Cambridge don, the Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks, had become involved in a row with the Reform and Liberal Jewish movements after Hugo Gryn's death. Dr Sacks, a personal admir- er of Rabbi Gryn, decided not to attend the funeral, but attended a memorial ser- vice, organised, not by the Reform move- ment, but by the secular Anglo-Jewish representative body, the Board of Deputies. The dispute intensified when a private letter by the Chief Rabbi, describ- ing himself as the leading opponent of Reform and casting doubts on its validity as a Jewish religious movement, was leaked to the Jewish press.
Since then, the Reform and Liberal movements have been firing heavy guns at the Chief Rabbi and his Orthodox congre- gations; a major target being the 'disregard' of the needs and rights of women. One of these rights, Reform says, is for a woman to be a rabbi, a claim vehemently rejected by the Orthodox.
Nonetheless, the weeks and months passed and no 'call' was received by Jacqueline Tabick. It was learned that Reform rabbis in Britain and the United States were being invited to submit their names for the post. Suspicion turned to fears that Rabbi Tabick was being sidelined in favour of some 'high-profile' American male personality, with a fine physical pres- ence and resonant voice. These fears were dismissed with derision by the synagogue leadership. But Rabbi Tabick's fervent admirers and supporters have now discov- ered that their fears were well founded. A tall, muscular American rabbi with a deep and resonant voice, Dr Mark Winer, for- merly of White Plains congregation, New York, is to succeed Rabbi Hugo Gryn.
News of the appointment shocked and bewildered Jacqueline Tabick's friends and supporters, who form a sizable proportion of the synagogue's total membership. Proud of their integration into the general community, the members wish to behave in a thoroughly dignified and respectable way. Not for them, naturally, the convulsions that would occur among their less assimi- lated brethren in Orthodox synagogues. True British Jews behave in a true British manner. Self-control, discipline and dis- cretion are the most admired features of a way of life widely practised.
So Rabbi Tabick has loyally congratulat- ed Rabbi Winer on his appointment, and has promised to work with him. Hugo Gryn's widow, Jackie, has expressed her admiration for Rabbi Tabick but has wel- comed the American rabbi's appointment.
Yet the tremors within the massive walls of the synagogue are still reverberating and will not disappear, no matter what Rabbi Winer says and the management does. Rabbi Tabick refuses to give any press interviews but is known to be 'very upset'. She apparently feels that one of the major pillars of Reform Judaism, meant to give a new relevance to the ancient faith, has been overthrown by old-fashioned sex- ism and prejudice. One of her influential supporters, Richard Stone, resigned from the appointment committee after the deci- sion to select Rabbi Winer was made, accusing the synagogue chairman, Jeffrey Samson, of acting as though the appoint- ment of a new rabbi was a one-man show and not the business of a democratically elected committee. `My resignation was not over the choice of Rabbi Winer but over the treatment that Rabbi Tabick has had to endure over the last year and a half,' he said.
Other supporters of Jacqueline Tabick have been more outspoken. One who is close to her remarked, 'Jacqueline Tabick's sole handicap in seeking the post was that she is a woman. There is no doubt about that, none whatsoever. The West London synagogue is the Establish- ment. It has many High Court judges and top barristers and other people like that. There are not many women among them, are there? They could not cope with a woman.'
As for working amicably together, the Tabick backers have considerable doubts. They recall that Hugo Gryn used to refer to the celebrated Chinese curse: 'May you live in interesting times.' They think there are going to be some interesting times at the West London synagogue.
Such synagogue leaders as the president David Leuw and the appointment panel chairman David Walsh have strongly defended the choice of Rabbi Winer, describing him as a distinguished spiritual head who had greatly impressed them. But one of the council members, John Barrard, revealed that he had abstained in the vot- ing, feeling that Rabbi Tabick merited automatic selection in view of her record.
Rabbi Winer says that he hopes to work closely and amicably together with Rabbi Tabick, although he admits that he is facing problems. But he probably has no idea of the turmoil he has unwittingly created. Nor can the general Jewish community stand aside from the matter. National history can change because of synagogue quarrels. It was Isaac d'Israeli's quarrel with another London synagogue which led to the conver- sion to Christianity of his son Benjamin, enabling him to become prime minister of England, and to make Queen Victoria empress of India.
The author is a former foreign and diplomat- ic editor of the Jewish Chronicle.
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