Rabbinical flexibility

Your archive article on April 1977 mentioning Rabbi Pinchus Shebson stirred a memory. Rabbi Shebson was regarded as a no nonsense minister who tolerated no alternative interpretation of Judaism. He was however an excellent communal leader who always supported the Jewish Welfare Board’s activities in Southend.

His so-called rigidity was shown to be very flexible when in 1979 JWB celebrated its 125th anniversary. A special commemorative service was arranged at the New Synagogue in Stamford Hill as it had been (in a previous location in the City) one of the founder congregations which created the Jewish Board of Guardians (JWB).

With the consent of Chief Rabbi Jakobovits, representatives of the Reform and Progressive communities were invited, along with many other communal organisations. On the day of the service a group of Orthodox rabbis – including the rabbi who was due to conduct the service – sent a message saying they could not attend if there were non-Orthodox clergy in the synagogue.

Then threatening messages were sent about the safety of the Reform representatives. Rabbi John Rayner, the then Senior Rabbi at St John’s Wood Liberal Synagogue, told me that the threats reminded him how he felt on Kristallnacht.

Both the United Synagogue and the Chief Rabbi condemned the behaviour of a small number of rabbonim. At the 11th hour, Rabbi Shebson agreed to lead the very successful 125th Anniversary Service.

He continued to support JWB’s work when he moved to London after his retirement. Melvyn Carlowe OBE

CEO JWB 1971-1990

CEO Jewish Care 1990-2001