Board of Rabbis gets first Orthodox member

by Aaron Leibel

WJW Staff

The first Orthodox congregational rabbi to join the Washington Board of Rabbis hopes his move will lead to greater unity among area Jews.

"A core commitment of mine as a rabbi is to reach out to all Jews," said Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld of Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah in the District, who has sent in the paperwork to join the board.

Herzfeld, who has been OSTT's spiritual leader since Sept. 1, hopes that his move will bring "as much peace to the Jewish community as possible."

The board was created some 35 years ago as an vehicle for area rabbis to meet and discuss common problems, said Rabbi Saul Koss, board administrator. Today, the Washington board has more than 100 members.Yet, local Orthodox rabbis have steered clear of the board.

Herzfeld concedes that there is "a difference of opinion as to whether joining is appropriate" among his Orthodox colleagues.

"I am committed to the values of Orthodoxy, but at the same time, am committed to working with rabbis of all denominations," Herzfeld said. "This doesn't detract from my Orthodoxy."

Koss, himself an Orthodox rabbi, hopes Herzfeld's decision heralds a change in attitude toward the board.

"We don't do anything to cause problems for the Orthodox community," he said. "There have been overtures in the past. Orthodox rabbis have called us in the past, but in the end didn't join," he said, noting that the board's president, Rabbi Jonathan Schnitzer of the Conservative Congregation B'nai Israel in Rockville, has reached out to Orthodox rabbis.

"It would be nice to have an Orthodox synagogue presence," Koss said.

Schnitzer would only say that he "has informal contacts with Orthodox rabbis on a collegial basis." He said he didn't know if Herzfeld's decision augurs a change in Orthodox attitudes toward the WBR.

The problem for area Orthodox rabbis is the matter of Jewish law, according Rabbi Barry Freundel of Kesher Israel, the Georgetown Synagogue in the District.

"The model that has always existed for serving combined groups was that the group agreed that it would not take up anything halachic," Freundel said. "You can't be in the position of being outvoted on Jewish law. The Washington Board of Rabbis remains unwilling to make that commitment."

Told that Koss had indicated that the WBR doesn't take up halachic matters, Freundel said there is a difference between "doesn't" and "won't."

Freundel stresses that he is not criticizing the WBR for its stance on the issue.

Herzfeld, meanwhile, said he is "hopeful that as many rabbis as possible will join organizations like this."

Describing the organization as a "basically a fraternal group" (the group also counts female rabbis in its membership), Koss said members get together 10 times a year. There usually is a guest lecturer, and the rabbis discuss issues of common interest.

By joining the board, Herzfeld hopes to "foster a sense of unity among all Jews regardless of denomination."

Schnitzer said he is certain his Board of Rabbis colleagues "will be delighted to welcome Herzfeld into their ranks."

This story was published in the Washington Jewish Week on 12/23/04.