United Synagogue: no progress on women leaders

The Office of the Chief Rabbi was asked by the JC last week to give Lord Sacks's position, but has yet to respond.

Malvyn Benjamin, who has persistently raised the matter at the council, cannot understand "why it's not possible for women to be elected as honorary officers. I can't think of any halachic reason why that should be the case. They are basically dealing with administrative matters."

One well-known US woman personality is Flora Frank, who has served on Edgware Synagogue's board of management. She said: "We have to be patient and work within halachah. I can understand frustration but I know we will get there."

Last year, a report on Jewish women in the community found disquiet among mainstream Orthodox women at "what they see as archaic and inconsistent attitudes towards women's participation in synagogue leadership and spiritual life".

At one US congregation, Golders Green, the five-person executive is headed by its vice-chair, Jacqui Zinkin.

The Sephardi Beth Din last week declared that although women cannot serve on the executive of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, it is exploring ways to allow them to do so in future.