Papers of Chief Rabbi J.H.Hertz

Scope and Content

Personal papers, c.1904-70, including early letters from Hertz's children, Hertz's marriage certificate, British naturalisation papers and other private papers, correspondence of Rose Hertz and other family members, private papers and correspondence of Daniel Hertz, letters of congratulation and condolence, and family photographs. Correspondence relating to Hertz's appointment as rabbi of Adath Yeshuran, Syracuse, and rabbi of the Orach Chaim Congregation, New York, 1893-1913. Private papers and correspondence, 1913-46: correspondents include King George V and the royal family, Herbert Merton, first Baron Jessel, members of the Rothschild family, Sir Robert Waley- Cohen; correspondence with organisations, including the Beth Din, and on subjects including evacuation, Palestine, modification of religious services. Correspondence and related papers for Hertz's pastoral and overseas tours to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Palestine and South Africa, 1920-5. Correspondence, reports and papers relating to the Chief Rabbi's Religious Emergency Council, 1938-45; papers, correspondence and reports concerning the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 1922-38; papers concerning the Jewish War Memorial, 1919-45; newspaper cuttings, correspondence, papers, minutes relating to Jews' College, London, 1903-44; Oxford Minister's Fund papers, 1913-41; Aria College correspondence and papers, c.1875-1945; papers, correspondence, agreement for the engagement of Rabbi Hilman as dayan, with reports for the United Synagogue, 1913-45; papers for the Anglo-Jewish Preachers' Conferences and the National Council for Jewish Education and other organisations; papers for the Bayswater Jewish Schools, 1923-38; orders of service and circulars from the Chief Rabbi's office, 1915-40s. Religious works and publications by Hertz: correspondence, notes and proofs, 1917-45. Notes for sermons and lectures given by Hertz, 1890-1945, together with notes for his works. Newspaper cuttings, 1892-1946.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Very Revd Joseph Herman Hertz (1872-1946) was born in Slovakia, but moved to the United States of America in 1884. He graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 1894. He was rabbi of Adath Yeshuran Congregation, Syracuse, 1894-6, rabbi at Johannesburg, 1899-1911, rabbi at the Orach Chaim Congregation, New York, 1911-13, and Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, 1913-46. Hertz was made a Companion of Honour in 1943.

Access Information

The Special Collections Division is available for anyone to use, regardless of whether you are attached to an academic institution. Access to the Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books reading room, however, is by prior appointment to access the manuscript material. See our website for more details.

Separated Material

Hertz's official papers as Chief Rabbi are at London Metropolitan Archives.