Werner van der Zyl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Werner van der Zyl
Religion	Judaism
Denomination	Reform Judaism
Personal
Nationality	German until 1939; British
Born	(1902-09-11)11 September 1902 Schwerte, Germany
Died	10 April 1984(1984-04-10) (aged 81) Palma, Majorca, Spain
Spouse	Anneliese (Less)
Children	1 daughter: Nikki
Position	Director of Studies
Organisation	Leo Baeck College
Began	1956
Ended	1968
Buried	Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery, Golders Green
Semicha	Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums, Berlin

Werner van der Zyl (born September 11, 1902 – died April 10, 1984) was an important rabbi. He worked in Berlin, Germany, and later in London, England. He moved to London in 1939 as a refugee from Germany.

He was a key person in starting the Jewish Theological College of London. This college opened in 1956. It was later renamed Leo Baeck College because he suggested it. He was also its first director of studies.

Life and Work

Werner van der Zyl was born in Schwerte, Germany. He trained to be a chazan, which is a Jewish prayer leader. He also studied to become a rabbi at a special school in Berlin. This school was called the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums.

One of his teachers was a famous rabbi named Leo Baeck. Werner van der Zyl became a rabbi in 1933. He also earned a special university degree, called a doctorate, in 1931.

Rabbi in Berlin

Before moving to London, Rabbi van der Zyl served in two synagogues in Berlin.

• From 1932 to 1935, he was a rabbi at the Rykestrasse Synagogue.
• From 1935 to 1938 or 1939, he was a rabbi at the New Synagogue, Berlin.

Moving to Britain

Rabbi van der Zyl came to Britain in 1939. This was during World War II. At that time, the British government placed some people from Germany in special camps. This was because they were from a country that was at war with Britain.

Rabbi van der Zyl was held in camps like Kitchener Camp and later on the Isle of Man. He was released from these camps in 1943.

Work in London

After his release, Rabbi van der Zyl became a minister at the North Western Reform Synagogue. He stayed there until 1958.

He also became the Senior Rabbi at the West London Synagogue from 1958 to 1968. While working at these synagogues, he helped create the Jewish Theological College of London. This college later became Leo Baeck College.

The college was supported by the Movement for Reform Judaism and later by the Liberal Judaism Movement.

Retirement and Leadership

Rabbi van der Zyl retired in 1968 and moved to Majorca, an island in Spain. There, he became an honorary rabbi for the Jewish community in Palma.

He was also a founder and President of Leo Baeck College. He served as President of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain. Today, this group is known as the Movement for Reform Judaism. He was also a Life Vice President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

Family Life

Werner van der Zyl had a daughter named Nikki van der Zyl. She became an artist, poet, and voice actress. Nikki's daughter-in-law, Marie van der Zyl, is currently the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Later Years and Memory

Werner van der Zyl passed away in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 1984. He is buried at the Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery in Golders Green, England.

To remember him, an annual lecture is held at Leo Baeck College. In 2013, the college also named a special teaching position after him. It is called the Van der Zyl Head of Vocational Studies.

His family's old papers and documents are kept at the University of Southampton.

See also

• Leo Baeck College
• Movement for Reform Judaism