Jewish Leader Seeks End to Discord : Judaism: New Board of Rabbis president urges all traditions to work together.

Halfway around the world in England, the rabbi who got the job that Abner Weiss once wanted is ruffling feathers, with pronouncements that Jews outside the Orthodox tradition are “thieves” who have cut the ties with the faith of their ancestors.

And here in Los Angeles, Weiss--an Orthodox rabbi--is smoothing them as he calls for Jews of all stripes to work together and assumes the leadership of the area’s most influential group of rabbis.

“My contention is that much more unites us than divides us,” said Weiss, who was installed Wednesday as president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. “There’s a growing polarization in the Jewish community, and it does affect our ability to work together, which is tragic.”

Four years ago, Weiss--a native of South Africa who has led Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills for a decade--was flown to London twice to be interviewed for the position of chief rabbinate of Great Britain.

But he lost the job to Jonathan Sacks, who caused a worldwide stir this year when he declared that any Jew who does not accept that the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, were dictated by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai--a central tenet of Orthodox Judaism--has “severed links with the faith of his ancestors.”

Weiss says he is glad he was not appointed to that high-profile post. He will have his hands full coordinating the 250-member board of rabbis, which includes representatives of the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements, which have all modified traditional strictures and observance, such as tolerating Sabbath driving.

Because of their differences, many Orthodox rabbis will not participate on the board, which provides chaplains to prisons and hospitals, outreach to other religious and ethnic groups and in-service training to members.

“One cannot overstate how serious some of these issues are,” said Weiss, who comes from the “modern Orthodox” wing of Orthodoxy.

The board “represents a forum where colleagues from all streams of Judaism come together to address critical issues that face us all,” said the outgoing president, Joel Rembaum of Temple Beth Am, a Conservative congregation.

In his new position, Weiss said he plans to stress the role of board president as spokesperson on current issues, especially the fate of the Middle East peace process.

Weiss, father of four grown children, holds a doctorate in philosophy and is working on a doctorate in clinical psychology.

He served as professor of Hebrew and Jewish studies at the University of Natal and rabbi of a congregation in Durban, South Africa, before moving to New York in 1976 to take the pulpit of the Riverdale Jewish Center, a major Orthodox congregation. He came to Beverly Hills in 1985.