The World of Nikki van der Zyl

2011 update: The German Social Democratic Party (SDP) has decided to rename the main market square in Schwerte. Henceforth it will be known as the Dr. Werner van der Zyl Platz. This is in recognization of him being a son of Shwerte and to honour him as the founder of the world famous Leo Baeck College for Rabbis in London. (See full newspaper reports in Schwerter Rundschau and Ruhr-Anzeiger.)

First, let us clear up a common misunderstanding: many people think that because it is called the Leo Baeck College it was founded by Rabbi Dr. Leo Baeck. If my father founded the college, why doesn't the name reflect that? Rabbi Paul of the Radlett and Bushey Reform Synagogue writes:

Rabbi Werner van der Zyl, like Baeck one of the great progressive rabbis of pre-war Germany, was the prime mover of the establishment of the college. Shortly afterwards Baeck died and van der Zyl, whose daughter Nikki was at the event, decreed that the college be dedicated in his name.

The new rabbinical centre was to be known as the Jewish Theological College but by honouring his mentor Baeck, my father unwittingly obscured his own part in the great endeavour from future generations. Of course my father did not do it alone and it is not denied that he was assisted by many other able people. But, it was his vision and determination which overcame all the obstacles that ensured success.

After Leo Baeck's death in November of 1956 the development of the fledgling college depended almost entirely upon the efforts of my father. Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain in his article '50 Years of Leo Baeck College' states that:

Rabbi Werner van der Zyl was not only the prime mover of the college, but went on to guide its progress for the next ten years as director and be responsible for much of its success. He also helped secure the support of the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagaogues (ULPS), and from 1964 onwards the College was jointly sponsored by both movements.

In an introduction to the book "Werner van der Zyl, Master Builder", Raymond Goldman writes:

A place in Jewish history has been assured to Rabbi Dr. Werner van der Zyl by that singular act of faith, the founding of the Leo Baeck College. This was perhaps his attempt to institutionalise for our generation what his great teacher, Leo Baeck, had been for him. Werner van der Zyl saw the synagogues of Berlin burning at the hands of the Nazis. His response was to build a congregation, to build a generation and to build a seat of Jewish learning. The eternal optimism of the Jew can seldom have been more clearly manifested in one man's life.