Harris Swift

The Jewish Chronicle - Jan 22 1971

SWIFT.—On Sabbath. January 18, Rabbi Harris Swift, Emeritus Rabbi of the Western synagogue. Deeply mourned by his wife, Bessie, children. Sheldon, Arnold, Lionel, Josie. brothers, Dayan Morris Swift. Rabbi Isaac Swift, sisters. Gertrude Lederman, Rebecca Fisch, Sally Filer, Deborah Bender, and grandchildren.— Apt 312, 950 2nd Street, Santa Monica. California. U.S.A.

Swift.—Harris passed away In California suddenly on January 16. Dearly beloved brother of Sully Filer and brother-in-law of Sol. Deeply mourned by them and all the family.—45 Grove Road South, Southsea, Hampshire.

Swift.—The ministers,, honorary officers, board of management and the whole congregation of the Western Synagogue. London deeply mourn the passing of their former Rabbi, Harris Swift, who died in America:

Rabbi Harris Swift

Rabbi Harris Swift, former minister of the Western Synagogue, London, died last Saturday in California at the age of 65.

Born in Liverpool, where he attended the yeshiva. Rabbi Swift first served the congregations at Llanelli and Bristol before coming to London in 1934 when he was appointed minister of the St. John's Wood Synagogue, a position he held for 15 years. He then became minister of the United Hebrew Congregations of Durban until 1956 when he took up an appointment in Chattanooga, USA.

Returning to London in 1962 he became minister of the Western Synagogue. Seven years later he resigned, mainly for health reasons, and once again settled in the United States. There he devoted much of his time to lecturing and writing:

Often outspoken in his criticism (of the Orthodox Establishment—his brother, Dayan Morris Swift, is a member of the London Beth Din—Rabbi Swift publicly expressed his support for Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs in the latter's dispute with the Chief Rabbinate.

Rabbi Swift is survived by his widow, three sons and a daughter.