Education was not the only issue the committee had to deal with. Other attitudes were also changing, as well as the youth’s lack of interest in Torah studies. Mr N Smith proposed a resolution on something he considered important. A man should not be prejudiced from being given an honour in shul just because he was not wearing a tie or was dressed in a safari suit. There was no Halachic ruling on the manner of dress. Worshippers without a tie were equally tidy and neat as tie-wearers and why should the wearing of a tie or a suit become the criterion for determining whether a member was deserving of a mitzvah in shul? The chairman chose not to put Smith’s resolution to the vote.
That was not the only change in attitudes to formal attire. When Ernie Kirsch[i] was the President (1964-1965 and 1973-1974) his wife Sonia recalled that the officials wore top hats - during his first term he had to wear a top hat, even on the Bimah. Sometimes when it was very very hot they were allowed to replace the top hats with smart black hombergs or white kipot. After 1965 top hats were replaced by black hombergs and now they did not even want to wear ties!
[i] He joined the shul in 1947, was elected onto the committee in 1956, serving for 44 years until his death.