The chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, has agreed to recant views suggesting religions can learn from each other following a meeting with conservative rabbis who threatened him with a charge of heresy.
Dr Sacks, whose latest book The Dignity of Difference, represents a plea for religious tolerance, will have to revise its central message if it is ever republished.
The book - extracts of which were published in the Guardian - was praised for its tolerance and open-mindedness by reviewers, but condemned by orthodox and conservative rabbis for the implication that their religion might fall short of complete perfection.
In a statement released to the Jewish Chronicle, following a three hour private meeting with 20 rabbis from Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, Dr Sacks conceded that "one or two sentences might be misunderstood." He promised to make "appropriate amendments" in the next possible edition.
The move will anger more liberal Jews already exasperated at previous back-trackings by the chief rabbi in the face of orthodox intransigence.
It represents a humiliating climbdown, negating the book's thesis, at the behest of deeply conservative synagogue leaders. In the past, they have complained about Dr Sacks's attempts to build bridges with other religions and even his attendance at interfaith ceremonies such as the Queen's jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral.
It is understood that one of the passages complained of was: "God has spoken to mankind in many languages, through Judaism to the Jews, Christianity to Christians, Islam to Muslims... no one creed has a monopoly of spiritual truth.
"In heaven there is truth, on earth there are truths. God is greater than religion. He is only partially comprehended by any faith."
David Rosen, former chief rabbi of Ireland, told the Jewish Chronicle that he could see nothing objectionable in the words or ideas, describing them as "wonderfully presented."