![]() Union of Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs sent a letter to Wender two days before the vote reaffirming the CCAR’s decision and supporting Wender, the board’s decision and the congregation. “We are very comfortable with our legal position because we’ve been so careful every step along the way to follow all the rules, to treat everybody fairly,” Rotenberg said. Rotenberg said Fink has threatened litigation against the temple as recently as Oct. “But if we can’t reach a fair and reasonable agreement to satisfy Rabbi Fink’s and his wife’s claims, then we will definitely be filing suit, certainly before the end of the year.” “That certainly would be in the best interest of Oheb Shalom and I think it would also be in the best interest of the other prospective defendants,” Graham said. ![]() “I’m just very concerned about the future of Oheb Shalom.”įink’s lawyer, Andrew Jay Graham, said that he and the Finks will try to resolve their civil claims by agreement, if possible, “in a positive way.” It’s a beautiful day and Sally’s and my life will go on,” he said. In spite of the vote, Fink said he was feeling “great.” A place of learning and prayer and of deep social commitment and that’s gone.” It was a warm, vibrant and very active place. “What makes me sad is the leadership has destroyed the congregation,” Fink said. 23, the rabbi said the way the vote turned out was expected. In a phone conversation with the JT on Oct. Following that, Fink was suspended from the CCAR, barred from the synagogue and from direct contact with congregants and could no longer practice as a Reform rabbi.Ī suspended rabbi may work toward reinstatement with the CCAR, which would include “unequivocal acknowledgment of responsibility for harm done to victim(s), the congregation or institution and the honor of the rabbinate,” according to the CCAR ethics code. What followed was reporting to civil authorities and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Reform movement’s governing body, after which a lengthy CCAR investigation took place. The vote came after about six months of upheaval at the synagogue that began in early May with a letter from Wender that notified congregants that Fink had been suspended with pay after the temple learned of an allegation of sexual impropriety with a teen minor that occurred “a number of years ago.” And significantly, we have preserved the moral integrity of our beloved congregation by insisting that our spiritual leadership adhere to the high standards of ethical and personal behavior expected of Reform rabbis.” “We will continue to be spiritually guided for the next year by Rabbi Disick. Synagogue president Mina Wender said in a letter to the congregation that the vote was “the first step toward the healing that our congregation needs and deserves, and we can now begin to put this painful matter behind us,” she wrote. “After the last person spoke, the question was called.” The professional parliamentarian conducting the meeting “went back and forth between the pro and con microphones until there were no more people who desired to speak,” Rotenberg said. Two microphones were set up, one for people speaking in support and one for people speaking in opposition to the termination. Oheb spokeswoman Amy Rotenberg said that 195 members attended the meeting, where more than a dozen spoke in favor of the board’s action and three people spoke in opposition. Fink maintained his innocence throughout the process. The congregation voted 515 to 91 to ratify the temple board’s earlier unanimous decision to terminate the rabbi’s employment contract. ![]() 21 to terminate Rabbi Steven Fink’s contract following accusations of sexual impropriety and the rabbi’s subsequent suspension from the Central Conference of American Rabbis. At what was described as an orderly meeting, the membership of Temple Oheb Shalom voted overwhelmingly on Oct. ![]()
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