4

Modern'llabbi's Dismissal by Board

NEW YORK (JTA)—Members
of the congregation of Shaaray
Tefila, a leading reform synagogue,
voted at an uproarious meeting
Tuesday night, 144-135, in effect
not to extend the unwritten con-
tract of Rabbi Philip Schechter,
who had contended he was dis-
mised by the board of trustees be-
cause he tried to "modernize" pro-
cedures of the 125-year-old syna-
gogue.
The vote was on a resolution
calling on the board of trustees to
to reconsider a Jan. 31 decision
not to renew the contract of the 35-
year-old bearded rabbi.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency
was told more than 500 members
were present but that those in the
classification of associate and jun-
ior members have no voting rights.
Rabbi Schechter said he had
been invited to make a brief state-
ment in his own defense at the
meeting, which was held in the
synagogue's sanctuary and that he
was booed by some members.

Rabbi Sidney Regner, who is
retiring as executive vice presi-
dent of the Central Conference
of American Rabbis, or which
Rabbi Schechter is a member,
also addressed the meeting, ask•
ing foes of the young rabbi to
spell out their charges. Rabbi
Schechter told the JTA that Rab-
bi Regner did not receive any
direct response to that request

and he also was booed by foes
of Rabbi Schechter.
Prior to the congregational
meeting, an issue had been raised
as to what the board would do, at
its regular meeting Wednesday
night, if the vote of the badly split
congregation had been In favor of
retention of Rabbi Schechter.
The board reportedly voted at
the Jan. 31 meeting not to extend
Rabbi Schechter's written contract.
When he was hired last May, he
said he preferred not to have a
written agreement.
Frederick Block, president of
the board, so notified Rabbi
Schechter. Block said he proposed
an arrangement under which Rab-
bi Schechter was to receive a paid
leave of absence until the end of
his first year. Rabbi Schechter told
the JTA that he planned to file a
formal protest with the CCAR over
his dismissal.
Rabbi Schechter told the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency that he had
been dismissed because he had
tried to modernize procedures of

JNF Plants Saplings

the synagogue, including introduc-
tion of experimental services,
which had evoked opposition among
some "powerful members" of the
board.
According to Rabbi Schechter's
account, three members of the
board brought eight pages of char-
ges against him, including com-
plaints that he was a "hippie,"
that he did not wear proper garb
as an officiating rabbi and that he
introduced innovations they felt
were not proper for the 125-year-
old. synagogue.
Under both the state. religious
corporation law and the congrega-
tional bylaws, a rabbi cannot be
dismissed without a congregational
hearing.

Jpheld in Congregation Vote, 144-135

his ouster became known and a
group of confirmation class stu-
ents and some of their parents
icketed the synagogue at services,
s
eeking
signatures to protest the
P

2—Friday, February 19, 1971

Lowest

with piwch

Meanwhile, Rabbi Bernard Bam-
berger has been called out of re-
tirement to serve during the
interim period.
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Rabbi Schechter said, when
word leaked to the congrega-
tion about his Jan. 31 ouster,
congregants began collecting
signatures for a petition for a
congregational meeting and that
many more than the minimum
20 names were collected.
He said the board meeting which

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voted not to extend his tenure was
held in secret. ,However, word of

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