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Respected Rabbi Resigns

Violation of sexual ethics guidelines are cited.

widely admired not only for his
administrative work in the college, but
for being a spokesman for the Reform
movement.
New York
Rabbi Zimmerman is widely known
abbi Sheldon Zimmerman,
by "the force of his personality and his
58, quit his post as president
of the Hebrew Union College-
ability to present the principles and
Jewish Institute of Religion on
commitments of Reform Judaism in a
popular and compelling way," Rabbi
Monday, shortly after being suspended
Yoffie said.
from the Reform movement's rabbinic
association.
The news hit students and col-
Rabbi Zimmerman is the highest-
leagues in the Reform movement hard.
ranking rabbi ever to be suspended
"Shelly is one of the great American
from the CCAR.
rabbis," said Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, of
The suspension, resulting from an
the Community Synagogue of Port
inquiry by the Central Conference of
Washington in Long Island, N.Y.
American Rabbis' seven-
"He has been a leader in
member ethics committee,
this movement for three
prohibits Rabbi
decades," said Rabbi
Zimmerman from serving
Salkin. "His teaching and
as a rabbi in any Reform
creativity have touched
temple or institution for at
numerous lives.
least two years.
"I profoundly respect
According to an HUC
him and call him a friend.
statement, the suspension
My heart aches for him
results from Rabbi
and for his family and for
Zimmerman's "personal
our movement."
relationships" before he
In the past five years,
became president in 1996.
the CCAR's ethics corn-
Neither Rabbi
mittee and guidelines
Zimmerman nor officials
related to sexual miscon-
with the CCAR returned
duct have been strength-
Rabbi Zimmerman
phone calls seeking com-
ened and enforcement
ment.
more aggressive, say people familiar
Reform officials said Rabbi
with the process.
Zimmerman had violated guidelines
Rabbi Zimmerman has been credit-
concerning "sexual ethics and sexual
ed with rebuilding HUC's faculty, and
boundaries," but the ethics committee
under his tenure the college began
has not disclosed the precise nature of
ordaining rabbis on the West Coast as
what he did.
well as in New York and Cincinnati.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the
Recently, Rabbi Zimmerman had
Reform movement's Union of
been vocal about the need to address
American Hebrew Congregations, said
the national shortage of rabbis and
the committee's inquiry came in
other Jewish professionals.
response to a complaint filed earlier
Before assuming the HUC presi-
this year. Rabbi Zimmerman could
dency, Rabbi Zimmerman served as
have contested the decision, but chose
senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in
not to, said Rabbi Yoffie.
Dallas and assistant rabbi of Central
"He recognized that he made a mis-
Synagogue in New York. Ordained in
take and accepted responsibility for
1970, he was president of the CCAR
that," said Rabbi Yoffie, who does not
from 1993 to 1995.
sit on the committee and said he does
HUC appointed its provost,
not know the details of Rabbi
Norman Cohen, to serve as acting
Zimmerman's actions.
president. The college is in the process
"Obviously, a suspension of two
of forming a search committee for a
new president.
years indicates this is a serious matter,"
said Rabbi Yoffie.
HUC, which has campuses in
Rabbi Zimmerman, known by his
Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles
colleagues as "Shelly," was the past
and Jerusalem, has 1,400 students in
president of the CCAR, the body from
its rabbinical, cantorial and other
which he has been suspended. He was
graduate programs. ❑

JULIE WIENER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

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