Second Chance
Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, suspended by the CCAR
for sexual impropriety, will head Birthright Israel in America.
Rabbi Zimmerman, who's an enormously talented
individual, should not be able to contribute else-
where in the Jewish world," Rabbi Yoffie said.
Rabbi Yoffie recently criticized Birthright for accept-
ing money from Marc Rich.
Building Identity
Richard Joel, president of Hillel: The Foundation for
Jewish Campus Life, which is Birthright's largest trip
provider, said he supports the appointment as long as
Rabbi Zimmerman doesn't present himself as a rab-
rabbi. However, officials said it had to do with "person-
JULIE WIENER
binic role model.
al relationships" before Rabbi Zimmerman became
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
"I don't think his appointment to this position is mak-
president of the HUC that violated guidelines concern-
ing
any kind of statement mitigating any kind of
ing "sexual ethics and sexual boundaries."
New York
improper
acts," Joel said. "He has an option to say,
His resignation shocked many in the Reform
rabbi recently suspended from the Reform
because of the adverse publicity, 'I'm going to disappear
world,
where
Rabbi
Zimmerman
was
a
popular
and
movement's rabbinic organization because of
from the public scene and find work that will keep me as
respected leader known for his abilities as a
sexual impropriety has been hired to a top
a private citizen.' Is that the only course open to some-
spokesman, educator and administrator.
position by a program that sends thousands
one like Shelly Zimmerman, who's young and talented?
According to several sources — including
of young Jews on free trips to Israel.
Or are there appropriate positions where he can really
Birthright Israel officials — it is believed that Rabbi
Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, who resigned as pres-
add value to the Jewish public sphere without necessarily
Zimmerman had an extramarital
ident of the Hebrew Union College-
proferring himself as a role model of everything?"
affair with a congregant more than
Jewish Institute of Religion in
Joel headed an independent commission last year
15
years
ago,
while
he
was
rabbi
of
December, will become executive vice
investigating the Orthodox Union's handling of allega-
Central
Synagogue
in
New
York.
president of Birthright Israel USA, Inc.,
tions that Baruch Lanner, a high-ranking rabbi
CCAR officials who reviewed the
based in New York.
employed with its youth group, had sexually harassed
case, which was spurred by a corn-
He was recruited for the position by
and molested scores of teenagers.
plaint from an individual, have refused
Michael Steinhardt, the hedge fund
No one considers Rabbi Zimmerman's alleged mis-
to confirm or deny the reports.
manager-turned-philanthropist who co-
conduct
to be of the same gravity, Joel said.
Rabbi Zimmerman declined to be
founded the Birthright program.
"He's not ministering to a congregation and not
interviewed for this story. He issued a
(Steinhardt is also chairman of the
speaking on behalf of any particular movement, dogma
statement Thursday thanking
board of Jewish Renaissance Media, the
or sense of principles," Joel said. "He's dealing with one
n
Zimmerman
Bronfman
and
Birthright
Israel
for
Rabbi
Sheldo
owner of the Detroit Jewish News and
of the most basic of issues — using Israel as a trigger
their support.
the Atlanta Jewish Times.)
for promoting Jewish identity."
Rabbi Paul Menitoff, the CCAR's executive vice pres-
Steinhardt said he was "extraordinarily thrilled" to
Marlene Post, Birthright's North American chair, said
ident and a member of the ethics committee that rec-
have Rabbi Zimmerman on staff.
Rabbi
Zimmerman was selected for his academic,
ommended Rabbi Zimmerman's suspension, declined
Charles Bronfman, another major philanthropist and
administrative
and leadership credentials, and will not
to discuss the case, saying only that Rabbi Zimmerman
Birthright co-founder, called Rabbi Zimmerman a "ter-
be
in
direct
contact
with Birthright participants. "The
is "very talented, and he'll contribute significantly to
rific, terrific catch for Birthright.
other
issues
—
whatever
they are — were things that
the development" of Birthright.
"He is a dynamic educator and leader whose tal-
we
felt
would
not
directly
affect Birthright," Post said.
In a prepared statement, Rabbi Zimmerman said
ents will be a great blessing for Birthright Israel,"
Rabbi
Shira
Stern,
a
former
co-coordinator of the
he considered himself "blessed to be coming to work
Bronfman said.
CCAR's
Women's
Rabbinic
Network,
said she does not
for Birthright Israel," through which, he said, "the
Others in the Jewish community feel less blessed.
have
a
problem
with
Rabbi
Zimmerman's
new role.
community is making an unparalleled investment in
Susan Weidman Schneider, editor of the feminist
she said, using
teshuvah,"
"He
needs
to
do
his
own
the future of Jewish life."
Jewish magazine Lilith, said, "Although the specific
the Hebrew term for repentance. "But preventing him
He and his wife Judith have four children, including
nature of Zimmerman's actions have not been made
from working is not a solution. I fully believe that peo-
one rabbi, and one grandchild.
public," his hire "seems to repeat a pattern in Jewish life
ple need to make restitution to those they've harmed,
Despite Rabbi Zimmerman's high profile and the
where male rabbis known to have transgressive behaviors
but I don't believe in any respect that his appointment
notoriety of his suspension, Birthright Israel actively
in their past have not often suffered professionally for it."
to Birthright would be inappropriate."
recruited him for the job.
Weidman Schneider of Lilith rejected the notion that
Steinhardt, who first approached Rabbi Zimmerman,
a
professional
at Birthright Israel should be held to a
Details Confidential
said he knows Rabbi Zimmerman from his days at
laxer
moral
standard
than the president of HUC or a
The appointment comes on the heels of another con-
Central Synagogue, where Steinhardt was a member.
congregational
rabbi.
troversy surrounding the program: the fact that two of
Steinhardt said he is "not in the slightest" con-
"Since the goal of Birthright is to introduce young
Birthright's top lay leaders wrote pardon letters to
cerned about the fact that the CCAR suspended
people
to the highest and most complete participation
President Bill Clinton on behalf of financier Marc
Rabbi Zimmerman over sexual impropriety. "From
in
Jewish
life, it's obvious that the same high moral stan-
Rich, who gave $5 million to the organization.
all that I knew, it seemed like a remarkably harsh
dards
should
apply for those leaders as well," she said.
It also comes at a time when rabbis and Jewish pro-
response to an event that occurred more than 15
Rabbi Arthur Gross Schaefer, a law professor and
fessionals are in sharp demand.
years ago," Steinhardt said.
spiritual leader of two synagogues in Santa Barbara,
Rabbi Zimmerman led the HUC from 1996 until
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Reform move-
Calif., has written extensively on rabbinic misconduct.
last December, when he resigned after being suspended
ment's Union of American Hebrew Congregations and
He declined to comment on Rabbi Zimmerman's spe-
for a minimum of rwo years from the Reform move-
an executive committee member of the CCAR, said
cific case, but said the demands of a new high-profile
ment's Central Conference of American Rabbis on the
Rabbi Zimmerman "is a good choice for Birthright,
job
can prevent a rabbi guilty of misconduct from
recommendation of its ethics committee.
and I think he'll do an excellent job."
doing
the soul-searching necessary for repentance.
The CCAR never disclosed full details of the case
"On the one hand, I'm supportive of the CCAR
'As
Rambam
put it, sometimes you have to earn a
leading to Rabbi Zimmerman's suspension, under
and their process and have every reason to believe
new
name,"
Gross
Schafer said. "And you don't earn a
which he is not permitted to serve as a congregational
they've handled it appropriately. But I'm not pre-
new
name
overnight."
Li
pared to jump from that to assume that therefore
Related editorial: page 31
A
4/13
2001
22