After blocking members of The East Hampton Jewish Center from voting to replace their board of trustees on Dec. 4, a state Supreme Court judge in Suffolk County has reversed his ruling and now will allow the vote to take place on Dec. 25. But Judge Ralph Costello said any new officers elected may not take office until he hears arguments on Jan. 3 about whether the vote was legitimate.
Members of the Reform congregation have been at odds over the future of Rabbi David Gelfand, whose tenure has been questioned by the trustees. Supporters of the rabbi want to elect a board that will immediately renew the three-year contract for more than $1 million.
"The judge will decide whether there is cause to remove the trustees and whether it is right under the Jewish Center’s constitution to compel the board to keep the rabbi," said the attorney for the trustees, Laura Hoguet.
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