Shaaray Tefila Dismisses Rabbi on Charges of Unfitness; Rabbi Denies Charges

The board of trustees of Shaaray Tefila, one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States has dismissed Rabbi Philip Schechter on charges of unfitness to serve as a rabbi. Rabbi Schechter told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that he had been dismissed because he had tried to modernize procedures of the synagogue, including introduction of experimental services, which had evoked opposition among some “powerful members” of the board Frederick Block, president of the board, told the JTA today that Rabbi Schechter was still spiritual leader of the congregation but that, in view of the controversy, he had proposed and the board had agreed to give Rabbi Schechter a paid leave of absence until the end of his contractual year in June. He had been hired last July. Rabbi Schechter has refused to bring the matter to public attention on his own initiative but he did agree to discuss the matter with the JTA at the request of the news agency. He said he had been informed by Block that the board had rejected a 3-2 recommendation of a special five-man committee, appointed by Block, that Rabbi Schechter be retained and voted for his immediate ouster on Jan. 31.

According to Rabbi Schechter’s account, three members of the board brought eight pages of charges against him, including complaints 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 congregational by-laws, a rabbi cannot be dismissed without a congregational hearing. Rabbi Schechter told the JTA he asked for a congregational hearing which was refused him. However, he said, when word leaked to the congregation about his Jan 31 outer congregants began collecting signatures for a petition for a congregational meeting and that many more than the minimum 20 names were collected. Rabbi Schechter said the congregational meeting will be held on Feb. 16. The basic statement made by Rabbi Schechter to the JTA was confirmed by Block who added that he named the five-man special committee because Rabbi Schechter had become a “controversial figure” and the center of a dispute which he felt was bad for the synagogue. After the board voted not to retain Rabbi Schechter, Block said he made the proposal for a leave of absence, in the hope that the situation would calm down.

DISMISSED RABBI CHARGES HE WAS NEVER GIVEN CHANCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST CHARGES

Rabbi Schechter said that at no time during any of the hearings preceding his dismissal was he asked to participate so that he could defend himself against the charges. Rabbi Schechter does not have a written contract, at his own choice, He said he had come to the congregation from a pulpit in Atlantic City with the stated assignment of “modernizing” the congregation and that he had been consistently opposed by certain members, both on the board and outside of it. He said his foes on the board took the position that since he did not have a written contract, a clause in the state Religious Corporation law banning dismissal of a clergyman without a congregational hearing did not apply. He said the board meeting which voted not to extend his tenure was held in secret. However, word of his ouster became known and a group of confirmation class students and some of their parents picketed the synagogue at services last Friday, seeking signatures to protest the dismissal.

Block was asked whether an affirmative vote by the congregation at the Feb. 16 meeting would be followed by a reversal of the board’s position. The board will meet on Feb. 17. Block said the situation was without precedent and that he did not know. He added that under congregation by-laws, authority to hire a rabbi rests with the board of trustees. Meanwhile, Rabbi Bernard Bamberger has been called out of retirement to serve during the interim period. Rabbi Schechter told the JTA he would return to Shaaray Tefila, if the congregational vote is favorable and if the board reverses itself, only on condition of a complete change in the “climate” of the congregation’s procedures. He said the by-laws would have to be revised to eliminate secret hearings. He also said a policy of refusing use of the synagogue’s community house to local service organizations was wrong and should be ended.