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<Reply-To: judgergm@swbell.com <From: judgergm@swbell.com <To: klarnold@flash.net <Subject: NYTimes.com Article: Suspended Rabbi Quits Seminary Presidency <Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 00:02:21 -0500 (EST) < <This article from NYTimes.com <has been sent to you by Bob Moss judgergm@swbell.com. < <Karen < < < <Bob Moss <judgergm@swbell.com < </-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ < < <LOOKING FOR A TRULY HIGH-SPEED INTERNET EXPERIENCE?Then visit Alcatel.com <and see what makes us theeworld's leading supplier of DSL <solutions..Alcatel, world leader in DSL <solutions..http://www.nytimes.com/ads/email/alcatel/index.html < <\----------------------------------------------------------/ < <Suspended Rabbi Quits Seminary Presidency <http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/07/national/07RABB.html < <December 7, 2000 < <By GUSTAV NIEBUHR < <Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman, a leading figure in Judaism's Reform <movement as president of its seminary, has resigned from his job <after being suspended by the movement's rabbinic organization for <having entered into "personal relationships" in the past that the <organization said violated its ethical code. < < Rabbi Zimmerman, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish <Institute of Learning, where he had been considered a charismatic <and innovative leader, quit that post on Monday, after the Central <Conference of American Rabbis suspended his rabbinical functions <for at least two years, college and conference officials said. < < In a statement, the college said the suspension followed an <investigation by the conference into "personal relationships" of <Rabbi Zimmerman, which it did not specify other than to say that <they predated his appointment as president in January 1996. Rabbi <Zimmerman was the seventh president of the college, which was <founded in 1875. < < Rabbi Paul J. Menitoff, the conference's executive vice president, <said its board approved the penalty on Monday, based on a <recommendation by its ethics committee, which looks into complaints <about the conference's 1,700 members. < < Rabbi Menitoff said that conference rules prevented him from <discussing the case but that the board decided Rabbi Zimmerman had <violated a part of the ethics code, paragraph 2A, which deals with <sexual conduct. < < It is included in the section of the code on "personal <responsibility," which covers such matters as family life, personal <honesty and finances. It calls on rabbis "to be scrupulous in <avoiding even the appearance of sexual misconduct, whether by <taking advantage of our position with those weaker than ourselves <or dependent on us or succumbing to the temptations of willing <adults." < < Hebrew Union, which trains men and women as rabbis and cantors and <in other graduate and professional fields, has 1,500 students on <campuses in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, New York and Jerusalem. Before <becoming president, Rabbi Zimmerman, 58, was senior rabbi of Temple <Emanu-El in Dallas from 1985 to 1995, and senior rabbi at Central <Synagogue in New York, from 1972 to 1985. He is married and has <four children. From 1993 to 1995, he was also the conference's <president. < < Rabbi Zimmerman's resignation was first reported yesterday in The <Cincinnati Enquirer and The Dallas Morning News. < < Efforts to reach him through the college and its officials were <unsuccessful. The college said it appointed its provost, Norman <Cohen, as acting president and would search for a permanent <replacement. < < Rabbi Menitoff said the conference followed "the same process that <we'd follow with any rabbi in the conference in similar <circumstances." He said complaints against a rabbi are referred to <and investigated by the ethics committee. Depending on that <committee's findings, the conference may dismiss the complaint, <privately reprimand or publicly censure a rabbi or suspendn or <expel a rabbi. < < Rabbi Menitoff said the decision to suspend Rabbi Zimmerman was <"very difficult and painful for everyone involved." < < Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president of the Union of American Hebrew <Congregations, the Reform movement's synagogue organization, said <Rabbi Zimmerman did not contest the findings or the judgment <against him but responded to the decision "with great dignity." < < Rabbi Yoffie said that during his tenure as president, Rabbi <Zimmerman added younger scholars to the faculty and expanded the <college's Los Angeles branch so much that it will begin ordaining <rabbis in 2002. < < Another member of the conference, Rabbi A. James Rudin, emeritus <director of interreligious affairs at the American Jewish <Committee, said Rabbi Zimmerman's resignation was "a real loss" and <"a shock to the movement." < < Hebrew Union's chairman, Burton Lehman, praised Rabbi Zimmerman as <"a great, great leader." Mr. Lehman said that Rabbi Zimmerman's <resignation would "have an impact" but that the college was strong. < < "Transitionally, we'll be fine," Mr. Lehman said. "We have a <strong faculty that will carry this institution through this <tribulation." < < < < <The New York Times on the Web <http://www.nytimes.com < </-----------------------------------------------------------------\ < < <Visit NYTimes.com for complete access to the <most authoritative news coverage on the Web, <updated throughout the day. < <Become a member today! It's free! < <http://www.nytimes.com?eta < < <\-----------------------------------------------------------------/ < <HOW TO ADVERTISE <--------------------------------- <For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters <or other creative advertising opportunities with The <New York Times on the Web, please contact Alyson <Racer at alyson@nytimes.com or visit our online media <kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo < <For general information about NYTimes.com, write to <help@nytimes.com. < <Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company
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