ETHICS COMMITTEE URGES AJU TO RELEASE REPORT AND FIRE ABUSERS

June 24, 2024

The Committee on Ethics in Jewish Leadership is deeply disappointed by the refusal of American Jewish University to fire staff members who are guilty of contributing to a "toxic culture" of sexism and gender discrimination against AJU's Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.

Last year, the university commissioned the law firm of Cozen O'Connor to investigate more than a dozen complaints filed by former students who were victims of sexual harassment or discrimination at AJU in recent years. The report was completed in May 2024 , but instead of releasing it, AJU on June 17 distributed a brief summary of what it claims are the highlights of the findings. The summary did not mention any steps that will be taken against the faculty and administrators responsible for the harm caused to students. The summary also indicated the university had mishandled a Title IX investigation, but did not offer details.

American Jewish University's lack of transparency is appalling. Hiding the full report from the public makes it impossible to identify which individuals were responsible for the abuse. AJU's vague pledge to “do better” is insufficient. The Jewish community has a right to know what the investigation found, and the harassers and abusers must be fired immediately.

At a time when the Jewish community is experiencing a shortage of trained rabbis, AJU's toxic atmosphere has led some students to transfer to other rabbinical seminaries, and others seeking rabbinical training do not want to study at AJU. The university's failure to deal quickly and definitively to stop harassment is an outrage. Rabbinical students naturally seek to emulate the rabbis who teach them. It is incumbent upon AJU to create a community of teachers and students who inspire one another and set an example of the high level of moral integrity and spiritual inspiration that is expected from rabbis.

The only way to effectively combat sexual harassment and abuse in the Jewish world is for Jewish institutions to be completely transparent about the abusers in their midst, and take specific, serious actions to penalize them. No student at AJU can ever feel safe until the abusers have been publicly named and fired.


OUR PETITION TO DIANNE LOB

May 20, 2020

Ms. Dianne Lob, Chair-Elect
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
633 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017

Dear Ms. Lob,

Congratulations on your election as Chair-Elect of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

As just the third woman chair in the 64 year-history of the Conference, you are helping to shatter one of most important glass ceilings in the organized American Jewish community.

You also now find yourself in a position to help the community address the crisis of sexual harassment and abuse in Jewish professional life. As you know, in recent years, a number of important figures in our community have been revealed as sexual abusers. Unfortunately, not all Jewish organizations and institutions have taken meaningful measures in response to these revelations.

We urge the Conference of Presidents to lead the way by adopting a policy of barring from its activities any Jewish organizational representative who has committed sexual harassment or assault.

Such a policy would set an example of leadership on this critical issue and for zero tolerance of sexual harassment or abuse in Jewish communal life. It would also ensure that the Jewish community can have full confidence in the integrity of those who represent our interests.

We urge you to advocate for such action by the Conference.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Reuben Israel Abraham
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, Philadelphia PA

Rabbi Steven Abraham
Beth El Synagogue, Omaha NE

Rabbi Susan Abramson
Temple Shalom Emeth, Burlington MA

Rabbi Prof. Rachel Adler
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Yosef Adler
Congregation Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck NJ

Prof. Natalia Aleksiun
Touro College Graduate School of Jewish Studies

Jamie Allen-Black, CEO
Jewish Women's Foundation of New York

Rabbi Rebecca Alpert
Temple University

Rabbi Tom Alpert
Temple Etz Chaim, Franklin, MA

Rabbi Renni S. Altman
Vassar Temple, Poughkeepsie NY

Prof. Joyce Antler
Brandeis University (emer.)

Rabbi Jeffrey Astrachan
Temple Beth Israel, York PA

Rachel Avrunin
Jewish Survivors of Harassment & Abuse Network

Prof. Cynthia M. Baker
Bates College

Rabbi David Basior
Kadima Reconstructionist Community, Seattle WA

Rabbi Sarah Bassin
Temple Emanuel, Beverly Hills CA

Rabbi Steven Bayar
Bnai Israel, Millburn NJ (emer.)

Rabbi Philip N. Bazeley
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, New Brunswick NJ

Prof. Evelyn Torton Beck
University of Maryland (emer.)

Prof. Mara H. Benjamin
Mt. Holyoke College

Prof. Alan L. Berger
Florida Atlantic University

Rabbi Leah R. Berkowitz
Congregation Kol Ami, Elkins Park PA

Rabbi Donald R. Berlin
Har Sinai Oheb Shalom - Bethesda MD (emer.)

Prof. Lila Corwin Berman
Temple University

Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Ph.D.
Kol Ami: Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community (emer.)

Rabbi Jonathan Biatch
Temple Beth El, Madison WI

Jamie Allen Black
Ta'amod: Stand Up!

Rabbi Yosef Blau
Senior Mashgiach Ruchani, Yeshiva University

Prof. Paul Bookbinder
University of Massachusetts Boston (ret.)

Rabbi Neal Borovitz
Temple Avodat Shalom (emer.)

Prof. Daniel Boyarin
University of California at Berkeley

Rabbi Julie Bressler
Temple Beth Shalom, Needham MA

Rabbi Daniel M. Bronstein PhD
Hunter College

Rabbi Lester Bronstein
White Plains, NY

Rabbi Deborah Ruth Bronstein
Congregation Har HaShem, Boulder CO

Rabbi Meredith Cahn
Petaluma, CA

Prof. Jessica Carr
Lafayette College

Rabbi David Castiglione
Temple Adat Shalom, Poway CA

Rabbi Adam Chalom
Dean, North America International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism

Prof. Phyllis Chesler
City University of New York (emer.)

Rabbi Dr. Geoffrey Claussen
Elon University

Prof. Aryeh Cohen
American Jewish University

Rabbi Howard A. Cohen
Marshfield, MA

Rabbi Michael M. Cohen
Israel Congregation, Manchester Center VT

Rabbi Paul F. Cohen, D.Min., D.D.
Temple Jeremiah, Northfield IL

Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels
Temple Beth Shir Shalom, Santa Monica CA

Rabbi Meryl M. Crean
Lansdale, PA

Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz
Temple B'nai Abraham, Livingston NJ

Rabbi Beth D. Davidson
Temple Adath Yeshurun, Manchester NH

Rabbi Melody Davis
Temple Covenant of Peace, Easton PA

Sheila Decter
Founder: Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Rabbi Lisa Delson
Peninsula Temple Sholom, Burlingame CA

Prof. Hasia Diner
New York University

Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Ph.D.
Rector and Professor, American Jewish University

Rabbi Jessy Dressin
Director, Repair the World - Baltimore

Rabbi Pini Dunner
YINBH Beverly Hills Synagogue, Beverly Hills CA

Prof. Debórah Dwork
Graduate Center - CUNY

Naomi Eisenberger, Executive Director
Good People Fund

Rabbi Marc E. Ekstrand
Temple Emanu-El, Waterford CT

Rabbi David M. Eligberg
Temple Israel, Albany NY

Rabbi Diane Elliot
Wholly Present, El Sobrante CA

Marcia Falk, Ph.D.
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley CA

Prof. Marjorie N. Feld
Babson College

Rabbi Michael Feinberg
New York, NY

Prof. Kirsten Fermaglich
Michigan State University

Rabbi Avi Fine
Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle WA

Prof. Charlotte Fonrobert
Stanford University

Rabbi Jeff Foust
Jewish Chaplain, Bentley University

Rabbi Joan S. Friedman, Ph.D.
College of Wooster Chair, CCAR Responsa Committee

Prof. Esther Fuchs
University of Arizona

Rabbi Eli Garfinkel
Temple Beth El - Somerset, NJ

Prof. Jay Geller
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Gary S. Gerson
Rabbi Emeritus, Oak Park (IL) Temple B'nai Abraham Zion

Rabbi Jordie Gerson
Greenwich (CT) Reform Synagogue

Prof. Sharon Gillerman
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Edwin Goldberg
Congregation Beth Shalom of The Woodlands (TX)

Rabbi Susan Goldberg
Nefesh, Los Angeles

Myrna Goldenberg, PhD
Montgomery College, MD (emer.)

Rabbi Seth Goldstein
Temple Beth Hatfiloh, Olympia WA

Rabbi Paul Golomb
Vassar Temple, Poughkeepsie NY

Prof. Rachel Gordan
University of Florida

Prof. Alyssa M. Gray
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg
Riverdale, NY

Prof. Frederick E. Greenspahn
Florida Atlantic University (emer.)

Rabbi Victor Gross, Ph.D.
Yerusha.org

Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz, Ph.D
Congregation B'nai Shalom, Westborough MA

Rabbi Judith Halevy
Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue

Prof. Kathryn Hellerstein
University of Pennsylvania

Prof. Susannah Heschel
Dartmouth College

Rabbi Deborah A. Hirsch
The Village Temple, New York NY

Rabbi Joshua Hoffman
Valley Beth Shalom, Encino CA

Rabba Sara Hurwitz
New York, NY

Jerry D. Isaak-Shapiro
Joseph & Florence Mandel Jewish Day School

Rabbi Debbie Israel
Congregation Emeth, Morgan Hill CA

Dr. Miriam Isserow
Administrator, #Gam Ani

Rabbi Howard L. Jaffe
Temple Isaiah, Lexington MA

Rabbi Beth Janus
Philadelphia, PA

Prof. Norma Baumel Joseph
Concordia University

Rabbi Cassi Kail
Temple Beth El, San Pedro CA

Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin
Am Yisrael, Northfield Il

Rabbi Min Kantrowitz
Congregation Nahalat Shalom, Albuquerque NM

Prof. Marion Kaplan
New York University

Rabbi Molly Karp
New City, NY

Prof. Harold Kasimow
Grinnell College (emer.)

Rabbi Dr. Jan Katzew
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Prof. Yitzchak Kerem
Foundation for Jewish Diversity

Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg
Kol Ami: A Center for Jewish Life, Kirkland WA

Rabbi Daniel Kirzane
Oak Park Temple, Oak Park IL

Rabbi Frederick L. Klein
Executive VP, Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami

Idit Klein
President & CEO, Keshet: For LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life

Prof. Rebecca Kobrin
Columbia University

Rabbi Debra Kolodny
Portland's UnShul, Portland OR

Rabbi Stephanie Kramer
Congregation Shomrei Torah, Santa Rosa CA

Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, PhD
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein
Congregation Shir Shalom, Williamsville NY

Rabbi Marc Kraus
Temple Emanuel, Virginia Beach VA

Rabbi Claudia Kreiman
Temple Beth Zion, Brookline MA

Julie Krigel
Past President, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley

Prof. Chana Kronfeld
University of California, Berkeley

Prof. Gail Labovitz
American Jewish University

Rav Daniel Landes
Head: YASHRUT

Prof. Fred Lazin
Ben Gurion University (emer.)

Rabbi Prof. Sarra Lev, PhD
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Prof. Amy-Jill Levine
Vanderbilt University Arielle Levites, Ph.D. Consortium for Applied Studies in Jewish Education

Prof. Laura S. Levitt
Temple University

Rabbi Kelly Levy
Congregation Beth Israel, Austin TX

Rabbi Robert Levy
Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor MI (emer.)

Rabbi Ron Li-Paz
Valley Outreach Synagogue, Calabasas, CA

Rabbi Dr. Richard Libowitz
Temple University

Rabbi Valerie Lieber
Kane Street Synagogue, Brooklyn NY

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann
Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Brooklyn, NY (emer.)

Prof. Marcia Sachs Littell
Stockton University (emer.)

Chaplain Stephen Macht
Beverly Hills, CA

Prof. Shaul Magid
Dartmouth College

Prof. Shulamit S. Magnus
Oberlin College (emer.)

Rabba Claudia Marbach
Director, Teen Beit Midrash

Rabbi Paula Marcus
Temple Beth El, Aptos CA

Rabbi Sharon Young Marcus
Park Synagogue, Pepper Pike OH

Rabbi Sarah Marion
Congregation B'nai Israel, Bridgeport CT

Rabbi Mathew Marko
Congregation Beth Israel, Greenville SC

Prof. Devi Mays
University of Michigan

Prof. Jessica Marglin
University of Southern California

Prof. Keren McGinity
Brandeis University

Dr. Rafael Medoff
Washington, D.C.

Prof. Natan M. Meir
Portland State University

Prof. Barry Mesch
Hebrew College

Ruth Messinger
Past President/CEO, American Jewish World Service

Rabbi Brian I. Michelson
Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Reading PA

Rabbi Dr. Rachel S. Mikva
Chicago Theological Seminary

Rochelle L. Millen, Ph.D.
Wittenberg University (emer.)

Prof. Deborah Dash Moore
University of Michigan

Rabbi Leana Moritt
Temple Beth-El, Jersey City NJ

Prof. Claire Moses
University of Maryland (emer.)

Rabbi Dr. Steven Moss
B'nai Israel Reform Temple, Oakdale NY (emer.)

Cantor Penny Myers
Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo NY

Rabbi Robin Nafshi
Temple Beth Jacob, Concord NH

Dr. Louis Nagel
Beth Shalom Congregation, Columbia MD

Rabbi Elana Nemitoff-Bresler, MAJE, Director
Nevas Religious School, Temple Israel, Westport CT

Dr. Ruth Nemzoff
Brandeis Women's Studies Research Center

Nicole Nevarez
National Director, Ta'amod: Stand Up!

Rabbi David H. Novak
Temple Dor Dorim, Weston, FL

Rabbi Vanessa Ochs, PhD
Professor, University of Virginia

Prof. Ari Ofengenden
Tulane University

Rabbi Dan Ornstein
Albany, NY

Prof. Judith Plaskow
Manhattan College (emer.)

Rabbi William Plevan
New York, NY

Rabbi Gary Pokras
Temple Beth Ami, Rockville MD

Rabbi Sally J. Priesand
Ocean Township NJ

Rabbi Ethan Prosnit
Temple Emanu-El, Westfield NJ

Rabbi Joshua Rabin
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Rabbi Esther Reed
Senior Associate Director, Rutgers Hillel

Rabbi Frederick Reeves
KAM Isaiah Israel, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Victor Reinstein
Nehar Shalom Community Synagogue, Jamaica Plain MA

Rabbi Lindy Reznick
Congregation Emanu El, Redlands CA

Prof. Monika Rice
Gratz College

Rabbi Aviva Richman
Faculty, Hadar Institute

Rabbi Seth Daniel Riemer
Temple Beth Torah, Wethersfield CT

Prof. Leonard Rogoff
Chapel Hill, NC

Prof. Thane Rosenbaum
Touro College

Rabbi Francine Roston
Whitefish, MT

Judith Rosenbaum, PhD
CEO, Jewish Women's Archive

Dr. Rochelle G. Saidel
Remember the Women Institute

Rabbi Dr. Ruth N. Sandberg
Gratz College

Rabbi Amy J. Sapowith
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation, Ashburn VA

Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso
Indianapolis, IN

Rabbi Sandy E. Sasso
Indianapolis, IN

Rabbi Michael Satz
Temple B'nai Or, Morristown NJ

Rabbi Robert Scheinberg, Ph.D.
Hoboken, NJ

Rabbi Simone Schicker
Temple B'nai Israel, Kalamazoo MI

Cantor Bennie Ellen Schiller
Hebrew Union College / Bet Am Synagogue

Rabbi Rebecca Einstein Schorr
Lafayette College

Rabbi Avi Schulman
Temple Beth Torah, Fremont CA

Susan Schulman
Kehilla Community Synagogue, Piedmont CA

Rabbi Evan Schultz
Congregation B'nai Israel, Bridgeport CT

Rabbi David J. Segal
Houston, TX

Prof. Naomi Seidman
University of Toronto

Cantor Elizabeth Shammash
Tiferet Bet Israel, Blue Bell PA

Cantor Bruce Shapiro
Congregation Beth Shalom, Corona CA

Prof. Robert Moses Shapiro
Brooklyn College of City University of New York

Prof. Maeera Shreiber
University of Utah

Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner
Temple Beth Tikvah, Roswell GA

Rabbi Paul Sidlofsky
Temple Isaiah, Stony Brook NY

Rabbi Ian Silverman
East Northport, NY

Rabbi Alan Silverstein
Congregation Agudath Israel, Caldwell NJ

Rabbi Rebecca W. Sirbu
New York, NY

Rabbi Alyson Solomon
Beth Chayim Chadashim, Los Angeles CA

Rabbi Eric Solomon
Beth Meyer Synagogue, Raleigh NC

Rabbi Marc Soloway
Congregation Bonai Shalom, Boulder CO

Prof. Gerald Sorin
SUNY New Paltz

Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Congregation Dorshei Tzedek, West Newton MA

Prof. Ronit Y. Stahl
University of California, Berkeley

Rabbi David Steinhardt
B'nai Torah Congregation, Boca Raton FL

Rabbi Keith Stern
Temple Beth Avodah, Newton MA

Rabbi Liza Stern
Eitz Chayim, Cambridge MA

Rabbi Sharon Stiefel
Mayim Rabim, Minneapolis MN

Rabbi Jim Stoloff
Temple Avodat Shalom, River Edge NJ

Rabbi David Straus
Main Line Reform Temple, Wynnewood PA

Rabbi Joshua Strom
Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Armonk NY

Rabbi Robert Tabak
Melrose Park, PA

Prof. Shelly Tenenbaum
Clark University

Rabbi Elliott Tepperman
Bnai Keshet, Montclair NJ

Rabbi Prof. David A. Teutsch, PhD
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Rabbi Debbi Till
Temple Sinai, Rochester NY

Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen
Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, New Haven CT

Rabbi Rachel Timoner
Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn NY

Prof. Ellen M. Umansky
Fairfield University

Jenna Weinberg
Board Member, Slingshot Fund

Rabbi Arthur Weiner
Jewish Community Center of Paramus (NJ) / Congregation Beth Tikvah

Rabbi Cheryl Weiner, PhD, BCC
Hollywood, FL

Loribeth Weinstein
CEO Emerita, Jewish Women International

Prof. Alan Jay Weisbard
University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison (emer.)

Rabbi Baht Yameem Weiss
Temple Beth Ami, Rockville MD

Rabbi Max Weiss
Oak Park (IL) Temple B'nai Abraham Zion

Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg
Jewish Survivors of Harassment & Abuse Network

Prof. Beth S. Wenger
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, U. of Pennsylvania

Rabbi Lauren Werber
Temple B'nai Abraham, Elyria OH

Rabbi Josh Whinston
Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor MI

Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig
Fort Wayne, IN

Rabbi Michal Woll
Congregation Shir Hadash, Milwaukee WI

Rabbi Robert L. Wolkoff
Congregation B'nai Tikvah, North Brunswick NJ

Rabbi David Wolpe
Sinai Temple - Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Eric Woodward
Tiferet Bet Israel Synagogue, Blue Bell PA

Prof. James E. Young
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Cantor Julie Yugend-Green
Oak Park (IL) Temple B'nai Abraham Zion

Rabbi Mary L. Zamore
Women's Rabbinic Network

Rabbi Elaine Zecher
Temple Israel of Boston MA

Rabbi Lina Zerbarini
Kehillath Shalom Synagogue, Cold Spring Harbor NY

Rabbi Ben Zeidman
Temple Mount Sinai, El Paso TX

Rabbi Elana Zelony
Congregation Beth Torah, Richardson TX

Prof. John C. Zimmerman
University of Nevada Las Vegas

Dr. Gary P. Zola
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Rabbi Dr. Daniel M. Zucker
Temple Hatikvah, Flanders NJ

(Institutions listed for identification purposes only.)