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
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.
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.)