December 7, 2006

Getting kicked out of shul

The unpleasant underside of synagogue life raises questions about the power of rabbis and boards to keep some Jews out

By Amy Klein

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(Page 4 - Previous Page)

"We're likely to attract the good and the bad," added Rohatiner, a past president and a lawyer who was also present during the meeting.

Does Beth Jacob attract more undesirable characters than most synagogues? "I think [because of our size] it's much more likely you can blend in here," Rohatiner said.

Weil added: "On a typical Shabbat there are six different prayer services, another five different youth services. It's very easy for someone to slip though the cracks. We view as our responsibility to make it a safe place for anyone who walks into the synagogue."

As a result of the public airing of the ejection of Biston and others, Rohatiner said that one change will be made: The executive board will deal with these cases.

"It's beneath the rabbi's position to ask these people to leave," Rohatiner said. "That's not what we're about."

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