Vermont's largest synagogue in bitter legal fight with rabbi

©By Ted Cohen/Patch.com©

The president of Vermont's largest synagogue sent out an ominous email to members about a crisis brewing inside the temple.

Ohavi Zedek Synagogue's Jeff Potash left details to the imagination but promised to come clean within 24 hours.

Here is the email Potash sent out:

"Dear Ohavi Zedek Community,

"I want to let you know that the Board of Directors is currently working through a complex and sensitive situation with our rabbi.

"Our foremost concern is the well-being of our community, and we are approaching this matter with the seriousness, care, and deliberation it requires.

"We are committed to open communication and will share a formal update with the congregation before Shabbat.

"In the days that follow, we will also offer opportunities for the community to come together, ask questions, and begin processing this moment as a kehilla—a sacred community.

"Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we navigate this together.

"We acknowledge the distress and pain that that lack of information and rumors can cause.

"Please allow us one more day to work though a unique challenge that has such impact on our congregation.

"With gratitude and respect, and on behalf of the board,

"Jeff Potash, Board President"

Potash failed to uphold his aforementioned pledge to publicly detail what led up to the fight, claiming "confidentiality" prevents him from doing so.

He and Rabbi Aaron Philmus are now in a legal battle over the rabbi's future. Both sides have hired lawyers.

The synagogue has been bitterly divided over the rabbi's unwavering defense of Israel, with influential members offended by his hard line.

The temple's board has refused to draw a defining line on Jewish sovereignty, calling for compromise with Palestinians.

The debate has spilled over to the rabbi's belief that the synagogue's school is soft-peddling Zionist teachings.

The dispute stems from the rabbis stance that the pre-school needs new direction - if it's to remain in business at all.

Philmus came to Ohavi Zedek in 2023, after having been affiliated less than a year with a Jewish school in Kansas. Before that he worked in several cities as a rabbi.

Philmus succeeded Amy Small, the popular rabbi who retired as she was effectively forced out.

The synagogue has been burning through spiritual leaders, one after the other, in the wake of the 41-year tenure of longtime Rabbi Max Wall.

The question is why.

The synagogue has gone through at least three rabbis since Wall retired in 1987.

Rabbi Aaron Philmus