The 36 deputies who signed a letter in the Financial Times condemning the actions of Israel in Gaza are now facing an investigation by the Board of Deputies.
A statement from the Board this morning announced that all of the signatories are now “subject to a complaints procedure”, while some senior members of the organisation have been suspended.
They include the vice-chair of the Board’s International Division, who has been suspended pending the investigation into complaints regarding the letter, which was published last Wednesday and has sparked a communal row.
The Board’s executive committee reached a unanimous decision to temporarily suspend Harriet Goldenberg from her role as vice-chair and she was also asked to “step back” from her role on the executive until the result of the investigation.
Similarly under-35s representative Nat Kunin has “voluntarily stepped back” from his role on the executive and his position as chair of the under-35 assembly during the investigation.
A further deputy is also subject to a complaints procedure for an “alleged GDPR breach,” in connection with the letter.
The Board’s code of conduct states that deputies must “not bring the Board into disrepute by their actions or activities,” nor must they “represent their own views as the views of the Board to third parties”. It also states that deputies must “respect the confidentiality and privacy of all information as it pertains to individuals,” including a list of deputies.
According to the code of conduct, if the panel upholds a complaint, it will have the authority to request an apology, issue a prohibition from speaking at meetings or issue a notice of criticism to a deputy’s constituency. In some cases, the executive can remove the deputy from the Board.
While the investigation, which is expected to take at least four weeks, continues, the deputies are allowed to attend meetings, but it is hoped that the investigation will have concluded by the next Board plenary meeting on May 25.
Board President Phil Rosenberg said: "We take alleged breaches of the code of conduct very seriously. I am grateful to the constitution committee for the speed with which they have reviewed the initial complaints, and it is right that they are now given the time and space to review the cases with due process and impartiality.
“The Board of Deputies is clear: only our democratically-elected honorary officers and authorised staff speak on behalf of the organisation."
It comes amid concern at the Board about a split in the community on Israel and Gaza, with a divide between Orthodox and Progressive synagogues.
Most of the 36 signatories of the FT letter belong to Reform, Liberal or Masorti communities, and none belonged to the United Synagogue, the largest communal denomination.
Last Thursday, 90 leaders from the US met Rosenberg for an emergency meeting and urged him to proceed with disciplinary action against the 36 signatories.
