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Amid heightening tensions with his bosses for his Pro-Israel politics, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue cleric resigns immediately
by Ted Cohen, on Patch.com
The head of Vermont’s largest synagogue has resigned in the wake of an ideological dispute with the board of directors.
Rabbi Aaron Philmus himself gave no reason for his immediate departure.
Nor did his boss, Jeff Potash, chairman of the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue board.
“We have made the decision to part ways, effective immediately,” Potash said.
Philmus, rabbi for less than two years, had been under fire at the conservative synagogue for his Zionist rhetoric.
He refused to make any apologies for Israel, suggesting that the real threat to Judaism is the Palestinians and Hamas.
Potash believed that Philmus had a duty to dial down his pro-Israel stance.
If Philmus believes he was sacked for speaking frankly about his unwavering, uncompromised support for Israel, he wasn’t ready to spill the beans.
“As is common when a clergy person departs, there is often speculation regarding the reasons behind their departure,” he stated.
Philmus added, “In this situation, no one issue led to the decision for me to no longer remain the rabbi. Rather, the board and I examined the totality of mutual issues in arriving at this.”
By the time Philmus had posted his farewell to his “friends,” Potash had ordered the rabbi’s bio scrubbed from the temple’s website.
The departing rabbi’s bio was immediately replaced with Cantor Jessica Silverberg, who is Philmus’ numerical successor.
Although cantors are schooled in Jewish culture, they lack the academic credentials of rabbis.
Neither Potash nor Philmus disclosed the financial terms of settlement for the rabbi’s sudden and so-far unexplained departure.
The amount of his severance payment and the date by which he and his wife and children were ordered to vacate their synagogue-supplied North Street home is all information that Potash is refusing to disclose to the public.
A legal battle between Philmus and his bosses erupted in the wake of synagogue members who have been bitterly divided over the rabbi’s unwavering defense of Israel, with influential members offended by his hard line.
The 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 temple’s school is soft-peddling Jewish teachings.
The dispute was further sharpened by the rabbi’s stance that the temple’s pre-school needed new direction – if it were to remain in business at all.
Philmus, a New Jersey native, was teaching in Kansas and had previously been a rabbi at several congregations across the country before he was hired in 2023 to succeed Rabbi Amy Small, who also left before she hoped to.
The board of directors has kept synagogue members completely in the dark on the real reasons that Small and Philmus were pushed out the door.
Potash at one point even called on a pedantic member of the board to issue congregants a condescending lecture on why they aren’t smart enough to be entrusted with basic information.
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Categories: Faith, News Analysis
Sadly, Judaism is no more exempt from the ‘”lukewarm” or “worldly” influences that lead to heresy and untruth than many Christian congregations also suffer. Anyon ewho attends a church or synagogue that is TRUE to the Word of G-d should guard it with jealousy and passion. If not search elsewhere…
Witness the Rising Lion (the people not the war machine) in Israel this very day and be glad if you are persecuted for fighting for the orthodoxy of G-d’s Word…
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/6932155/jewish/When-Jews-Rise-Like-Lions.htm
Interestingly, even as a Gentile I know ( and strongly believe ) of the Abrahamic Covenant, where God said, “Those who bless you (Israel) I will bless; and those who curse you (Israel) I will curse”. Unlike the promises or covenants of man, the covenants of God is eternal (unless HE actually put a time stamp on it).
That said, Potash believed that Rabbi Philmus had a duty to dial down his pro-Israel stance. Well, maybe Potash needs to dial it up ! Interesting all the places in the USA that wants to dial down it’s probably Israel stance. Many in government, certainly a majority of our Colleges and Universities, definitely most of MSM, and unfortunately lots of our churches (Christian and Jewish). Fortunately TRUMP has not signed on to the rhetoric. That doesn’t mean you need to agree with everything Israel does, but you learn how to bless even when opinions differ. For a Synagogue to be pro Palestinian over Israel, doesn’t leave much to the imagination as to their fate.
Jacob is Israel, though, not Abraham. “Nation” in Hebrew can mean a people that share values, culture, and connection. Although, the general Biblical rule is to bless, not curse. The Gospel is for everyone.
Jacob’s descendants are the Israelites. The twelve tribes of Israel.
The article does not indicate the synagogue is pro- Palestinian, nor can one infer this. It says “compromise.” Ultimately believers in Jesus are not of this world, but of the kingdom of God. Search for the buried documentary on BiBi. Oct 7 was Israel’s 9/11, a set-up.
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
“They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
– 2 Timothy 4:3-4
“And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:”
Luke 23: 18
Only in Vermont where a Rabbi can’t be a ardent defender of Israel…
I am not Jewish, and maybe Jeff Potash would like to lecture me on why I’m “not smart enough to be entrusted with basic information.” So it’s likely there’s something going on here that’s beyond my ken.
Still, I tend to see things in basic black and white. Rabbi Philmus is Jewish, of course. The synagogue is a Jewish place of worship. Israel is a Jewish state—THE Jewish state, in fact.
Rabbi Philmus supports Israel in its struggle against the forces of darkness and hate that want to kill Jews and destroy Israel. What could be wrong with that? And yet, here he is being fired for his pro-Israel views! I don’t get it. Seems to me he should be applauded for his bold positions.
I thought that headline was from the Babylon Bee. A Rabbi being anti-Israel? Then I read the article and realized he’s correct in his beliefs and receiving criticism for it. What a backward society we live in these days.
Nobody told him free speech and due process are not part of the Vermont culture.
Pride is the source of arguments, I’m right, you’re wrong. Could be both are correct and both are wrong, we don’t know God’s plan because we all aren’t smart enough. That is humility and recognizing we are limited in our knowledge.
Sadly, the Old Testament points to the new, of which even fewer have read. May the king of peace, the ultimate Jew, come into their hearts.
TGBTG.
The BiBi files documentary: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pxUDKUgJSGI&si=g6qA3gu1QbJS5O2M
Not necessarily fact.
Thr question o “compromising” with the Palestinian militancy is mute. Compromises have been afforded. The Palestinian leadership alway rejects anything short of the destruction of Israel. Also the expulsion or murder of Christians.
Pathetically, the congregation of the Ohavi Zedek Burlington shul has fired their pro-Israel rabbi. It seems the golden calves of social justice Marxism and pro-Palestine propaganda has gotten the better of these brain-washed liberals.
This isn’t the first time the same synagogue sacked their rebbe for being too pro-Israel. In or around 1989, another young rabbi, whose name I forget, was sent packing for the same reason.
Burlington Marxists sitting in this synagogue should be thanking the Israelis, who are surrounded by deadly enemies while these Bernie deadbeats are safe from terrorists coming in from Canada and Mexico. They’re not tough or smart enough to be Israelis, anyway.