Rabins sign contracts with Caulfield Shule

Rabbi Daniel and Rebbetzin Sarah Rabin have signed new five-year contracts with Caulfield Hebrew Congregation (CHC), ending an impasse that had prompted a member push to remove the shule’s president and board.

The AJN reported last month that CHC member Raphael Sztrochlic had gathered more than the 50 signatures required under Section 15 of the congregation’s rules to force a special general meeting, after Rabbi Rabin travelled to Texas as a candidate for a position at United Orthodox Synagogues in Houston.

The shule’s president, Dr Howard Zeimer, said the board was pleased the contracts had been completed.

“It’s always been the board’s intention to sign the contracts,” he said.
The board had noted members’ anxiety, he said, and believed the signing “should allay a lot of” it.

Dr Zeimer said the contracts met “all the financial, leave and flexibility requests” made by the Rabins during negotiations.

He said no formal request or supporting documentation for a special general meeting had been received, and “there is currently no formal process before the board”.

Rabbi Rabin said he was “extremely pleased” and “very honoured to be entrusted again” with a new contract “to serve this incredible community that I’ve been privileged to serve for the past five years”.

Asked about the move against the board, he said he had “kept my eye on the goal, working with the board constructively”.

Some members “had their own personal concerns”, but for him and his wife it had “always just … been a discussion and conversation that we’ve been having with the board”.

He said priorities for the new term included “engaging young families” and more programs and activities, particularly given “there’s a lot going on in the community with antisemitism”.

Sztrochlic said the relationship between members and the Rabins had “matured to one of admiration and respect”, but “the same could not be said about their relationship with the board”.

“What other reason would the much loved Rabins uproot themselves from Melbourne to seek a position in Texas?” he said.

He predicted the difficult road to signing would in retrospect look straightforward “compared to the President and Board’s conduct and relationship with the Rabins over the next year”.

Dr Zeimer said the congregation is now looking forward to the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Tishrei services, which will feature a visiting Israeli choir Kolot Min Hashamayim.