The saga of sacked Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation rabbi Binyamin Bar took a new twist this week with the rabbi being allowed to conduct Shabbat services and the shul council issuing a statement giving fuller reasons for his dismissal.
Many among a higher than normal turnout at the Friday-night service lobbied for the minister - who is appealing against his dismissal - to be permitted to officiate. Although the shul had made alternative arrangements, officers relented in the face of congregants' support for Rabbi Bar and he went on to also conduct the Shabbat morning service.
"We don't want to cause any upset in front of the community," explained vice-president Michael Nelkin. The synagogue would be prepared to let Rabbi Bar officiate again this Shabbat. "He's not supposed to, but we don't want to cause any trouble," Mr Nelkin said. "We'll take it on a week-to-week basis."
And having last week attributed Rabbi Bar's dismissal to "an irretrievable breakdown in working relationships", the synagogue council issued an extended statement on Wednesday.
It said there been "concern" about his performance for many years and it had been agreed last April to implement a performance management and mentoring programme conducted by Rabbi Yisroel Fine, a nominee of the Chief Rabbi.
There had been 'concern' about his performance for years
According to the statement: "At one of their meetings, Rabbi Bar, without Rabbi Fine's consent or knowledge, recorded their discussion. This was discovered when Rabbi Bar's solicitor forwarded the recording to Michael Nelkin on November 21."
Having heard the recording, council members "were extremely concerned… [by] personal comments made by Rabbi Bar about individuals, including the Chief Rabbi. The council resolved that these matters should be raised with Rabbi Bar in the context of a disciplinary process."
Through his solicitor, Rabbi Bar had "strongly and continually objected to the disciplinary procedure that was being followed and did not answer the specific questions regarding the recording. The decision was therefore unanimously taken by the council to terminate Rabbi Bar's employment on the grounds of gross misconduct and total breakdown of trust and confidence between the parties caused by Rabbi Bar's conduct."
The council also said that Rabbi Bar had refused two offers to have the dispute go before a beth din and so an independent adjudicator would be appointed.
A conditional offer had been made to pay the minister the equivalent of his salary as an ex gratia payment during the appeal process so that he did not suffer financial hardship.
Rabbi Bar did not respond to repeated requests for a comment.
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