Helping South Head
The people who are currently “helping” South Head Synagogue survive are actually only helping Rabbi Milecki and that is the antithesis of helping South Head – it will bring about its demise.
They may end up with a small congregation, but it will be nothing compared with what it could have been – a glimpse of which we had over the recent 6 week period when Rabbi Milecki was absent.
The “helpers” are well intentioned and I commend them for doing what they think is right, but unfortunately they are light years behind the majority of the congregation in terms of knowing who they are dealing with when it comes to Rabbi Milecki.
Many of them also do not have a feel for what the regular congregants have gone through.
The people they accuse of not treating Rabbi Milecki with respect and dignity are in fact people who have always treated, and still do treat, Rabbis with the greatest of respect. Many attend Synagogue and Shiurim weekly, if not daily. They know right from wrong. Many have had the closest of relationships with Rabbi Milecki in the past and been his biggest supporters.
Today they won’t set foot in the Synagogue if he is in the pulpit in any capacity.
To the current “supporters” I say please speak to these people. Please do some due diligence.
They are not happy that Rabbi Milecki’s position was terminated (since declared void) in the way it was, but they knew that there was no choice if South Head Synagogue was to survive.
You are not helping South Head Synagogue. You are helping Rabbi Milecki and by doing so, you are destroying South Head Synagogue or at the very least, its real potential for the next generation.
I’m almost certain that this is not your intention.
Alan Wahlhaus
Sydney
I feel that the entire situation is disgusting and disrespectful to a man of Rabbi Melicki” position.
However I do feel that his income was set at a completely rediculously high level
Who in this society earns such an income?
Also, his position should never be a lifetime contract. No one maintains a lifetime contract without salary reviews!
Despite all this , I sincerely think that the situation should never have reached this shameful level.
Truth be told though it’s not about numbers , and it’s not about winning and losing. It’s simply about a community being given the opportunity to renew and build itself for the future.
It would seem you are correct Allan. South Head Shul this past Shabbos had 17 men on Friday night, and 15 on Shabbos day, achieving a minyan only at around 10 -am according to eye witness reports.