Beit Ad-Nai Yisrael

As a member of the Board of Deacons of BAY, and a member of BAY for ten years, I feel the need to address some of what is being posted here and also on other review sites.I keep seeing accusations of BAY being a "cult.". If that is indeed the case, who is the "cult leader?". The individual that people are identifying as the "leader" of BAY (who I choose not to name in keeping with the tenants of Jewish law and Torah that forbids public shaming of individuals) is not a leader, is no longer an Elder... he is only a congregant. In fact, we have no Elders at this time. In order to have a "cult," by definition one must have a leader that fits that description. Would a true cult leader agree to step down as an Elder by request of the Board of Deacons? I don't think so. So statements that BAY is under the sway of this individual are untrue, misinformed, and against the teachings of Torah.Regarding the Beit Din, the Board did not stop this process to "protect" the accused. The Beit Din was originally to judge an issue between an Elder and a single congregant. The Beit Din morphed into an Elder vs anyone-who-has-ever-had-an-issue-with-that-Elder. Ad hoc Beit Dins are traditionally comprised of one judge picked by the accused, one judge picked by the accuser, and one judge picked by the two judges themselves. This was not done. The original accuser refused to participate in the Beit Din, so there was no accuser to conduct a Beit Din for. The charges the Beit Din leveled against the accused were not written by the original accuser, but were a compilation of charges from others. The Board was concerned that the Beit Din was moving in a direction completely at odds with the original intent, so the Board asked for a delay, and then stopped the process after assuring the Beit Din judges that the Board would address the Elder in question issues in our community. We have asked for and received the resignation of both our remaining Elders, and will be a community led synagogue for the foreseeable future. So the accusation that the Board acted to "protect" an accused Elder is absolutely untrue.I read the posts on these review sites and am stunned at the vitriol, hatred, and misrepresentations being directed at an individual, at groups of individuals, and at BAY. Jewish law and Torah forbid embarrassment and public shaming of others... and yet people who claim to be followers of Torah have no problem going online under the cover of internet anonymity to make accusations BY NAME, and which have no basis in fact. I am a Board member and I state unequivocally that the Board did nothing to "protect" the accused Elder (as he was asked to resign as Elder), and did not take our actions to "take power" of BAY. We are a small synagogue and really don't have a whole lot of power to take. Torah calls for us to forgive and reconcile with those who have wronged us... not conduct vindictive retribution. Those who don't make peace with their brothers and sisters who have wronged them assume the sin of the original brother/sister who wronged them. A heavy price to pay for pride and refusing to forgive...As a long time member of BAY and Board member, my goal is to worship Hashem, further my family's walk with Him, and heal the divisions at BAY to further others walk with Him. I have no ulterior motives, no personal asperations for greatness, no pre planned agenda... Just a love of G-d and a desire to be around others who feel the same. Thank you for taking the time to read this.Sean Holden"And don't bear sin because of him"--Leviticus 19:17.It is forbidden to shame or embarrass one another. We derive this from the verse: "You shall certainly rebuke your neighbor, and don't bear sin because of him." Even when we rebuke a fellow for a sin he has done, which itself is a Torah command, we must be careful not to embarrass the individual--lest we "bear sin because of him."