Southeast, NY, -- To Forgive For The Rabbi Or Not To That Is The Question.

Southeast, NY, -- THE legal case of the Rabbi of Congregation Sons of Israel was closed on Sept. 14. The misdemeanor charges against him for possession of marijuana were dropped. For driving with ability impaired by drugs, he received a citation and paid a $400 fine. The incident is a mark on his driving record - nothing more than a traffic violation.

But the real conflict was never in the legal system; it was in the Rabbi's community that the rift among the faithful whom he has led for 13 years has widened.

In August the congregation's board voted to suspend the Rabbi 50, from the pulpit for 30 days, with pay. This week, on the eve of Rosh Hashana, the rabbi - who is married and has three adolescent children - will return to his job. How welcome that return will be remains unclear.

Those who urge forgiveness say that although the Rabbi made a grave mistake, he has repeatedly apologized for it. Those who urge punishment say that he has lost his moral and ethical authority as a religious leader, especially among impressionable children.