New York - Controversy Over Rabbi Divides Synagogue

EAST HAMPTON - The synagogue, whose congregation includes some of the Hamptons' most influential residents, has come to resemble a demilitarized zone, with warring factions continuing to worship together but hostilities infusing the services with loaded meaning.

The controversy erupted in August, at the synagogue's annual meeting, after board members had warned the Rabbi that his contract, which expires in June 2006, might not be renewed, several hundred members showed up.

One member called that rancorous discussion a "free-for-all," where calls for peace fell on deaf ears.

The two sides have filed a few lawsuits to resolve the conflict over whether to retain their rabbi and which side should govern the Jewish Center. In the process, each side has accused the other of threatening the synagogue with destruction, and the rabbi is considering filing a libel suit against his detractors.

In the latest volley, the board of trustees won an injunction prohibiting their adversaries, who favor retaining the Rabbi, from forcing an election to create a new board. Unaware that State Supreme Court had signed the injunction canceling the vote, some of the rabbi's supporters showed up and were turned away by security guards.

Supporters of the rabbi, among them two trustees, have sued the other trustees, accusing the board majority of violating the synagogue constitution. The suit filed by the other 19 trustees asserts that the board has sole responsibility for renewing the rabbi's contract.