February 15, 1998

Dear Yavneh Minyan Trustees;

I have served this Minyan in various capacities from its inception to present. I was there during the initial growing pains when getting a }ynm on tbc was not always a sure thing, to now when 200 people is not considered unusual. My children have learned about a shul and how to daven by being there almost every tbc. My wife and I have shared our family twjmc with our only frum family, our Yavneh Minyan family. We have tried to help the Minyan maintain the basic characteristics by which it was founded:
 

• A quiet place to daven.

• An accepting community of Jews where, each individual is important without regard to position, marital status, dress or other factors. What joins us is our common connection with Orthodox Judaism and larcy {ra.

• A place where we all work together towards these common goals.

• A place where children learn what a shul is all about because they are there, davening and learning.

• A place where everyone participates equally.
• A place where hklh is determined by the Rabbi.

The lack of decorum during davening has gotten progressively worse. The only thing worse than the actual talking is the volume and rudeness of the ineffectual, half hearted efforts to request quiet. I have repeatedly suggested that we stop the davening or hrwth tayrq, whether during an "important part of davening" or even just during wnylu, and have a reminder from the pulpit of the importance of decorum. We can not just do this once but must continue to do so until the davening returns to what it was. There are those attendees who will be offended by this action but it must be taken if the Yavneh Minyan is to survive as the unique entity we founded it as. The loss of a few members and/or \yllptm may be necessary.

I have also voiced my opinions regarding to the lack of {ra ]rd with which a majority of members treat the Shul with regard to their children. A few half hearted announcements obviously will not change the attitude that the entire campus should be a playground for children and that the Kiddush should be a "free-for-all". This lack of respect manifests itself in children taking large amounts of food from the Kiddush table, dropping food all over the floor and leaving remains on the shul tables, staircases and throughout the campus. We must seriously educate the parents regarding what is appropriate behavior in Shul.

We must also set a standard for behavior during hlpt. I can only speak from experience when I say that I, and my children, learned how to daven from being in a shul, from sitting quietly with a rwds, and participating during davening when ever possible. I can see no benefit to the child of another hour or two of playground followed by a junk food kiddush each and every week. If we can not be role models to our children during this time, we should seriously consider another place to let them play on a Saturday morning.

Additionally, the current administration is lax with regard to the original founding concept that the minyan functions to serve all members equally. We have always allowed women to address the minyan with yrbd hrwt, under the guidelines established by the Rabbi. We have also had a policy that all programs and functions were to be open to men and women equally, also under guidelines established by the Rabbi. On at least two occasions these policies were not help up when they "offended" the sensibilities of specific members of the minyan. If any member does not approve of these, or any other well established guidelines, then maybe they should find another minyan. We can not be swayed from our basic tenants for the needs of a few.

The most glaring change, however is regarding the current issue of the potential merge of the Yavneh Minyan with another shul. This potential merge has never been discussed with me as a trustee of the legal entity "The Yavneh Minyan of Flatbush" and I can not continue to take any responsibility for the current operation or future direction of the Minyan.

As a trustee of the minyan, by all legal and other definitions, I can neither single handedly maintain these goals, nor can I influence the current leadership to do so. I was willing, at one time, to place the needs of the shul before my own, to serve as a trustee, to use my personal resources, time and experience for the good of our shul. I disagree and disapprove of the direction the shul has taken and I no longer wish to serve in a leadership or responsible role. I do not wish to continue having any role or responsibility in enabling the continuation of the current uses of the shul as a platform for personal agendas and an extension to any individual career, job, or other fund-raising endeavor. The lack of accountability and control for the use of the Yavneh Minyan name and resources is not acceptable.

I hereby immediately resign as a trustee of the Yavneh Minyan of Flatbush. This resignation absolves me from financial and other obligations with regard to the Yavneh Minyan of Flatbush. This departure from a leadership role means that my input in how the shul raises and spends money, what programs should and should not be undertaken, and directions taken with regard to non-halachic areas (i.e. Women's issues, uses of the hrwt rps, political affiliations, etc.) will be that of any other member in good standing.

Sincerely,
 

Paul Serkin
 

DISTRIBUTION: The Trustees of the Yavneh Minyan of Flatbush:

Tom Bauer, Henry Kagan, Meir Weingarten

cc: Rabbi Dr. M. Sokol, E. Krumbein, M. Serkin, S. Guberman