So you Googled “Rabbi Yitzhak Miller”
…and up popped a rather interesting news story
that leaves you wondering what kind of person and Rabbi I am…
Thank you for taking the time to check the facts
and read this article before passing judgment.
.jpg)
“As rabbis, we are expected to abide by the highest moral values of our Jewish tradition: personal conscience and professional integrity, honorable social relationships, and the virtues of family life. As teachers and role models, we are called upon to exemplify the ideals we proclaim. Should we fail, we need to do teshuvah, ask forgiveness, avoid repetition, and make restitution whenever possible.”
--Preamble to the Code of Ethics for Reform Rabbis
Click on any of the links below to jump to that section:
- On November 5th, 2007, I got into a dispute about who was first in line at a drive-thru ATM. In the course of our interaction, I revved my engine as the other person walked behind my truck, causing him to recoil. Another customer thought I had hit this man and called the police. My actions that day were inappropriate, though not egregious.
- For my part, I sincerely apologize for any discomfort or fear my actions may have caused; I have taken all possible steps to rectify any wrong done; and I am committed to utilizing this episode as motivation for self-improvement.
- The way the Riverside Press-Enterprise and the Temple Beth El Board of Directors chose to use this incident for their own agendas is not the purpose of this statement. I will simply say that I hope they will also learn from this situation.
- Both I and the other man involved agree that this whole situation has been blown way out of proportion.
- Though I recognize it as a risk of life as a public figure, I am saddened that the press & internet has made it necessary to process a minor incident so publicly.
- I hope that all involved will now be given the chance to move forward successfully with their lives.
I accept responsibility for my part of this incident.
I have taken the following steps to address my part in the situation and ensure nothing like this happens again:
- Made a personal apology to the other party for becoming angry with him and scaring him.
- Offered to cover costs of any injuries he sustained. He stated there were none.
- Voluntarily enrolled in an anger management class.
- Used the embarrassment of press coverage to motivate change.
- Begun to study Aikido—a physical approach to diffuse conflict. Read ‘The Rabbi who Studies Aikido’
- Recognized that my intensity—usually a strength—can lead me to take small situations too seriously.
- Continued to explore how my communication style is interpreted and understood by other people.
- Contacted the chair of the Rabbinic Ethics Commission the day after this event took place who stated that, provided I made all appropriate amends and looked at my responsibilities, there was no issue.
- Wrote promptly to the synagogue membership, apologizing for any embarrassment I had caused, explaining circumstances, publicly apologizing to the other party, and articulating the steps I was taking to deal with the situation
(click on any link to view the document)
- that I will learn every lesson I can learn from this incident, continue my own path of spiritual growth as both a person and a Rabbi, and that I will be given the chance to use my strengths and passions to best serve the world.
- that the other party in this incident will also find peace and spiritual healing.
- that Riverside Temple Beth El will find a match with a Rabbi who they can afford and who they can work with for a long time.
- that those who wrote and published this article will recognize the potential of the internet to unjustifiably destroy lives and reputations.
- that those who read this article will judge with compassion, recognizing this article does not give an accurate picture of someone who has devoted his life to service of humanity.
- The other party never called the police. Someone else in the parking lot thought I had hit someone and then fled.
- He appeared in court of his own volition to state that getting the police involved was way out of proportion to the incident.
- He wrote a letter to the synagogue stating “Rabbi Miller and I, together, have experienced an unfortunate incident…It is my prayer that those of you who sit in judgment of this man will give him the benefit of the doubt and allow him to continue to do the good he has done and will do.”
- The police report says that [he] stated there were no injuries.”
- The court dropped the entire matter at its first possible opportunity. This dismissal does not imply my actions were appropriate, but does reinforce their lack of severity.
- An informal assessment of the Temple Beth El membership showed that 80-90% wished for me to remain (high ranking for any Rabbi), but the synagogue bylaws leave that decision solely to the Board of Directors.
- Without revealing confidential information, I will simply state that Michael Oshan (quoted in the article as the current president of Congregation Emeth in Gilroy) is not an objective source concerning my capabilities as a rabbi.
