The board of Beth Jacob Congregation voted on April 17 not to extend Rabbi Martin Applebaum’s one-year contract beyond July 31, 2013.

Dr. Herman I. Abromowitz, president of the synagogue, notified congregants in a letter the following day. Abromowitz wrote that “a detailed report of Rabbi Applebaum’s status was presented by a task force which was entrusted to review Rabbi Applebaum’s position in every respect since his beginning here on Aug. 7, 2012.”

The board, he added, then voted by closed ballot.

Applebaum is an Orthodox rabbi; Beth Jacob is not affiliated with a particular Jewish movement but identifies itself as Traditional in practice, a non-egalitarian movement to the religious left of Orthodoxy but to the right of egalitarian Conservative Judaism. Although only men lead services at Beth Jacob, there is mixed seating.

Applebaum was an active duty chaplain for 20 years with the U.S. Army. Prior to coming to Dayton he served Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Catherines, Ontario; Beth El Jacob Synagogue in Des Moines; Agudath Achim in Little Rock; and Young Israel of Margate, N.J.

He took over as rabbi of Beth Jacob Congregation following the departure of Rabbi Hillel Fox, who had served as the synagogue’s rabbi since 1993; Fox and the board came to an impasse over terms for his contract renewal in 2011.

“With this vote,” Abromowitz continued in his letter to congregants, “I’m sure the entire Beth Jacob Congregation wishes Rabbi Applebaum and Rosalie only the best always, as they conclude their time here in the Beth Jacob community…I know this information to each member may be received with mixed emotions, but let me reassure all that Beth Jacob Congregation will go forward in every way and will be the synagogue we all know and love.”

According to Beth Jacob Executive Director Chaya Vidal, the synagogue’s search for a new rabbi is now underway.

— Marshall Weiss