December 4, 2013

The following chaverim were in attendance or on the conference call: Alan Abramson, Daniel Alter, Hanan Balk, Shalom Baum, Gedalyah Berger, Binyamin Blau, Nasanayl Braun, Yisrael Ciner, Judah Dardik, Mark Dratch, Zvi Engel, Joel Finkelstein, Dov Fischer, Arie Folger, Barry Freundel, Yaakov Glasser, Shmuel Goldin, Avrohom Gordimer, Yonah Gross, Shlomo Hochberg, Moshe Kletenik, Barry Kornblau, Doniel Kramer, Ira Kronenberg, Leonard Matanky, Yechiel Morris, Elazar Muskin, Brett Oxman, Steven Pruzansky, David Rabhan, Yona Reiss, Mitchell Rocklin, Benjamin Samuels, Mordechai Scher, Fabian Schonfeld, Gedaliah Dov Schwarz, Yerachmiel Seplowitz, Gideon Shloush, Eliyahu Teitz, Etan Tokayer, Mordechai Torczyner, Reuven Tradburks, Brahm Weinberg, Shlomo Weissman, Howard Wolk, and David Wolkenfeld

Minutes for December, 2013 meeting of the RCA Executive Committee
At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Council of America, held at Congregation K.I.N.S. in Chicago, IL, on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, President Leonard Matanky in the chair, and Reuven Tradburks acting on behalf of the secretary, the following items were decided:

• A motion to accept minutes of the Oct. 9, 2013, Executive Committee meeting
  passed unanimously.
• A motion to approve the membership applications of Nir Nadav, Richard Hadary, and Pinchas Rosenthal passed unanimously.
• A new request was made to initiate a Vaad Hakavod investigation regarding certain acts of Michael Broyde. This Vaad Hakavod was established (17 in favor, 6 against, 10 abstentions).
• A motion to approve Elazar Muskin as a co-chairman for the 2014 convention passed unanimously.
• A motion to approve the 2014 RCA budget passed.
• In new business, a motion was made to form a committee to consider issuing a statement on Open Orthodoxy. A motion to table the motion passed.

Additional matters discussed:

• President Leonard Matanky reported on progress towards an agreement with the Israeli Chief Rabbinate to streamline the process of approval of personal status letters from RCA members.
• He also reported on efforts to address the issue of partnership minyanim, including: a forthcoming Tradition article, requests for piskei halacha and educational materials, coordination with the Orthodox Union, and more.
• Executive Vice President Mark Dratch reported that he secured a significant dedication for the RCA Siddur.
• Shmuel Goldin reported on developments relating to the ‘gag order’ currently impeded progress on the Vaad Hakavod relating to Marc Schneier.
• Gedalyah Berger reported on the goals, procedures, membership, progress to date, and future plans of Constitution Revision Committee.
• Hanan Balk reported on plans to develop a policy regulating how chaverim may publicize their RCA affiliation.
• BDA menahel Shlomo Weissmann reported that it that it is in the process of developing a new Board of Directors a new Board of Directors, including many RCA chaverim.
• Israel Representative Reuven Tradburks reported on the forthcoming membership event in Israel on February 24-26, 2014.
• cRc Av Beth Din and GPS co-chairman Yona Reiss reported on GPS achievements and challenges.