Inquiry into WLS bullying claims a ‘mess’
WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO drew attention to a top rabbi’s alleged bullying and inappropriate behaviour are concerned an independent review of the matter will be too narrow, with one branding it a “total mess”.
Rabbi David Mitchell was appointed to be joint senior rabbi at West London Synagogue from March but agreed to take “time away” after the JC reported the allegations against him.
The shul said it would carry out an independent review to work through “the wide range of recent discussions” and “enable us to learn, and then move ahead with our role as a beacon of progressive Jewish life”.
It appointed Sir Michael Burton, a former High Court judge, to conduct the review.
But whistleblowers were dismayed when a consultant, appointed to help Sir Michael, appeared to say he would stop accepting new evidence at 12pm last Friday, March 20, despite his appointment having only been formally announced to the congregants on March 12.
In an email to one whistleblower, seen by the JC, the consultant said Sir Michael’s review would focus on any allegations after May 2016, when complaints about Rabbi Mitchell were subject of an internal investigation.
This is despite the fact the JC revealed other allegations that refer to events before 2016 but were not part of that investigation.
In the email to a whistleblower, Sir Michael’s consultant said the former judge would be willing to meet anyone with fresh allegations from before 2016 although this was “not technically within the scope of his review”.
She added such evidence would “provide him with relevant context and background” but also said, writing on March 19, that he set a deadline of March 20 because he aimed to finish his report “very shortly”.
Sir Michael’s consultant also advised that while complainants would have anonymity “in the first instance”, it was “unlikely” it would be guaranteed if their complaints formed part of the final report, because this would be put to Rabbi Mitchell for his response.
“Every opportunity has been given to enable people to come forward over the last two months and Sir Michael has heard from everyone who appears to have had relevant evidence,” she wrote.
Though WLS publicly announced an independent review in late January, whistleblowers said it only emailed congregants on March 12 to say Sir Michael would conduct the investigation.
One whistleblower said the message had no details of how to contact Sir Michael, while another told the JC the inquiry had been a “total mess”.
“According to Sir Michael’s consultant, this investigation has been going on two months with an ‘open door policy’ when in truth it’s been a total mess,” they said.
“It was only advertised a week before it closed to the community with no way of getting in touch, and several people reached out with concerns that didn’t hear back or were told their complaints weren’t relevant.
“There are new safeguarding and bullying complaints from pre-2016 that WLS are refusing to engage with. Patterns of behaviour post-2016 are being ignored, and staff are scared to come forwards because their identities will not be protected. Given the health scare, is it West London Synagogue’s hope that people’s focus will be elsewhere, and that they won’t notice the discrepancy in timelines and disregard for new evidence?”
WLS has been approached for comment.
On Wednesday, WLS chairman Patrick Mocatta emailed congregants to say Sir Michael’s “interview process is nearly complete” and said he would “now make his own independent assessments and will shortly be sending a full report”.
He added the shul had been regularly in contact with the Charity Commission which had, he said, “responded positively” and was likely to end its involvement “soon”.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We are satisfied at this time that the trustees of West London Synagogue have cooperated responsibly with our enquiries and are taking appropriate steps to address our concerns.”
Mr Mocatta wrote: “Since we announced the review, the Board and Sir Michael have made every effort to ensure that all those who wished to make a complaint or share their views on relevant matters, were able to do so as part of this process. We have also ensured that the terms of the review, including in relation to its scope and on matters of anonymity, were fair and considerate to all parties.”
He added he hoped to “provide assurance that this matter has been dealt with properly, fairly and compassionately by the Board — on behalf of our community—and confidence that we will soon be able to draw a line under the episode and move on as a community, together.
His message to congregants also noted that Rabbi Neil Janes had resigned, effective from September.
Rabbi Mitchell has denied the allegations against him. In a statement to the JC in January, he said: “I strenuously deny that I have acted inappropriately. I want to apologise for anything that I have done which has inadvertently hurt or angered others.
“Since these issues were first raised I have learned, with coaching and mentoring, to become a better manager of people and I am still learning.”
Staff are scared to come forward because their identities will not be protected’