MASSACHUSETTS
Wicked Local Sharon
Posted May. 13, 2014
By Paula Vogler
Sharon@wickedlocal.com
SHARON – After leading Temple Israel in Sharon for 28 years, Rabbi Barry Starr resigned his position on May 6 when an extramarital affair came to light.
“It is with great remorse and deep regret that I acknowledge I have engaged in marital infidelity and other serious personal conduct which require me to resign as Rabbi of Temple Israel effective Tuesday, May 6, 2014,” Starr’s letter to the congregation stated.
Starr said he is preparing to sell his house and asked that no one from the congregation contact him because this time was too painful to face anyone and he needed time to work through the issues he faces.
“I will be moving on as quickly as possible to leave the community that I love so dearly and start again elsewhere but (my family) will be remaining here at least for a short while,” Starr wrote. “I can only beg of you that you give them the space they need to live their lives and come to grips with my behavior.”
According to the Temple’s website, in addition to his rabbinic duties, Starr is currently a member of the Committee for Jewish Law and Standards and has been “a leading voice in championing traditional, egalitarian Conservative Judaism” in the Temple.
Neither Temple president Arnie Freedman nor executive director Benjamin Maron returned multiple phone calls or email requesting comments on the situation, the search for a new rabbi or how the High Holidays in September would be handled.
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