Greenport's Congregation Tifereth Israel seeks to evict fired rabbi Gadi Capela from home

Congregation Tifereth Israel in Greenport has initiated legal proceedings to remove its former rabbi from the congregation-owned home where he's been living.

Gadi Capela, who had been the rabbi of the historic synagogue since 2013, was terminated in September following a three-day congregation vote. But according to a lawsuit filed by Tifereth Israel’s attorneys in Southold Town Justice Court, Capela has refused to leave a single-family home owned by the synagogue in Greenport.

Capela was allowed to live in the home during his time as rabbi at the synagogue, according to his contract. That contract had been set to expire Dec. 31. When he was terminated, he was asked to leave by Oct. 31, according to the lawsuit. 

The synagogue is seeking a warrant from the court to have Capela removed from the home.

“Respondent is a licensee who continues in possession of the Premises after his license to occupy the Premises was duly terminated by Petitioner,” Richard Zuckerman, the synagogue’s Melville-based attorney, wrote in the lawsuit filed last month.

Capela responded to a request for comment with an emailed statement. In it, he said: "The parsonage is part of my contractual compensation and is directly implicated in the ongoing litigation.” 

Capela told Town Justice Eileen Powers during a court hearing on Jan. 9 that he did not have an attorney, Leanne Reilly, Southold Town’s Justice Court director, said in an interview. Powers granted an adjournment for Feb. 6.

Capela filed a lawsuit in October alleging that his termination was “illegal” and calling for him to be installed as Tifereth Israel’s “lawful rabbi.” But Suffolk State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Modelewski ruled on Jan. 9 that it would be improper to consider Capela’s claims because “American Courts are precluded from adjudicating disputes involving ecclesiastical governance."

Modelewski did not rule on Capela’s claim of defamation and set a court date of Feb. 20 to consider that claim.

Sara Bloom, president of the temple's board, declined to comment.

It is common for rabbis to live in homes owned by religious institutions, according to a post on the Reform Pension Board's website.

Capela was initially fired in August, according to a letter shared with Newsday. That termination was later changed to a suspension. The synagogue then held the vote to determine Capela’s employment status for all members of the synagogue “in good standing.” Eighty-two congregants participated in the vote, with 52.4% voting for him to be terminated, according to a letter shared with Newsday. 

The synagogue listed numerous reasons for Capela’s dismissal in the August letter, including inconsistent attendance to various congregation events, as well as Capela’s decision to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration, "an apparent deception to gain three vacation days," according to the letter.

Capela suffered “severe” damage to his reputation from the firing, according to his lawsuit.

Capela moved into the home on Fourth Street, a single-level residence feet from the synagogue, in September 2018, according to the lawsuit.

“Respondent was entitled to use of the premises, and furnishings therein during the course of his employment with Respondent,” Zuckerman wrote. 

Tifereth Israel has used several guest rabbis to lead services since Capela’s departure. A rabbi search committee has been formed to find the shul’s next spiritual leader, according to a December letter Bloom wrote to the congregation posted on the synagogue’s website.

By Joshua Needelman

joshua.needelman@newsday.com

Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.