Instead, within a couple of hours of the shule reopening, members receive an email from the President under the Shule’s email/letterhead entitled: “Hamakom Minyan is still ON – Vote with your feet!” and states, inter alia, “The Minyan at Hamakom is proceeding….for all those who call for the Rabbi’s retirement.”

…and what about those who support South Head Shule, but do not call for the Rabbi’s retirement at this point? This is a clear message that they are not to be included in the minyan.

Conveniently, a replacement email was sent out to all members by this same President, clarifying that the “Dover Minyan is an independent minyan which is not organised by South Head”. Unfortunately for the Board, the earlier divisive email gaffe is very telling.

So rather than try and reunite a once strong community in the interest of ALL members, we see the Board representatives reduced to playing a numbers game, as if this is a schoolyard popularity contest. Shadenfreude indeed.