Van Cortlandt Jewish Center (VCJC) President Stu Harris and Board Chair Jack Kleinfeld have responded to a recent op-ed published in the Norwood News in relation to the proposed sale of the center.

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that Harris and Kleinfeld have engaged in a “disinformation and distortion campaign” and that the proposed sale is “the worst possible real estate deal available, not only for the VCJC congregation but for the community at large as well,” Kleinfeld said, “The allegation of a ‘disinformation and distortion campaign’ is false. If specifics can be provided, I am willing to address them.” [It is the understanding of Norwood News that the specifics of the allegation are those outlined in Axelbank’s op-ed.]

 

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegations that in the context of falling membership, the VCJC board of trustees “rejected new members, including those who have significant roots in the Center,” Kleinfeld said, “Because of the contentious relationship with two groups opposed to the plans that the Board is developing, the Board decided to place a moratorium on membership applications. In the past (decades ago), the VCJC was flooded with memberships from outsiders who wished to force the VCJC to take steps that the existing membership did not agree with. It was felt that we were back in that position.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that in the context of falling membership, the VCJC board of trustees “rejected new members, including those who have significant roots in the Center,” Harris said, “Decades is more like 20 years ago and the outsiders were living on Long Island. A couple of applicants who stated they wanted to help the synagogue requested a refund of the $250 membership fee.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that if new members were being rejected, and if the current congregation ages out further, revenue will likely fall further and if this happens, the center, as a tenant of Innovative, will no longer be able to pay its rent and therefore, there will be no longterm guarantee of permanence in the building since leases do not have to be renewed and Innovative could market the space for more money, Kleinfeld said, “I don’t know what developer this refers to, or when it allegedly happened.”

 

Kleinfeld added, “We have been actively seeking to sell our building for 5 years, following 5 years of discussions in what we called the Future Committee. That committee’s goal was to identify options to preserve the congregation moving forward. The decision to sell and to deal with developers came directly from that committee’s work. In the past 5 years, we have had negotiations with multiple entities.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that when asked by a prospective developer, Kleinfeld admitted that a “condo-like” arrangement, where the congregation would own their part of the property rather than pay rent as tenants was preferable, but that when presented with opportunities to pursue such a concept, he, with Harris’s approval, “shut the doors and told the world that no other option could be done quickly enough,” Kleinfeld said, “I don’t know what developer this refers to or when it allegedly happened.”

 

Kleinfeld added, “We have been actively seeking to sell our building for 5 years, following 5 years of discussions in what we called the Future Committee. That committee’s goal was to identify options to preserve the congregation moving forward. The decision to sell and to deal with developers came directly from that committee’s work. In the past 5 years, we have had negotiations with multiple entities.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that it is impatience on the part of the board that is their reasoning for making what Axelbank alleges are bad choices, Kleinfeld said, “Five years of work is not being impatient.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that Kleinfeld told a non-profit developer in 2019, when negotiating a more favorable deal than the one currently being negotiated, the agreement couldn’t be finalized quickly enough and that that is why the 2019 deal fell through, Kleinfeld said, “The resident does not know what they are talking about. We had forthright negotiations with two non-profit organizations that had attractive approaches to what could happen to our property.”

 

Kleinfeld added, “We pursued both of these assiduously. In both cases, the management of the non-profits decided that they did not wish to continue. At no time did we tell them ‘no’ or that it would take too long.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that Kleinfeld told a non-profit developer in 2019 when negotiating a more favorable deal than the one currently being negotiated, the agreement couldn’t be finalized quickly enough and that that is why that 2019 deal fell through, Harris said, “At the time, we were extremely happy to have either developer enter into an agreement with us.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that had the board signed that agreement in 2019 with the non-profit developer, the board would be cutting a ribbon on a new place now, Kleinfeld said, “Had there been an agreement to sign, then this allegation might hold water.”

 

In relation to Axelbank’s allegation that had the board signed that agreement in 2019 with the non-profit developer, they’d be cutting a ribbon on a new place now, Harris said, “As stated previously, both non-profits declined to move forward with what they planned.”

 

In relation to the fact that Axelbank is encouraging members to vote for new leadership of the center who, in his opinion, will provide more information, not less, to members and who will not distort the realities of any future plans they’re making, plans, which Axelbank alleges will affect members and residents alike, Kleinfeld said, “Over the past 5 years, we have had negotiations with multiple potential developers and partners. Having those negotiations available to the entire membership, or even more broadly to the community, would have been counter-productive.”

 

Kleinfeld added, “We would not want the information about one negotiation to be available to other entities with whom we were negotiating. Based on that, information about the negotiations were kept to the Board. The Board was kept informed. We do not regard that as ‘secret,’ we regard it as prudent. It is the Board that has fiduciary responsibility for the VCJC.”

 

Kleinfeld added that while Axelbank may have concerns and personal interests in VCJC’s actions, he does not have a fiduciary responsibility for it.

 

Editor’s Note: Norwood News was not present at the May 2024 meeting where the proposed sale was discussed as it was a private members’ meeting, and therefore, we are reporting what has been communicated to us by the board of trustees and by residents. Read our latest story on the vote taken by members in May 2024 to sell the VCJC Center and to return as partial tenants here.