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Letter in support of Rabbi Nikki Golomb

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We, the undersigned, write to condemn the termination of Rabbi Nikki Golomb by Hillels of Georgia. We are a broad coalition of Hillel stakeholders: current and former students, parents, board members, donors, Hillel professionals, Jewish academics, rabbis, cantors, and other Jewish professionals who care deeply about Hillel’s mission and its future.

Rabbi Golomb was fired one month into her tenure at Emory Hillel. She was told she was being fired because of her fiancé’s social media posts documenting settler and military violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. He is a private citizen with no role or involvement at Hillel. Since her story became public, Hillels of Georgia has denied this, but they have provided no specifics or evidence for their own account. They have also made public comments calling into question her morality and honesty, which are baseless accusations that are damaging to her professional reputation and serve no purpose other than retaliation. This sets a dangerous precedent that the partners and loved ones of Jewish communal leaders will face the same scrutiny as the leaders themselves, fostering an environment of fear and paranoia in which we bear collective guilt for statements we have not made.

At a moment when many Jewish students are grappling with what it means to live Jewishly amid rising antisemitism and deepening polarization within our own communities, the need is pressing for rabbis who can engage thoughtfully with the full range of views in the next generation. That Hillels of Georgia would terminate someone who is up for this task is deeply disappointing, as well as a tragic missed opportunity. Rabbi Golomb uprooted her life to do this work; instead, she now finds herself without a job or benefits in a city still new to her.

We call on Hillels of Georgia to publicly retract their statements impugning Rabbi Golomb’s character and falsely asserting that her firing had nothing to do with her fiancé. 

We further call on Hillels of Georgia and Hillel International to:

1. Establish written policies governing employment decisions related to Israel-Palestine politics, ensuring such decisions are made according to clear and publicly known standards.

2. Commit to transparency in employment decisions, including providing employees with a clear and specific rationale for termination and refraining from unsubstantiated public accusations against employees.

3. Commit to engaging employees and community members from a place of curiosity and chesed rather than fear, especially on questions where our community is deeply divided.

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This letter was drafted by volunteer supporters of Rabbi Golomb in Halachic Left. This letter is meant to represent a broad coalition, and signing is not an endorsement of Halachic Left or our work. But if you're interested in learning more, you're welcome to sign up for our email list by checking the box below.
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