News Release

Jewish Advocate - Dec. 28, 2001
Editorial
Republished by permission of the Jewish Advocate

Affairs in the established American Jewish community reached a nadir of behavior with the recent firing of New England Region Director Sheila Decter of the American Jewish Congress over the telephone by the organization's national office. There are many reasons for which this action can be condemned as being unwarranted, unintelligent and outrageous. Two counts that immediately leap out -- literally shouting the perfidiousness of this disgraceful move in the life of a hitherto highly respected organization --are first, in taking such an untoward step, it went completely against its values of strongly supporting humanitarianism, fairness and progressiveness, and secondly, it attacked one of the most able, informed and diligent field directors in its history.

For more than two decades, Sheila Decter has represented the ideal professional's professional in the Boston Jewish social-action world. Her wholehearted dedication to the principles of civil rights and civic duties of Americanism and Judaism as a model for the individual is of the highest order. Unobtrusive and yet a steady and informed ever--present driving force, she inspired and directed lay persons as a competent and confidant professional should in carrying on the AJCongress program of making this country a better and more equal place in which to live, with the Jewish community the banner--carrier of this goal.

Sadly aware that such noble causes -- especially during callous times of plenty which prevailed until recently -- do not attract great sums of money, she ran a tight office doing a good deal of the routine work herself, along with the high level strategizing and making contacts. Modestly, she developed an encyclopedic knowledge of the legislative process, both on the state and national level. In the course of her endeavors, she attracted cadres of gifted lawyers and other public figures to this effort who also were willing to do the pick-and-axe work without seeking personal publicity while marching toward tangible results in fostering legislation that they perceived as benefiting the greatest numbers of people. Judge Sumner Z. Kaplan, the president of the New England Region, is an example par excellence of the caliber of leader who has been at Mrs. Decter's side in guiding and inspiring the group's pursuit of justice and righteousness. A long--time respected community figure, he served his fellow citizens as an able and trustworthy attorney, the state in the legislature as a solon of impeccable principles and our country's military in war and peace, rising to the rank of general in the Army. The vita of many AJCongress leaders here through Sheila Decter's times rise to similar heights.

Whether the firing of Sheila Decter represents a political shift to the right (which would be regrettable) in the AJCongress program -- as has been bruited -- or a reprimand for failing in the local office's fundraising results of the last two years -- a dastardly reason -- the timing and manner in which it was done is indefensible.

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