Young Israel Amends Constitution Following Rebellion

from The Jewish Week:

Young Israel No Longer Able To Seize Resigning Members’ Assets

Delegates representing 140 Young Israel congregations in the United States voted overwhelmingly Tuesday evening to amend the constitution of their parent body, stripping it of the right to seize the assets of any member congregation that seeks to resign.

Leaders of the National Council of Young Israel had tried to do just that in June 2010 when a member congregation in upstate New York, Shaarei Torah Orthodox Congregation of Syracuse, tried to resign in a dispute with the national body. National Council leaders said the congregation was barred by the NCYI’s constitution from resigning and then took steps to expel the congregation and seize its assets.