Harassment penalty stays for L.A. rabbi

los angeles (jta) | A Reform rabbinical board has upheld the reprimand of a California rabbi over allegations of sexual misconduct, but it declined to impose a more serious penalty of censure.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis’ board of trustees voted June 20 to support its earlier letter of reprimand of Rabbi Michael Mayersohn in the wake of charges by a former congregant.

The move stems from a May 2002 complaint from Chavah (Lori) Hogue of “sexual boundary violations.” Hogue accused Mayersohn of trying to seduce her during a marital counseling session while he was rabbi of Temple Beth David in Westminster.

California teen sues over remark

los angeles (jta) | A Los Angeles-area teenager sued school officials, saying he suffered anti-Semitic harassment.

Samuel Goldstein, 16, of Ventura County, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging that a coach at his former high school said “God didn’t like him because he was a Jew,’ while students and teammates made anti-Semitic remarks and Hitler salutes and drew swastikas, without any school response, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal reported.

Cooperstown honors Jewish ballplayers

new york (jta) | Jewish baseball players will be celebrated at baseball’s Hall of Fame.

The celebration will take place Aug. 29 and 30 at the Hall of Fame museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. The event was spurred by the publication of a 143-card set of Jewish major leaguers developed by Martin Abramowitz, a baseball fan and executive at the Boston Jewish federation.

Allstate reverses Israel travel policy

new york (jta) | Allstate reversed its decision to deny life insurance to travelers to Israel and Palestinian areas.

Allstate was one of several U.S. insurance companies that denied insurance to those who had traveled or planned on traveling to Israel.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) lauded the insurer’s decision July 6, but said other companies’ policies made it necessary to pass legislation on the issue.