By COLlive reporter
In an unexpected aboutface, demonstrating the leadership struggle it is facing, Educational Institute Oholei Torah in Crown Heights has rescinded its hiring of its new dean before his first school day.
Rabbi Michoel Druin, a veteran educator who has led various schools around the world, was announced in May 2015 as the new face of the Chabad boys school.
The hiring, done by Oholei Torah’s board of directors, was meant for Druin to bring “decades of experience successfully and professionally running large schools,” while adhering to “the goals and aspirations of Oholei Torah.”
But at one point, an internal disagreement between the board and the school’s Executive Director Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, had led both parties to go to Din Torah over the hiring.
The result: Rabbi Druin was ousted before he even began.
To save face, Oholei Torah has asked back Rabbi Hershel Lustig, the outgoing dean who stood at the helm of Oholei Torah for 40 years.
Rabbi Lustig told COLlive.com: “I am not reassuming the position or title of ‘dean,’ but because I care about the yeshiva, I will function as ‘minister without portfolio’ for as long as required.”
Asked for a comment on the turnaround, Rabbi Druin said: “Thank you for reaching out to me. At the moment, I have no comment. If you would like you can reach out to the Oholei Torah board of directors for a comment.”
Two members of the board didn’t respond. The school administration itself said they will be releasing a statement on Monday.
