Congregation Shaare Emeth Code of Ethics
Shaare Emeth is a Beit Tefilah (spiritual nourishment), a Beit Midrash (impactful Jewish learning), and a Beit Kehillah (meaningful community connections). Our values prioritize deepening connections with one another and with our faith through intentional relationship building. We lift up and live by the Reform Jewish values of honoring the image of God in every person, celebrating with one another in times of joy, caring for one another in times of need, and pursuing acts of justice in our communities and in the world.
We therefore strive to hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, social responsibility, and human decency. When we behave ethically and hold ourselves accountable, Shaare Emeth is a safe, welcoming, and sacred environment for all who are connected to it.
Although not encompassing every possible concern, this Shaare Emeth Code of Ethics (“Code”) provides a framework for the principles and expectations for all persons associated with Shaare Emeth, including, without limitation, members, lay leaders, clergy, and staff (“Community Members”).
All Community Members are participating in this sacred brit (covenant) to uphold this Code as an expression of our communal values and responsibilities and to hold ourselves and one another accountable with a balance of Din (justice) and Rachamim (compassion). As a living document, this Code will be reviewed regularly and revised as appropriate in light of experience and evolving needs.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission: At Congregation Shaare Emeth, we come together to strengthen relationships, connect with Jewish tradition, deepen spiritual engagement, and act to repair our world.
Vision: Congregation Shaare Emeth is a vibrant, inclusive center of Jewish life where every person can find a sense of belonging, meaning, joy and hope.
We are guided by these values:
- Kehilla/Community: We are a vibrant, multigenerational community where relationships flourish and every person is valued. We honor the Divine in each individual, and welcome all who seek connection and a home in Jewish life.
- Torah/Lifelong Learning: At all ages and stages of life, we engage deeply with Jewish wisdom, allowing timeless teachings to guide and impact our lives today.
- Avodah/Sacred Service: Through prayer, ritual, holiday, and life cycle celebrations, we seek and create moments of holiness in our lives and in the life of our community.
- Tikkun Olam/Repairing the World: We act with compassion and moral courage to stand for justice, pursue peace, and heal our world.
- Hineni/Presence and Responsibility: We choose to be present, offering our time, resources, and care to one another, to our St. Louis community, to the Jewish people here and in Israel, and to those who struggle around the world.
Inclusivity & Respect
Every individual who engages with our community is valued and is created B’tzelem Elohim (in the image of God) and deserving of respect. To that end, Community Members will:
- Conduct themselves with mutual respect.
- Refrain from lashon hara (negative talk, gossip, and slander).
- Demonstrate a spirit of collaboration, openness, and mutual support.
- Treat all individuals with dignity and fairness.
- Foster respectful dialogue even when opinions differ, seeking common ground.
- Encourage participation from individuals of all ages and backgrounds in leadership roles.
Personal Responsibility
We commit to acting with integrity and holding ourselves to the highest moral standards within and beyond our community. This entails setting an example through our actions and being mindful to avoid any conduct that could be perceived as unethical. This behavior includes, but is not limited to:
- Acting with Emet v’Yosher (honesty and integrity) in both word and deed.
- Maintaining the highest ethical standards in all financial dealings.
- Avoiding conflicts of interest and improper influence on decision-making.
- Avoiding decisions regarding hiring, firing, recognition, discipline, or contracting which are influenced by personal interests or improper considerations.
- Protecting congregational assets and intellectual property from misuse.
- Reporting unethical or illegal conduct promptly to a member of the Ethics Committee.
- Practice teshuvah (repentance) when mistakes occur, demonstrating humility.
Social and Public Persona
We must be mindful of when our personal communications could be misconstrued as representing the views of Shaare Emeth, and refrain from communications that are offensive, abusive, unlawful, or inconsistent with the ethical standards of our community. When in doubt, we consider whether our behavior upholds the principles of Kavod (respect), Emet (truth), and Shmirat Halashon (guarding our speech).
Community Members are expected to use social media related to Shaare Emeth in accordance with policies or guidance that Shaare Emeth may adopt from time to time. Whether posting in a personal or professional capacity, we commit to communicating with respect, integrity, and responsibility, including, without limitation:
- Avoiding sharing content that is inconsistent with Shaare Emeth’s values.
- Refraining from disclosing confidential, private, or sensitive information about Shaare Emeth’s matters, members, staff, or volunteers.
- Taking care not to disclose details about Shaare Emeth programming, security procedures, or personal information of others, all of which have safety and security implications.
- Posting or sharing items that we created, have permission to use, or are clearly free to share.
- Striving to represent Shaare Emeth fairly and constructively.
Personal Boundaries and Harassment
As Community Members, we must ensure that personal boundaries are always respected. We also are responsible for responding appropriately to allegations or discovery of boundary-crossing by others. Community Members shall never:
- Engage in any act or behavior that exploits the vulnerability of another, takes advantage of a power imbalance, compromises one’s moral integrity, or creates an intimidating, offensive, abusive, or hostile environment.
- Use a position or authority to intimidate, bully, or unduly influence others or allow other Community Members to do so.
- Engage in abusive, harassing, or bullying behavior or unlawful discrimination.
We abide by the Jewish precept of “Do not stand idly by” (Leviticus 19:16). As members in a Jewish community, we have an ethical obligation to protect victims of abuse or neglect when made aware of such circumstances. Community Members with a professional obligation to report circumstances of abuse or neglect must follow applicable professional guidelines and laws.
Inclusion & Discrimination
As Community Members, we embrace the principle of Arevut Hadadit (mutual responsibility), recognizing that the well-being of each Community Member is bound to the well-being of us all. Belonging at Shaare Emeth means both being cared for and caring for others, guarding the inherent dignity of every person, and committing to honoring and appreciating diversity in all its forms. We strive to foster an environment of respect, fairness, and belonging for all Community Members. Every person is to be treated with dignity and without bias or exclusion. We affirm the value of Shayachut, the deep sense of belonging that connects each person to Shaare Emeth and to the Jewish people. We strive to ensure that every individual feels recognized, welcomed, and integral to our community.
Confidentiality
We affirm the value of Shmirat HaLashon (guarding our speech) and uphold the dignity of every individual by maintaining the confidentiality of all who entrust us with personal information. Personal and financial information is confidential and should not be discussed or disclosed without permission. Care should be taken to ensure that confidential conversations are kept private and that any documents containing confidential information are not left in the open or inadvertently shared. Under certain circumstances, however, it may be necessary to share otherwise confidential information to avoid harm. Special diligence is also required for employment discussions. Community Members shall:
- Protect information to which they have access by way of a “need-to-know” to support our professional roles in Shaare Emeth, including personnel information related to employment status or progression, compensation, performance management, etc.
- Discourage the seeking of employment-related information about others.
- Refrain from speculation about other Community Members’ personal situations (e.g., health, financial difficulty, etc.).
- Refrain from sharing, even with family members, information obtained in confidence (e.g., in an executive session of a board meeting).
Conflicts of Interest
In keeping with the Torah’s commandment of Lo Tikach Shochad (do not take a bribe) and the Jewish value of Yosher (integrity), those in positions of authority and influence, including members of the board, officers, and staff members, must conduct all congregational business in a manner that is morally, ethically, and fiscally of the highest order and can bear public scrutiny at all times. Conduct should consistently reflect the best interests of Shaare Emeth, in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. For our purposes, a “conflict of interest” means one or more of these scenarios as well as other situations of a similar nature or effect:
- A Community Member or a close family member has a direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise, in the outcome of any transaction or matter involving Shaare Emeth.
- A Community Member has considerations or competing loyalties, whether real or perceived, that could reasonably impair independent judgment or the ability to act in the best interests of Shaare Emeth.
- A Community Member acts or seeks to act on behalf of Shaare Emeth without full disclosure and appropriate approval from relevant Shaare Emeth leaders.
- A Community Member discloses or uses proprietary or confidential information concerning Shaare Emeth, its deliberations, or Community Members for a purpose unrelated to Shaare Emeth’s interests.
- A Community Member uses their position with Shaare Emeth to secure a personal advantage or benefit for themselves or others.
- A Community Member uses Shaare Emeth’s property or resources for personal benefit or other unauthorized purposes.
Reporting and Enforcement
The Ethics Committee shall serve as the guardian of Shaare Emeth’s Code and as the reporting and enforcement body. Its role is to ensure that ethical concerns are addressed with fairness, compassion, and integrity, in a manner consistent with Jewish values and the best interests of Community Members. A Community Member who is approached with a concern or complaint should respond with sensitivity and compassion, refrain from forming or expressing judgments about any party, and promptly refer the matter to a member of the Ethics Committee. Community Members should not attempt to investigate, resolve, or adjudicate the concern independently. The following are the designated individuals who shall serve as members of the Ethics Committee:
- Board President
- Board 1st Vice President
- Executive Director
- Senior Rabbis
- Human Resources Committee Chair
Shaare Emeth and Community Members shall not harass, take adverse action against, or engage in any other form of retaliation against any person who makes a good faith report of a violation or suspected violation of law, regulations, policy, or this Code. This applies to good faith internal and external reports to outside agencies with jurisdiction over the matter reported. This protection does not apply to anyone who deliberately makes a false accusation of a violation or suspected violation.
Complaints, investigations, information, and documentation about alleged or suspected violations of this Code, and related information, will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate and timely investigation and to prevent imminent harm. No one shall disseminate any information regarding a complaint or the facts and circumstances relating to such matters, except as necessary to conduct a fair, adequate, and timely investigation, to prevent imminent and substantial harm to affected persons or Shaare Emeth, or as otherwise required by law.
Code of Ethics Review and Revision
Review and revision of the Code is a recurring responsibility of Shaare Emeth and is essential to ensuring the Code’s currency and relevance, and to enhancing its accuracy and comprehensiveness. Modifications to the Code may be proposed to the Ethics Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees.
