In a letter to her congregants at Temple Israel of Duluth, Rabbi Amy Bernstein expressed remorse and contrition about her drunken driving arrest.
"I cannot begin to tell you how badly I wish I could go back and change many of the things leading up to my poor judgment that night," she wrote.
"This has been a traumatic wake-up call for me, and I can only beg your forgiveness and promise that it will, of course, not happen again," she continued, apologizing for "any way this compromises or impacts the reputation of Temple Israel."
It shouldn't. Nor should it reverse the good works of someone who has been a dynamic and effective local clerical leader.
But her apology failed to acknowledge the gravity of drunken driving in that it is not about the shame of the offender but the safety of the community.
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In addition to whatever sentence is meted out to her, typically including victim impact classes, Bernstein will have time to reflect during a previously arranged sabbatical in Israel beginning later this month. It's hoped she will return renewed and recharged to work for the well-being of the community, both spiritually and physically.
Disclosure: Editorial Page Editor Robin Washington is a member of the Temple Israel Board of Directors.
