Kol Ha-Kavod Andrew Tarsy

Shock of shocks -- in December Andrew Tarsy announced his resignation from ADL as director of the New England regional office, its best known regional office. I'll spare you the full rendition of the sad story of how ADL's arrogance got the best of it (only to have its lunch handed to it by a few unknown and unbelievably po'd Armenians). Suffice to say that Tarsy decided to take a stand, was fired for doing so only to be reinstated and then, a few weeks ago, announcing his departure.

Whether Tarsy's departure is voluntary or not matters little. Let's face it -- his ADL career was basically over and it seems he knew it. Sure he might have had (and probably still has) some support from the ADL New England regional board. But overall, Tarsy had little hope of hanging on (and to give him credit, it's doubtful he wanted to merely hang on) once things died down. No way the anti-national rebels among the NE board would have the staying power to maintain the conflict with Abe. (It remains to be seen how a successor will be chosen and the NE board unified within itself and with the national.)

The NE region of ADL is know for its disdain at best and antipathy at worst toward ADL chief Abe Foxman. Remember Lenny Zakim z"l? That was their heyday and their achievements were perceived as independent of (and maybe in spite of) Abe and the national office. Many on the NE board take indiscreet pride in their disaffection for Abe and are dismissive of the authority of the national office. More about the ADL and the cult of Abe in a future post.

Back to Tarsy. Rare indeed have been sightings of senior professionals/lay leaders who have put their own skin on the line to stand for principle. And Tarsy did it with a very human touch, with appreciation for the magnitude of his actions, and with lots of class. He made a difference in the debate and in ADL's position on the Armenian issue. It is too sad that he paid a personal price for it. We can only hope that employers appreciate the virtues of Tarsy's character and note that he lives his values.

We wish him well.