The director of UCLA Hillel, who reportedly assaulted a woman on
Oct. 21, confirmed that he has taken an administrative leave of
absence from the organization.
Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller took a voluntary leave of absence
from Hillel after the Los Angeles Hillel Council announced it was
launching an internal investigation into the incidents of Oct. 21
involving him, said David Levy, director of the council.
On Oct. 21, Seidler-Feller allegedly kicked freelance journalist
Rachel Neuwirth, a member of the local Jewish community, during a
confrontation outside of Royce Hall, according to police
reports.
Eyewitnesses say Neuwirth called Seidler-Feller a
“capo” at some point during the confrontation, although
it was unclear if the remark came before or after the kicking.
“Capo” is a derogatory term for Jews who collaborated
with Nazis during World War II.
The city attorney decided not to press criminal charges against
Seidler-Feller. The Hillel Council had decided to conduct an
internal investigation before the city attorney released his
verdict, although it waited until after the city attorney was
finished with its investigation before it began its own, Levy
said.
The internal investigation is being conducted by an independent
attorney, Levy added.
The investigation is expected to last between 30 and 45
days.
Ross Neihaus, president of Bruins for Israel, said
Seidler-Feller called him over winter break to tell him he was
taking a leave of absence.
Taking a leave of absence is often standard procedure during an
internal investigation.
There will be no interim director appointed to UCLA Hillel
during the investigation, said Seidler-Feller, who added he expects
to be back on the job after the investigation is completed.