Mock Trial of Abraham at Kol Ami in White Plains

U.S. District court Judge Jed. S. Rakoff will step away from his usual courtroom in the Southern District of New York, to preside over the Trial of the Centuries—People v. Abraham at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains on Friday, April 16 at 8 p.m. Judge Rakoff was appointed to the federal bench in 1966 by President Bill Clinton. His earlier career includes practice as a federal prosecutor and as a defense attorney in white-collar crime cases.

The mock trial of the Biblical patriarch for the attempted murder of his son, Isaac, more than 4,000 years ago, will be a highlight of Synaplex, a series of monthly Friday night events that explore the Jewish experience. “People think the Bible is too holy to wrestle with, but Jews have always wrestled with the text of the Torah,” said Rabbi Shira Milgrom of Congregation Kol Ami. “Sometimes it can be hard to reconcile our beliefs with the texts, so we jump into the ring and wrestle with them.” The Synaplex mock trial is very much in that tradition, she noted.

"We are honored to have as our presiding judge the Hon. Jed Rakoff, who has served with distinction since 1996 as a federal court judge in the Southern District of New York A graduate of Swarthmore College, Oxford University (M. Philosophy) and Harvard Law School, Judge Rakoff has experienced both public service-- as a federal prosecutor in New York, where he was the Chief of the Business and Securities Fraud Unit-- and private practice-- as a partner in two prominent Wall street law firms, specializing in white collar criminal defense. Judge Rakoff has been featured prominently in the news, most recently for his role in the SEC/Bank of America case involving the public disclosures made and not made concerning the Merrill Lunch bonuses in 2008, and for his decision in 2002 (later overturned) declaring the federal death penalty stature unconstitutional".

Representing Abraham will be Michael P. Zweig, litigation partner at Loeb & Loeb, and Ami G. Zweig, an attorney extern at the New York Legal Aid Society. The prosecution team includes Scott D. Musoff, litigation partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager & Flom, and Leslye B. Davidson, a partner at Davidson, Davidson and Kappel. The witnesses (as Sarah, Abraham, the servant, and Isaac respectively) will be Dr. Ellen Umansky, professor of Judaic Studies at Fairfield University, attorney Richard L. Veron, Ron Cole, a businessman and amateur actor, and David Bach, a junior at Ardsley High School. A six-person jury will hear arguments. A 1-hour New York Continuing Legal Education Credit will be offered.

Synaplex’s flexible format includes music, dance, spiritual exploration, children's programming, films, and other activities. The evening’s schedule opens at 5:00 pm with a choice of events. Explorations in Music with Cantor Mo Glazman and special guest Galit Dadoun will take place in the Main Sanctuary. A children’s crafts program will be held in the synagogue’s main building. In addition, there also will be a Shabbat service for families with young children at 5:30 pm., and a wine-and-cheese get together in Kol Ami’s main building following these activities.

At the heart of Synaplex™ at Kol Ami are the Friday night religious services ushering in the Sabbath. They will be in the main sanctuary are at 6:15 pm. Religious services are followed by teen, family, young-professional, and adults-only dinners at 7:30 p.m. After dinner, while adults attend the trial, young children have a choice of making sandwiches and snacks for a local homeless shelter, Supervised Sports and Games with Coach Stone, and/or attending the evenings Main Event, if age appropriate.

Synaplex™ events are open to both temple members and non-members. All events are free with the exception of the dinner, which costs $25 for adults and $15 for teens and $10 for children. Reservations are necessary for dinner. For more information or to make a dinner reservation, please call Ilene Miller at 949-4717 ext. 111.