Reason behind swim coach’s firing surfaces

Oren Minsk and Alex Landy|December 3, 2019

New details surrounding the firing of former JCC and CESJDS swimming coach, Mike Karel, have emerged.

Details have emerged in the expulsion of former CESJDS swimming coach, Mike Karel, from the Bender JCC and his subsequent firing from the school. According to an email sent Tuesday, Nov. 19 by Karel to the team after being banned from the JCC and a later email he sent to The Lion’s Tale, two allegations of misconduct were made against him.

In the email to JDS swimmers and their parents, Karel said, “I have been accused, tried and convicted, without any input from me, of grabbing a female employee (of the JCC) by the arm and not letting go.”

Also, Karel noted a second instance was from a few years ago, which he described as a verbal argument he allegedly had with a JCC employee.

When asked for a comment, the JCC said it “made a business decision to terminate [Karel’s] employment which [the JCC] believed was in its best interest.” The JCC added that “since [Karel’s termination] is a personnel matter it is confidential.”

JDS administrators, including Head of School Rabbi Mitchell Malkus and Athletic Director Becky Silberman, had no comments or information to share other than what was in the initial email sent by Silberman to swimmers and their parents announcing Karel’s firing.

In an email to The Lion’s Tale, Karel stated that he has “no recollection” of the first incident of grabbing a female employee’s arm, and criticized the process in which the JCC fired him, which according to him, gave him “no opportunity to refute the allegation” made against him.

Karel said he was “fired” by a human resources officer at the JCC over the phone, prompting him to email Silberman on Friday, Nov. 15, in which he described his suspension and the allegations made against him in detail.

This story is developing and may be updated.

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About the Contributors

Oren Minsk, Editor-in-Chief

Oren Minsk is very excited to continue working on The Lion’s Tale as Managing Copy Editor after previously working as a reporter and in the In-Depth section. He particularly enjoys the supportive community of the Lion’s Tale, as well as the constant feedback and advice which enables him to become a better writer, editor and reporter. Aside from The Lion's Tale, Oren runs cross country in the fall, and track in the winter and spring. He is also interested in politics and involved with the JDS debate team and the JDS Junior State of America chapter. Oren volunteers with the Friendship circle and enjoys traveling around the world.

Alex Landy, Editor-in-Chief

Alex Landy, now the Editor-in-Chief of The Lion’s Tale, is looking forward to another productive and exciting year on the newspaper staff after being Copy Editor. Aside from The Lion’s Tale, is an active participant in student government as his class’ grade representative, and is a debate club member and political enthusiast. Thrilled to hit the ground running as an engaged, receptive and dedicated member of the newspaper, Alex is prepared to do all he can to further the objectives and messages of The Lion’s Tale’s, including integrity, ethical journalism and impartiality. He believes in an inclusive, diverse and equal team focused on respectful and enjoyable opportunities for all staff members, whether they be editors or reporters. Alex enjoys binge-watching captivating political Netflix series', getting into heated political arguments with just about anyone he meets, exercising on his free time, listening to the latest music and spending time with family and friends.

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