This is moving. Teaneck, N.J., musician Rich Siegel (who has a new jazz album called The Way to Peace) recently filed a complaint against a local rabbi who harassed his family because of his anti-Zionist bumperstickers. Last month a judge ruled that the complaint should go to trial.

The Teaneck Suburbanite has now published a letter from Rabbi David Schwartz with a lengthy and sincere apology for his behavior. And evidently that’s good enough for Siegel. Admirable conduct, by both men.

‘I am sorry’

To the editor,

I am writing this letter with respect to a complaint filed against me by Rich Siegel and returnable before the Teaneck Municipal Court. The purpose of this letter is to publically apologize to Siegel for my conduct. I have asked him to drop all criminal charges against me, as well as waive the right to file a civil complaint against me, and he has graciously agreed to recommend to the prosecutor that all charges be dropped.

In spring 2011 while walking my dog, I noticed pro-Palestine bumper stickers on a car parked at a private home. These bumper stickers upset me. On one occasion, I came in contact with Siegel, owner of the car and home. I accused him of being an Anti-Semite.

Saturday morning Nov. 5, 2011, I stopped in front of his home and shouted an obscenity. I was later advised that not only was Siegel home, but that his wife and daughter were, too, and that my behavior caused them alarm and distress. When Siegel called the police, I told them that shouting this obscenity was my right as free speech, and compared it to Siegel’s right to place bumper stickers on his car.

My behavior was wrong on many levels. Obviously it is wrong for a rabbi, or for anyone, to shout obscenities at a private home for any reason. It was wrong to assert that this activity qualifies as free speech. And it was wrong for me to call Siegel an Anti-Semite. While I am a dedicated Zionist, I recognize that during the entire history of Zionism there have been many Jews opposed to it. Zionism and Judaism are not the same thing. Opposing Zionism and/or supporting the Palestinian people does not necessarily make a person an Anti-Semite.

It has come to my attention that this incident is just the most recent in a series of incidents that Siegel has been made to suffer including harassment by others and vandalism to his car. I feel this is very wrong. I appeal to the local Jewish community to realize what I have come to understand: that although Siegel’s views are very different than most of ours, he has the right to them, and the right to express them while living in our community without fear of harm to his family,

I am deeply sorry for my behavior, and in particular, that my behavior caused distress to a 6-year-old girl.

Rabbi David Schwartz