Rubashkin Son-In-Law Indicted For Child Abuse

Rabbi Yaakov Weiss allegedly sexually abused 2 boys and kicked and beat one of them.

Indictment: Rabbi told boy "just say nothing happened"
By ROBERT GAVIN • Times Union

ALBANY -- A Loudonville rabbi was arraigned in Albany County Court today on charges he not only sexually abused two 13-year-old boys in 2007, but repeatedly slapped and kicked one of them.
 
Yaakov Weiss, 29, founder of the Chabad of Colonie and the Chabad Hebrew School, also allegedly tried to convince one of the two youngsters to lie about the sex abuse to his mother and police.

"Just say nothing happened," Weiss told the child on June 30 on Sycamore Street in Albany, according to a four-count indictment.

Weiss, who already faced charges is City Court, was hit with the superseding indictment on Aug. 14, which alleges he victimized the children throughout 2007.

He faces up to one year behind bars on misdemeanor charges that include sexual abuse and child endangerment.

The dark-bearded rabbi pleaded not guilty before Judge Stephen Herrick as his wife and young daughter looked on from the gallery. Free without bail, Weiss later exited the courthouse, his wife by his side and daughter in his arm.

The indictment contends Weiss took a far more menacing role two years ago.

It alleged that sometime between Jan. 1 and April 30 in 2007, Weiss repeatedly slapped one 13-year-old on the back on New Scotland Avenue, "knocking him to the ground and then kicked him in the leg."

The court papers say Weiss sexually abused one of the boys in June 2007, the other between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 of that year. Both incidents allegedly took place at 340 Whitehall Rd. in Albany, which is the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center.

In both cases, June, the indictment alleged, Weiss had sexual contact "consisting of placing his penis in contact with said child's buttocks." It allegedly took place inside a pool known religiously as a mikveh, according to his attorney.

The indictment said one of the boys sought advice from Weiss, his teacher and spiritual leader, on Sycamore Street on June 30 that year.

Weiss allegedly "instructed the child to be untruthful" and to "not tell his mother or the police about an incident where the defendant subjected the victim to sexual contact."

Arnold Proskin, the lawyer for the rabbi, told reporters the allegations are baseless. He said one of the victims is the son of another rabbi with a possible ax to grind against his client.

Asked why the case went from City Court to Albany County Court, Proskin said, "Press coverage," adding, 'I'm being serious. There's no advantage (to it)."

Weiss moved to the Capital Region from Iowa in 2004. He adheres to a branch of Judaism known as Chabad-Lubavitch, which is known for its work to get Jews more involved in their religion. Last October, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of the Brooklyn-based worldwide Lubavitch group, told, the Times Union the rabbi was suspended. He added it was in "no way whatsoever implicating him or an admission or a decision of guilt."

UPDATE 4:30 PM CDT – I forgot to mention that Rabbi Yaakov Weiss is one of the board members of Chabad's Sholom M. Rubashkin Defense Fund.

Previous Post.

Hat Tip: The Other DK.]

Comments

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

"consisting of placing his penis in contact with said child's buttocks.

What's the problem? As long as there is no penetration, it's mutar according to "rabbi" Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg.

[Alex]

What a wonderful family Rubashkins are. I hope he did not treat the meat plant as his personal frat house.

[Yakira]

R. Weiss is a pedophile and he needs to be placed UNDER THE JAIL. I do not consider him a real Jew and he is a disgrace to the community.

[ah-pee-chorus]

i hope the community does what is right and condemns these despicable acts . and he and his family should be shunned by all. of course i am referring to the evil boy(s) who was moiser this chushive man with such wonderful family connections.

[ah-pee-chorus]

Nigritude Ultramarine : you are correct. and all he was doing was disciplining the boy for not eating aaron's glatt meat. he simply chose this method over a hand slap to the face. this was a chessed since it wouldnt leave a visible mark. there should be a tribute dinner for him, and an immediate fundraising campaign for his defense. maybe we here can coordinate it.

[Cee-en-en]

sexual abuse, slapping and kicking, obstruction of justice = misdemeanor??? after a whole year of investigation! I smell a "rat" and possibly a dead at that.

[ah-pee-chorus]

since when does the torah prohibit a little adult male penis- minor child buttocks play?

[Isa]

"""He faces up to one year behind bars on misdemeanor charges that include sexual abuse and child endangerment."""

Huh!? In Texas, 20 years hard labor

[Dorian]

IN these cases I always like to contact the maffia. What punishment can possibly be suitable to a human-caricature who destroys a part of childhood and very possible also a part of adulthood...?
The maffia has 'wonderful' ways to solve these problems. Weiss' 'instrument' will have no switch anymore and for the victims & family & the public that must be a most satifying thought.

[state of the Jews]

I cannot help but feel sorry for Rubashkin's daughter and grandchild. Wonder if the daughter will move back to Postville?

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

Lawyer Proskin is a former Republican NYS Assemblyman. Proskin lost seat after accused of changing a client's will to leave $49K to Arnie's kids.
http://www.judicialaccountability.org/articles/lawyerdefamationdismissed.htm

Meanwhile, Weiss has continued to hold events in the area albeit not under the Chabad label, including a bus trip to the Hasidic sights of MOnsey.

Events did not happen precisely at JCC; the mikveh is an independent organization whose bldg is off the corner of the parking lot.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Perhaps he was planning on teaching the children how to perform the great mitzvah of metzitzah b'peh.

[steve]

Please contact Rabbi Pinchus Lipschitz and give generously for this holy mitzvah of pidyon shvuyim of this righteous yid who is the victim of anti-semitism, nazism, blood libel, mesirah, and loshon hara.

[steve]

Maybe they can arrange for the whole mishpocha to be together in one prison. Moishe, Sholom Mordechai, Sholom Jr., Balkany, and Weiss. There's half a minyan right there.

[L.Krawitz]

Adult men who always choose to spend (most of) their time in the company of other young men and or boys (and how ultra orthodox Judaism encourages this practice!), and that includes priests, scout masters, teachers etc, - or as is the case here, - a Chabad rabbi , - should raise red flags in any community.

This man obviously has very serious issues that need to be dealt with,- but the institutes, such as shuls and church congregations, that don't screen these people and allow them unsupervised access to young people are also to blame.

After all the recent press coverage of the same problems in the Catholic Church, it should be blatantly obvious by now that outward displays of religious piety per se are no guarantee of ethical integrity and that excessive religious piety can, and often does, provide the ideal 'smokescreen' for pedophiles, such as priests and rabbis, to hide behind.

[WoolSilkCotton]

The article says the incidents occurred in the mikvah. What a surprise.

[ah-pee-chorus]

L.Krawitz : so true.

[albanianJew]

This is all damn lies and a big averah of lashon harah that another jew who envies him is comitting. Bearing false witness is also a pretty serious offense. I'm shocked that someone would say such horrible lies on a fellow yid.

I know Rav Weiss and I don't believe these allegations in 1 million years. Why do you assume he is guilty? I would really like to hear the whole story.

[Joseph]

I am surprised you haven't picked up on the story that was on the Yeshiva World today about the haredi arrested in Brazil for drug smuggling. Apparently there are more arrests coming.

[ah-pee-chorus]

++another jew who envies him is comitting. ++Posted by: albanianJew

so BOTH 13 year old boys envied him? or are you saying one of the parents did?
so according to your hypothesis a man disliked weiss so he used his own son by making his son fabricate a story in which the son must claim the most embarrassing thing imaginible to a teen boy, just to hurt weiss. and how does this hypothesis deal with thw second boys accusations? or maybe if he only was guilty with one boy he is a tsaddik.

[albanianJew]

Yes, from what I heard there is a man who hates him and is using his son and another mans son as a pawn against him. I'm giving Weiss the benefit of the doubt though, I think he is a great person who is incapabable of doing such a heinous chet.

[Shmarya]

I am surprised you haven't picked up on the story that was on the Yeshiva World today about the haredi arrested in Brazil for drug smuggling. Apparently there are more arrests coming.

Because I posted on it yesterday. According to a Brazilian newspaper, he was arrested for smuggling jewels.

[Jerome Soller]

AlbanianJew,
I do not have the facts in the case to make a judgment on the rabbi's guilt or innocence. I do not assume that he is guilty or innocent. I hope that the jury hears the whole full story and makes a just decision.

I'm shocked that you would say such horrible lies about several fellow yidden. After all, you are not a witness to the events in question, and yet you are making some very strong accusations. You are committing a big averah of lashon harah against the two boys and their families. Were you in the mikvah when the events in question occurred? Were you with the boys every day all of the time to know that the boy was not struck by this rabbi? You are claiming that two 13 boys are bearing false witness for personal gains or over jealousy. What is your basis for this accusation that two separate sets of parents would manipulate their children in a coordinated fashion to convict an innocent man of a heinous crime and put a permanent stigma on their children? This would involve a conspiracy of four to eight people. It is easy for you to post lashon hara anonymously. If the rabbi is convicted, will you make an apology to the boys and their families?

[steve]

This would be right up there with the Kolko Conspiracy, the Tendler Conspiracy and the Rubashkin Conspiracy.

[Isa]

All a Texas jury would have to hear...
naked in a ritual bath with two YOUNG BOYS who are not your sons.

There is a saying that goes like this...

We are too dumb, you cannot fool us

[albanianJew]

I'm only quoting what I heard on the grapvine and statements I saw on a website with many testimonals to the Rabbi. It is probably wrong to speculate.

With all due respect if he did commit those acts my deepest apologies go out to the victims and their families, its a horrible thought. You hear local rednecks doing shtick like that but I can't believe a chasidic rabbi is capable of something like that. There was a case here of a Jewish Neurologist (Dr. Ryback) who was molesting kids, and he was sent to prison for 40 years.

I guess its wrong of anyone to assume anything until the trial. Many people in the community are backing him and he still holds classes, but not under the Chabad hecksher.

I was just annoyed by the fact that everyone seems to be making rabbi weiss guilty before he is proven as such. Maybe people here know something I don't.

[Jerome Soller]

AlbanianJew,
Thank you for your response. We all hope that the truth comes out and for justice in this situation.

[WoolSilkCotton]

What time is it now in Albania?

[Yossel]

Hey AlbanianJew- as a fellow Albanian I'd like to suggest that I believe your statements are deliberate deceptions. One of the boys in question has been in regular psychotherapy since then, and has been heard saying "It's my fault, I let it happen" He's a mess and both boys are from quiet families that have no political agenda. I don't know what your connection is to Weiss, but it takes a real low-life to slander these families who are suffering so much pain. Thank G-d the local community responded so quickly to demand Weiss be removed from his position, and then stood up to support the families so strongly. You really need to do tshuva for the slander your spreading about those innocent victims!

[Good Jew]

Yakov Weiss is a tzadik, none of this is true!

[Better Jew]

Yakov Weiss is a criminal, all of this is true!

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

Weiss is arrogant and manipulative. Chutzpahdik. I don't know if any of this is true, but I'd bet money on it that it is.

I cannot imagine a parent making a 13 year old child a korban as Weiss asserts, nor can I imagine a 13 y.o. allowing himself to be the korban.

[AlbanainJew]

Weiss did nice things for the community here, I think so anyway. He made seders and purim festivals. He had a menorah put in the mall.

Seeing him made me more frum, putting on tifflin and being shomer shabbos and neigah.

It gives me chills thinking if what he did is true. Why bother being shomer mitzvoth, wearing black coats, and not driving on shabbos if you are going to do things which are universally forbidden in all religions and are immoral on every level.

How can you put on tifflin and then place your penis on a boys tuchos, something which can arguably be a to'a'vah m'dioriatha. Especially in a Mikvah of all places, where you go to be "tahor" and absolved of all things unclean.

IF IT IS TRUE>>>Thats horrible and inexcusable on any level, at least he should have found a grown man and not screw up a poor kid. Plently of rednecks here on cragislist would be glad to accommodate him.

It seems that merely posting anything at this point is L'H for either weiss or the victim, since it nothing was proven in a bet din, secular or frum. I will refrain from making any assumptions.

I would like to post what Rabbi Weiss sent out in an email, this is his side of things:
**********************
Hope you're doing well!

I would like to give you a bit of an update regarding my case.

Thank G-d all is going in the right direction. We have complete trust in G-d that all will be good and I will be cleared of these charges.

This morning I appeared in court with my emissary of G-d, Arnold Proskin, and of course with Roza by my side. This was in fact an advancement on our side as the Grand Jury dropped a number of counts, and G-d willing the rest will follow suit.

Most importantly, I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank you for your friendship and support and I hope to be able to share good news soon!

Have a great day!
*************************

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

Arnold Proskin as "the emissary of G-d."

Wow.

It must mean he's doing it pro bono. Arnie's brother-in-law used to be prez of the orthodox shul next to the mikveh.

[Dorian]

AlbanianJew:

I have no doubt that Weiss is able to make beautiful seders, purim parties and getting menorot and chanukiot placed in the malls.
He is very likely very good to his mother to.

But than again,,Michael Jackson was of equally 'dubious character'...and could sing nice songs..
Mohammed also inspired millions of people to wear burka's ...but nevertheless raped Aisha when she was 9...
Add to the endless list more of 'gifted' rapists/pedophiles.. yourself

"...Seeing him made me more frum...
Your decision for religious dedication and devotion should be based on God..never on a rabbi..

[fair is fair]

"As long as there was no penetration", that is just sick and disgusting!!!!!! Penetration or NOT- it is sick and wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I were the parent, I would make damn sure you were behind bars

[AlbanainJew]

The only scary thing I can think of is psychologically Weiss is in total denial, and to him he did nothing wrong or it didn't happen. It happens more often than you think.

And the fact there was penetration or not isn't even the issue. What he is being accused of is a violation of both jewish and NYS law. Even if there is some crazy halachic loophole (which I pretty much doubt) that touching with a phallus is ok but not penetrating, yids are supposed to obey the reasonable laws of the land they live in, which in the most part are indirectly derived from the torah.

[Mordechai]

"In both cases, June, the indictment alleged, Weiss had sexual contact "consisting of placing his penis in contact with said child's buttocks." It allegedly took place inside a pool known religiously as a mikveh, according to his attorney."

Best not to leave one's child alone in the mikveh with a haredi rabbi.

[Ester]

WHERE WERE THE PARENTS OF THESE BOYS? HOW COULD THEY HAVE ALLOWED TWO YOUNG BOYS IN THE MIKVAH WITHOUT A PARENTAL SUPERVISION? THIS WHOLE STORY HAS TWO MANY HOLES. THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON WITH THE PARENTS. LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A LAWSUIT OR REVENGE FOR SOMETHING PERSONAL AGAINST THE RABBI.

[Albany studetn]

OMG he was my best teacher!

[Albany student]

Wow this is sick!