TROPPER: Outreach Rabbi Resigns Amid Cloud Of Scandal

An influential ultra-Orthodox rabbi who supervises conversions has stepped down abruptly from the organization he founded.

Outreach Rabbi Resigns Amid Cloud Of Scandal
Rabbi Leib Tropper gave no reason for his resignation but said he would “pursue a variety of different interests.”
New York Jewish Week Staff Report

An influential ultra-Orthodox rabbi who supervises conversions has stepped down abruptly from the organization he has led for about five years.

Rabbi Leib Tropper resigned this week as head of Eternal Jewish Family, the Monsey-based conversion group he founded. In an official EJF press release issued late Monday, two days after Rabbi Tropper’s resignation took effect, the rabbi cited a desire to pursue “a variety of other interests.

“I have decided to resign my position at the Eternal Jewish Family (EJF) effective December 12, 2009,” the statement read in part. “As a founder of EJF, I am proud of my role of being an architect of a very dynamic and important movement in our community. I will in the coming months do my utmost to be of service to the Jewish community in any way I can.”

Rabbi Tropper’s resignation comes amid reports that he was involved in sexual improprieties with a woman whose conversion he was supervising, according to Shmarya Rosenberg of the blog failedmessiah.com.

Posters in Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem decried Rabbi Tropper for improper behavior, according to the Da’as Torah blog.

Calls to Rabbi Tropper’s home were answered by a recording announcing that his voicemail box was full. Eternal Jewish Family refused comment, and calls to Yeshivas Kol Yaakov, a yeshiva for returnees to Orthodox Judaism that Rabbi Tropper still heads in Monsey, were not returned. Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel, named Monday as the new head of EJF’s rabbinic committee, did not return a call for comment.

Rabbis Tropper and Wachtfogel were instrumental in a 2005 ban issued by leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis against Rabbi Natan Slifkin, who writes on the interface of Torah and modern science. Rabbi Slifkin was labeled a heretic, and his books were banned, in part for suggesting the universe is older than 5,770 years.

In 2006, after Israel’s chief rabbis issued demands tightening the conversion process and regulating which Orthodox rabbis would be allowed to supervise conversions, Rabbi Tropper’s influence increased. That same year Rabbi Tropper is alleged to have revoked a woman’s conversion months after supervising it, upon learning that she occasionally wore pants.

A wealthy energy industrialist, Guma Aguiar, filed a suit against Rabbi Tropper in the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court recently, according to Arutz Sheva/Israel National News, claiming that he “misallocated funds intended for poor people in Israel.” 

Rabbi Tropper’s online biography says he served as educational director at Ohr Sameach, a well-known yeshiva in Monsey for returnees to the faith. In 1990, Rabbi Tropper began an outreach program called Horizons, focusing on educating and inspiring the unaffiliated to experience a Torah lifestyle.

This is part one. Much more to come tomorrow.

Comments

[Pinchus Scheinberg Surfaces Again]

"Rabbi Tropper attributes the yeshiva’s success to the approach in Hashkafa and Chinuch he learned from his Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg [of Kolko's "no penetration, no crime" fame]."

"In 1990, Rabbi Tropper began a new outreach program called Horizons, focusing on educating and inspiring the unaffiliated to experience a Torah lifestyle. As its director, Rabbi Tropper has traveled across the world to places such as Berlin, London, Paris among others and visited remote cities throughout the U.S. lecturing and teaching. Additionally, he has also authored three seforim: his Halachic sefer is based on the p’sokim of his Rebbe, Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg."

Nuff said. A talmud of Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg. Scheinberg taught him well.

[Jakes]

So what? He resigns and another power hungry Black Hat takes over and decides who's in and who's out of the Tribe.

[Robert Wisler]

Amen to the last comment. The sooner Mr.-No-Penetration-makes-it-mutar Scheinberg can no longer open his filthy mouth to break wind, the better. What a filthy old pig.

[Vicki Polin]

Thank you for working on this case. We all have to realize that according to statistics adult women are more likely to be victims of clergy sexual abuse than are children. This is just one of many cases in which a member of the clergy uses their authority to lure in unsuspecting victims. If you or anyone else was sexually victimized and are looking for help, please feel free to contact The Awareness Center, we can help you find help and healing. You are not alone, you are not to blame and you deserve to have your day in court, if that is what you wish to pursue.

It saddens me to say that this case is very similar to that of Marc Gafni, Mordecai Tendler, Hershy Worch and a slew of other rabbis who lured in unsuspecting adult women for their own personal pleasure.

[googler]

http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=14286 ?

[OMG]

I listened to the 2nd tape and it sound to that he is explicitly recruiting this woman to participate in some type of sex for money scandals, she is willing to do the phone sex thing but she said only I she like the man on the other end. And the culprit sound nervous.

[Yisroel Pensack]

"...Rabbi Tropper is alleged to have revoked a woman’s conversion months after supervising it, upon learning that she occasionally wore pants."

That may be a typo. It would seem more logical if it said "upon learning that she occasionally wore panties."

[Shlomo]

Why do we still respect these "Rabbis" just because they ear a black hat coat and have a beard. This is not the only similar case I personally know of 2 where a "Rabbi" tried to take advantage of a women but both have been hushed up and not talked about. In one case the "Rabbi" still has his congregation (but was warned off)
and all of this in a small city with a smallish Jewish population and my very limited contacts

[Gabi]

Good the Jewish week picks the story. God Bledd your heart for pushing the story to them. (If that what happend)

[Gerald]

Vicki "clueless" Polin
Nobody was taken advantage of in this case.
Go back to your fake Oprah stories.

[Ben]

Haredi Rabbis stole my beautiful religion by abusing converts, pushing endless humras around, badmouthing other Jews in the name of Torah no less. Because of these SOBs I can not light Hanukkah candles with joyous heart any longer.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

This thread was really going well until someone who told Oprah she sacrificed an infant decided now would a good time for some self-aggrandizement.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Amen, Brother (or Sister!).

[Jakes]

Because of these SOBs I can not light Hanukkah candles with joyous heart any longer. Posted by: Ben | December 16, 2009 at 06:24 AM

I can sympathize. When I see how they act and how little the Jewish community does to disassociate itself from the Charedi/Chassidim, I feel a sense of estrangement from Judaism.

[Ava Miedzinski]

Rabbi Tropper is a rabbi friend of ours. He has never been inappropriate with me, with my daughter or with anyone we know. I have not heard any such things about Rabbi Tropper from our mutual friends.
If he did do something wrong, there should be a trial and a verdict.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Rabbi Crapper is a monster and a disgrace to Judaism. He excommunicated a woman for the heinous crime of wearing pants.

What goes around comes around.

[another truth seeker]

Vicki Polin was on the Oprah show quite a few years ago exposing the ritual abuse in which her parents took part. Why was that wrong for her to do that? She has transformed her childhood abuse into becoming one of the biggest proponents of fighting abuse that we have. We are blessed to have her among us. We don't need to bash her. She is a wonderful truth seeker and a hero.

[Mr. Apikorus]

What's wrong with it? The story was garbage, that's what was wrong with it. Ask yourself: Who corraborated it? Did the police get involved?

I can only shudder at the hell Vicki Polin put her parents through.

[BaltimoreYid]

As with the rest of the Yiddishe Welt endless cover ups for sexual crimes is alive & well here in Baltimore. I wouldn't call Vicki Polin a hero but she certainly has "the balls" to out these scumbags. I know of several local perverts within the orthodox community here that have been exposed thanks to her efforts. The key thing is she's the only one who is doing something instead of sweeping it all under the rug. If anyone out there can list the names (besides Phil Jacobs) of any activists that are out there feel free to do so.

[levi]

what about the tapes?

[state of disgust]

Shmarya:
Tried to listen to the tapes but couldn't get them up. Could you please re-post clean link?

[danny]

Levi... the Wikipedia page for Tropper contains footnote links to the three audio files.

I also put links on the previous Rubashkin thread.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

She has transformed her childhood abuse into becoming one of the biggest proponents of fighting abuse that we have

Here's how I would have written that sentence:

She has transformed her fable of infanticide into one of the biggest tools of self-aggrandizement that we have ever seen.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Baltimore Yid: I have no problem outing scumbags. What I have a problem with is outing those who are totally innocent, starting with Polin's parents.

There is a case currently in Missouri where some young adults have accused older men in their extended family of rape, incest, and other despicable acts. The accusers claim there were bodies buried on the property of the accuseds' farm, and that the accused had the victims write notes which contemperanously detailed what happened to them, which were then allegedly buried along with the bodies. BTW, this abuse allegedly took place over a period of time, starting about 25 years ago.

So far, no dead bodies, no notes buried in jars.

[Shmarya]

Mr A –

Process.

Statistically, the number of false claims regarding child sexual abuse made by alleged victims of that sexual abuse is very small – far smaller than the number of false murder theft, robbery, and embezzlement claims, for example.

Secondly, you have no idea what Polin's parents did or did not do. Saying that Polin's claims about her family are all false when you lack even the most perfunctory knowledge of the details, is obscene.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Do you really believe Polin's parents were part of an infanticide ring? Are you that credulous?

You're absolutely right about one thing. I have absolutely no idea that Palin's parents were these evil monsters. Just as you don't know whether I'm in reality Osama Bin Laden.

The odds of each, however, are infintesimally small (and in one case, zero). Absent any criminal investigation (and I checked) I'm going with the odds, and with our system of justice which says that one is innocent until proven guilty.

Process that.

[Gerald]

Shmarya,
You backing Vickis claims? You giving those fantasies credence?
Wow

[just sayin]

---Secondly, you have no idea what Polin's parents did or did not do. Saying that Polin's claims about her family are all false when you lack even the most perfunctory knowledge of the details, is obscene.

I would like to claim that, assuming the man on the tapes is Tropper, he has done nothing wrong at all and never did all the things Y'all are claiming...

Secondly, you have no idea what Tropper did or did not do. Saying that my claims about his family are all false when you lack even the most perfunctory knowledge of the details, is obscene.

[Mr. Apikorus]

If there was ANY evidence, "just sayin," of this infanticide it would have been the crime story of the century. The O.J. trial(s) would have been like a trial for a parking ticket compared to this.

Don't you think there would have been ONE corroborating witness to this infanticide? THIS WAS ON NATIONAL TV. Millions watched it. Don't you think that if there was even 0.0001% of a chance that this happened that Chicago law enforcement would have been on this like white on rice?

To me, this has same credibility as the guys who wake up in a ice-filled bathtub with one kidney gone.

As for Tropper, what leads me to believe he's probably guilty is that he resigned VERY abruptly, and the board of his organization issued a statement tantamount to saying "Don't let the door hit you in your fat tuchas on the way out."

If it turns out this woman is lying, and the tapes are fraudulent, I will personally drive up to Monsey and apologize to Tropper face-to-face. (That is, if Shmarya joins me.)

I'm sure there will be a lot more to come on this.

[BaltimoreYid]

Mr. Apikorus,
As I mentioned no one here is doing a damned thing. The "rabanut" i.e. Heinimoony, et al just pay (minimal) lip service to the growing problem here in B'more & I'd venture to say the rest of klal Yisrael. I attended a lecture last year presented by Ms. Polin and it certainly left everyone thinking. I am aware of the Oprah piece but when an entire community is silent about this shanda I'm glad we have Vicki & Mr. Jacobs to publicize these sad stories. I personally told a known child molester what I'd do him if he came within 500 feet of my property but I'm only one man. Why does the Agudah act as though none of this happens? If more people spoke out Vicki could retire.

[chabadnik attorney]

Rabbi Tropper is a rabbi friend of ours. He has never been inappropriate with me, with my daughter or with anyone we know. I have not heard any such things about Rabbi Tropper from our mutual friends.
If he did do something wrong, there should be a trial and a verdict.

Posted by: Ava Miedzinski | December 16, 2009 at 07:58 AM

Ava, did you listen to the tapes?

Do you think he would be foolish enough to do something untoward to a friend?

Since you are friend of his, after you listen to the tapes, ask him if they are authentic?

[chabadnik attorney]

What I found most intriguing about the tapes is that Tropper says he davened to Hashem to have a clear understanding about the relationship and his love for this lady.

Davened to Hashem? The guy is mentally ill. He sounds like the whole thing was Lisham Shamayim.

[chabadnik attorney]

Jakes and Ben not all Haredim and Chassidim are bad. Most are just like you trying to get through the day. This site while serving the important function of pointing out the Hypocrisy amongst the mentioned groups, does not paint an accurate picture of Ultra Orthodoxy. The amount of good that goes on could not be contained in a blog. Sadly we are in a position that we have to focus on the bad in order to bring certain matters to light to prevent cover ups that will lead to further abuses. However the overwhelming majority of people are good.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Baltimore Yid: I'm all in favor of publicizing a shanda but I wish it was by someone with a bit less baggage and more credibility than Ms. Polin. After all, some (in fact many) of the people Joe McCarthy named as "communists" were in fact communists or communist sympathizers. But many weren't, and their reputations and livelihoods were damaged by his scurrilous allegations.

Personally, I don't believe Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox rabbis are more apt to be child abusers than anybody else, with the possible exception of Catholic priests because of the no-marriage dictum. The issue is that the community will cover up the crimes.

[just sayin]

mr a.

im with you, did you miss the sarcasm class in your local community college?

[Mr. Apikorus]

Sorry about that, I sure missed it. I'm usually a master of the genre; just slipped up.

[shneerhere]

These kind of stories make it no longer difficult to imagine the crooked moneychangers in the Temple, according to Christian sources, nor the rampages of idol worship, murder and sexual improprieties that marred the First Temple period. If 'we', rabbis of the 21st century can do all of this after knowing what we know from our history..... My G-D! How can there be any hope for us?!

[Vicki Polin]

I want to thank everyone for the kind words and things they said about me up above. I should have realized that when I mentioned the case of rabbi Hershy Worch up above that either he or his friends would find their way to this posting. For those of you not familiar with this case, you can learn more about it at:
http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/worch_hershy.html or read the book "The Torn Messiah", By Yvonne Fein. The book is about his time living in Melbourne, Australia.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2485545221845998862#

Worch is also know as the BDSM rabbi.

[Vicki Polin]

I also wanted to share the following statement that is on The Awareness Center's web page regarding the case of Rabbi Tropper:

The Awareness Center has been in touch with friends of Rabbi Leib Tropper. Most of whom are in both a state of shock and denial. Just as in most other cases, they can not believe that someone they have known and trusted would be accused of such a horrendous crime.

Alleged and convicted sex offenders often have good friends and come from wonderful, respected families. We can not forget that those who perpetrate sex crimes use these people as part of their defense. Offenders are often described as being loving, kind and charming. It's exactly these traits that make it possible for them to lure in their potential victims.

It is important to remember those who perpetrate sex crimes are sons or daughters, parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and or cousins of people who love and care for them. We all must do what we can to comfort the family members of the offender. When the allegations become public it can feel as if there has been a death in the family and those closest go into a period of mourning. What is more important is that each of us reach out and do everything we can to help heal those who have been sexually victimized -- especially those who step forward and make police reports in hopes of stopping an alleged offender from creating another victim.

According to statistics adult women are more likely to be victims of clergy sexual abuse than children. This is just one of many cases in which a member of the clergy uses their authority to lure in unsuspecting victims. If you or anyone else was sexually victimized and are looking for help, please feel free to contact The Awareness Center, we can help you find help and healing. You are not alone, you are not to blame and you deserve to have your day in court, if that is what you wish to pursue.

[Vicki Polin]

I thought some of you might find this article helpful

When A Family Member Molests:
(© 2003) By Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC, Michael J. Salamon, Ph.D., FICPP, and Na'ama Yehuda, MSC, SLP, TSHH

Reality, Conflict, and The Need For Support
www.theawarenesscenter.org/whenmolest.pdf

[Isa]

I saw this myself
Uncle Bill who is/was a M.D.
Physically molested my daughter in front of me and I screamed "LEAVE HER ALONE!!" [Jabbed her in the side]
He then had this goofy trancelike expression on his face almost like a Jeckle and Hyde type person[later I learned that he spent a couple of years in a Calif. prison for 'bothering' some daughter of a friend in his clinic. A couple years before my daughter, he surrendered his medical license to two states; NY and Calif for 'bothering adult women]
But the point I want to make these creeps [some of course] almost have two people living inside their bodies and they flip and for those who personally know these molesters as upstanding decent people ,its true for you! But then they flip for others!!

[effie]

Personally, I don't believe Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox rabbis are more apt to be child abusers than anybody else, with the possible exception of Catholic priests because of the no-marriage dictum. Posted by: Mr. Apikorus

Do you really think child molestation is a substitute for adult consensual sex? I don't think so! Child molesters molest children because they are sexually attracted to children. Period.

[Mr. Apikorus]

Ms. Polin:

Do you have anything other than hearsay about Hershy Worch? Did anyone take him to court?

I thought this thread was about Leib Tropper and his alleged misdeeds.

[Mr. Apikorus]

A man who is attracted to becoming a priest is more likely to be gay, and more likely to be attracted to little altar boys.

It's the same as being a prison guard. This job has a special appeal to those with a sadistic bent in them.

The job of fighter pilot attracts guys who have a bit of daredevil in them.

[Andy]

The tapes just depict a foolish rabbi playing phone games with a woman while pretending to be counselling her about what kinds of erotic activity would be permitted after completing her conversion. Disgusting, but not criminal, or by most people's definitions an act of infidelity.
has no-one noticed that the foolish rabbi's enemy from South America celebrated the first day of hanuka with a massive donation to Chabad-Lubavitch, and a well-known name in Chabad-Lubavitch is listed as author of the dirt piece on the foolish rabbi in honor of the alst day of hanuka! Just a coincidence?

[William Dwek]

The Swine Flu is common in PIGS.

This is a clear indication that it is the Dayanim – ‘Judges’ - and ‘Rabbis’ of today who are the PIGS and swines.

They twist and use the Torah for their own power and commercial benefit.

They are corrupt. And they are interested in only one thing:

MONEY.

Not the Torah.

[William Dwek]

When ‘dayanim’ and ‘rabbis’ use the Torah for their own power and commercial profit, this is the behaviour of a swine i.e. a Pig.

No other ‘rabbi’ will ever act against another ‘rabbi’ - even when he knows his colleague is clearly desecrating the Torah. Each rabbi is only worried about losing his own position.

Therefore, the ‘rabbi’ and ‘dayan’ will never effect justice. And he will never truly stand for the Torah or the Honour of Hashem. His pocket will always prevail.

The Torah must never be used for commercial gain and profit. Am Yisrael can only be lead by those who have the necessary love and respect of Hashem and the Torah.

[William Dwek]

1. The ‘dayan’ and ‘rabbi’ may use lies. They turn the innocent into the guilty, and the guilty, become the innocent. They will not hesitate to tell lies in the Synagogue.

2. The ‘dayan’ and ‘rabbi’ may steal. They steal and siphon off money for themselves, from the community and individuals.

3. The ‘dayan’ and ‘rabbi’ may shame a Jew in public, even repeatedly. This is one of the most vile acts of murder in Jewish law – and they know this.

4. The ‘dayan’ and ‘rabbi’ will not hesitate to use Lashon Hara - the ‘Evil Tongue’ - to suit his own ends. Slander and gossip. This too, is one of the worst acts of murder in Jewish Law. Their slander is never challenged by the community, because they hold positions of power. And the slander may begin with the Rebbetzin herself.

5. The ‘dayanim’ and ‘rabbis’ worship idols and other gods. Their only god is Money. Especially the ‘Dayanim’ – the ‘Judges’ who sit on a Beit Din. They only care about their high incomes and retirement packages. They have little or no love for the Torah or Hashem.

In the case of Lubavitch/Chabad, all their rabbis are carrying out a form of Avodah Zarah – strange worship. They are using mediation and intercession. This is completely forbidden, and against the Torah. We are only allowed to pray to Hashem, directly ourselves.

6. When the NAME of Hashem has been taken in Vain – repeatedly - by reshaim, the ‘rabbi’ will turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the

CHILLUL HASHEM.

This is the abhorrent behaviour of a Pig.

This is an extremely severe and dangerous situation.

There is NO forgiveness for this evil sin and aveirah.

7. The ‘dayan’ and ‘rabbi’ may also offer large bribes, tell lies and bring False Witnesses – when he in fact has committed the crime. These are heinous acts of the most despicable kind. This is especially vile when the ‘dayan’ is sitting on a ‘Beit Din.’

8. The ‘rabbi’ may commit adultery. And when he gets divorced, he may spread slander about his own ex-wife, blackening her name – when in fact he was at fault.

9. The ‘dayan’ and ‘rabbi’ may also desecrate Shabbat – if it suits him. He will use physical violence to assault another Jew or Jewess at any time. This evil and venomous behaviour is 100% against the Torah.