Rabbi Charged With Child Sexual Abuse – Again

Stanley Z. Levitt allegedly abused boys at the Maimonides school in Brookline and at a Chabad synagogue in Philadelphia run by co-head of international Chabad movement, Rabbi Avraham Shemtov.

Ex-Mass. rabbi charged again in child abuse

By Associated Press

The Suffolk County district attorney says a rabbi who once taught at a Boston-area school faces another child assault charge.

Authorities said Sunday that Stanley Z. Levitt was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child. The 64-year-old Levitt is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court.

Levitt was arraigned last year on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child. Prosecutors say he assaulted two boys about 11 years old who attended the Maimonides School in Brookline where he taught between 1974 and 1977.

Prosecutors say the third person approached them after reading media accounts. Authorities say he also was a sixth grader at the school that employed Levitt in the mid-1970s.

It was not clear if Levitt is represented by a lawyer.

Here is what Rabbi Avraham Shemtov said about Levitt last year:

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov -- who has overseen Lubavitch efforts in the region for decades and who chairs the movement's umbrella body -- said that Levitt used to attend his synagogue, but that he no longer does.

Shemtov said that there were "lots of rumor that flew back and forth" about Levitt over the years, but he never got involved, and the rumors have stopped.

"No one came to me either seeking a solution or asking for help," said Shemtov.

With these kind of rumors, "unless you can be of help or assistance, you don't get involved," he added.

Tell that to the boys he sexually molested in Shemtov's synagogue.

Related Posts: 1, 2, 3.

Comments

[harold]

Levitt was arraigned last year on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child

Then why was he let out to abuse again? Makes no sense!

They are looking at opening up a window to 20+ year old abuses and the can't take care of current ones!

[anon]

So does mikva frottage count? What does the shulchan aruch say about frottage? Discovery should be really interesting in this case if done properly.

[Shmarya]

Then why was he let out to abuse again? Makes no sense!

They are looking at opening up a window to 20+ year old abuses and the can't take care of current ones!

"Prosecutors say the third person approached them after reading media accounts.

Authorities say he also was a sixth grader at the school that employed Levitt in the mid-1970s."In other words, the window – here in place because Levitt fled the state during the statute of limitations – is what makes these prosecutions possible.

Levitt left Massachusetts and eventually ended up in Philadelphia, where he molested several boys in Shentov's synagogue.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Innocent until proven guilty.

These accusations are from antisemites and self-hating Jews.

The sentence he received was too harsh.

He is a holy man who gives lots of tzedakah and has 10 children.

[Bill]

"he is a holy man who ... has 10 children."
- wool

he better pray that one of them come down with a bad case of Down syndrome. That would automatically make any prison sentence against him "anti-Semitism."

(sarcasm)

[WoolSilkCotton]

Bill, LOL!

[Bill]

Wool,

I see you know exactly what I'm talking about....

It's dropping the "D"-Bomb. They do it all the time.

[itchiemayer]

At least Shemtov was able to wash his hands of the whole thing.....

[hashem yerachem]

common scotty shemtov has NOTHING to do with the miamonades school in brookline and YOU KNOW THAT. fair is fair but linking to shemtov to this is dirty play and you know why

[Yosef ben Matitya]

At least Shemtov was able to wash his hands of the whole thing...

Reb itchiemayer, what are u saying?
the real tragedy the way i see it, is that these people talk a lot about yiddishkeit,
yiddishkeit this and yiddishkeit that, but they have their priority totally and criminally wrong. if there was a rumor about mr levitt that said that when mr levitt visits nyc, on his way there, he was seen repeatedly stopping by a non kosher pizza-hut and having a pepperoni n cheese pizza, mr shemtov will leave no stone unturned until he clarifies the matter lest it leaves a stain on his chabad operation, i don't really know if mr ST will take any action against overt yechi people if any in his business. but to that there were "lots of rumor that flew back and forth" about Levitt over the years, but he never got involved, and the rumors have stopped....With these kind of rumors, "unless you can be of help or assistance, you don't get involved,"
why bad for fund raising? bad for enrollement? feh!

[Shmarya]

common scotty shemtov has NOTHING to do with the miamonades school in brookline and YOU KNOW THAT. fair is fair but linking to shemtov to this is dirty play and you know why

Reading comp challenged?

Shemtov heard "rumours" Levitt was sexually molesting kids in Philadelphia in Shemtov's own synagogue, and by his own admission, Shemtov did nothing to stop him.

[fsdhyertye]

i actually know one of his victims whose life was destroyed by this creep.

[Newsman]

Interesting fact. The principal at Maimonidies was Rabbi David Shapiro - brother of convicted molester, Yisroel Shapiro.

[Abracadabra]

Bill & Wool - you guys are a riot! Keep the laughs rolling...

[Barbarella]

Why do you think Shmarya the rumours Shemtov heard were regarding what went on in his own shul, perhaps they were regarding the business in Brookline?

[harold]

The 64-year-old Levitt is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court ... Levitt was arraigned last year on four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child.

Again I ask, why was he not in jail if he assaulted and battered a child less than a year ago?

[Shmarya]

Again I ask, why was he not in jail if he assaulted and battered a child less than a year ago?

Again I ask why Harold is such an idiot.

Process:

Last year's arrest is for crimes committed in the 1970s Brookline.

Last week's arrest is for crimes committed in the 1970s in Brookline.

The arrests and convictions in Philadelphia in the 1990s are for crimes committed there in the 1990s.

In other words, troll, the idea of a window – which you steadfastly opposed when we were trying to get the law changed in NY State – is working as intended in these Brookline cases.

As I noted above, because Levitt left MA before the SOL expired, under MA law, the SOL is still active. In other words, there is this WINDOW and three of Levitt's victims used it.

Why wasn't Levitt in jail?

He hasn't been tried yet, and he was granted bail.

[harold]

In other words, troll, the idea of a window – which you steadfastly opposed when we were trying to get the law changed in NY State – is working as intended in these Brookline cases.

I have no problems with opening up the window for prosecution; it is the money grab against their former employers that I am against.

[Shmarya]

I have no problems with opening up the window for prosecution; it is the money grab against their former employers that I am against.

That "money grab"is meant to COMPENSATE victims and pay for victims' therapy and can only happen if the victim proves in court that the employer knew the pedophile was molesting kids, but did not take necessary steps to stop it.

If an employer found out a teacher was a pedophile and called police immediately and dismissed the teacher, then it is highly unlikely that employer would be sued successfully.

If that employer covered up for the pedophile and allowed him to keep teaching, chances are that employer will be successfully sued – if the victim can document this.

Of course, many yeshivot fall into the successfully sued category, which is why you oppose the window.

[harold]

That "money grab" is meant to COMPENSATE victims and pay for victims' therapy

Go after the perpetrators, sue the pants off of them, liquidate all their assets, and go after their homes. Makes no sense to bankrupt an institution where in some cases the original players aren’t even around.

As to "pay for victims' therapy" I am sure that there are all forms of support groups and free therapy available if their health insurance doesn’t cover them.

[Shmarya]

Go after the perpetrators, sue the pants off of them, liquidate all their assets, and go after their homes. Makes no sense to bankrupt an institution where in some cases the original players aren’t even around.

The "original players" acted as agents for the institutions.

That is why, for example, US nonprofits can and are stripped of nonprofit status and fined for crimes committed by former leaders.

As to "pay for victims' therapy" I am sure that there are all forms of support groups and free therapy available if their health insurance doesn’t cover them.

As usual, you are both wrong and amoral at the same time.

In your twisted universe, other people must pay for the damage caused by your leaders and their institutions.

But you are wrong.

[Joey]

WSC, people like you are the reason why my abuser is not behind bars. It's actually worst to protect the abuser than the abuse itself happening.

[Shmarya]

Joey –

I think he was being sarcastic.

[harold]

The "original players" acted as agents for the institutions

So if a teacher abused a child 25 years ago in the New York City public school system the teacher acted as an agent for the city of New York and now the city (i.e. you and me as taxpayers) has to pay out millions (half going to the lawyer).

[WoolSilkCotton]

Joey, I was being sarcastic by giving the same excuses that are being used for Rubashkin.

[Shmarya]

So if a teacher abused a child 25 years ago in the New York City public school system the teacher acted as an agent for the city of New York and now the city (i.e. you and me as taxpayers) has to pay out millions (half going to the lawyer).

Yes – if the school system did not do due diligence at the time of the molestation.

[harold]

Yes – if the school system did not do due diligence at the time of the molestation

So I think it is high time for the US government to pay decedents of slaves for the suffering that their great grandparents had to endure at the hands of its citizens.

I also assume that you are in agreement with the lawsuit being filed by the Sand Hill Indians, a tribe located in New Jersey, claiming Manhattan, as well as the Hudson Areas, and the states of NJ, Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania.

The Sand Hill are seeking "re-establishment of a land base for the ribe, dederal as well as international recognition as a sovereign people, and back renumeration for the use of natural resources and assets that were taken illegally," Sand Hill Government Liaison Laura I. Zucker told NBCNewYork in an emailed statement.

Sand Hill Chief Ronald Holloway filed the first lawsuit in 2009 against the State of New Jersey, charging then-Governor Corzine and members of the state administration with "violation of human rights, genocide, and breaking of treaties etc." according to the press release.

On April 20, Holloway appeared before the United Nations, accusing the federal courts of "deliberate stalling," wrote Zucker. "The UN has agreed to review the case to see if it can go to the Hague," she wrote, but they have not confirmed whether or not it will go.

This week, Holloway filed a motion amending the first to include claims on Manhattan and parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware as well as New Jersey.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/NJ-Indians-Sue-State-for-Lost-Tribal-Lands-96584349.html

[jay]

Harold, following your train of thought Holocaust victims should receive no compensation or restitution from Germany as the atrocities were committed 65 to 75 years ago.

We're not talking about descendants of slaves or descendants of Native Americans from ages gone by-- we're discussing victims of abuse and molestation themselves.

Your arguments are not only specious-- they are twisting the facts to suit your prejudices.

[harold]

Harold, following your train of thought Holocaust victims should receive no compensation or restitution from Germany as the atrocities were committed 65 to 75 years ago.

Not at all. The Holocaust atrocities were exposed and the request for justice and restitution was recognized and pursued in a timely fashion. There was no 25 year delay in seeking justice. My point was if there is no time limit in seeking justice then the two examples that I cited have merit. You want to have your cake and eat it too.

[Shmarya]

There was no 25 year delay in seeking justice.

Sure there was.

In some cases there was a 60 year delay.

I never cease to be amazed by your ignorance, by your dishonesty, and by your sleaziness.

[Mr. Apikoros]

Here he (Shmarya) goes again.

From your headline, it would appear that Levitt was charged with a new case of sexual molestation. In fact, it was another person who claimed he was molested by Levitt in the early 1970s, almost 40 years ago.

The question I have, and all of you should have, is why this person didn't come forward 35 years ago?

The answer, according to the article, is that the accuser read about another case involving Levitt and for whatever reason, decided to come forward now, presumably so he could sue the hebrew school where Levitt worked in the 1970's.

Sorry, justice delayed is justice denied. The accused has rights too in our legal system. Maybe not on Vicki Polin's blog. Fortunately, Vicki Polin's blog isn't our legal system.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Harold, if an African-American person today could show documentation proving who his slave ancestors were (we are only talking about approximately 150 years ago), and there was documentation who they worked for and for how long, etc., why shouldn't that be considered a legitimate grievance for compensation, unless there is a statute of limitations?

[Mr. Apikoros]

The answer is no, because slavery was legal at the time.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Good point, Mr. A.

[Mr. Apikoros]

Could this guy have molested those boys 47 years ago? Sure. But it's virtually impossible to prove.

The moral of the story is: Report sex abuse on a timely basis. I can see kids living with their parents waiting until they've moved out or grown up, but waiting until one is in his late 40's to report something that might have happened when the kid was 11?

As Shmarya might say: Please.

[Mr. Apikoros]

Shmarya, I'll bet you don't believe Molly Hagerty, the accuser of Al Gore. For that matter, I don't either.

Yet you have NO PROBLEM with believing some guy who comes out of the woodwork after 38 years to accuse a man of sexual abuse.

[chanel Purses]

Bollywood-style dancers, Asian balancing acts and Brazilian martial artists representing some of the 14 foreign countries in which Wal-Mart operates. joy 2-21

[Samantha]

He looks like a Tzadik!