Do As We Say, Not As We Do

Leading rabbis of Agudath Israel of America, the ultra-Orthodox umbrella group, coverup and enable child sexual abuse, activist says.

 

Op Ed
Agudah Rabbis: “Do as we say not as we do.”
Asher Lipner, Ph.D

After forbidding Jewish parents from reporting sex crimes against their children to the authorities, Agudath Israel has been backtracking and “clarifying” their position, saying that they never meant to protect all child molesters, only to protect against false accusations.  Agudah’s policy now requires that a rabbi be consulted on what is called “Raglyaim Ladavar”- reasonable suspicion - before reporting allegations.  Many parents and professionals strongly disagree with this approach and feel that since rabbis have no training in forensics or in evaluating sex offenders, parents should either call state child abuse hotlines or use their common sense to decide what is suspicious and report it immediately to the police for children to best be protected.

However, the real confusion that Agudah has created for parents and for victims of abuse has nothing to do with an unclear and unwise policy; it is a problem of actions, not of words. While paying lip service to the Mitzvah to protect children’s safety, what perplexes survivors of abuse and frightens parents is why are the Agudah rabbis continuing to personally cover up for known molesters?

1. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, the former Mashgiach Ruchani of the Ner Yisroel Yeshiva in Baltimore was exposed to the Baltimore Rabbis as a child molester in 2006. After confessing his crimes Eisemann was quietly “retired”. Rabbi Ahron Feldman, not only failed to report Eisemann’s crimes to the police, but he refused to warn the public - including the hundreds of boys who live on the campus of the Yeshiva. Rabbi Feldman also writes approbations for Eisemann’s “seforim” as does Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky.

Rabbi Yaakov Perlow, Rabbi Yitzchok Feigelstock, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, Rabbi Kamenetsky, Rabbi Ahron Shechter and Rabbi Mattisyahu Salomon sit together with Eisemann on Agudah’s “Vaad L’hatzalas Nidchei Yisroel” (Committee to Rescue Jewish Refugees from the former Soviet Union), through which Eisemann runs his own boys’ school in Kishinev. Artscroll continues to promote Eisemann’s books, and the Yated Ne’eman, mouthpiece of the Agudah Gedolim, continues to write about his righteousness.

When the Baltimore Jewish Times exposed Eisemann and other rabbinic molesters, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, of the local branch of Agudah attacked it for being anti-Jewish.

2. Rabbi Aaron Tendler has now been forced out of his rabbinic and teaching jobs in Los Angeles after serious allegations of sexual contact with underage girls. The local rabbis have not contacted the police or warned the community. His uncles, Rabbis Dovid and Reuven Feinstein, are fully aware of his [alleged] crimes but have protected his reputation, and he is living under the radar, a threat to Jewish girls everywhere.

3. Rabbi Yehudah Kolko of New York, where Gedolim Rabbis Perlow, Dovid Feinstein and Schechter preside, molested boys at both Yeshiva Torah Temima and camp Agudah for decades. He plead guilty to a lesser charge of child endangerment and is a free man. Kolko would certainly be in jail if the Gedolim would report what they know to the police and call on all victims to co-operate with the investigation.

4. In Monsey, the Yeshiva of Spring Valley, under the careful guidance of Rabbi Kamenetsky, fired Rabbi Chaim Abrahamson after hearing credible allegations of molestation going back decades. But Rabbi Kamenetsky told the Yeshiva they could cover up the danger and not contact the police.

5. In Lakewood, Rabbis Kotler and Salomon have a Beis Din that covers up cases of sexual abuse. The rabbis have worked closely over the years with Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services, sending the predators for “treatment,” but not a single case has been reported to the police by either the rabbis or by Ohel. One Lakewood family courageously did report their child’s abuse to the police and are currently pressing charges, but they have been forced to move out of town for their safety. When a mother of a boy who died from a drug overdose publicized that he had been molested, her house was burned down and police investigators cannot get cooperation from the rabbis. This intimidation is carried out with rabbinic complicity or at least passive acquiescence; not a single rabbi condemns it or shows support for the victims. 

6. In Chicago, Rabbi Avraham Chaim Levine and his “Special Bais Din” is in charge of covering up cases of child sexual abuse. He has not reported a single child molester to the authorities. Rabbi Levine can be heard on tape decrying those who would publicize the names of known child sexual predators.

The current actions of the Agudah Gedolim, shockingly more in line with the behavior the world has come to expect from the Catholic Church, are not only in contradiction of their stated policy, they are also in violation of the law. In Maryland and New Jersey, for example, all adults are mandated to report sex crimes against children to the authorities. The Ocean County prosecutor publicly warned the Lakewood rabbis that their Bais Din is illegal, and that they risk prosecution for failure to report sex crimes to the police. One Lakewood Kollel rabbi was arrested for witness tampering, and a prominent Brooklyn Rabbi, Yisroel Belsky, was warned that he too would be arrested if he published his letter threatening the family of the raped boy.   

So why in the world do the rabbis cover up for molesters? Some Gedolim, like Rabbi Pinchas Sheinberg, have said that without sexual penetration it isn’t really abuse. Other rabbis feel that prominent (choshuv) molesters should be allowed to get away with it, like Rabbi Hopfer who told me not to expose Eisemann because “he made many people frum.” Agudah has also said that Orthodox molesters should not have to go to jail because they are needed as breadwinners. Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel wrote to me that it is not Agudah’s job to protect children from molesters known to the Gedolim. Rabbi Perlow, the Nasi of Agudah, still refuses to speak out against Kolko’s crimes, because they happened in Flatbush, and Perlow is a Rebbe in Borough Park. When the Gedolim opposed the Child Victims Act that would extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, they publicly admitted that they are afraid that if their cover-ups are uncovered, lawsuits could jeopardize the “financial integrity” of their organizations.

To clarify that they are on the right side of the issue of child abuse, the Gedolim need to stand with those victims who have come forward, and to call upon all others to go to the police. They also must reveal to the police the identities of the dozens of molesters that they are still covering up for. 

The Talmud says that while non-Jews do not have Torah, they do have wisdom. The rabbis would do well to recall the wisdom of a great non-Jew who said “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”

And, in this time of the year closing in on Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment, they should also remember what the Torah says: You can’t fool G-d. Ever.

Asher Lipner, Ph.D is a psychologist and a well known activist working to stop child sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox and Orthodox communities.

Comments

[jancsipista]

i am pretty sure that all theese rabbis and tragigcally most of our gedoilim are part of this sickness since it comes from their peers they cannot face reality just like in other facets of their life.

['Yechiel']

And Lebovits is free... Thanks to the 'gevaldige' legal system we have in this deteriorating country.

[seymour]

i think something more is going on

since when it comes to kosher non kosher, like the case in monsey they have no problem publicizing it, reporting it, taking away a person living.

why did they not do to him like a molester?

I think it is more basic and all their reasoning is excuses and a smoke screen.

They need to protect their institutions, and the myth that all one needs is to be frum and live in a frum community and one will not have the problem as the secular and gentiles

and they are will to sacrifice hundreds if not thousands of children for that.

because if they do admit that their house of cards comes into question and they do not want to face that

[seymour]

And Lebovits is free... Thanks to the 'gevaldige' legal system we have in this deteriorating country.

Posted by: 'Yechiel' | August 31, 2011 at 06:11 AM

because it is a great country and no matter what his trail was tainted and one should not be imprisoned because of a tainted trail

[jancsipista]

not only leibovitz should not be free but his head should be chopped of, and all othe molesters head off.

[zibble]

Is this Op Ed published any place else? It needs much wider exposure.

[MICHAEL]

I am certainly no fan of the Agudah. I know a lot about the Agudah and I believe that writing these op eds against the Agudah will do nothing to stop the problem. You see, except for a few handful of people who work in the Agudah office none of the leaders and Rabbis you mention really care about the Agudah. True they may sit on the same board, but they really only care about their own yeshivah. They only are part of the Agudah for their benefit. If we want to make a change we need to highlight the enablers and identify them with their yeshivas not the Agudah. They would love for you to direct your message against the Agudah while their prized instutions continue to provde them with honor, money, and jobs for all their relatives. Dr. Lipner keep writing but aim your attacks on specific targets.

[Racytorah]

see racytorah.blogspot.com

[MARK MEYER APPEL]

A HONEST AND GREAT OP-ED BY DR ASHER LIPNER
KEEP UP YOUR GOOD WORK AS A ADVOCATE FOR OUR CHILDREN

[lion]

please shmaya ask michelle bachman why she went to meet withrabbis who advocate not going to the police when children are molested

[Garnel Ironheart]

> parents should either call state child abuse hotlines or use their common sense to decide what is suspicious

Silly people. Don't they know that common sense and thinking for yourself are kefirah according to the Agudah?

[seymour]

Is this Op Ed published any place else? It needs much wider exposure.

Posted by: zibble | August 31, 2011 at 07:49 AM

maybe but it will not be published or publicized where it really should only in places that already agree with this article

hopefully i am wrong

[Rocky]

Thank you Dr Lipner for being a voice for the child victims and the adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the Charedi Community.

[seymour]

Silly people. Don't they know that common sense and thinking for yourself are kefirah according to the Agudah?

Posted by: Garnel Ironheart | August 31, 2011 at 09:53 AM

nope, i always question my frum friends how is it that Torah temmemha is still around?
why did almost every single parent still send their kids to that yeshiva with margolis still around after the exposed story that he was harboring a know molester? I guess no one told them too

stunning

I tell tell if that would be a vet clinic and pet owners found out that one of the vet technician was abusing animals and the vet knew about it. that vet would lose almost all of his clients the very next day.

They have been conditioned to ask the rov everything even when one can figure it out for themselves.

when i was sitting sheva a few times a halacha question arouse and each time the answer was we need to ask a rov.

I poskined myself based on the simple knowledge that I knew the reason behind a halacha and simply did not apply in my case. I was thinking from their point of view not mine

sadly, the only one who paskined correctly was a kofer( I found and showed them the halacha in a sefer written about shiva) that the rov actually mentioned cases that we where discussing and said the prohibition does not apply

it was simple logic really no genius on my part but they have been condition to ask the rov everything about anything

[Uzi Ben Asher]

Guilty unless proven otherwise. That's why I take all these allegations made by "activists" with a large grain of salt, unless they're found guilty in a court of law. I'd even accept a Beit Din in most cases.

[Guest]

lion,

Ask Obama why he he is affiliated with ACORN, even though ACORN helps organizations that pimp 12 year old girls as prostitutes.

(It was recorded on a video)

[Jewish Observer]

How does Dr Lipner know that accusations against R Eisemann are true?

Also, how does he "know" what RCP Scheinberg holds?

I am asking earnestly. I am not saying he is wrong, but when I read all this stuff on the internet how should I know what to believe?

[lion]

acorn is a non jewish organization

aguda ia a corrupt organization that pretends to care about jewish children while harming them

whats worse

[seymour]

Guilty unless proven otherwise. That's why I take all these allegations made by "activists" with a large grain of salt, unless they're found guilty in a court of law. I'd even accept a Beit Din in most cases.

Posted by: Uzi Ben Asher | August 31, 2011 at 10:14 AM

beais dein gave a pass to kolco and mondrowitz and according to beias dien rulings there never has been a real child abuse accusation in Brooklyn not
one that they thought was creditable to go to the police.

if there where cases when they said yes go to the police the activist would trust beis din but since beis den always finds the reports not credible they are not credible

even in mondrwitz case when they where dozen of victims going to beis dein

[seymour]

Posted by: Jewish Observer | August 31, 2011 at 10:39 AM

do a search that was his pasak

[S.]

"Also, how does he "know" what RCP Scheinberg holds?"

This was what was alleged in the lawsuit filed in 2006 against Rabbi Kolko by one of his victims. Here's how it was reported at the time.

"According to Framowitz’s lawsuit, Pinchus Scheinberg, the powerful rabbi who was close to Margulies, contacted several of Kolko’s alleged victims, listened to their complaints, and told them that what happened to them was not abuse—that there needed to be penetration and that because there was none, their claims were not actionable."

If this is a distortion of his view, or an outright lie, Rabbi Scheinberg and his many surrogates have had 5 years to set the record straight about his view.

[MICHAEL]

Acorn did a lot of bad things. If you don't think pimping out 12 year old girls is a problem there is something seriously wrong with you.

[seymour]

How does Dr Lipner know that accusations against R Eisemann are true?

do a search on the web there is a newspaper who did a whole article about his case.

while many might not agree with FM he does bring factual evidence and then makes an opinion.

but facts are facts and some simply cannot or simply do not want to believe these type of things are going on.

It is not only FM some but very few rov's have openly stated that protecting the molesters have to stop, the safety of the children comes first

[S.]

In fairness to Rabbi Scheinberg, here is what the lawsuit says:

"Specifically, plaintiffs allege that: (1) beginning in 1985, and lasting for "years," Rabbi Margulies directed Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg to contact victims and "tell them they were not actually abused and have no claim to bring";"

It does not actually say anything about penetration. I would assume that the lawyer who filed clarifies that this is the meaning of the quoted sentence, and that's where the penetration stuff comes from. That said, it's been 5 years and no one from the Scheinberg camp has denied it.

[Bas Melech]

All these "choshuv" big shot rabbis protect each other and their institutions and yeshivos. They think that they are immune to criticism for their actions. Some big shots even ignore their children, because to them the yeshiva is more important. They are like gangsters protecting themselves and sacrificing any opposition. Their thugs protect their leaders and condemn anybody who disagrees.

These rabbi big shots don't know that the "frum" world they built will soon fall down. The younger generation of abused individuals no longer fears them. They want to protect other potential victims and will go to the police and media to publicize their claims.

[jancsipista]

Bas Melech- theese rabbis cant face reality that there are diablocially evil rabbis in their midst, youre description of them is perfect they are a bunch of gangsters thugs who protect themselfs and sacrifice the young children.

['Yechiel']

Seymour:
Your blind hatred for everything religious and your pseudo love for our corrupt judicial system, shows what a real fool you are.

[ultra haredi lite]

Seymour,
What's it like deep inside Shmaryas ass?

[ultra haredi lite]

Or are you really shmarya sockpuppeting as seymour and hiding behind really bad spelling?

['Yechiel']

Ultra haredi lite:
;-)

['Yechiel']

SeyMouR = ShMaRya? I doubt it, but who knows...

[lion]

while pimping out a 12 y/o girl is absolutely horrible

aguda has covered up for tens of molesters and hundreds of kids were molested ruining generations

whats worse

[jancsipista]

ultra haredi lite- dont you know the saying it takes one to know one, youre hate knows no bounds anyone who writes the way you do doesnt belong among the civilized.

[seymour]

Seymour:
Your blind hatred for everything religious and your pseudo love for our corrupt judicial system, shows what a real fool you are.

Posted by: 'Yechiel' | August 31, 2011 at 12:12 PM

no, I am against how you and your community distorts religion to fit your crum lifestyle.

what exactly did I say that shows you that i hate religion?

[seymour]

Seymour,
What's it like deep inside Shmaryas ass?

Posted by: ultra haredi lite | August 31, 2011 at 12:15 PM

I don't know but a do know there is a satmer rebbie that teaches in Williamsburg that can answer what it feels in little boys ass, and many others rebbies in your holy yeshivas if you do not know who they are just ask Agudah Rabbis and shomrin they know?

[invhand]

This ACORN stuff really
a) Has nothing to do with Agudah
b) Is close to being an internet myth.
c) led to the organization's demise.
So if Agudah and the Yeshivot of its board all shut down this wouldn't be enough?

Here is an excerpt from the California Attorney General's press release after their investigation:
"But new, unedited videotapes discovered through Brown's investigation, as well as other evidence, shed clearer light on interactions between O'Keefe and the now-defunct ACORN.

Videotapes secretly recorded last summer and severely edited by O'Keefe seemed to show ACORN employees encouraging a "pimp" (O'Keefe) and his "prostitute," actually a Florida college student named Hannah Giles, in conversations involving prostitution by underage girls, human trafficking and cheating on taxes. Those videos created a media sensation.

Evidence obtained by Brown tells a somewhat different story, however, as reflected in three videotapes made at ACORN locations in California. One ACORN worker in San Diego called the cops. Another ACORN worker in San Bernardino caught on to the scheme and played along with it, claiming among other things that she had murdered her abusive husband. Her two former husbands are alive and well, the Attorney General's report noted. At the beginning and end of the Internet videos, O'Keefe was dressed as a 1970s Superfly pimp, but in his actual taped sessions with ACORN workers, he was dressed in a shirt and tie, presented himself as a law student..."

No one from ACORN pimped anyone out, funded anyone who did or approved any application by someone who claimed that was their intent. The worst that you can say is that some - not all - of the front line people played it straight and did nothing. No one really has any idea what was going through their minds. They may have just wanted the jerks out of there. And the one who responded by calling the cops? Her video didn't make it to the internet.

[corn popper]

ultra haredi lite- dont you know the saying it takes one to know one, youre hate knows no bounds anyone who writes the way you do doesnt belong among the civilized.

Posted by: jancsipista | August 31, 2011 at 01:47 PM

Janc,
Di farkakteh shoite, dee behaima dee, your tired old pseudo curses are worn out and tired. Go find another old burnt out chusid to shtup. Di farkrimte klainer rutze dee.

[Deremes]

CP,
Good one,lol

[Shmarya]

please shmaya ask michelle bachman why she went to meet withrabbis who advocate not going to the police when children are molested

Posted by: lion | August 31, 2011 at 09:39 AM

Because they control thousands of votes she needs, that's why. And because Agudah's position on child sex abuse is not well known outside the haredi world – especially in Minnesotoa.

[jancsipista]

corn popper- DI RUSHE MERISHES GEY HANG DEH OF.

[President Barack Obama]

Shmarya,

Why aren't the republican presidential candidates reading Failed Messiah to know the truth about Orthodox Jewry? How can we correct this problem?

[Shmarya]

Shmarya,

Why aren't the republican presidential candidates reading Failed Messiah to know the truth about Orthodox Jewry? How can we correct this problem?

Posted by: President Barack Obama | August 31, 2011 at 04:43 PM

I think making a large donation to FailedMessiah.com for each Republican presidential candidate will do the trick.

Donation information is located near or at the top of the sidebars of this page.

[Dovy]

Thanx, Dr Lipner!

[steve]

How does Dr Lipner know that accusations against R Eisemann are true?

Dr. Lipner is one of Eisemann's victims, that's how he knows.

[Racytorah]

He knows alot more then he's writing. I know Asher. Racytorah.blogspot.com

[Racytorah]

He knows alot more stuff then he writes. Racytorah (google it)

[Sohn of Schneer]

Is this the same R. Pinchas Shaynberg of Torah Or Yeshiva?

I didn't know that he took orders from anyone.

[Sohn of Schneer]

One place you will never read any of this is VIN, Jewish Press, and the Algemayner Tsaytung and other frum papers.

Wonder why they refuse to publish the true news of their community.

Why is it that Shmarya's site is the lone place to find all of this stuff?

One thing is clear.

He is providing a service that the rest of the frum world refuses to do.

What a horrible commentary on the frume velt.

[Fred from Clifton]

This is one of the most pointed critiques of rabbinic malfeasance that I have ever read. Unlike most of the spineless spokesman for orthodoxy, Asher commits the unspeakable sin of naming names and identifying those rabbi's who have betrayed Klal Yisroel and compromised the safety of thousands of frum children.

Asher, we've known each other a long time, and no matter what, remember: I got your back.

[Abuse in the Jewish Community]

I think every rabbi connected to Agudath Israel should be required to read Dr. Michael J. Salamon's newest book "Abuse in the Jewish Community. http://www.examiner.com/sexual-abuse-in-chicago/thumbs-up-for-the-new-book-abuse-the-jewish-community

[shmuel]

Loved the article. Loved the headline. See Matthew 23:2. The more things change...

[lydia]

Why should abuse be any different than any other crime? If someone is the victim of theft, they go the police. Yet when someone is the victim of molestation, they go to Rabbi's who then are expected to go to the police?

The problem here is that people who are alleged victims are not coming forward. With all the horrible things attributed to R. Eisemann in Baltimore, did anyone go the police? If yes, was an investigation done? What were the findings?

The few alleged victims that have spoken in public offered absolutely no evidence. If he did admit it, as you claim, why did the victims not go to the police – surely they would not be worried about being kicked out of the community.

Did even one of R. Aron Tendler's alleged victims go the police? If yes, what was the result? Some of his accusers no longer claim to be orthodox, so what fear is there?

[Asher Lipner, Ph.D.]

Lydia,

You ask excellent questions. First of all the fact is that in all communities rape and sexual assault remain by far the most under-reported crime, for a host of psychological and sociological reasons.

Secular society has tried to address this problem in several ways, one of which is to create a profession called "rape victim advocate" because it is so emotionally and practically difficult to get the police to take a report and to investigate.

In the Jewish community where we are leaders in offering all manner of social services in abundance, the stigma of sexual abuse has made us way behind in this area. There is an unofficial position in our community called rape perpetrator's advocate, which is filled by people like the Munkatcher Rebbe who believe that there is a Mitzva of Pidyon Shvuim to help out those who are prosecuted for molesting children. A Judge in Brooklyn angrily noted that the community shows much more support to the perpetrators than to the victims.

Secondly, in the Orthodox community, victims are vilified and threatened, for breaking the omerta, whether they are currently orthodox or not.

Thirdly, you really missed the point of the article. Even if the victims of Eiseman and Tendler are morally wrong for not going to the police (if they haven't) they are not the ones who are claiming to be the leaders of the community, they are not the ones who are trying to convince the community that they care about child safety and they have not made an official public statement about the Jewish obligation to inform the police. The Agudah Gedolim have. Their hypocrisy in not reporting these and many other cases is the whole point of my op ed. Whether the victims have evidence or not, the rabbis know and are covering up.

As a matter of fact, in the case of Moshe Eisemann I am aware of at least one individual who did go to the police. Because he was 18 years old at the time of the abuse, as were several of the people Eisemann groped, it was not considered child molestation but only a sexual assault with a statute of limitations of only one year (this law does not take into account the mounds of psychological evidence that victims often take longer to be emotionally able to report their sexual assault.)

The police also explained to me that to open an investigation into the history of abuse and cover up at the Yeshiva would be impossible because the rabbis always stonewall and obstruct the investigation.

If the rabbis in Baltimore, who DID their own investigation and heard of several cases including child sexual abuse by Eiseman and Tendler, would instead of keeping quiet, give their information to the police and support victims to go to the cops, I am quite sure that Eiseman, Kolko, Tendler and Abrahmson as well as many others would be in jail.

Asher Lipner
lipnera@gmail.com

[lydia]

Dr. Lipner,

Thank you for replying.

The fact that certain Rabbis protect alleged molesters, is a reflection upon them personally, and not on all Rabbonim. While you might disagree with the Agudah stance (so do I) I don’t believe that they are trying to protect molesters, but rather they are trying to do what they think is correct. This is a not so subtle point, especially when it comes to the conversation re: Agudah policy and what drives it. If we immediately assume that all people are nefarious, then the conversation ends there.

Secondly, you are absolutely correct that victims have been vilified and the threat of “mosser” has ben used to protect the interests are various people. This is not a new phenomenon and not found only when it comes to molestation.

Thirdly, I think you missed the point of my post. You are trying to blame community leaders for not acting upon information that they have absolutely no way of verifying aside from going to the police and potentially ruining another man/women’s life (and family) based upon the accusation of a person who is not willing to go the police on their own.

"If I am not for myself, who will be?"

In such cases, the Rabbi’s shouldn’t be responsible for going to the police – the accusers are!

Here is an example: Someone comes to you, Dr. Lipner, and says they were molested. To the best of your ability, you try to determine the truth and feel strongly that they were indeed molested by a certain Rabbi. But so what? Where is the evidence? You say that the Rabbis “know and are covering up.” Based on what do you say this? How could they possibly "know" anything more than the fact that an accusation has been made?

The fact that accusations have been made does not mean that there is evidence. (It also does not mean that action should be taken to err on the side of caution - but that is a separate point).Perhaps it is impossible to get evidence in these cases. Perhaps not. For all of the outcry against abuse in the past few years, it is always the same few names that are constantly mentioned. There have indeed been convictions the past few years, and more than a few frum people are in jail. This happened because people went to the police (some of them were from very religious neighborhoods).

You mention that an accuser did go to the police, claiming he was groped. How can someone prove that? I am not saying it did not happen, but if you look at the case (at least what has been reported) you have an individual who says that Rabbi X groped him. That’s it. No evidence, nothing. This doesn’t mean Rabbi X didn’t do it, it doesn’t mean he did do it either. In fact, it doesn’t mean anything without some sort of proof, circumstantial or otherwise.

Someone goes to the Rabbi of a community and says that Mr. X stole his car. The Rabbi asks for proof, but he has none. You really want the Rabbi to destroy a man’s reputation because of an accusation without any proof? Perhaps the Rabbi will look after his own car more carefully, but more than that he can't do.

If we learn anything from Gedaliah is that he should have taken precautions - not that he should have believed the accusation.

The fact that the police tell you that Rabbi’s stonewall may be true. But that does not mean that the people you mentioned are guilty (or innocent). It means that Rabbis have not helped when police asked them for help. Without having further information, it is difficult to comment on this. If a police officer comes to your office and asks to see private files of your patients, wouldn’t you ask why? If the police office has no warrant, would you still give up the files?

You say that Rabbi’s in Baltimore “”heard” of several cases. Where did they hear this from? And, what exactly did they hear?

Finally, many of the accusers outright say they are not orthodox. So what support do they need from the orthodox community?
You might be right that some of the accused Rabbi’s would be in jail. But it could also be that their reputations would be restored if the accusers would truly have to present a case against them.

[Asher Lipner, Ph.D.]

Lydia,

Sorry for the delay in replying. I had not looked back at this posting until recently, and saw your comments. I will answer your questions in CAPS one at a time after quoting verbatim your words:

"The fact that certain Rabbis protect alleged molesters, is a reflection upon them personally, and not on all Rabbonim."

THE FACT THAT NO RABBANIM EVER REPORT MOLESTERS TO THE POLICE IS A REFLECTION ON ALL RABBANIM

"While you might disagree with the Agudah stance (so do I) I don’t believe that they are trying to protect molesters, but rather they are trying to do what they think is correct. This is a not so subtle point, especially when it comes to the conversation re: Agudah policy and what drives it."

WE DISAGREE AS TO THE MOTIVES OF THE AGUDAH GEDOLIM. NEVERTHELESS, THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS. IN THIS CASE, THOSE WHO ARE BEING LED DIRECTLY INTO HELL BY THE AGUDAH POLICIES ARE THE CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING PREYED UPON.

"If we immediately assume that all people are nefarious, then the conversation ends there."

WHO SAID ALL PEOPLE? I ONLY SAID ALL AGUDAH GEDOLIM. THERE ARE LITERALLY BILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO WERE NOT INCLUDED AND WHO WOULD BE HORRIFIED BY THE POSITIONS OF THE AGUDAH IF IT WERE MORE WIDELY KNOWN.

"Secondly, you are absolutely correct that victims have been vilified and the threat of “mosser” has ben used to protect the interests are various people. This is not a new phenomenon and not found only when it comes to molestation."

THE FACT THAT IT OCCURS EVER IS BAD. THE FACT THAT IT OCCURS IN CASES OF MOLESTATION IN WHICH THE GEDOLIM HAVE SAID IT IS A MITZVA TO REPORT IS HYPOCRISY. I WAS ONLY FOCUSING ON THE HYPOCRISY IN THIS OP ED.

"Thirdly, I think you missed the point of my post. You are trying to blame community leaders for not acting upon information that they have absolutely no way of verifying aside from going to the police and potentially ruining another man/women’s life (and family) based upon the accusation of a person who is not willing to go the police on their own.

"If I am not for myself, who will be?"

AGAIN, I WAS REFERRING TO THE AGUDAH STATEMENT AND THEIR ACTIONS. THEY SAID THAT WHEN ONE IS AWARE OF REASONABLE SUSPICIONS ONE IS MANDATED BY HALACHA TO NOT STAND IDLY BY THE BLOOD OF YOUR BROTHER, BUT TO REPORT TO THE POLICE. WHETHER THE VICTIM IS TOO AFRAID, OR UNWILLING TO GO IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER. THE RABBI WHO WAS TOLD, AND SEES REASONABLE SUSPICION, SHOULD REPORT. THAT IS WHAT THEIR STATEMENT SAYS.

"In such cases, the Rabbi’s shouldn’t be responsible for going to the police – the accusers are!"

WRONG. SIMPLY WRONG. AGAIN, ALL JEWS WHO CARE ABOUT CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND SEE REASONABLE SUSPICION OF ABUSE ARE RESPONSIBLE ACCORDING TO THE PSAK OF RAV ELYASHIV. THE REASON BEING THAT ANYONE WITH KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN SAVE LIVES MUST REPORT IT TO SAVE LIVES.

"Here is an example: Someone comes to you, Dr. Lipner, and says they were molested. To the best of your ability, you try to determine the truth and feel strongly that they were indeed molested by a certain Rabbi. But so what? Where is the evidence?"

BEING THAT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK I AM A MANDATED REPORTER, I AM NOT ONLY REQUIRED BY HALACHA BUT BY STATE LAW TO REPORT TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR TO THE POLICE (IF THE MOLESTER HAS ACCESS TO CHILDREN).

"You say that the Rabbis “know and are covering up.” Based on what do you say this? How could they possibly "know" anything more than the fact that an accusation has been made?"

EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN STATEMENT AND RAV ELYASHIV'S PSAK, ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO TRIGGER A HALACHIC RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT IS REASONABLE SUSPICION, IN THE CASES THAT I LISTED, THE RABBIS KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE. THEY WOULD NEVER FIRE ABRAMSON,"RETIRE" EISEMAN, ALLOW TENDLER TO BE RUN OUT OF TOWN, AND WAINHAUS TO BE LET GO FROM TWO YESHIVAS, IF THEY DID NOT KNOW FOR SURE THAT THEY WERE DANGEROUS, SEXUAL PREDATORS. EISEMANN CONFESSED TO THE YESHIVA, AND I HEARD THE CONFESSION PERSONALLY. KOLKO HAS PLEAD GUILTY TO A LESSER CHARGE OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT AND HAS BEEN FIRED FROM HIS JOB AT TORAH TEMIMA, BUT STILL WALKS THE STREETS AND NONE OF THE RABBIS WHO KNOW OF HIS MANY VICTIMS ARE SAYING BOO. IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT RABBI MARGOLIS HEARD ALLEGATIONS OF MANY MANY VICTIMS OVER MANY MANY YEARS, AND DID NOTHING. AND WHEN HE WAS CAUGHT, AGUDA'S RABBI DR. AHRON TWERSKI CALLED MARGOLIS AN HONORABLE MAN.

HIS NEPHEW, YOSSI KOLKO, FACING CHARGES OF CHILD MOLESTATION IN LAKEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, CONFESSED TO SEVERAL OF THE RABBIS OF RABBI SALAMON'S BAIS DIN. ACCORDING TO REPORTS IN THE NEWSPAPERS, THEY SENT HIM FOR A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION PERFORMED BY GAVRIEL FAGIN AND PAID FOR BY THE BAIS DIN. THE EVALUATION WAS SUBPOENAED BY THE PROSECUTORS AND IS BEING ALLOWED IN AS EVIDENCE BY THE JUDGE WHO ARGUED THAT KOLKO WAIVED HIS RIGHT TO CLIENT/THERAPIST PRIVILEGE BY SIGNING A CONSENT FOR THE BEIS DIN TO SEE THE REPORT. NOT ONLY DID NONE OF THE RABBIS CALL THE POLICE, BUT ALL OF THE ROSHEI YESHIVA AND SALAMON SIGNED A LETTER CURRENTLY BEING CIRCULATED AND ADVERTISED IN LAKEWOOD, ASKING PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE MONEY FOR KOLKO'S DEFENSE FUND. THE VICTIM AND HIS FAMILY? RUN OUT OF TOWN ON A RAIL FOR BEING MOSER.

"The fact that accusations have been made does not mean that there is evidence.

AS I SAID IN EACH OF THE CASES THERE WAS AMPLE EVIDENCE.

"(It also does not mean that action should be taken to err on the side of caution - but that is a separate point)."

THE SIDE OF CAUTION IS TO PROTECT INNOCENT CHILDREN AND CALL THE POLICE TO INVESTIGATE.

"Perhaps it is impossible to get evidence in these cases. Perhaps not."

WHY WOULD IT BE IMPOSSIBLE? THE POLICE, ARE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTORS TO SUCCESSFULLY CONVICT SEX OFFENDERS EVERY DAY.

"For all of the outcry against abuse in the past few years, it is always the same few names that are constantly mentioned. There have indeed been convictions the past few years, and more than a few frum people are in jail."

SO YOU AGREE THAT THERE IS CERTAINLY A WAY TO INVESTIGATE AND GET EVIDENCE.

"This happened because people went to the police (some of them were from very religious neighborhoods)."

THAT IS WHY THE AGUDAH SHOULD TELL ALL JEWS TO REPORT ALLEGATIONS TO THE POLICE WHO CAN BEST INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE IF THEIR IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE. AND THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY SAY IT, THEY SHOULD DO IT THEMSELVES SO AS NOT TO BE "ECHAD B'PEH, V'ECHAD BLEYV", WHICH IS WHAT MY OP ED'S TITLE IS CONDEMNING THEM FOR.

"You mention that an accuser did go to the police, claiming he was groped. How can someone prove that? I am not saying it did not happen, but if you look at the case (at least what has been reported) you have an individual who says that Rabbi X groped him. That’s it. No evidence, nothing. This doesn’t mean Rabbi X didn’t do it, it doesn’t mean he did do it either. In fact, it doesn’t mean anything without some sort of proof, circumstantial or otherwise."

BECAUSE OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THE POLICE REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE SO THEREFORE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE. I HAPPEN TO HAVE A TON OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE, WHICH WILL SOON BE PUBLICIZED. BUT BECAUSE THE VICTIMS WHO ARE STILL WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS KNOW THAT THE AGUDAH RABBIS ARE LIARS AND WILL PROTECT EISEMANN AND CONDEMN THE VICTIMS FOR REPORTING HIM TO THE POLICE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO WHAT THE RIGHT THING AND FULFILL THE MITZVA OF LO SAAMOD AL DAM REYECHA. FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE RABBIS HAVE SEEN TO IT, THAT DOING THE RIGHT THING AND PROTECTING CHILDREN AGAINST "DAAS TORAH" IS TANTAMOUNT TO COMMUNAL SUICIDE, AND FEW ARE ABLE TO PUT THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGH THE ORDEAL EVEN TO PROTECT OTHER CHILDREN.

"Someone goes to the Rabbi of a community and says that Mr. X stole his car. The Rabbi asks for proof, but he has none. You really want the Rabbi to destroy a man’s reputation because of an accusation without any proof? Perhaps the Rabbi will look after his own car more carefully, but more than that he can't do."

THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD COMPARE A CAR THIEF TO A CHILD MOLESTER WHO IS A RODEF, SHOWS A SHOCKING LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENTIRE ISSUE THAT I CANNOT BEGIN TO ADDRESS IN THIS FORUM. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT I SINCERELY HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE NEVER FACED WITH THIS TRAGEDY, WHICH WOULD BE MADE ALL THE MORE TRAUMATIC BY YOUR GROSS INSENSITIVITY TO THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

"If we learn anything from Gedaliah is that he should have taken precautions - not that he should have believed the accusation."

THE MOST BASIC AND COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE ADVOCATED BY ALL CHILD PROTECTION AGENCIES AS WELL AS BY THE AGUDAH'S OWN SATEMENT INCLUDE CALLING THE POLICE TO INVESTIGATE.

"The fact that the police tell you that Rabbi’s stonewall may be true. But that does not mean that the people you mentioned are guilty (or innocent). It means that Rabbis have not helped when police asked them for help.

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS QUITE DAMNING OF RABBIS AND QUITE TRUE. FOR RABBIS TO SHAMEFULLY IMPEDE THOSE WHO SEEK TO PROTECT OUR OWN CHILDREN IS PURE EVIL AND MAKES THEM ACCOMPLICES TO THE CRIME AFTER THE FACT.

"Without having further information, it is difficult to comment on this."

THEN WHY ARE YOU COMMENTING SO MUCH?

"If a police officer comes to your office and asks to see private files of your patients, wouldn’t you ask why? If the police office has no warrant, would you still give up the files?"

IF IT WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTING INNOCENT JEWISH CHILDREN FROM BEING RAPED, SODOMIZED AND MOLESTED, THEN OF COURSE I WOULD. WOULDN'T YOU?

"You say that Rabbi’s in Baltimore “”heard” of several cases. Where did they hear this from? And, what exactly did they hear?

THEY HEARD FROM SEVERAL VICTIMS OF EISEMANN THAT HE HAD TOUCHED THEM INAPPROPRIATELY, AND THEY HEARD HIM CONFESS TO THESE CRIMES.

"Finally, many of the accusers outright say they are not orthodox. So what support do they need from the orthodox community?

TRUE SOME OF THEM ARE NO LONGER ORTHODOX, (IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY IGNORING THEIR PAIN IN THE NAME OF FOLLOWING DAAS TORAH. BUT MOST OF THEM STILL HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE ORTHODOX. THEY DO NOT WANT THEIR FAMILIES TO BE HARMED FOR THEIR ACTIONS OF PROTECTING CHILDREN. THIS IS WHAT CONCERNS THEM, AND THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CONCERNED.

"You might be right that some of the accused Rabbi’s would be in jail."

I AM RIGHT ON THIS ONE.

But it could also be that their reputations would be restored if the accusers would truly have to present a case against them.

IMPOSSIBLE. AS I HAVE SHOWN, ONLY THE ACCUSED HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE SILENCE OF THE VICTIMS, AND THAT IS WHY THE AGUDAH DOES ALL IT CAN TO KEEP THEM SILENT. IF ALL OF THE VICTIMS WOULD HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT, THE MOLESTERS WOULD BE IN JAIL.

WE WILL GET THERE ONE DAY, G-D WILLING, BY PASSING STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM AND MANDATING ALL CLERGY TO REPORT, AND ENFORCING THOSE LAWS. IT IS SAD TO SAY THAT ONLY WHEN RABBIS WILL BE IMPRISONED BY THE SECULAR GOVERNMENT, AND YESHIVAS LIKE TORAH TEMIMA, NER YISROEL, SATMAR, LAKEWOOD, ETC. SUED FOR MILLIONS, WILL JEWISH CHILDREN GAIN A MEASURE OF SAFETY FROM THE SEXUAL PREDATORS AMONG US. UNTIL THEN, G-D HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS.