***The Rabbinical Council of America - RCA Head, Rabbi Menachem Penner Listed on Character Witness List for Judah Karkowsky***
I'm addition to writing a letter for Judah Karkowsky, who forged a court transcript to try and lie his way back into the Young Israel of Woodmere after they suspended his membership for allegedly sexually abusing a child, new RCA Executive VP, Rabbi Menachem Penner, also put himself on a character witness list on behalf of Karkowsky.
Below are screenshot of the witness list along with a letter from the Nassau DA contextualizing the list.
What's notable about the lengths to which Penner went to advocate for this alleged child sexual abuser is that the actual rabbi of the shul involved, Rabbi Shalom Axelrod, reportedly warned YIW leadership not to write letters on behalf of Karkowsky. Nonetheless, the head of the RCA saw fit to take the side of the alleged abuser and convicted fraudster in this case instead of the rabbi who tried to keep his community safe.