There are no “henchmen” out there getting in my way to investigate individuals or institutions.
I am not under anybody’s “thumb” to prevent the writing of stories on certain rabbis in town who are under suspicion of past sexual molestation.
So for those bloggers who feel that the have “inside” information as to the progress of any one investigation in progress. You don’t. All you are doing is creating hysteria and panic.
I ask you to let the truth set us free on these issues. It will be the truth that brings any further information to the forefront.
Rest assured, I am working on collecting the truth.
But it is of no help to me if you take license with what I am doing and spread it as if it were gospel.
Bloggers, if you want to know what is going on with a particular investigation, simply pick up the phone and call me. I will be happy to share with you what I may.
I’m not being secretive, nor am I taking my time out of any kind of fear.
Please, the recent track record should say to you more than ever, that this delicate issue is being handled correctly.
My time table might not fit your’s. But the timetable of truth is all that matters to me. That and the timetable of protecting future generations from sexual molestation.
Don’t ruin this with any suggestions that there have been threats towards me. There have been absolutely none.
Don’t take off on this with false information. Not one rabbi has tried to hurt me any way at all.
Be patient.
The stories will come.
And they will be accurate and done at the correct time.

Yep, Dina Penina, Amelia Bedelia, Vicki Polin, that’s what I was referring to.

Maybe Amelia can explain how Vicki Polin hid in Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky’s closet to listen to a private conversation.

Proof that any nutcase can say whatever he or she wants on a blog. I hope the lectures get more funding.

Just curious if this is what “Jeff” was referring to?

http://theawarenesscenter.org/menken_yaakov.html

CALL TO ACTION: Stop Funding Programs Organized By Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Yaakov Menken

December 24, 2006

In honor of the survivors of Rabbi Yaakov Menken (AKA: Ken Menken), The Awareness Center is bringing the following information to your attention. The goal is to prevent any more individual from becoming the next victim of a sexual offense.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the founder and director of Project Genesis, a Kiruv organization (Jewish outreach). He has put together an educational program that is funded by the Jewish Education Enhancement Projects (JEEP), which obtains its funds through the Jewish Federation of Baltimore (The Associated).

The Awareness Center, Inc. is asking that you contact both organizations and demand they stop funding programs connected to Rabbi Yaakov Menken. We are also asking that you contact those who are advertising Menken’s programs. Explain to them that they are putting unsuspecting women at risk of harm.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken confessed to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky that he had sexual contact with a young religious woman. At the time of the abuse this particular survivor was undergoing “spiritual counseling” by Rabbi Menken. The survivor was bearly out of her teens at the time she was sexually manipulated. Kenneth Menken was nearly in his forties. He was also a married, haredi (orthodox) rabbi.

The young woman describes her experience with Menken as clergy sexual abuse (professional sexual misconduct) During a conversation with Rabbi Kaminetsky, Kenneth Menken stated the young woman “manipulated him into having sexual contact.”

Project Genesis has put together the following lecture series, which is funded by The Associated of Baltimore. Each time this program is advertised puts another unsuspecting woman at risk of harm—by being “counseled” by Rabbi Menken. Please demand that all organizations stop funding activities organized by Yaakov Menken. Also demand that newspapers and magazines refuse to advertise events connected to him. The goal is to prevent one more unsuspecting individual from becoming the next victim of a sex crime.

The Awareness Center is also asking everyone to contact the following speakers. Please help inform them of Rabbi Menken’s past history of alleged clergy sexual abuse (professional sexual misconduct). All inquires of his confession should be directed to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky. (215) 477-1000.

Please ask Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky make a public statement regarding Rabbi Menken’s confession and require Yaakov to be in therapy with a highly qualified psychotherapist whom specializes in working with sex offenders. The Awareness Center is also asking that Ken Menken financially compensate the survivor for the pain and suffering he has caused her. Click Here: For Entire CALL FOR ACTION

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky

Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia

6063 Drexel Road

Philadelphia, PA 19131

Telephone: (215) 473-1212   Fax: (215) 477-5065

If you or someone you know has had similar experiences, please contact your local rape crisis center and or The Awareness Center, Inc..

Rabbi Menken, a “confessed sex offender”? Phil, how come you don’t do a piece on how unfounded, unsourced accusations with no evidence are being used to smear some of the greatest Baltimore has to offer?

Vicki Polin believes everything, including the stuff she makes up in her own head.

I only know that my husband and I spoke to CJE about the specific issue of bullying prevention measures that are desperately needed in ALL schools, but Jewish schools for sure.  And in that capacity, CJE was most responsive.  Our focus is on bullying and cyber-bullying and peer harassment.  We are learning, along with the readers of the JT, about all of the horrors so many have experienced.  But we have no first hand knowledge or experience of the issues most people are writing about with regard to sexual abuse.

Marcie,
the Jewish Center for Education is full of BS.  The continue to promote a confessed sex offender by the name of Rabbi Yaakov Menken.  Menken is good friends with the Adlers.  How can you trust an organization that empowers those who committ sexual offenses against young vulnerable women and children?

Dear Phil:

I read the comment posted by Jeffrey on August 9th with great interest.  The speaker that is coming to Yeshivat Ramban will be there because the incomparable Larry Ziffer was determined to address the issue of bullying in Jewish schools.  My husband and I met with him to discuss this vitally important cause about a month ago.  It was not something that Rabbi Ziffer was particularly familiar with yet he instantly realized that this is a problem occurring with increasing frequency.  The Center for Jewish Education got right to work and as a result, Rona Novick will be speaking to Jewish educators on August 27th and to parents that evening.  Please let your readers know that WE ARE AWARE of this immense problem and we have started an organization called Watch Our Words, Inc./WOW.  As you know me personally, please feel free to give my phone number to anyone who needs help.  We have police officers, psychologists, educators and parents helping people work through the complex issue of bullying and how to prevent it.  Many thanks.

Dear Phil,
I would like to thank you for having the courage to take on an issue that has affected our community in a negative way. It was an important issue and I felt you did it delicately and properly. I am not sure the last issue about Yisroel Shapiro was fully necessary as his behavior was terrible, but he did not really go “all out” so perhaps the point has been made well.

I noticed that Rambam is having a speaker coming named Rona Novick Lcsw. She is discussing a topic that I feel is one that is similar to the topic of sexual molestation, in that it is very damaging distruptive and causes lots of pain at the time and for year.

The topic which our community does not talk about at all is bullying. Yes Bullying. Between two yeshivas that I attended I was beated up more than 60 times over a 2 year period in 9th and 10th grade. This has been very damaging for me. I tried to speak to the Rabbeim about it and almost nothing was done. This has caused me tremendous pain.

I wish I were the only one, I am not I know lots of people who have been physically bullied right in our own day schools and in 9th grade. While we are cleaning out our closet and hopefully giving our future generation and chance to grow up in a healthy way, perhaps it might be good to get rid of or at least expose this living cancer that we have tormenting our innocent children and teenagers.

Let’s start a program to “Break Bullying” if we do, we will have made a lot of peoples lives so much more rewarding and wholesome.
PS my email is private and not for public.

Phil,
I want to start off by thanking you for writing the articles you are writing, yet, I do have my concerns about the way you are doing this. 

Your last article was important, yet was a bit to explicit.  Some of your readers are feeling victimized by your graphic detailing of what happened to the Yisroel Shapiro survivors.

The other concern I have is if you are making sure those you interview who are victims are in therapy or have already been in therapy.  All too often when someone has their story put in print they can start to feel revictimized all over.  If they have the right support in place first then this is a non-issue.

Somewhere on your blog you said you were now operating as a rape hot-line or something like that.  I am just hoping you are referring those who call to REAL rape crisis hot-lines or center.

It’s unfortunate that people are always hungry for more dirt.  Phil is going about this the right way and is doing a thorough investigation(vedarashta heiteiv vechakarta).  All this does not excuse the administration of NIRC for allowing a suspected molester live on its campus.

Hi,
I have read the various articles describing the allegations of molestation against individuals in the orthodox community.  Although I agree that anyone guilty of such crimes should be brought to justice, I find the imbalance of coverage to be unfair.  As an orthodox jew, I can’t help but feel that this is a witch hunt at best and an attempt to make headlines, since orthodox individuals are the main focus of all of the articles.  I hope that your motivation to help the abused is not limited to victims of orthodox abusers only.  If it is in fact limited, then I can’t help but feel that your attempt to help them will not bring them the full cure they deserve.