On My Mind

I don’t disagree with the conclusion that Phil Jacobs made, but I do take issue with the path he took to get there.  His point would have been so much more persuasive if he would have articulated WHY it is in the best interest of the Jewish community to discuss abuse perpetrated by someone no longer alive. 

    The ‘why’ is that by doing so we allow the victims to take a step forward in their healing process when a mea culpa is offered by the offender, by those who shielded the offender, and by those who didn’t do enough to stop the offender.

We must take seriously the injunction against defaming the dead through publicizing their sins after they’re gone.  Why?  Because the Torah prohibits us from wantonly slandering the dead. On the other hand, what Barb Bloom (above) said is certainly true; the Torah does record the sins of our forefathers so that we can learn proper conduct.  One must have enormous shoulders to decide what sins of whom should be exposed post-mortem.  However, it seems clear to me that sweeping abuse under the carpet further damages the victims and enables, G-d forbid, future abuse.

  What could be a more pressing consideration than that?

Kol Hakovod to you Phil, now if only there was a victim that would come forward and ask you to work on his behalf so that you can go to R’ Sheftel and say “I am representing Mr.“X”, and I am not going to stop until we put Rabbi “Z” out of business.  I have a signed afidavit from him with details of information, and WE are not going to go away or back down until YOU put this person and all the rest of the molesters out of business.

As a matter of fact Phil, you have it in YOUR power to request any and all victims/survivors of abuse stemming from any member of the Ner Yisroel community to contact you so that YOU have an actual number count and chronilogical idea of how many years it has been going on.

It will be easier to fight the battle and win the war, if you actually have the clients to fight for.  I admire and respect you for doing what you do and support you in your effort.  I ASK that any and all victim/survivors of abuse in the Baltimore vicinty contact Phil and come forward so that he can compile a list of “clients” he can confront the Yeshiva with.  Facts are facts, and you can’t deny the facts.

Perhaps if Rabbi Neuberger, Rabbi Weisbord and the rest of the hanhalla of the yeshivah would be forthcoming with information about the “live” alleged molester Rabbi Eiseman who continues to reside on Yeshivah Lane with no safety precautions to the students there would be less of a need to perpetuate the story of the “dead” molester.  They seem to want it both ways.  While he is alive you have to cover it up in order to protect his poor family and to avoid the rabbi doing jail time Chas V’shalom, and when he dies it is too late to let people know the great crime that has been perpetrated on innocent Jewish children.  Its a great system.  According to this we can still believe that the whole problem is overblown and doesn’t really happen, that there is a Santa Claus and a tooth fairy and that the rabbis are really protecting the children and not their own image.

I think that what we will start to see happening is that the greater society is going to begin to look at Orthodox rabbis the way they see priests.  Either they are molesters, or enablers and harborers of molesters.  When parents of other faiths begin to cross the street when seeing an Orthodox rabbi, perhaps Rabbis like the Neubergers will begin to feel it is time to make some changes.  We can only hope it happens soon.

Mark,
What makes you think Sheftel Neuberger is right?  If you think about it Neuberger has a lot to loose by opening up the records of Ner Israel with the number of sex offenders they have been enabling. 

I think there needs to be a criminal investigation of Moshe Eisemann. I refuse to put the title of rabbi in front of this man’s name after reading and hearing the stories of the boys I’m told he molested. 

Look at Ner Israel’s track record and how they handled the case of Matis Weinberg (the grandson of one of its founders).  Again, I can not put the title of rabbi in front of this serial sex offender’s name. 

Look at the list of those who daven at Hopfer’s shul (members and non-members) 

Yaakov Menken
Stuart Friedman
Eliezer Eisgrau
Aaron Goldberger

and then there’s Hopfer’s good friend Yisroel Shapiro.

Phil,
How long will you continue to speak like an outsider? Your consistent critiques of the Orthodox community make it blatantly obvious how clueless you are of the issues within that community. You jump to one conclusion after another with a distorted view of your limited evidence. The tragedy is that you publicize your findings - a tragedy for the community and for yourself. The community is misrepresented and you are seen as out of touch and increasingly irrelevant. For the sake of everyone I wish you would just change directions and find something else to write about.

You are right Phil. I disagree with the Rabbi who feels we should speak of these sins after someone dies.

Didn’t our great Sages and Scribes record the sins of our forefather in the our Bible the Torah so that we could learn what was right and wrong in G-d’s eyes? While King David was known for his beautifyl poetry, music (harpist) and skills as a great warrior to protect his people. Nevertheless, the Torah also tell us of his greatest sin of adultery. The good and the bad is made known. But the good ending to this story is that even though King David was punished for his sin because the son that was born from that adultery died. But because David had great remorse, prayed for forgiveness and never repeated that sin. He was later granted another son who turned out to be a very wise man. King Solomon. But that did not dismiss the fact that his (sin) wrong doing previously had to be accounted for and he had to repent deeply and sincerely in order to regain G-d’s grace and set things right. King David has been dead for over 3,000 years. But his story is retold eternally for all mankind to learn from. How can the Rabbi think that G-d wants the Jewish community to cover up the truth of child abuse that is going on?  It’s an obligation to address these issues as well as any other issues that may not be pleasant to talk about. As long as its done in a way to help others to prevent from making the same mistakes. All our Rabbis have an obligation to face this. As far as the families they too have to learn to deal with truth and seek to help to advocate that this is unacceptable for any family to ignore be they religious or otherwise. It’s a moral issue and a child abuse issue. We all owe it to children to protect them. What better way then not making excuses for the offenders. The Torah tells us that much. Keep up your good work Phil. You are to be admired.

Shabbot Shalom,
Barb Bloom

B’H’ for Phil Jacob and his exposure of the crap that Sheftel Neuberger   and Ner Israel keeps trying to pull.  It’s about time that the folks under their spell wake up and smell the roses.  I think the community needs a good cult deprogrammer.

The Awareness Center, Inc.
The International Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault
P.O. Box 65273, Baltimore, MD 21209
http://www.theawarenesscenter.org
443-857-5560

Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse Speaking Out in Baltimore, MD
http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/BaltimoreSpeakOut.pdf

When:     Sunday, February 8, 2009  1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Where:  Pikesville Public Library
      1301 Reisterstown Rd.
      Pikesville, MD 21208

Reservations Required - Seating is Limited
RSVP:  The Awareness Center, Inc.
      443-857-5560 or  e-mail:  info@theawarenesscenter.org

Jewish Survivors of sexual violence rarely are provided an opportunity to speak out against the heinous crimes committed against them as children or as adults.

This educational event is designed to give those who have been victimized the opportunity to educate our community on the issues, ramifications and offer support to others who have been touched by sexual violence.

This event is FREE and open to the public, yet reservations are required due to space limitations.

The Awareness Center is the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault.

Speakers include:
* Evan S. - Survivor - Survivor of incest.

* Leslie B. - Survivor - Survivor of sibling incest.

* Ava Miedzinski, DDS - Survivor of child sexual abuse at a Jewish day school

* Murray Levin, JD - Advocate, Survivor of clergy sexual abuse by a rabbi.

Vicki Polin, Founder - The Awareness Center, Survivor of incest.

Rabbi Nochem Rosenberg - Advocate for sexually abuse orthodox children

Bob Russell, Founder - Child Victims Voice Maryland, Survivor of clergy sexual abuse by a priest.

“If you were sexually abused in the state of Maryland or currently live in Maryland—we could use your help in making the state safer for children and adult survivors. call, Frank Dingle: 443-996-8994 Or send an e-mail to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

http://www.childvictimsvoicemaryland.org

It appears that the leaders of the Jewish community are doing no better than the leaders of the Catholic community.

Who never knew that the sexual abuse of anyone was immoral and wrong?

Who never knew that the sexual abuse of children was particularly disgusting?

Who never knew that covering up for sexual predators of any faith was in violation of the Old and New Testaments?

Who never knew that the police should have been called ASAP?

WHAT CHUTZPAH!

Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims’ Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Phil,
how about commenting on these two articles?

http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/local/012309rabbi.html

http://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/local/012509emsRABBI.html

I personally think it’s interesting that Stuart Friedman, who is a convicted sex offender rents an apartment from Devorah Schor, who is the daughter of an alleged sex offender by the name of rav Moshe Eisemann. Friedman also lives next door to the parents of convicted sex offender Shmuel Juraval, just so happens to have been convicted on similar charges as Friedman

What gives you the right to think that your position is always right?  Why don’t you consider that maybe Rabbi Sheftel is right and you are in error?  I believe that your entire mission is to fight against the yeshiva community and cause dividedness in our community.  You are clearly not doing any work that sanctifies the name of G-D.  You are trying to “stir up” disagreements and arguments just for the sake of making “Machlokes”  You are no different than what “Korach” did to Moshe in the Torah.  If you don’t want to end up where Korach landed you need to change your ways.