Rabbi David Lipman pleads guilty to four felony counts

Prosecutor Bill Huges said "the charges that Lipman pleaded guilty to pertain to the computer images of children younger than the age of 15. " Does this mean that there were photographs of children over the age of 15 on his computer too?


Former Rabbi pleads guilty to four felony counts
By Mirsada Buric-Adam
The Prescott Daily Courier (AZ) - January 31, 2006
This article is not available on line, click here to see print copy


Prescott - Former Rabbi David Lipman faces mandatory prison punishment after he pleaded guilty Monday to four felony counts that pertain to sexually explicit images police retrieved from the computer he used at Temple B'rith Shalom in Prescott.

The plea agreement resolves on of the two felony cases pending before the Yavapai County Superior Court against the 56-year-old defendant.

A grand jury initially indicated Lipman on 16 counts of child molestation and sexual abuse. These charges stem from an investigation that involved two teen-age girls, 16 and 14.

The indictment pertaining to the computer images came about recently. The Prescott Police Department (PPD) confiscated the hard drive after a man - whom the temple hired to clean and reset a computer that Lipman used for the new rabbi - reported to the police that he found movie clips of young naked females and other images of sadomasochism, according to an affidavit for a search warrant.

One of the movie clips allegedly showed people beating and raping prisoners.

Prosecutor Bill Huges sad that Lipman pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class 2 felony, and three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, Class 3 felonies.

He said the charges that Lipman pleaded guilty to pertain to the computer images of children younger than the age of 15.

The prison term range for a Class 2 felony is between 10 and 24 years, with a presumptive term of 17 years, Hughes said.

"They have to be consecutive and the judge has to send him to prison on one of the four counts," Hughes said.

The plea agreement also mandates lifetime probation and a sex offender registration.

Hughes said the state may settle the older case with a probation - eligible plea, depending on the sentence Lipman receives in the new case.

The trial in the older case is set to start on Feb. 8.

Trusting Again...

No one is asking you to trust again least of all me. I probably have a handful of people in this world that I can trust because personally I believe trust should be earned. I believe I have allowed myself to hand it out so freely that I have learned very valuable lessons about trust enough to be able to sit here and explain to you that you too should be more concerned about your trust than you probably give yourself enough thought about. I've heard numerous women come to me and tell me they have trust issues, that they don't trust so easily, that it's so hard to open up. And then turn around and offer their credit card info to the nearest person that will show the slightest amount of attention to them if they are needy about something, that's moving a little too fast. That is not the kind of trust you deserve and believe me we've all been the victims of wary trust issues.

Trust is a hard thing to think about after an attack as a child or as an adult survivor of rape, abuse and or incest. Out of all of the struggles I have had to endure in my past I would have to say trusting was one of the hardest issues in my life that I have ever had to deal with and come to terms with on a more positive level. For me NOT Trusting was always my shield against the criminal minds. And then trusting a little too much for anyone else was always my weakness, you have to know the balance, you have to know where and when to balance your trust evenly to make it work right for you. The best advice I can give to you is this, take your time. Trust does not come easy and it must be earned. Trust IS time. Do not trust every single person you come to meet but do not give up on trust in the same sense. It's tough to even talk about. There is a great fear behind trusting someone ever again and you will go through great tribulations and thoughts regarding your need to trust others.

Be a good judge of character for one. Be faithful in yourself. First assumptions are always the best. Sometimes we can meet someone and it feels like we have known that person our whole lives, but if there is doubt in a person it is usually more than often your heart telling you to watch out.

I really do have a heart for those who know trust well and know how to keep it stable. But I know that there are many of us Survivors out there who aren't as protective with it as we think we are or say we are. And then when we finally meet someone in this lifetime we can trust our valves for trusting automatically shut off due to the fact that we've given ourselves to so many people only to be hurt so many more times over and because we are smart, just not always quick witted and that's a good thing because we think, in a way it's as though we play a game of cat and mouse with ourselves. We lose friendships, we lose closeness with family and relatives. Choosing who you trust based on a face or a name has nothing to do with the person standing right in front of you. I can't tell you how many Internet friends I've lost over the years due to trust issues, how much family I lost contact with. It's those you can tell the secrets to and those who will stand by you through and through who are your real friends, family and loved ones. That is when you know who the real ones are.

Trust is earned. But trust is not a negative structure, we make it so ugly of a word because it's tattered and torn. We think we know someone based on a few words on the screen, based on a few phone calls, a few letters a few months, we don't know. And you could say that weighs down on trust very heavily a lot of the time when the act of trust is such a radiant act. It's such a noble loving act, it's a bond between people that goes so deep. When you trust another human being you're almost putting a piece of your life into their hands. That is how sacred it has to be. It's not about "Oh you wanna be my friend, we'll send a few pen pal letters and I'll trust you enough to give you my number so you can call me." Trust is a completely different measurement of the soul, you have to search for it in the eyes of the person you share it with and you'll only know it's working when they stay static with you through all time. They will be the ones who will never hurt you.

I can only give my personal opinion on trust because everyone sees trust as being somewhat a different issue. I've made so many mistakes in my past with people. Giving my insights, my passion, even my body to people out of trust only to be crushed again and again. Do I consider it all a waste of my time? I don't, because if I considered it a waste of my time I would not have learned anything out of it. And you have to learn to accept trusting again into your soul. For the longest time I blocked trust out all together and a lot of us refuse to trust because it's too much. Trusting again comes from within, it can't be forced. It's like trying to pay the electric bill, you ether do or you don't lol. But we hope you do! Radiance in trusting and learning to trust the right way is the most brilliant feeling of all.

Love & Healing, Haullie

The "honorable" Rabbi Shea Harlig, and his buddy Michael Segelstein

Rabbi Shea Harlig's highly respected friend -- Chazzen Michael Segelstein, is seen below reading the megelliah (back in 2000). One year later Segelstein commits a sex crime.


Here is another photograph of the honored member of Chabad in Las Vegas at another Chabad sponsored function this year.
.

Court documents state that the alleged victim told police that Segelstein accosted her as she was leaving the shul on April 4, 2001. She said he pushed her up against the car and she fell while trying to escape. Segelstein is alleged to have kissed and groped her against her wishes, telling her in crude language he wanted to have sex with her.

Due to her religious beliefs, the woman went to rabbi, Rabbi Harlig, to report this incident," the court document states. The woman is an Orthodox Jew. Orthodox Jews are encouraged to keep matters pertaining to other Jews within the Jewish community." The victim told police that Segelstein apologized for his behavior, but she took the matter to the Chabad's national headquarters in New York.

It's so wonderful that Rabbi Harlig can embrace a man who pled guilty to lessor charges of a sex crime. Yet to this day has never offered any support to an orthodox woman who is a survivor of a violent sex crime.''

Michael Segelstein was originally arraigned on one count each of attempted sexual assault, battery with intent to commit sexual assault and open and gross lewdness.

On December 19, 2002, Michael Segelstein pled guilty to open or gross lewdness, in which he received one year suspended sentence with conditions and court ordered into counseling. According to court documents, Segelstein's probation was successfully completed. He has since been discharged. A civil suit is currently pending.

Call for Action: Questions for Rabbi Shea Harlig of Chabad of Las Vegas
Please write or call Rabbi Shea Harlig, and ask him the following questions:

http://ww.chabadlv.org

Michael Segelstein was originally arraigned on one count each of attempted sexual assault, battery with intent to commit sexual assault and open and gross lewdness.

On December 19, 2002, Michael Segelstein pled guilty to open or gross lewdness, in which he received one year suspended sentence with conditions and court ordered into counseling. According to court documents, Segelstein's probation was successfully completed. He has since been discharged. A civil suit is currently pending.

1. Considering Michael Segelstein was originally arraigned on one count each of attempted sexual assault, battery with intent to commit sexual assault and open and gross lewdness, later plead guilty to the lessor charge -- and a case is still being heard in Civil Court -- do you think it's appropriate for Chabad of Southern Nevada to have a photograph of him on their web page celebrating you fifteenth anniversary?

2. Are women safe in your shul? Does anyone monitor Segelstein when he is in your facility, or in the parking lot?

3. What sort of support has Rabbi Harlig and the congregation of Chabad of Southern Nevada offered to Segelstein's survivor (especially after Segelstein entered a guilty plea)?

4. What sort of education or training does Rabbi Harlig have in working with survivors of sexual violence and or sex offenders?

5. Is Chabad of Las Vegas a haven for alleged sexual predators?

Please contact Rabbi Shea Harlig and let your voice be heard!

Rabbi Shea Harlig, Director

Email: chabadlv@aol.com

1261 S. Arville Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102

(702) 259-0770 fax (702) 877-4700

WARNING TO SURVIVORS OF RABBI ARON TENDLER

I read this on a blog and want to warn the survivors of Rabbi Aron Tendler NOT to do this without consulting with an attorney first. If you ever want to press charges against him or bring a civil suit against him it could hurt your case.

If you don't have an attorney contact your local rape crisis center. They can supply you with a list of resources, or contact The Awareness Center (443) 857-5560.

New Hempstead Blog author posts:

I received an anonymous tape of Aron Tendler having Phone S-- with a young woman ... We have already verified the voice of Aron Tendler ... we are asking the Anonymous sender of the Tape to identify herself to us in confidence ... and would she mind if we played this tape on our blog! Please answer us immediately, we have to make a decision!

Psychological Manipulation of Women

Special Issue: Women Under The Influence
Cultic Studies Journal - Volume 14, No. 1 (1997)

From Vicki Polin:
I recently received a copy of a special issue of the Cultic Studies Journal that deals with women's' issues and psychological manipulations. I strongly suggest that individuals working with survivors of rabbinic sexual misconduct read it.

Though you may not agree with everything that is said, I believe the special issue will help us all have a better understanding of the dynamics of what happens in these sorts of cases.

Below are some quotes from the journal:

"Despite the common misconceptions that only crazy, unstable, or weird people are in cults, research has shown that most cult members are of above-average intelligence, come from stable backgrounds, and do not have a history of psychological illness."

"Cults leaders and cult recruiters tend to capture the hearts, minds and souls of the best and brightest in our society."

Healing from psychosexual abuse
"Bearing in mind that cults control their members through deceptive and manipulative techniques that induce dependency, anxiety, and fear, the recovery process for someone who has extricated themselves from a cult is indeed a rocky road. Former members typically experience a range of feelings; fear, mistrust, and betrayal, as well as confusion and disorientation. Major areas of work will revolve around the following: reestablishing boundaries; regaining self-esteem and self-confidence; dealing with feelings of betrayal; learning to trust again; resolving identity crisis (who am I: how did it happen?); and what I call exorcising the "hindering" emotionals of shame, blame, and guilt.

Ending an awful irony: Until a new California law went into effect, the 'incest exception' allowed many child sex abusers to go free.

By Jane Ellen Stevens
Los Angeles Times
January 25, 2006


JANE ELLEN STEVENS teaches at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and co-directs the Violence Reporting Project.

AMONG HUNDREDS of new laws that went into effect at the beginning of the month in California, one quietly ended a sordid era in which a class of convicted child sex abusers never served jail time, and the children they abused were often forced to help in their attempts at rehabilitation.

This sorry chapter in the state's history began in 1981, when an "incest exception" law was passed by the Legislature. It allowed judges to grant probation to men (and women) even though they had been convicted of abusing their sons, daughters, stepchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins or grandchildren, all because incest was deemed different — and less criminal — than "stranger" pedophilia.

Activists, victims and prosecutors have lobbied over the last few years to change the law and similar statutes in 36 other states. By 2003, North Carolina, Illinois and Arkansas had repealed their incest exception laws; it's hoped that California's change will increase the ripple effect.

Why would a crime that usually results in an automatic prison sentence ever have been given a free ride? Because two decades ago what was most crucial to many family activists was keeping families intact. Groups such as Parents United lobbied for the incest exception, claiming that relatives who abused children were "situational offenders," not pedophiles. Life stress was said to have induced them to abuse once or twice. With a little therapy, it was claimed, situational offenders would never abuse a child again.

Hank Giarretto, a psychologist and the executive director of Parents United in 1981, testified in Sacramento that lawmakers needed to be careful that the "father offender" who "had, usually, a very outstanding career both in industry and in his place in his community," was not mixed up "with the type of offender, the predator, the type of fellow who stalks his victims or who sets up situations through which he can molest these children."

By 1994, however, the American Psychiatric Assn. had rejected the idea of situational offenders, finding instead that there was no difference between a person who sexually abuses a stranger and one who sexually abuses his own child.

The awful irony of incest exception laws is that most sexual abuse of children 5 and younger occurs within families. Later, teachers, coaches, priests and neighbors join the relatives. Only 7% of child sex abusers are strangers.

Rosanne Froeberg, an assistant district attorney who heads Orange County's sexual assault unit, says that "the harm done to a young girl who loses her chastity to a father or grandfather who continually abuses her has a much more far-reaching effect than a one-time assault by a stranger."

As the high incidence and serious consequences of child sex abuse within families have become better understood, district attorneys in many counties in California stopped recommending probation under the old law. But judges often granted it just the same, and it's not known how many child sex abusers walked free because of the 1981 law. No agency ever compiled the data.

Eileen Herring knows of one — her own father. Herring, a 40-year-old mother of two teenage daughters, testified in support of the new California law.

Her father began sexually abusing her when she was 12. When she was 14, Herring (her married name) mentioned the abuse to a friend, who helped her get in touch with Merced County's child protective services agency.

"I didn't even know what he was doing to me was against the law," Herring said.

Her father was arrested, convicted and given probation. "He said since he owned his child, he thought he could do whatever he wanted with me," she said.

Instead of a happy ending, Herring's nightmare intensified. Her father was ordered to undergo therapy. Herring, by then in a foster home where she felt safe, was forced to participate. "I was told that if I didn't go, I'd be put in juvenile hall for defying a court order."

After several weeks, the therapist "proclaimed us healed, and I was put back in my home," she said. "A couple of months later, he started sexually abusing me again."

No therapists, no police, no one from child protective services checked to find out if Herring's abuse had ended, and she felt it was useless to report her father again. She left home after high school and ended contact with him.

It's "not a family matter" when a parent or any relative abuses a child, she said. Now that California has recognized that, how long will it take the rest of the country to free sexually abused children from their familial prisons?

For more information
Childhood Sexual Abuse

Unbelieveable - 300,000 hits

Note From The Awareness Center:

Can you believe in less then 27 days The Awareness Center has gotten over 300,000 hit's to our web page?

Can you imagine if every time you went to one of the pages on The Awareness Center's site, you paid $1.00?

Can you imagine if every time you received a copy of The Awareness Center's daily newsletter you paid 50¢ to $1.00?

The Awareness Center is much more then "a web page". We are the international Jewish Coalition against Sexual Abuse/Assault.

Every day we receive telephone calls and emails from survivors, parents, educators, and rabbis from all over the globe who are looking for help for themselves, or someone they care about.

Many of you may be unaware that The Awareness Center offers on-line self-help groups for survivors, parents who are dealing with victimization issues.

The Awareness Center offers networking groups for rabbis, mental health and legal professionals. We also offer a daily e-mail newsletter.

Did you ever want to educate your community on sexual violence? Or what to start a networking or self-help group for your community? The Awareness Center offers a speakers bureau providing education on topics related to sexual violence.

Below is a sample listing of our seminars:

1. "How to Start A Self-Help Group"
2. "Communities Response to a Sex Offender Living In Your Community"
3. "How to talk to your child about child sexual abuse and prevention".
4. "Educational programming for Rabbis on sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment"
5. "Working with Survivors of Rabbinical Sexual Abuse and or Sexual Misconduct"

We cannot provide these services without your continued financial support. If you want to help The Awareness Center grow, send your donation check to:

The Awareness Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 65273
Baltimore, MD 21209
443-857-5560

Mama - By Faegi

Mama, do you know how alone I felt?
Mama, no one cared.
Mama, what a life I was dealt,
Mama, couldn't I be spared?

Mama, can you help me now?
Mama, can you make me whole?
Mama, can you tell me how?
Mama, life is my goal.

Mama, the man wasn't nice.
Mama, he hurt me so bad.
Mama, I paid a price.
Mama, please don't be mad.

Mama, there is a child.
Mama, she is screaming out.
Mama, the facts have been filed.
Mama, there is no doubt.

Mama, I love you so much!
Mama, it wasn't your fault.
Mama, I long for your touch.
Mama, when will this halt?

CALL TO ACTION: Jewish Journal on Rabbi Aron Tendler

I want to thank everyone who contacted the Jewish Journal with this call for action.

I've been told that the Jewish Journal is in the process of investigating this case, and should be publishing a story soon.
---------------------------
From The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter:

Please note that there was no mention in the following article that Rabbi Aron Tendler
was asked to resign or be fired from his position as rabbi for alleged sexual abuse charges.

Does the community in LA know about the allegations? I heard rumors that many are unaware.

The article below mentions board member - Brad Turell, who is the Executive Vice President of Network Communications of a major news media group. At one time Turell was hired by CNN to deal with the "Israel issue". This was back when I ran a media watch group called CNN-WATCH.

I wonder if Brad Turell joined the NEW board of directors at Shaarey Zedek Congregation in Valley Village, to deal with the "Aron Tendler" issue.

I think we should advocate for honesty in reporting on the real issues why Aron Tendler was let go. By doing this we could be protecting a future, potential victims from being harmed. Please let the board of directors at Shaarey Zedek and also the Jewish Journal know how you feel. Tell them to "STOP HUSHING UP THE TRUTH!"

Shaarey Zedek
Phone 818-763-0560
Fax 818-763-8215
president@valleyshul.com

Jewish Journal of LA
213-368-1661
Fax: 213-368-1684
letters@jewishjournal.com
-----------------------------------
Community Briefs
by Amy Klein, Nancy Sokoler Steiner, David Finnigan, Marc Ballon, Norma Zager
Jewish Journal - January 26, 2006

After 22 years as head rabbi of Shaarey Zedek Congregation in Valley Village, Rabbi Aron Tendler resigned last weekend.

"It is with mixed emotions that I write you today to let you know of my decision that, after 22 wonderful years, I have decided to step down as rabbi of Shaarey Zedek," Tendler wrote in a letter to the 400-member families of the Orthodox synagogue.

"This has been a decision I have contemplated for some time, and after great soul searching and deliberation and with the full support of Esther and the family, I decided that it was time to explore other opportunities and embark on a new aspect of my personal and professional life."

Tendler wrote that he intends to stay in the community but wants to spend more time with his family and pursuing writing, teaching and other projects.

"On occasion, I would like to sleep for more than four hours. Selfishly put, I want more time, and if not now when?" he wrote. Tendler will stay on through the High Holidays and help the search committee in its quest to find a new rabbi.

"Rabbi Tendler turned innumerable lives around, and it will be a great loss for us," Brad Turell, Shaarey Zedek’s communications director, told The Journal. "He’s very talented and we wish him the best."
–- Amy Klein, Religion Editor

Call to Action: The Case of Rabbi David Lipman

Rabbi David Lipman
Rabbi David Lipman was world-renowned for his biblical and Talmudic knowledge. His web site, Gates to Jewish Heritage, www.jewishgates.com, contained more than 15,000 pages of Jewish thought, meticulously organized, which was read by more than 13,000 people daily. Rabbi Lipman was a Rabbi in Seattle, WA, Cranston, RI, and Prescott, AZ.

The Awareness Center is looking for survivors of Rabbi David Lipman who are willing to be interviewed by a journalist and have their story published. If you are interested, please contact Vicki Polin for more information.

The Awareness Center asks that whenever an article comes out regarding David Lipman you send it to us, including a link on the page on which it was found.

The Awareness Center asks that you write letters to the editors of the Daily Courier <http://prescottdailycourier.com/FormLayout.asp?formcall=ltte> requesting that David Lipman be accountable for his alleged sexual abuse of two young girls. Please forward your letters to The Awareness Center and send a note giving us permission to publish your letter on our web page.

The Awareness Center asks that you inform them of any other synagogues in which David Lipman was a Rabbi.

Rabbinic Apathy

I was just reading another survivors blog, who is a survivor of clergy abuse (by a rabbi). The blog entry talks about "rabbis" who are abusive, egotistical, power-hungry, bullies.

My experience has been that the majority of rabbis I have ever come in contact with, have been more interested in my observance level, and if I say I say prayers correctly . . . then about children in our communities being safe. The rabbis also seem to care more about what hecture is on the food we eat, then if there is a pedophile in our neighborhood.

I'm so sick and tired of the politics. Does anyone really care about the topic of childhood sexual abuse, or clergy abuse? Or is it just the trendy thing to discuss these days?

The day that the our "rabbis" care more about protecting our children from sexual predators more then they care about how we daven or if our food is "kosher enough," will be the day that I will be able to trust anything they say. I really think they are poor representatives of Hashem.

A long time ago there was something published on this blog, or maybe it was from one of the mailings from The Awareness Center. It described the meanings of a few words. The one that I will never forget it the word "politics".

Poli = Many
Tics = Blood sucking creatures
Politics = Many blood sucking creatures.

Thoughts For Today

1. Force yourself to be active.
2. Don't just stand there, do something!
3. Lies are usually told to make something appear better than it is.
4. Be on your guard against a false sense of self-importance.
5. A person must lose innocence in order to gain knowledge.
6. Expect grave consequences if nature's laws are broken.
7. The truth frightens many people.
8. Failure is less of a crime than low ambition.
9. Stand your ground.
10. If you aim at nothing, you usually get it.
11. The door to success is labeled "push".
12. Focus on making things better.
13. To live our dreams, we must wake up.
14. Be careful of anyone who does not have a sense of humor.

Will the case of Rabbi David Lipman be resolve in a plea bargan?

Rabbi David Lipman's trial is set to start on February 8, 2006 in Prescott, AZ.

Rumor has it that new charges may be brought up against Lipman. It's been thought that with the new charges he will most likely agree to a plea. The court records does not yet show any additional charges.

It is believed that Lipman is currently in a residential treatment program for sex offenders out of state.

If anyone has any additional information, please forward it.

Schedule of Pending Clergy Abuse Cases in Jewish communities in the US

By Jewish Whistleblower
The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - January 24, 2006


1) Cantor Howard Nevison
Criminal trial and decision and possibly an appeal (due to a gag order on all sides it is unclear if the trial has started as scheduled for November, 2005). More information to come shortly.

2) Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon
Possible civil trial, there was a motion to dismiss by the Boca Raton Community Kollel (Rabbi Kenneth Brander was the person served on behalf of them), the plaintiff was given time to amend her claim which she did, they also unsuccessfully filed a motion to dismiss. The Community Kollel Inc. subsequently filed a corrected proposal for settlement on December 20, 2005. There was also a Motion filed on January 4, 2006 by the Kollel for an enlargment of time. The motion was heard on January 11, 2006. More to come.

3) Rabbi Mordecai Tendler
Jan.30, 2006 motion to dismiss the civil complaint. Obviously, much more to come.

4) Rabbi David Lipman
Feb. 8, 2006 criminal trial scheduled. Likely to be some child pornography charges which will delay the trial. There may be some criminal charges in another state announced as well.

5) Cantor Robert Shapiro
Oct. 17, 2006 house arrest ends, probation begins.

6) Rabbi Baruch Lanner
Parole hearing November 1, 2006 (or shortly prior to that date, as it is his potential early release date).

7) Rabbi Jerrold Martin Levy
Prison release scheduled for January 06, 2007.

8) Rabbi David Kaye
Maryland Attorney General’s Office decision regarding Rabbi David Kaye. Will only be announced if there are criminal charges. Likely to be a further Dateline NBC follow up due to likely charges against others in the documentary, at least in VA.

9) Cantor Michael Segelstein
Originally arraigned on one count each of attempted sexual assault, battery with intent to commit sexual assault and open and gross lewdness. He pled guilty as part of a plea agreement to open or gross lewdness, received one year suspended sentence with conditions and court ordered into counseling and was discharged from probation on December 2, 2005. He still faces a civil trial. Last I checked pre-trial was scheduled for April 24, 2006 at 09:30 AM and trial was set for May 1, 2006 at 09:30 AM.

Protect kids by opening statute of limitations

By Deb Price
The Detroit News - Monday, January 23, 2006



Their fathers sexually abused them. Their families covered it up, warned them not to tell and made them feel dirty, even to blame for what had happened.

As the four middle-aged women told state Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, well into adulthood they continued to feel horrible about themselves and angry that their abusers had never been punished.

"I'm a fairly strong guy, and I had tears in my eyes," Condino recalls of the breakfast meeting a year ago that prompted him to introduce legislation to change Michigan's statute of limitations on civil lawsuits: Currently, abuse victims must sue by age 19. Condino would allow those of any age to sue during a two-year "window" after the bill's passage. After that, victims could sue until age 38.

"I don't know how anyone could listen to those kinds of stories and think that the current system in working," the lawmaker says.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church doesn't want people to listen to those kinds of stories, some of which would focus yet more attention on abuse by priests. The primary opposition to Condino's much-needed legislative remedy is coming from the Catholic Church. A statement by the Archdiocese of Detroit claims that the current limits on suits by abuse victims have "served our society well in protecting the rights of everyone."

"The Catholic Church's primary concern appears to be how much it might cost them and what further bad PR they'd get, rather than the good that could come for the victims who would finally get a chance to tell what happened to them and have their community say, 'That was wrong,'" says Condino, who was raised Catholic.

So far, only California has opened a child-abuse lawsuit "window" to help victims mend emotionally and to provide some justice even after criminal prosecution is no longer possible. Many victims are in their 30s before they can face what they suffered as kids.

Beyond Michigan, "window" bills are pending in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado.
These proposals got a huge boost on Jan. 11 by Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton's courageous revelation that as a teen he was molested by a Catholic priest.

"It might seem easier to keep the evils hidden," Gumbleton said in a statement to the Ohio House Judiciary Committee, "to move on and trust that the future will be better. But I am convinced that a settlement of every case by our court system is the only way to protect children and to heal the brokenness within the church."

"Window" bills are an important first step toward protecting future generations. Law professor Marci Hamilton of Yeshiva University, an expert on the clergy sex abuse scandal, rightly urges states to abolish statute of limitations for prosecution of child abuse, as has been done by Maine, Alaska and the federal government.

Working with victims' groups, Hamilton has also drafted the Violence Against Children Act, which -- if passed by Congress -- would link certain federal funds to the abolition of state statutes of limitations on prosecuting sex crimes against children and to opening civil suit "windows" for victims.

One of the most powerful parts of this proposed federal legislation is that it would take away the tax-exempt status of any group that fails to report child abuse or covers it up.

Child abusers are rarely rehabilitated. They depend on the silence of powerless children and the indifference of adults. We can change that by demanding that lawmakers enact commonsense legal reforms to protect kids.

You can reach Deb Price at (202) 662-8736 or dprice@detnews.com.

Allegations Against Rabbi Moshe Tendler Too?

Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Dovid Tendler, Ph.D.

There have been rumors circling regarding Moshe Tendler's behavior for years. Let's go back to the 1950's - 60's, that is when allegedly the first serious allegation(s) were made of professional sexual misconduct?

If the rumors of the allegations are true, how did the rabbunim of the time handle the situation(s)?

If you have information related to these past allegations or if you are one of his survivors, please send a confidential e-mail.

Everyone keeps warning me Not to publish anything about Moshe Tendler. They make his past behavior (on various other types of situations not related to sexual violence) sound like he's a bully. If this is true, why hasn't anyone ever spoken out against him? What are they afraid of?

Remember, Rabbi Moshe Tendler is the father of both Rabbi Aron Tendler and Rabbi Mordecai Tendler.

Rabbi Aron Tendler of LA - Resigns from Shaarey Zedek Congregation

From The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter

Case of Rabbi Aron Tendler (Los Angeles, CA)
(AKA: Rabbi Aron Boruch Tendler)

Many of you may or may not know that over the last several years there have been serious allegations of professional sexual misconduct (with minors) made that Rabbi Aron Tendler of North Hollywood, CA. Last night I was informed that Rabbi Aron Tendler was offered the opportunity to resign from his position as rabbi at Shaarey Zedek Congregation, instead of being fired. He chose to resign.

Please follow the is link to read an article (When A Family Member Molests: Reality, Conflict, and The Need For Support) that may be helpful to the friends and extended family members of both Rabbis Aron and Mordecai Tendler.

If you or anyone you know has been abused by Rabbi Aron Tendler, and need resources please do not hesitate to contact The Awareness Center, Inc. or your local rape crisis center.

The Awareness Center, Inc.
443-857-5560

This link may also be helpful to understanding the dynamics of someone who sexually offends:
Sex Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak
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Please Note: There is more then one Rabbi Aron Tendler. We are talking about Rabbi Aron Boruch Tendler, who was born on January 15, 1955. He is the son of Moshe Tendler.

Rabbi Tsvi Kilstein - Rabbinic Sexual Misconduct Survivors Blog

Rabbi Harlan David (Tsvi) Kilstein
Everyone should read the Rabbinic Sexual Misconduct Survivors Blog. I also think everyone should send a note to Chavah, and thank her for her courage and determination to do what she can to put a stop to this sort of unethical behavior.

A Song that Teaches How to Dissociate?

I Whistle a Happy Tune (From King and I)
By Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II (1956)

Anna
Whenever I feel afraid
I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune
So no one will suspect
I'm Afraid.

While shivering in my shoes
I strike a careless pose
And whistle a happy tune
And no one ever knows I'm afraid.

The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people I fear
I fool myself as well!

I whistle a happy tune
And ev'ry single time
The happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I'm not afraid.

Make believe you're brave
And the trick will take you far.
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are
[Louis and Anna whistle the tune of
"Make believe you're brave
And the trick will take you far".]

Anna
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are!

Louis
[Spoken]
I think it is a very good idea, mother, a very good idea!

Anna
Yes, it is a good idea, isn't it!

Louis
I do think I shall never be afraid again!

Anna
Good!!!
[Sung]

Louis and Anna
The result of this deception
Is very strange to tell
For when I fool the people I fear
I fool myself as well!
I whistle a happy tune
And ev'ry single time
The happiness in the tune
Convinces me that I'm not afraid.

Make believe you're brave
And the trick will take you far.
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are-
You may be as brave
As you make believe you are!

This is a scary thought -- Could these 3 rabbis make a beit din?

In orthodox Judaism, a beit din needs to be made up of three adult Jewish males, at least one of whom needs to be widely knowledgeable in halakha (Jewish law), and must be sufficiently knowledgeable to instruct the other two members in any matters of halakha relevant to the case being heard.

What do these 3 rabbis have in common?

1. Rabbi Tovia Singer

2. Rabbi Tsvi Kilstein (AKA: Harlan Kilstein "I’m an elite sports hypno-coach")

3. Rabbi Mordecai Tendler

LETS DO IT AGAIN: A CALL TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF MONSEY TO STAND TOGETHER FOR KAVOD HATORAH THIS SHABBOS AND FOR AS MANY SHABBOS AS NECESSARY

There has been a horrible attack on the Gedolim (highly respected rabbis) of Monsey this week. It is an obligation of every Torah fearing Jew in Monsey to answer this attack and to stand for the Kavod of these Gedolim and for Kavod Hatorah.

There is a call for all members of the community of Monsey to stand this coming Shabbos publicly for Kavod Hatorah and to stand publicly in support of the Gedolim of our community. Let us make a Kiddush Hashem.

This shabbos attend at a synagogue where one of the 8 Gedolim below daven. Thank them personally for their courage and strength. Let them know you will support them and stand for their Kavod and for Kavod Hatorah.

Bring your wives and children and anyone that can come. Invite your neighbors. Bring people in from surrounding communities. Bring as many people as you can.

If you can, attend at a different one of the synagogues, that these Gedolim daven at, for each service on Shabbos.

Go to any classes that these Gedolim are giving this coming Shabbos.

Let us fill the synagogues of these Gedolim, and fill our community with prayer and Torah learning and show those who attack these Gedolim that they will never win.

It is an obligation of every Torah fearing Jew in Monsey to answer this attack and to stand for the Kavod of these Gedolim and for Kavod Hatorah.

List of Gedolim of Monsey under attack:

1) Harav Hagaon Rabbi Benzion Y. Wosner Shlit”a
Rosh Beis Din Shevet Halevi
Monsey - Beit Shemesh

2) Rabbi Moshe Green,
Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshivah D’Monsey

3) Rabbi Yisroel Hager
Son of the Grand Rabbi of Vishnitz

4) Rabbi Chaim Halberstam,
Rav, K’hal Yoel Moshe, Satmar, Monsey

5) Rabbi Chaim Shraga Feival Shnaybalg
Rav, K’hal Avreichim, Monsey

6) Rabbi Chaim Leibish Halevi Rottenberg
Rav, K’hal Netzach Yisroel,Monsey

7) Rabbi Sharaga Feivel Halevi Zimmerman
Rav, K’hal Bney Ashkenaz,Monsey

8) Rabbi Mordechai Ohrbach
Rav, K’hal Forshay,Monsey

Additionally to current members of KNH:

We call on every person still attending KNH to ABANDON their synagogue immediately and rejoin the Torah community this Shabbos. Thank these Gedolim and offer your apologies on behalf of your FORMER congregation.

Let the world see a Kidush Hashem this Shabbos and for as many Shabbos as it takes to rid your community of the Chillul Hashem and the rashas that have attacked the Gedolim of Monsey.

Please distribute this plea widely throughout Monsey.

It is an obligation of every Torah fearing Jew in Monsey to answer this attack and to stand for the Kavod of these Gedolim and for Kavod Hatorah.

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Also see:

• The Committee for Rabbinic Integrity
• Case of Rabbi Mordecai Tendler

Cost of Abuse - Important Article for Survivors of Clergy Abuse (Rabbis and Cantors)

Cost of Abuse
By AdvocateWeb
This artilce has be adapted with permission to fit the Jewish Community.

Sometimes, people don't realize the degree of harm that is caused when a person is sexually/emotionally exploited by a "trusted helping professional" (mental health, medical, clergy, law enforcement, teacher, coach, etc.). Time after time, in news articles, the focus is on the professional's "misconduct". This abuse isn't just a theoretical ethical "no no". There's another side to each of these "professional misconduct" stories which is usually glossed over... the victim's story. Victims pay a tremendous price for this abuse, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, socially, sexually, physically, and financially. It's no wonder that an increasing number of States are criminalizing this abuse, as a serious felony offense and professional codes of ethics prohibit this abuse. This is NOT a victimless crime. When you encounter these stories of abuse, ask yourself a question: "What about the victim?"

The Question:

Having been sexually/emotionally exploited by a helping professional, what has been the 'cost' of this abuse? What has it taken from you?

The Answers:

1. Words are insufficient to explain the cost of this exploitation on my life-and to my family, friends, subsequent therapy, etc. I try to write this over and over and I cannot find the words that convey my sorrow, grief, betrayal, anger, etc.
2. I lost my identity. My sense of who I am was shattered.
3. I lost all hope of recovering from childhood sexual abuse.
4. I lost any hope that safety exists anywhere on this earth.
5. I lost my connections to important people in my life- due to the extreme isolation.
6. I lost the few good feelings I had about my body.
7. I lost 99.9% of everything meaningful in life: trust, faith, value systems, 2 babies' lives, motherhood, family, friends, career, and a nearly successful attempt on my own life
8. The abuse was a re-enactment of childhood abuse and It re-traumatized me to the core.
9. He/She took my dignity and self-respect.
10. He also took my ability to be physically close to and sexually intimate with my husband and my ability to go to synagogue without feeling sick to my stomach.
11. I can honestly say that although sex was a regular part of my experience, 90% of the damage came from the long term emotional and verbal abuse.
12. He/She has taken from me my trust in male doctors.
13. He/She took my innocence, my love, and almost my soul.
14. He/She has taken my peaceful nights of sleep - I still wake up with nightmares, and in tears.
15. He/She did not take my integrity, my fire, or my spirit -- but if he would have been able to keep exploiting me, I'm sure he would have sucked every ounce of self respect out of my being. And called it love.
16. Flashbacks awake... Nightmares asleep...He took away my definition of who I am.
17. He/She ROBBED me of my courage, my trust in others, confidence in my own judgment and past healing by re-enacting the prior abuse.
18. Sex was the weapon or means used to abuse us emotionally and spiritually.
19. This abuse has cost me my friends and my family who just don't understand.
20. His/Her abuse has cost me my freedom, my rights, my privileges, my trust in others and the mental health profession; and my freedom to be who I am.
21. It cost me valuable years of my life, when I felt incapacitated to enjoy life or to be a vital member of a family consisting of members who needed me.
22. It cost me the sense of being capable of protecting myself, of solving problems for myself. I realized I was unable to know soon enough what was profoundly dangerous to me, nor did the experience teach me how to do that other than by withdrawing from the world.
23. It cost me my sense of who I was, of well-being, and hopes and dreams for the future.
24. The experience placed me outside cultural expectations, leaving me with feelings of profound confusion. At the same time it separated me from important others as it was an experience beyond what those near and dear to me could comprehend.
25. He/She stole away my faith that there is good in the world. I don't know who I can trust any more, now that I've learned that the people I am "supposed" to trust CANNOT be trusted.
26. I've lost my synagogue, all of my friends, all of my support at a time when I needed them the most. I have to deal with this violation alone.
27. He/She stole from me my faith in the office of rabbi, and the failure of the movement's leadership, also rabbis, to respond in a just and healing way has destroyed my faith in my chosen religion and very nearly my faith in God.
28. I've lost my ability to do the work I loved.
29. I've lost the ability to take care of my house and yard; I'm not a good 'mother' to my cats anymore.
30. I've lost all the waking hours from every day in my attempts to achieve justice and to heal; I've lost all the sleeping hours from every night to nightmares.
31. I've lost my energy and motivation for life.
32. I lose many many thousands of dollars every year in lost income and in healing expenses.
33. The very foundations of all I held dear and sacred were undermined. The very principles I had grounded my life on were ripped out from under me, hurling me into dark chaos.
34. I lost my synagogue, my friends, my support network, my ability to trust, my faith, and my sense of who I was.
35. I was injured to the core, at every level of my being. It nearly cost me my physical life as well. I am determined to reclaim my life, and raise good out of the ashes of evil.
36. My mind shattered, and picking up the pieces and putting them back together may take a lifetime.
37. He/She stole my personhood, and never gave it back. I thought I was going to be healed, but instead I was wounded almost to death. I ended up in the hospital despairing of life again and again.
38. It made me realise the difference between synagogue and God! I lost synagogue, but not God. I lost trust in Torah. It hurt to my very core. I feel bruised, discarded, ignored, violated, angry. I lost, but also gained . . . my soul, my God.
39. It is now terrifying to ask for help from any mental health professional. I have to go to the profession that devestated me for help. It is an impossible double-bind.
40. I lost the joy in my life, my ability to trust myself and others, faith in God, my inner strength, respect for the synagogue, my identity.
41. I lost belief in myself. I told myself that I could handle him/her, that I could stay out of danger, but I couldn't. I lost my self-determination and personal feelings of power.
42. I have lost my sense of relationship with God and other Jews. For most of my life, God was my Source of strength, courage and unconditional acceptance. Because the abuse was from someone who represented God to me, my feelings of shame and betrayal have separated me from this Source. And so many "Jews" don't or can't understand...
43. It has cost me trust. I has made me wear a frown on my face and have a suspicious look in my eye.
44. It has cost me my innocence, my ability to think wonderful of life.
45. It has cost me myself. Who am I? I don't know. The "me" has been lost. Never to be seen or heard from again. Just plain gone. Now, I just "be" what everyone else wants me to be.....whatever, whomever that is.
46. It has cost me my marriage, my family, my financial security, my trust in others, my sense of safety in the world, my sense of Self, my ability to feel joy, my desire to truly live.
47. Most importantly, the abuse by my therapist has caused me to lose my belief in the God that I had always embraced, faith in something bigger than myself, hope that there will be more beyond this life. The man who was supposed to care for me has robbed me of my life and I am left with a hole where my heart once was.
48. It has cost me and still costs me the joy in my life. I still harbor hopes that he truly loved me and that someday it will all work out.
49. It cost me the ability to think and trust my own rationality, my own intuition. He/She always said my intuition about his feelings for me were right on target... are they? Can I ever trust myself again?
50. * It took the reality out my life and replaced it with false hopes, false images of myself and others. I no longer function with the hope that I can be something different, but rather must accept the trash I have become because of our relationship!
51. It cost me 1) my sense of God as a presence and factor in people's actions, what kind of God did this man profess to follow, 2) my synagogue family, 3) most of my friends, 4) my good name, 5) my self respect, 6) the thought that I have a clue about peoples intentions and motives, 7) the trust of my husband and 8) all faith in fellow Jews in general, 9) the clergy in particular.
52. When I go out now, I almost always encounter at least one person who gives me that "oh you're THAT woman/man" look, and some men/women feel that they now have a right to hit on me because if I would sleep with my rabbi then why not them. So many things about me have changed due to this I don't have the time or enough space to list them all.
53. The cost of abuse: Incalculable. Costs you the tiny bit of self-respect you had, your ability to trust/love anyone, including yourself, your soul. Your minute will to live.
54. He/She shattered me, leaving permanent shards of glass in my psyche.
55. I became spiritually, emotionally, and morally bankrupt. He/She took away my reasons to live. I've had to learn to live my life all over.
56. He/She conspired to discredit me, and his/her brutal abuse ended up costing me the loss of my hospital. He/She is a deviant Registered Nurse, and he continues to provide "services" to female/male patients. What will he/she cost our society?
57. My rabbi discarded me after he took away dignity, my integrity, my sense of spiritual wholeness. He/She left me with pain, terror, nightmares, shame and self-loathing.
58. I feel like I am terminated. I was controlled, and then deleted. If I committed suicide, I would only be finishing the job he/She started.
59. She/He was my coach, my mentor. Because of her/him I have lost my innocence, relationships with the people I love, my goals for the future, my spiritual wholeness, and all ability to be independent. She/He gained my complete love only to leave me broken and alone.

"It Hurts" (Leaving a Cult) - By Jan Groenveld

IT HURTS to discover you were deceived - that what you thought was the "one true religion," the "path to total fredom," or "truth" was in reality a cult.

IT HURTS when you learn that people you trusted implicitly - whom you were taught not to question - were "pulling the wool over your eyes" albeit unwittingly.

IT HURTS when you learn that those you were taught were your "enemies" were telling the truth after all -- but you had been told they were liars, deceivers, repressive, satanic etc and not to listen to them.

IT HURTS when you know your faith in God hasn't changed - only your trust in an organization - yet you are accused of apostasy, being a trouble maker. It hurts even more when it is your family and friends making these accusations.

IT HURTS to realize their love and acceptance was conditional on you remaining a member of good standing. This cuts so deeply you try and suppress it. All you want to do is forget - but how can you forget your family and friends?

IT HURTS to see the looks of hatred coming from the faces of those you love - to hear the deafening silence when you try and talk to them. It cuts deeply when you try and give your child a hug and they stand like a statue, pretending you aren't there. It stabs like a knife when you know your spouse looks upon you as demonised and teaches your children to hate you.

IT HURTS to know you must start all over again. You feel you have wasted so much time. You feel betrayed, disillusioned, suspicious of everyone including family, friends and other former members.

IT HURTS when you find yourself feeling guilty or ashamed of what you were - even about leaving them. You feel depressed, confused, lonely. You find it difficult to make decisions. You don't know what to do with yourself because you have so much time on your hands now - yet you still feel guilty for spending time on recreation.

IT HURTS when you feel as though you have lost touch with reality. You feel as though you are "floating" and wonder if you really are better off and long for the security you had in the organization and yet you know you cannot go back.

IT HURTS when you feel you are all alone - that no one seems to understand what you are feeling. It hurts when you realize your self confidence and self worth are almost non-existent.

IT HURTS when you have to front up to friends and family to hear their "I told you so" whether that statement is verbal or not. It makes you feel even more stupid than you already do - your confidence and self worth plummet even further.

IT HURTS when you realize you gave up everything for the cult - your education, career, finances, time and energy - and now have to seek employment or restart your education. How do you explain all those missing years?

IT HURTS because you know that even though you were deceived, you are responsible for being taken in. All that wasted time........ at least that is what it seems to you - wasted time.

THE PAIN OF GRIEF

Leaving a cult is like experiencing the death of a close relative or a broken relationship. The feeling is often described as like having been betrayed by someone with whom you were in love. You feel you were simply used.

There is a grieving process to pass through. Whereas most people understand that a person must grieve after a death etc, they find it difficult to understand the same applies in this situation. There is no instant cure for the grief, confusion and pain. Like all grieving periods, time is the healer. Some feel guilty, or wrong about this grief. They shouldn't -- It IS normal. It is NOT wrong to feel confused, uncertain, disillusioned, guilty, angry, untrusting - these are all part of the process. In time the negative feelings will be replaced with clear thinking, joy, peace, and trust.

YES - IT HURTS BUT THE HURTS WILL HEAL WITH TIME, PATIENCE & UNDERSTANDING

There is life after the cult

The Rise and Fall of Shabbetai Zvi

While I was reading the following article I kept thinking of various alleged cult leaders living today that call themselves "Rabbi".

What will it take for all of our rabbis and rabbinical organization to denounce them publicly?
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The Rise and Fall of Shabbetai Zvi
<> Storming Heaven - The Perils of Jewish Messianism, by Arthur Hertzberg

Luria's apocalyptic kabbalah did not bring the Messiah, but it succeeded in creating a climate of messianic expectation that would engulf much of the Jewish world less than a century later, when a kabbalist from Smyrna (Ismir) in the Ottoman Empire declared himself the Messiah. His career as "the anointed one" began when his prophet, Nathan of Gaza, broadcast a letter announcing that "our Messiah is come to life in the city of Ismir and his name is Shabbetai Zvi. Soon he will show forth his Kingdom to all and will take the royal crown from the Sultan and place it on his own head."

The two men had met in 1665 while Shabbetai was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Suffering from alternating bouts of ecstatic delusions and debilitating depressions, Shabbetai Zvi sought out a fellow kabbalist, Nathan of Gaza, a reputed healer. But instead of bringing peace to Shabbetai Zvi's troubled soul, Nathan convinced the man from Smyrna that he truly was the long-awaited redeemer of Israel. Declaring himself to be the "anointed of the God of Jacob," the redeemer of Israel, Shabbetai Zvi proclaimed June 18, 1666 as the date of the redemption, and promised that, on that date, he would end the long, bitter exile of the Jews by leading them back to the Promised Land. His solution followed the classic Jewish script of redemption: the Messiah (played by Shabbetai Zvi) would restore the Jews to God's favor, and they would be returned to Zion. At least half of the Jews of Europe and the Near East, from bankers and merchants to scholars and beggars, packed their bags and prepared for their imminent ascent to the Promised Land.

When June 18, 1666 arrived, the would-be messiah was locked in a Turkish prison and charged with treason. The sultan offered him a choice: death or conversion to Islam. Shabbetai Zvi chose to convert and took the name Aziz Mehmed Effendi. He was given the honorary title "Keeper of the Palace Gates" and granted a royal pension. Nathan of Gaza defended Shabbetai Zvi's decision, explaining that his master had descended through the "forty-nine gates of impurity" in order to recover the holy sparks trapped in the klippot, which were now concentrated in Islam. Only the Messiah Shabbetai Zvi, argued Nathan, could perform the formidable task of repairing the world and effect universal redemption. The belief that Shabbetai Zvi was the Messiah lasted underground among professing Jews, including eminent rabbis, for at least another century. But the miracles did not come. Life for the Jews remained unchanged, and so the dream shattered.

A hundred years after the death of Shabbetai Zvi, a new messianic pretender, Jacob Frank, appeared in Poland. He proclaimed that the "end of days" would be realized in a world in which the commandments of the Bible were no longer operative. This was not a new idea; in the Talmud, Rabbi Joseph declared that the commandments would be void at the time of the redemption (Niddah 61b). But Jacob Frank went further, making abolition of the "law" into a preamble to the redemption. He and his followers went so far as to engage in orgies and incest in order to begin the Messianic era, a time in which all that was forbidden would supposedly be permitted. Condemned by the leading rabbis of his day, Frank sought refuge in Catholicism. As in the case of the Shabbateans (the followers of Shabbetai Zvi), some of Frank's disciples continued to believe that he would reappear as the Messiah, but, of course, he did not. Once again, false messianism took its toll in lost hopes and despair.

Songs About Child Abuse

I was just searching The Awareness Center's web page and stumbled upon this site. It list songs about Childhood Abuse.

I contacted Vicki Polin, who said anyone could think of more, she would add them. I volunteered to put a call out. So if you know any. Please post them in the comment section of my blog.

Breaking News: Tendler Files Motion to Dismiss Civil Case

From: Jewish Whistleblower

Breaking News!

Mordechai Tendler decides he doesn’t want his day in court files motion to dismiss civil lawsuit.

His basis? A great conspiracy theory. Rabbi/lord of the 10 person KNH kehila declares all his enemies must resign.

Just the start of delay tactics by Tendler who needs to avoid signing any answer to the complaint in which he denies having sex with the victim. Perjury of course is a crime and unlike the Jerusalem bais din, the civil courts punish perjury.

Read on …. Tendler’s grand conspiracy theory……….

see: ...

Rabbi Mordecai Tendler demands resignation of Rabbis Basil Herring, Mark Dratch, Hershel Billet and Yosef Blau from the Rabbinical Council of America as his lawyers move to dismiss lawsuit.

Allegations are described in the motion to dismiss as not cognizable under the law, “scurrilous”, “outrageous” and “calculated to be sensational and damaging to Rabbi Tendler’s reputation in his community”. The motion asserts that the lawsuit violates New York State Civil Rights Law.

Rabbinical Council of America is now believed linked to a coordinated local mass mailing campaign against Rabbi Tendler, about which Rabbi Tendler will assert damages in trial of issues pending before the Chief Rabbinical Court of The State of Israel.

A motion to dismiss was filed last week seeking the summary dismissal of a case brought recently in Supreme Court, New York County entitled (victim) v. Rabbi Mordecai Tendler. The case makes bizarre messianic and sexual claims and was previously reported under the headline “RABBI IN SEX-GOD SCANDAL” written by David Hafetz of The New York Post.

The filing of the case came on the heels of the Rabbinical Council of America being publicly excoriated by the Chief Rabbinical Court of the State of Israel as a result of The Rabbinical Council of America’s longstanding contempt for the rulings of that court. Widely reported in The Jewish Press, America’s largest independent Jewish weekly newspaper, the Rabbinical Council of America, Mark Dratch, Yosef Blau, Hershel Billet and Basil Herring, were summoned to appear before the Chief Rabbinical Court of the State of Israel (case number: 900008858-35-1) by Rabbi Tendler on his claim that the organization dismissed him without due process and his related claim that he was the victim of a conspiracy by the codefendants in the case, of malicious and libelous leaks made by Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Mark Dratch, Rabbi Herschel Billet, and Rabbi Basil Herring to Gary Rosenblatt Editor of the Jewish Week. It is believed that Rosenblatt and Rabbi Yosef Blau are close friends. It will be claimed at the trial on the issues before the Rabbinical Court that the leaks were utilized and calculated by the conspirators to mislead and pressure others on the Rabbinical Council of America to dismiss Rabbi Tendler from the organization.

Rabbi Tendler noted that the filing of the (victim) Complaint was promptly followed by a professionally coordinated communal mailing of scandalous material containing reprehensibly false charges against him. This came after The Rabbinical Council of America hired a well known operative in the ultra orthodox community, Rabbi Shmuel Fried, who has been in contact with the group of ultra orthodox rabbis publicly active in the anti Tendler.

The motion to dismiss the complaint denied the allegations and called the charges “scurrilous”, “outrageous” and “calculated to be sensational and damaging to Rabbi Tendler’s reputation in his community”. The motion charged that the filing of the suit was a violation of the New York State Civil Rights Law. Rabbi Tendler noted that “The complaint was not even sworn to by the Plaintiff, (victim)”. Instead her attorney filed the Complaint and the attorney swore to the allegations in place of (victim). A careful reading of the complaint shows that the lawyer stated that she swore that the allegation were true “upon information and belief.” Attorney Lenore Kramer explained her reason for verifying the complaint instead of being sworn to by (victim) herself by stating that (victim) was not “now” in the county of her office.

Rabbi Tendler noted that a Summons prepared by the same attorney Lenore Kramer and attached to the very same documents states that (victim) lives at a Manhattan address that is a short train ride from Kramer’s law office. “This was simply missed in most of the press reports”, Rabbi Tendler noted. Rabbi Tendler contends that shortly after the filing of the (victim) complaint against him and his congregation, Kehillat New Hempstead, that some of his own congregants met with an attorney for the ultra orthodox rabbis who are believed
to have been previously contacted by the Rabbinical Council of America operative, Shmuel Fried, and who are believed to have orchestrated the local mass mailing campaign against Rabbi Tendler. With the rabbis at the attorney’s side, the lawyer suggested that it could be arranged to have (victim) drop the case against his congregation if they immediately fired Rabbi Tendler. Rabbi Mordecai Tendler called today for the resignation of Rabbi Basil Herring, as Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America He also called for the resignation of Rabbi Mark Dratch, Rabbi Hershel Billet, and Rabbi Yosef Blau.

Herring who took the position at the Rabbinical Council of America after he was involuntarily separated from a rabbinical position in Atlantic Beach, New York, has been at the center of the scandal involving the organization.

Rabbi Tendler noted that the operative, Rabbi Shmuel Fried, has been paid a very significant sum for his activities on behalf of the organization in the Tendler matter. It is very likely that Herring, as Executive Vice President of the organization, has been instrumental in arranging the financing of Fried’s activities through contributions from third parties to the Rabbinical Council of America. The source of contributions to the Rabbinical Council of America is being investigated at present.

Blau, Dratch and Herring also have a documented connection to a website called The Awareness Center. The Awareness Center is operated by Vicki Polin, whose background has been widely reported on various Internet sites. Rabbi Tendler noted that a confidential letter sent by him to Rabbi Basil Herring now appears prominently on the website. Rabbi Yosef Blau was a member of the Board of Directors of the website and appears as a moderator of an online message group associated with the website.

Rabbi Tendler stated that Rabbi Mark Dratch, who recently was involuntarily separated from his rabbinic position at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, resigned as a member of the Board of Director of the Awareness Center website.

The Awareness Center website had previously thanked Rabbi Dratch for using his Rabbi’s Discretionary Account at Congregation Agudath Sholom (a tax-exempt synagogue) in Stamford for donations to the Awareness Center website.

Rabbi Tendler noted that Rabbi Herschel Billet, who stepped down as Rabbi of the Young Israel of Woodmere, Long Island in 2005 to take a position as a business ethics expert at an international corporation, abruptly left his new position. In the matter presented to the Jerusalem Court, Rabbi Tendler intends to prove at trial that Billet was a part of the conspiracy to libel him and conspired with Blau, Dratch and Herring to use the Internet blogs, websites, and connections with the press to further the conspiracy.

At the trial of the matter which is before the Chief Rabbinical Court of the State of Israel, Rabbi Tendler will contend that Dratch, Billet, and Blau while working in concert with the Awareness Center, vetted the claims against him, and published them on the internet to give them credence and then took the claims to the Rabbinical Council of America and pressured the venerable organization into expelling him by using their considerable contacts with The Jewish Week and The Forward and by leaking scandalous information to these newspapers. It is charged by Rabbi Tendler that the Defendants are still libeling Rabbi Tendler through associates on various Internet websites and blogs frequented by Blau and his associates.

Herring, Blau, Billet, Dratch and the Rabbinical Council of America have failed to appear for trial before the Chief Rabbinical Court of the State of Israel to answer the charges.

Rabbi Yosef Blau is also the President of the Religious Zionists of America.

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