Menken Alert
Yaakov Menken (AKA: Ken L. Menken)
The following posting was on The Unorthodox Jew Blog:
At the bottom of the web page for the organization Shomrei Emet it states it is "Hosted by Project Genesis".
Project Genesis is owned by alleged sex offender rabbi Yaakov Menken, who confessed to rav Shmuel Kaminetzky of clergy sexual abuse. Besides hosting this web page, what else does he do for this organization?
Due to the nature of the alleged offenses of Rabbi Menken we all need to be concerned when he is involved with an organization that deals with a vulnerable population, such as those who are spiritually misguided.
Shomrei Emet is a kiruv organization (Jewish outreach) that deals with Jews who have gotten involved with missionary groups.
The address for Shomrei Emet is the same as the Maryland Kinesiology and Wellness Institute, which is ran by a woman by the name of Karen Beleck. The site also talks about Penina Taylor (AKA: Penina Tal Ohr) being in The United States in June for a tour.
We all need to do what we can to warn unsuspecting potential victims of the dangers of being involved with an organization in which Yaakov Menken is involved. It's difficult to tell who runs Shomrei Emet by what is posted on the site. If anyone knows if it is ran by Menken, Beleck or Taylor please let me know.
rav Shmuel Kamenetzky / Karen Beleck / Penina Taylor
posted by Jewish Survivors at Monday, June 04, 2007
12 Comments:
What concerns me most about this site is that the "who we are" page doesn't actually list the names who these guys are. Apparently, a woman named Penina Taylor is involved heavily in this site, as her name is mentioned in several places. A reputable site would list who's behind it, along with their bios.
Yes, it does say "hosted by project genesis" - but do you know what that means? That means that the site physically lives on a web server owned or run by project genesis. It is a leap to say that menken is actually involved in this project. He probably just feels this is a good cause and is donating web hosting.
What about cross-currents.com, a site we definitely know he's behind? He's got a panel of reputable people blogging with him about orthodox jewish topics. Doesn't the fact that these people are associating themselves with him lend him credibility? I find that more concerning than possible involvement in Shomrei Emet.
There's some serious problems with Penina Taylor's credibility. If you go to her web page she states that she is "A practiced support group facilitator and trained counselor."
http://www.peninataylor.com/bio.php
Penina doesn't even have a college degree. How can she be a "trained counselor" or a "group facilitator"? One has to ask what other ways is she misrepresenting herself?
To anonyomus 6:43 AM,
The concern I have with this site is the fact that it works with those who are vulnerable. cross-currents is also a concern, yet most people who read it are not dealing with emotional issues. This organization deals with people who are dealing with a great deal of mental and psychological issues. One would guess that an alleged sex offender would find their victims with those who are vulnerable.
Reply to posts about cross-currents:
cross-currents is aimed at the orthodox community, but there are emotionally vulnerable within that community. In fact, the "menken survivor" listed on the the awareness center web site came from an orthodox background. That fact is not written on the web page, but I have first hand knowledge that it is true.
Kenny Menken is an orthodox rabbi who is married with children.
He has a habit of sexually harassing young beautiful women who work for him that are going some sort of personal crisis in their lives.
One of my friends was one of the women. She was terrified to do anything more then just quit and move away. I heard rumors that there is another woman out there who also quit due to the same situation. Then there's the survivor who's written about on the Awareness Center's web page.
I have no idea if there have been any more victims of his. Some one has to put a stop to him being involved in any sort of "Jewish outreach". He has a problem with reaching too far.
Kenny if you read this, please get yourself into therapy with someone trained to work with someone like you. You also need to find a new career where you have no access to teenage girls or young women.
Penina Taylor is friends with Menken. Besides going to his home for shabbos her oldest son worked for him.
I was just looking at Mrs. Taylor's web page where she tells her story.
http://peninataylor.com/nutshell.php
On the site she says she's "Now a counselor, speaker and counter-missionary".
The odd thing is that she never mentions where she received her counseling degree.
(Penina can be reached online at Peninataylor@gmail.com)
You are really obsessed with your accusations against Menken. Nothing has been brought to the police or proven in any way. Noone in authority has any problem with him. Yet you are trying to take away his business based on this?
His computers host a web site. Even if the allegations have truth, that is his business. You dare take that away?
Kenny Menken has taken away at least three women's ability to trust. Menken has altered the way at least three women will live the rest of their lives.
In my humble opinion Menken is a danger to society. He should not have access to any more unsuspecting women. He should be in counseling with someone who specializes in working with sex offenders. He should not be allowed to be near any other women except for his wife. If he has female children he should not be allowed to be near them either.
And just as another comment, maybe the reason so many reputable people are associated with rabbi menken on cross currents is because they know the TRUTH about him- that he is actually a REALLY reputable guy! So yes, he has credibility.
The following can refer to rabbis and other individuals in Israel
Unorthodox Jew Blog
October 9, 2007
Ephrayim Bryks has become a rabbinic marriage counselor. The term marriage counselor or life coach can be used by anyone. He is not the only "rabbi" suspected of sexual abuse using one of these titles to access vulnerable individuals or couples both here and in Israel. Consulting actual professionals is expensive and unless the community publicly warns against going to these charlatans (often worse) many innocents will continue to be hurt.
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