Call To Action: Rabbi Paysach Krohn and Alleged Sex Offender, Rabbi Ephraim Bryks
Rabbi Ephraim Bryks
From The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter:
CALL TO ACTION:
Contact Rabbi Paysach Krohn and demand that he stop promoting alleged child molester, Rabbi Ephraim Bryks. Remind him if another child is harmed that he could be held liable in a civil suit.Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Certified Mohel
Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi Lipa Brenner and Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Ephraim Bryks
E-mail: pkrohn@brisquest.com
Toll Free: 866-846-6900
NY: 718-846-6900The following article was written by Rabbi Paysach Krohn, and is about convicted sex offender, Rabbi (Lewis) Lipa Brenner. While reading the article remember that Rabbi Paysach Krohn is married to Rabbi Ephraim Bryks's sister. Rabbi Ephraim Bryks's wife is Rabbi Lipa Brenner's daughter.
It's a known fact that Rabbi Paysach Krohn has a long history of protecting those who allegedly, perpetrate crimes against children. An example of this is the fact that to this day he still helps his brother-in-law, Rabbi Ephraim Bryks get speaking engagements.
In the book "Around The Magid's Table", Rabbi Paysach Krohn portrays Rabbi Brenner as a righteous man even though he was being accused as being a child molester at the time. When Artscroll learned that Rabbi Brenner was barred from Yeshiva Torah Vodaas because of his sex crimes, they removed the story from later editions of the book. Back in the 1990's rumors circulated that Krohn new about the allegations when he published his book, yet decided to ignore them.
The original charges against Rabbi Brenner included, 14 counts of sodomy, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Brenner agreed to plead guilty to one count of sodomy in the third degree, a Class E felony, in exchange for a sentence of five years' probation.
Prosecutors said Brenner had sexual contact with a youth he met in the bathroom of the synagogue they both attended. The molestation's allegedly took place over a three-year period that ended in 1995 when the victim was 15 years old.
Also see:
- On June 24, 2007, both Rabbi Paysach Krohn and Rabbi Ephraim Bryks presented at a Shabbaton (weekend retreat)
- Case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks
- Case of Rabbi Lippa Brenner
posted by Jewish Survivors at Tuesday, November 13, 2007
8 Comments:
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Around The Magid’s Table
By Rabbi Paysach Krohn
Published by Art Scroll (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
718-921-9000
Children’s Children.
Being a rav in a small town, far from any city with a large Jewish population, is often a lonely and thankless job. True, there is much to accomplish, but the challenges which need to be overcome on the way to building a day school, solidifying a minyan of shomrei Shabbos (Sabbath observers), or convincing people to uphold and maintain standards of kashrus and family purity always seem to be uphill struggles. More often than not, a rav in an area with a limited number of Jewish inhabitants gets the feeling that the Jews he is dealing with are simply not on the same wave length as he is.
One such rav was R’ Lipa Brenner, who had been inspired to enter the rabbinate by his mentor in Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, R’ Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz (1886-1948). After a few years of serving as a rabbi and principal in a small town in New Jersey, R’ Lipa was becoming exasperated. The local baalei battim (laymen) were not cooperating with him in his endeavors, and R’ Lipa’s accomplishments seemed to dim with every passing year. Meanwhile to add to his dilemma, business opportunities beckoned from New York. Aside from the potential financial security that was so alluring, Lipa might finally have the opportunity to provide his children with the chinuch (education) that he felt was proper and essential.
In a quandary as to whether or not to leave the rabbinate, he decided to travel to Eretz Yisrael (Israel) and seek the advice of Vizhnitzer Rebbe, R’ Chaim Mayer Hager (1998-1972). R’ Lipa obtained his tickles and passport, and made the trip. However upon his arrival he was informed that the Rebbe was preparing to leave for Lugano, Switzerland, and would receive no more visitors before his departure. And so R’ Lipa followed him to Switzerland.
In Lugano, R’Lipa made his way to where the Rebbe was staying. He waited his turn to see the Rebbe and, when he was finally ushered in, the Rebbe asked R’Lipa to sit beside him at his table. Seated across the table was another rav from Tel Avivi. After a few moments the rebbetzin came in with a glass of hot tea for her husband. Before she could even put the tea on the table, the Rebbe gently admonished her and said, :Please bring two more glasses of tea. We are three rabbanim here about to have a discussion.”
R’ Lipa was astounded. The Rebbe had referred to him as a rav, and talked of him as though he were a peer. R’ Lipa trembled as he realized the significance of the title the Vizhnitzer Rebbe had inadvertently bestowed on him. But perhaps it wasn’t inadvertent? Did the Rebbe know that he was thinking of leaving the rabbinate? R’ Lipa never bothered to find out. Then and there he resolved his own conflict. He would retain his position as rav.
***
That winder, back in New Jersey, R’ Lipa received a call from the head of a nearby children’s s foster home. This woman told him that five Jewish boys had been placed in her care. “School registration is coming up soon, and I feel that the boys should be given some background in Jewish culture,” she said. “I am Jewish, although not religious, “ she continued, somewhat apologetically, “ and I just can’t see sending these five children to a regular public school.” She asked R’ Lipa if he could find places for the boys in his day school. At least in a Jewish environment they would get to know something about their heritage.” She went on to explain that the foster home could not pay any tuition because its budget covered only room and board. The children in the home were supposed to attend public school, which was free. As if to reinforce her point, she then added, “And don’t think for a moment that any of these children’s parents left us any money for parochial schools!”
R’ Lipa realized that this was an opportunity to perform spiritual hatzalas nefasho (saving of lives). Tuition at the time was one thousand dollars per child, but maybe if he spoke to the members of the Board of Directors they would be willing to foot the bill for these children. He tried, but had no luck. As a matter of fact, the Board members were totally opposed to his idea. “Our school is not a charity organization,” on of them said. “If neither the parents of the children nor the foster home will contribute at all towards their tuition, then we won’t accept them. Finished.”
The young rav was incensed. True, it wouldn't be easy for the school to absorb the cost of education additional boys, but it was the attitude of the Board members that enraged him. “They shouldn’t be pushing away problems,” he thought, “They should tackling them head on!”
R’Lipa thought about the situation for a day and then came back to the Board with his mind made up. “I won’t allow these boys to fall by the wayside,” he declared. “if the director of the foster home was considerate enough to contact us, it would be a chillul Hashem (disgrace of Hashem’s Name) not to respond affirmatively to her suggestions. I will consider these children as my own and assume responsibility for paying their tuition.” The Board members were stunned but silent, and the next day the five boys were enrolled in the town’s Hebrew Day School
R’Lipa had no idea from where he would get the money. Already he was raising funds for the shul, the school, the mikveh and the chevra kaddisha. But he persisted in his search, all the while taking a special interest in these children.
One day he made an appointment with a wealthy woman who headed a prestigious store downtown. She hadn’t been known for her charity in the past, but he felt that perhaps of the plight of these five boys would awaken within her a sense of sympathy. Miraculously it did, and by the time “R’Lipa walked out of her office he had with him a check for five thousand dollars -- the amount to necessary to cover the entire year’s tuition bill for the boys.
****
The school year progressed as the boys advanced, each at his own pace. At year’s end one of the five was reunited with his family, two remained in the day school, and two brothers, having made significant strides in their studies, were encouraged by R’Lipa and another teacher to enter fine yeshivos in New York.
The next year R’Lipa left New Jersey and eventually lost contact with the people there
***
More than two decades later, R’ Lipa was visiting in the Matterdorf section of Jerusalem. It was Shabbos afternoon and dozens of children were playing in the streets. , which are cordoned off until nightfall. Suddenly a bearded young man came running over to R’ Lipa, yelling, “Rebbe!!” R’Lipa turned around, but did not recognize anyone. “Rebbe,”, the young man said, smiling, “you are R’ Brenner, aren’t you? You probably don’t recognize me anymore. I went to your school back in New Jersey more than twenty years ago. come with me,” the young man said warmly. “I want to introduce you to your grandchildren.”
The young man took R’ Lipa by the hand and brought him to where his wife was watching their children playing. (something in hebrew) -- Anyone who teaches Torah to a child of at his friend, it’s as though he gave birth to him,” said the young man, citing the Talmudic text (Sanhedrin 19b). “Thus, if I am your child, these are your grandchildren.”
The young man was indeed one of the five from the foster home in New Jersey. R’ Lipa had seen to it that he attend the Mirrer Yeshiva in New York, and from there the young man went on to become an outstanding talmid chacham. R’Lipa had all but forgotten him, but the young man had remembered him. The face of his mentor had been etched in the child’s memory forever.
Awareness Center's profile for Bryks says Lakewood NJ. Has he moved there now from Queens?
Also, why is everyone still using the old picture when Bryks still had a dark beard?
Rabbi Ephraim Bryks is also related by marriage to Rabbi Mordecai Tendler. Bryks' daughter is married to the son of Tendler's wife's cousin (Faskowitz).
The Awareness Center is also incorrect in giving "New York, NY" as Bryks's location. New York is only Manhattan & the Marble Hill section in the Bronx.
Bryks is / was living in the Queens section of Richmond Hill. Since his house is only half a block from Kew Gardens, frum people just refer to the whole area as Kew Gardens.
Another enabler who should be warned here and have his picture posted is Rabbi Moshe Faskowitz for protecting both Tendler & Bryks.
His picture is available from the same wedding as the recent Bryks photo.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/924055.html
And great work by Haaretz photographers.
If you are a victim of sexual abuse and live in Baltimore keep your mouth shut if you need financial assistance from Ahavas Yisrael.
If you have been donating to this fund, STOP!
The word is out that if you speak out you will be cut off. It's happened to four friends of mine so far.
What happens is that victims get called into meetings by either Mrs Isbee or Eli Schlossberg.
They are told that Ahavas Yisrael is running out of money and that they have met the maximum amount that they will pay per family or individual person.
I have another friend who was told that they could no longer help pay for medication, yet they did have the money to hire mover to get them out of town.
http://www.ahavasyisrael.org/contact.php
That story from Rabbi Krohn is probably the best thing I have ever seen on this website.
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