Case of Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro: Demanding Transparency and Accountability from our Religious Leaders in Baltimore!

CALL TO ACTION: Case of Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro

Demanding Transparency and Accountability from our Religious Leaders!

The Awareness Center, Inc.
(the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault)
P.O. Box 65273, Baltimore, MD 21209
www.theawarenesscenter.org
443-857-5560

Download Call For Action

December 28, 2007

Back on April 11, 2007, the Vaad HaRabbonim/Rabbinical Council of Greater Baltimore signed a letter and made public a statement about dealing with "Abuse in Our Community".

To this day the members of the Vaad who signed the letter have not been held accountable for the issues they addressed. For the last four years the rabbonim of Baltimore have been aware that allegations were made against Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro, yet did nothing more then have him stop teaching bar mitzvah students -- and then helped in arranging for this alleged sex offender to have a job working for Wasserman and Lemberger's. The status quo in the Baltimore community has been to ensure those who are alleged to have molested children have a way to make a living, yet doing nothing to help those who have been sexually violated.

It's a well known fact in the orthodox community of Baltimore that Yisroel Shapiro daven's (prays) at Congregation Darchi Tzedek synagogue, located on Seven Mile Lane. This is a synagogue in which children can be seen running in and out of. One would think that Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz's first concern would be to make sure the children of his shul were protected and to start asking if any children might have already been molested so that he could assist in them getting help. To this day Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz has never issued public statement warning his congregants of the fact that Shapiro was arrested and charged with child molestation. Unless a parent read The Awareness Center's web page, has been reading blogs or another parent told them, they are unaware that there is an alleged sexual predator amongst them.

The Awareness Center is asking that everyone contact Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz and the Baltimore Vaad HaRabbonim Rabbinical and ask them to:

1. Make public the plan they established to notify parents in the community of the potential dangers of their children being left alone with Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro.

2. We are also asking that this statement include the safety plan created when Yisroel Shapiro is davening at Darchi Tzedek or any synagogue.
   

3. They also need to make public the safety plan they established for Wasserman's and Lemberger," the retail business in which Shapiro is employed and also for any other public location Shapiro may enter.

Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer - President

Vaad Harabbonim of Baltimore

410-358-3450

Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz

Congregation Darchei Tzedek

410-653-1688

410-486-0445 (Rabbi Horowitz)

7307 7 Mile Lane

Pikesville, MD 21208

Members of the Vaad HaRabbonim

1. Rabbi Elan Adler, Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Hebrew Congregation

2. Rabbi Reuben Arieh, Ohr HaMizrach Congregation

3. Rabbi Menachem Goldberger, Congregation Tiferes Yisroel

4. Rabbi Emanuel Goldfeiz, Congregation Beit Yaakov

5. Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb, Cong. Shmorei Emunah

6. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion

7. Rabbi Dovid Haber, KAYTT and Star-K

8. Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Agudath Israel of Baltimore and Star-K

9. Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer, Sheiris Yisroel

10. Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, Chabad Lubavitch of Baltimore

11. Rabbi Nesanel Kostelitz, Machzikei Torah Congregation and the Community Kollel

12. Rabbi Chaim Landau, Ner Tamid

13. Rabbi Elchonon Lisbon, Bais Lubavitch - Chabad of Park Heights

14. Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, Ner Israel Rabbinical College and High School

15. Rabbi Gavriel Newman, Beth Jacob Congregation

16. Rabbi Shlomo Salfer, Winands Road Synagogue Center

17. Rabbi Jonathan Seidemann, Kehilath B'nai Torah

18. Rabbi Simcha Shafran, Adath Yeshurun and the Bais Din of Baltimore

19. Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz, Agudath Israel of Greenspring and Av Beis Din of Baltimore

20. Rabbi Shmuel Silber, Suburban Orthodox

21. Rabbi Amrom Taub, Arugas Habosem Congregation

22. Rabbi Y. Zvi Weiss, Bais Haknesses of Baltimore

23. Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, Beth Tfiloh

From a Parent of a child molested by alleged sex offender - Rabbi Tzvi Wainhaus

The following article was posted to "Happenings In Chicago - Does The Vaad Really Care?...":

Just stumbled on this site and what suprises!

I heartily agree with the comments that the (Chicago) Vaad has done nothing to support the victims of sexual abuse. My son was one of the many abused by Tzvi Wainhaus.

Shmuel Furest did NOTHING. Quite the contrary. We were actually called to come to his office- which we did- at the height of the IL DCFS investigations. Did he call to see how he could support our son? Of course not!

Imagine my shock when he actually had the audacity to ask us to 'Keep Quiet' and not say anything to the newspapers, or press charges! After all 'what a shonda in front of the goyim, and the poor man (wainhaus) feels horribly, and he has a family'. Unbelievable.

To this day, 7 years later this is still something that brings rage and anger to the core of my being and tears to my eyes. Literally and Always.

And to see that post that Jamie Dvorin cares so much about protecting the kids- I want to scream in rage: the lies! He not only told me to send my son out of town for high school ('for his own good') he also tried to prevent him from joining his class at ICJA. Of course I refused to send my son away. Would he have sent his 13 year old child away after being sexually abused by his favorite teacher? Away from his family? When his entire world came crashing down? Mr. Dvorin also made up a vicious lie about how the teachers didn't think my son should go with his class on his senior trip. When I called every teacher of my child I caught his right in his lie- HE didn't want my son to go. My son was an excellent student with no history of any behavior issues. Prior to being a victim there was no reason to assume he wouldn’t go on his senior trip, or go to ICJA. Dvorin also called ICJA to prevent my son from getting accepted there. Jamie said the problem was that he was a 'high risk child' – why? because one of HIS teachers abused him. He never accepted any responsibility- nor has Mr. Fuerst or the orthodox community. The only rabbi that behaved with any kindness or degree of menschkiet was Rabbi Harvey Well. The rest are filthy hypocrites and evil men. They can pretend to hide behind their mitzvot but there is no number of mitzvot they could possibly perform to erase the evil they have perpetrated. They may have avoided the court in this world but they will have their day in the heavenly court one day and there justice will be served.

Jeffrey Epstein to serve 18 months in prison followed by house arrest

Jeffrey Epstein to agree to plea in prostitution case
Part-time Palm Beach resident to trade 18 months in prison, house arrest for end to federal probe.

By MICHELE DARGAN
Daily News Staff Writer

Friday, December 14, 2007

(enlarge photo) Money manager Jeffrey Epstein accused of paying underage girls for massages, sometimes sex at his home on El Brillo Way.

Money manager and part-time Palm Beacher Jeffrey Epstein is scheduled to go before a judge Jan. 4 for a plea hearing in his felony prostitution case.

The hearing will be before Circuit Judge Sandra McSorley, the court docket shows.

Sources have confirmed that the deal will result in the Manhattan money manager serving 18 months in prison followed by house arrest.

In exchange for a guilty plea, federal authorities are expected to drop their probe into whether Epstein broke federal laws, the sources said.

Epstein, 54, was indicted in July 2006 on a felony charge of solicitation of prostitution.

The charge capped an 11-month investigation by Palm Beach police that began after a woman told police that her 14-year-old stepdaughter might have been molested by a man in Palm Beach.

Police said Epstein paid five underage girls for massages and sometimes sex at his El Brillo Way home.

Investigators watched Epstein's 7,234-square-foot waterfront home and private jet, and rummaged through his trash to build their case.

They took sworn statements from five alleged victims and 17 witnesses.

The investigation also focused on Epstein's assistant, Sarah Kellen of New York City, and Haley Robson of Royal Palm Beach, both of whom were paid to facilitate the massages and sex, police said.

Neither Kellen nor Robson was charged.

Is Rudy Guiliani Enabling A Sex Offender?

The Awareness Center (the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault) supports SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) efforts in challenging Giuliani to "put up or shut up" about allegations against Msgr. Alan Placa, who was suspended by his bishop yet remains on Giuliani's payroll. Giuliani insists Placa's been falsely accused.

SNAP wants Giuliani to either file a bar complaint against the Long Island prosecutor who publicized the allegations against the Placa or admit that the priest is guilty. As a citizen, a lawyer, an ex-prosecutor and former public official, the group believes Giuliani has a moral and legal duty to take action if he really believes prosecutors and grand jurors have done an injustice to Placa.

In recent months, SNAP has urged Giuliani to fire Placa and apologize for his recklessness.

A 2003 Long Island grand jury report accuses Placa of sexually abusing children and helping "cover up the sexual abuse of children by other priests" He "was part of a three-person team that handled allegations of abuse by clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre" that "resulted in the prevention, hindrance and delay in the discovery of criminal conduct by priests." In 2002, Placa's bishop suspended him from active ministry. He's been on the payroll of Giuliani Partners since then.

Giuliani and Placa are boyhood friends and have remained close throughout their adult lives.

Placa also urged bragged of how Rockville Centre's handling of abuse claims had resulted in the "lowest ratio of losses to assets of any diocese" and that "In the past 10 years, I have been involved in more than two hundred such cases (across) the country." Placa also worked for a Worcester, Mass. Center for pedophile priests. According to the grand jury, several adults testified that they were molested as kids by Placa, including an Albany man named Richard Tollner and two others.

SNAP's letter to Giuliani was sent yesterday by fax and e mail to his campaign headquarters. A copy of the letter is available on SNAP's website: SNAPnetwork.org
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/05_06/2007_06_22_Koppelman_GiulianisLoyalty.htm

Contact:
David Clohessy (National Director, SNAP) 314 566 9790 cell
Barbara Blaine (President, SNAP) 312 399 4747
Barbara Dorris (Outreach Director, SNAP) 314 503 0003 cell, 314 862 7688

Looking For Survivors of Daniel Gersh Who Was a Camp Counselor at Na-Sho-Pah - Bloomingburg, New York and in London

Case of Daniel Gersh - Football Coach, Summer Camp Counselor

Director of the Southside Juniors' Football Club - Ilford, Essex, England

Summer Camp Counselor, Camp Na-Sho-Pah - Bloomingburg, New York

Football Coach, Jewish Community Centre Sinclair House - Redbridge, Essex

Past Member, South West Essex Reform Synagogue, Essex, England

If you know or have any concerns regarding the activities of Gersh and feel it may be relevant or find it helpful to talk to someone, the police and social services have set up dedicated telephone lines for people to ring." The numbers are 020 8217 6415 for the police, and 020 8708 3014/3565 for Redbridge social services.

If you are a Jewish survivor of Daniel Gersh you can also call The Awareness Center, Inc. at 443-857-5560.

Arrested after admitting to 60 counts of assault and related charges, including molesting nine boys, aged seven to 11, and filming several of them. Daniel Gersh stated in court: "My life is over. I have been trying to hide this since I was 13 years old."

Many of the vulnerable youngsters were deceived into believing the assaults would help them become football stars, thus enabling Gersh to go undetected for some time.

Gersh is a former FA-registered coach, was checked and cleared by police when he volunteered to take part in football nights at Jewish community centre Sinclair House in Redbridge, Essex, in 1995. He also coached at Jewish summer camp Na-Sho-Pah in New York 15 years ago.

Gersh was arrested in October 2006 when a mother contacted police after her nine-year-old son spoke out. Officers from the Child Abuse Investigation Team studied the material seized from his home and went on to identify a further eight victims.

Jewish Press has less Hits then The Awareness Center's site

The Awareness Center's Newsletter said:

In an e-mail it was announced that "The Jewish Press website( http://www.thejewishpress.com/ ) receives over a quarter of a million hits monthly

So far this year The Awareness Center has had almost 6,800,000 hits.

It's unbelievable -- The Awareness Center receives more hits per month then the Jewish Press.

We average over 1/2 million hits per month. In July, our busiest month, we had just over 710,000 hits or slowest month is always the month of the high holidays. September we only had a little less then 505,000 hits.

The Awareness Center, Inc.
(the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault)
P.O. Box 65273, Baltimore, MD 21209
www.theawarenesscenter.org
443-857-5560

Senator Jim Brochin & Filmmaker, Israel Moskovitz Speaking at The Awareness Center Event - FREE SCREENING of 'NARROW BRIDGE'

FREE SCREENING of ‘NARROW BRIDGE’
Confronting Sexual Abuse in the Jewish Community


WHEN: Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 6:00 PM
WHERE: Pikesville Library, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, MD
SPONSOR: The Awareness Center, Inc.

Seating is Limited - Reservations Required
Call: 443-857-5560 or send an e-mail to Vicki Polin


Following the film will be a panel discussion lead by:

• Mesa Leventhal Baker, MD - Medical Director, Baltimore Child Abuse Center

• Senator James Brochin - District 42, Baltimore County

• Samantha Leshin - Plays “Rachel Goldstein” in the film ‘Narrow Bridge’

• Murray Levin, JD - Photographer, Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse, and Advocate for Legislative Changes.

• Israel Moskovitz - Director/writer/Composer and Plays “Daniel Schneider ” in the film ‘Narrow Bridge’

• Vicki Polin, MA, NCC, LCPC - Executive Director, The Awareness Center, Inc.

• Bob Russell - Legislative Coordinator, SNAP-MD (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)

• Joyanna Silberg, PhD - Coordinator of Trauma Disorder Services for Children at Sheppard Pratt Hospital

This is your chance to catch the controversial, acclaimed film that has been making waves in the Orthodox Jewish community. it is the first film of its kind to break the silence on the issue of sexual abuse in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Daniel Schneider is a 21-year-old Orthodox Jewish college student who falls in love with fellow classmate, Rachel Goldstein. Rachel notices that Daniel is mysteriously reluctant to talk about his life before college and his hometown, where he has not visited for four years. As his relationship with Rachel develops, Daniel uncovers long-repressed memories of how he was sexually abused by his rabbi at twelve years old. His dark secret begins to distance the two of them and as Daniel refuses to confront his feelings, he watches his life as he knows it slowly unravel before his eyes. Daniel begins to question where he stands with his family, community, fiancé, and G-d. Narrow Bridge is an exploration of the power of love and faith amid trials, both human and divine.

This event is sponsored by The Awareness Center, Inc., which is the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault. For more information call: 443-857-5560 or send an e-mail to vickipolin@aol.com.

Condolences to the family Rabbi Joseph Schechter of Ner Israel

Condolences go out to the family of Rabbi Joseph Schecter, who was a spiritual leader in the Baltimore community and one of the administers at Ner Israel Rabbinical School.

Funeral services will be held at Ner Israel in the main Bais HaMedrash at 9:30 am Friday morning, December 21, 2007

Dina's Story and the Rabbonim of Today - Leah Marinelli on Last Weeks Parsha

The following message came from The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter:

The following comment was made by Board member Leah Marinelli on an article sent out "Question Authority - Case of Rabbi Yona Metzger"

Interesting point you brought up. In last week's parsha, the sons of Yaacov massacre the men in a whole town because their prince had raped and sodomed their sister Dina. Sounds terrible at first, but one of the commentaries points out that the townspeople did the worst sin in the world - they allowed their leaders to be evil. After all, they witnessed him dragging her against her will through the streets, and knew what he was doing to her while he kept her prisoner. Yet they did nothing. If people can't stand up and question the horrible behavior of their leaders, then we are choosing to be just like them. I know that you don't believe in capital punishment or revenge killing, but it is just an example.

I wonder what punishment is in store for the rabbis and the ignorant masses who ignore the suffering of the survivors of abuse when the facts are obvious in front of them?
- Leah Maranelli

CBS News on the Case of Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro

Mazel tov To The Survivors who are having their story told!

Accused Of Molesting Bar Mitzvah Students

Reporting
Adam May
CBS News (Baltimore)
December 19, 2007

Click here to watch video

PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ― At a kosher deli off Reisterstown Road in a Pikesville stripmall, Eyewitness News found Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro, a butcher who jumped out from behind his desk and hid from our cameras when we tried to ask him about new criminal charges that he sexually abused two young boys during Bar Mitzvah lessons.

Shapiro never came out, but a coworker did. The man later yelled at Eyewitness News after we walked out the door that the allegations against Shapiro were "fabricated."

City prosecutors say "Over the past several months, police and prosecutors have conducted an extensive investigation that led to the charges."

The alleged abuse took place at Shapiro's home off Olympia Street in 1988 and 1994. Some neighbors caught wind of the allegations a few years back and posted flyers.

One victim tells police he was forced to chant passages from the Torah as he was inappropriately touched.

"The problem is that we don't know if there's more victims. We know a few but not how many there have actually been," said Vicki Polin.

Polin heads a support group for victims of rabbi abuse. She's concerned that some leaders in the Orthodox community keep abusers quiet.

"They're told they shouldn't report it to secular authorities because it could start another holocaust. Unfortunately, it starts another type of holocaust where an accuser has access to hundreds of children and each time they perfect their skills," she said.

For more information on this case of Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro in Baltimore

Here is the link to the case of Yisroel's father - Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro

Baltimore Sun on Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro - City bar mitzvah teacher charged with sex offenses

City bar mitzvah teacher charged with sex offenses - Incidents involving two boys allegedly occurred more than a decade ago
By Melissa Harris
Baltimore Sun
December 18, 2007

A former bar mitzvah lessons teacher in Baltimore's Orthodox Jewish community has been charged with sex offenses against two boys that are alleged to have occurred more than a decade ago, according to the city state's attorney's office.

The boys were learning to chant passages from the Torah at Israel Shapiro's home on Olympia Avenue on separate occasions in September 1988 and June 1994 when the offenses are said to have occurred, according to court documents.

Shapiro was charged Dec. 4 with felony child abuse, second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense in both cases. The boys, who are related, came forward in June, according to Baltimore police spokesman Sterling Clifford.

Prosecutors handling the case were not in their office Tuesday, and the men making the accusations did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Accusations against Shapiro were known in the Orthodox community as early as 2004, when alleged victims began circulating a flier with Shapiro's name and picture, according to Vicki Polin of the Awareness Center Inc., which is an advocate on behalf of Jewish victims of sexual abuse in Baltimore.

Polin has posted a copy of the flier on the center's Web site.

According to court documents, Shapiro put the boys, then age 12 and 13, on his lap while they practiced chanting the Torah. One of the victims reported that Shapiro would touch him inappropriately over his clothing, and the other said he was held on Shapiro's lap against his will and touched inappropriately.

Shapiro, 57, works in a kosher butcher shop, according to the

Jewish Times, which reported extensively on the allegations in June.

A phone message left Tuesday at Shapiro's house was not returned.

Arthur C. Abramson, director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said that the organization recently became aware of the allegations but had not been involved in the matter or Shapiro's removal from teaching.

"The Orthodox community -- that end of the Orthodox community -- tends to be very insular," Abramson said. "Information can circulate very rapidly within the framework of the Orthodox community, and it doesn't necessarily get out into more general circles unless reported by The Sun or the Jewish Times."

In April, amid discussions in the Orthodox community about the allegations, Vaad HaRabbonim of Baltimore, the city's Council of Orthodox rabbis, released a letter on "Abuse in Our Community."

"We feel it essential to discuss this matter directly with you, as the greatest allies of the abuser are ignorance and silence," according to the letter, which was signed by nearly two dozen rabbis.

Shapiro is out on a combined $175,000 bail in the two cases.

Background History on the case of Yisroel Shapiro

Failure to protect the vulnerable is a violation of the following verse: Thou shalt notstand idly by the blood of your neighbor (Lev. 19:16) -- "Whoever desecrates the name of Heaven in private will ultimately be punished in public, whether the desecration was committed unintentionally or intentionally." Any conspiracy to conceal information about sex crimes will ultimately be made public, creating an even greater hillul Hashem. -- Despite historic debates and arguments, the consensus of contemporary Jewish religious authorities is that such reporting is religiously mandatory. (Rabbi Mark Dratch).

Background History on the case of Yisroel Shapiro
The Awareness Center
May 28, 2003

May 28, 2003 -- The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) maintains that reporting acts or suspicions of child abuse is not mesirah and commits itself and its members to reporting acts or suspicions of child abuse as required by civil law. Unfortunately the rabbis of Baltimore have never adopted these policies.

One of the many traditions in the orthodox community of Baltimore is not to report sex crimes to law enforcement or Child Protective Services (CPS). The reason was for fear that doing so would start another pogrom (persecution of the Jewish people).

Instead the custom has been for rabbis to handle things quietly and discreetly. It's also not uncommon for signs to be posted by concerned community members warning others of the dangers the alleged sex offender poses to children.

This is exactly what happened a few years ago. Allegations were made that a teacher by the name of Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro had molested children. The pious rabbis of Baltimore decided they could handle the "situation" on their own. A decision was reached. The rabbis at the bet din of Baltimore (Jewish religious court) believed Yisroel was guilty. The agreement was that Yisroel Shapiro would have a career where he no longer had contact with children. Yisroel Shapiro went from being a teacher at one of Balitmore's private Jewish schools to becoming a butcher.

Israel Shapiro is married and had children living in his home. Child Protection Services (CPS) was never notified, nor was a police report made, making it virtually impossible for there to be an official investigation, possible arrest and or trial. Without the proper law enforcement officials being notifide, it makes it impossible for Yisroel Shapiro ever being listed on the national sex offender registry.

As a reaction, a small group of concerned citizens created flyer's and posted signs in the community in hopes of preventing another child from being molested, yet not much has happened since then.

One of the issues that we all need to be aware of is the fact that Yisroel Shapiro's father was a prominent orthodox rabbi in Baltimore. Besides being a synagogue rabbi, his father was the principal of a the Talmudic Academy of Baltimore. His father was connected to may other prominent orthodox rabbis in Baltimore and worldwide. Recently one of Baltimore's deep dark secrets was made public. Yisroel Shapiro's father, also had a problem with his "urges". Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro had been allegedly molesting boys for over fifty years. One survivor stated he was sure thate Ephraim Shapiro molested hundreds if not thousands of bar mitzvah age boys.

The way the ultra-orthodox rabbis of Baltimore operate is very similar to the way the Catholic church deals with allegations of clergy sexual abuse. It appears the rabbis do what they can to silence the victims. It also seems as if they rabbis are more concerned with protecting their own personal images and assets, then they are in keeping the Jewish children of Baltimore safe.

Can you imagine the PR nightmare the rabbis of Baltimore were faced with? How would they do damage control?

Many survivors of Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro have stated that they were sure the rabbis of Baltimore were very aware of that he was an "alleged" child molester. A few years ago the rabbis were faced with the fact that the son of this prominent rabbi, was also allegedly molesting children. Instead of doing the right thing and notifing the police and child protective services, they chose to handle the matter on their own.

Keep in mind that Yisroel Shapiro's brothers also hold very prominent positions in Baltimore and around the country. The tradition has always been to protect family members of sex offenders over protecting family members of sexually abused children. As a community we need to understand that family members of both offenders and those who have been sexually violated need support. They are not responsible for the actions of the offender, except if they willingly cover up these crimes -- which could lead to more children being abused. The problem is that all parties involved need counseling. Sex offenders need to be held accountable for their crimes and can receive treatment in prison and often will need residential treatment after they are released. Survivors of sex crimes need both rape victim advocacy and counseling.

It's unknown at this time if the children who were allegedly victimized by Yisroel Shapiro ever received rape crisis counseling. It is also unknown if Yisroel Shapiro ever received sex offender treatment by a qualified mental health provider.

There is no statute of limitations on crimes against children. It's not to late to file a police report and have him investigation. If you or someone you know was victimized by Yisroel Shapiro please contact your local rape crisis center. They are there to protect your rights and can help you make a police report. Rape crisis center's offer free rape counseling and legal advocacy.

If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected in the state of Maryland, you should call: (800) 332-6347

Has this happened to you?

I thought many survivors of childhood sexual abuse would be able to relate to this sign. I think this is what happens when survivors go to their rebbe's in the orthodox world.

Rabbi David Alan Stein indicted on sex charges

Rabbi is indicted on sex charges
By Jennifer Fernandez
News Record
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007 3:00 am

David Alan Stein, 35, faces eight counts of having sex with a student, records show.

GREENSBORO — A rabbi accused of having sex with a student at American Hebrew Academy was indicted this week.

The grand jury also returned murder indictments against three men in two separate homicides and against a woman accused of killing one person and injuring five others in a DWI crash during Labor Day weekend.

David Alan Stein, 35, faces eight counts of having sex with a student, records show. He was the school's director of campus life.

Police have said the incidents, which involved a 16-year-old male student, took place on campus sometime during the 2006-07 school year.

The co-ed boarding school serves 135 high school students and employs 80 people, school officials have said. Students come from all over the world to attend the academy, which combines college preparatory and Jewish studies.

The school is on a 100-acre campus off Hobbs Road in northwest Guilford County.

Also indicted were:
* Aviance Marquita McCollum, 28, of 1907 Oak St., on a charge of felony death by motor vehicle and five counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle. She is accused of killing Latoya Marquita Simmons and injuring five others Sept. 2 while driving while impaired on Interstate 40/85, records show.

McCollum, who was carrying six children in her car, had slammed into the median. Simmons, 23, and another woman had stopped their van to help after seeing children trying to get out of the car, reports show. The van was still in the left lane of the interstate when it was struck by another vehicle. The impact knocked Simmons into the path of traffic.

* Clarence Nelson Stone, 50, of 3753 Safenight Road, Climax, on a charge of first-degree murder. Stone is accused of killing Denise Ball Collins, 46, on Sept. 12.

Collins' body was found along East Sheraton Road near the Woodlake mobile home park near Pleasant Garden.

* Pedro Louise Sanchez, 16, of 824 Reid St., on a charge of first-degree murder. He was indicted in connection with the Sept. 24 death of Karl Lamont Mark. Sanchez's alleged role has not been explained in court or police documents.

* Donny Troy Mosley, 22, of 2300 Apache St., Apt. A, on a charge of first-degree murder. Mosley's charge also stems from Mark's death. He is accused of shooting and killing the 28-year-old man.

TODAY - Boycott Yaakov Menken, Project Genisis, Torah.org, TorahMedia.org, Team Genisis

CALL TO ACTION: Boycott Events Associated with Alleged Sex Offender, Rabbi Yaakov Menken (December 16, 23, 30)

click here: Download a pdf file of this call to action

Over the last few years The Awareness Center has shared information with you regarding the case of Rabbi Yaakov Menken (AKA: Yakov Menken, Kenneth Menken, Ken Menken). Due to the issue of confidentiality we have been limited in what we have made public. The allegations against Menken include sexual harassment and clergy sexual abuse.

Yaakov Menken's alleged modus operandi is to become a father figure to vulnerable young women and eventually manipulating them into having sexual contact with him. Menken is married with children and in his forties. The alleged women he targets are usually in their late teens or early twenties. In 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Menken had a discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky and confessed to having sexual contact with a very young woman he counseled. He basically blamed the survivor, stating "she came on to me".

Since The Awareness Center became aware of the allegations made against Yaakov Menken we were able to gathered information which included conversations with various rabbonim in Baltimore. It appears that a national Jewish outreach organization which included a relative of the Menken survivors were in a bet din dispute right before and during the time that Rabbi Yaakov Menken was sexually manipulating a young woman from an extremely insulated community.

The survivor was barely out of her teens at the time that Yaakov Menken started his grooming process on her. When Menken got started the young woman had recently moved away from her family for the first time. Menken allegedly marked her as an easy target and began to provide rabbinical counseling to her. It's important to keep in mind that Rabbi Menken was very angry with the survivors relative during this time period and the woman was unaware of the bet din dispute. It is believed that this is part of the reason why Menken picked her as a target and began to lure her in.

Usually when someone goes searching for spirituality they are in a vulnerable state because of some sort of personal crisis in their lives. These are exactly the type of people that Menken allegedly preys upon.

Several Kiruv organizations are partnering up with alleged sexual predator, Rabbi Yaakov Menken, for a Jewish Outreach event that will be featuring Dr. Gerald Schroeder. The problem is that by doing so they are basically saying that Yakov Menken is safe and someone both affiliated and unaffiliated Jews can trust.

The Awareness Center is asking that you boycott all events associated with Yaakov Menken, Project Genesis, Torah.org, Project Genisis and TorahMedia.org. We are also asking that you to call and or write the following people and demand that they stop working with Rabbi Yaakov Menken.

Contact:

The Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore

Adam Rosenberg

E-mail: arosenberg@associated.org

________________________________
* The Center for Jewish Education

Larry Ziffer, Executive Vice President

Phone: 410-735-5000, ext. 5005

E-mail: lziffer@cjebaltimore.org

________________________________
* Gerald Schroeder, Ph.D.

HaHish 5, Jerusalem 93223, Israel

Phone 011-972-2-5671233

E-mail: gs@geraldschroeder.com

The New Sexual Predator

WARNING: The New Sexual Predator
© (2007) Vicki Polin, MA, NCC, LCPC, ATR-BC
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I recently was at a seminar conducted by Robert Hugh Farley, who is a highly decorated Police Detective, Deputy United States Marshal and currently as an international child sexual exploitation consultant for INTERPOL.

The Awareness Center strongly suggest that every Jewish community sponsors a program in which Mr. Farley presents. He is definitely one of the top investigators in the world when it comes to dealing with sex crimes against children. Below are some of my notes from the seminar I attended.

When a child (or an adult) has a page on facebook or myspace.com or any of the other social networking pages they are opening their entire lives up to the world.

All one needs to do is to I googled any child's name you know to see if they have a social networking web page (such places as MySpace.com, Facebook, etc.)

When I returned home from the seminar I immediately "googled" my names of minors I know. The first thing that was listed was their profiles on places like MySpace.com and facebook. When I went to those pages I clicked on "view Friends." All of my nieces and nephews friends names came up along with their pictures. I clicked on their friends pages and could view their friends names and profiles too.

Almost all of the minors who have social networking pages have their own pictures up. Some of the photographs were young girls trying to "look cute or sexy" or guys trying to look "cool."

The new sexual predator will go to social networking web pages to find their next targets. They may go through your child's profile all of your child's friends profiles and so on -- until they find minors that meet the criteria they are looking for. Both boys and girls are targets as are young adults.

One suggestion is that minors have pictures of something other then themselves (i.e., a book, a tree, art, etc.). Also it's important to make sure there is no personal information about the child's life up on the social networking pages. Every child I saw had the name of their middle school, Jr. High and high schools listed along with their graduating year up on their profiles. Most sexual predators can do math and figure out exactly how old a child is on the sites.

Most of these pages require that the child be over 18 to join. What the norm is that the child signs in as be over 18 and then changes their age once they join, or leave the age up as being over 18, yet still list their high school graduating year.

Another huge problem is that the newest trend is not for children to be lured in off of the net but by using cell phones. With today's technology, most of the newest cell phones have text messaging and WiFi connections. This new technology is not something that parents can monitor.

Kids are also using their cell phones to video tape themselves in their own homes, at sleep overs, at parties, etc. These photographs and videos are then uploaded onto their web pages and end up being shared with the world. They are basically allowing a sexual predator into their homes, schools and their personal lives.

Sexual predators are then making links to kids social networking pages, and sharing the links with their friends. This is more common when a child/teen uploads photograph sand or video's the predator may find arousing.

It is not illegal for a sexual predator to make links to these pages. It is also not illegal for a sexual predator to have nude pictures of minors, which would be considered to be "child erotica." The only time images of a minor becomes illegal or would be considered child pornography, is if there is some sort of a sexual act involved involving a minor.

It's important to realize you can't prevent your child from going on line or using a cell phone to get on line, because a minor will find a way to get on line. Often from friends homes or cell phone, the library. Sexual predators have access to minors anywhere they can get a WiFi connection.

The best bet you have in keeping minors safe is by educating children on the dangers in language they can understand. It's vitally imprint to have a good relationship with your children to keep them safe. Your children need to know they can tell you anything without feeling ashamed or embarrassed If you can tell your children to look both ways before crossing the street, it's vitally important that you warn your children that there are sexual predators out there. A sexual predator is usually not "a stranger." Minors never consider someone they meet on line as being a stranger, which is part of the problem. Our youth often feel safe chatting with anyone on line. They feel comfortable and confident because they are doing this from their own homes.

A sexual predator on line knows how to make a child feel important. They make your child feel as if they care about them and are their friend.

Another problem is that often the child feels as if the sexual predator is their "boyfriend" or "girlfriend." They "fall in love" with the offender. They often do not realize they are being abused. As in many other sex crimes they target kids who are lonely, going through a personal crisis in their lives or that of their families.

There is a growing number of offenders out there. They are calling them the "new sex offender," because of they way they lure in youth. Many of these offenders are upper class, white males who are going on line at work. The most dangerous hours for our youth is right after school they get home from school, until these new sexual predators go home from work. Basically the most dangerous hours are from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Often parents are not home yet to monitor what their children are doing.

For more information on this topic contact:

Robert Hugh Farley M.S.
Consultant in Crimes Against Children
10 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1420
Chicago, Illinois USA 60603
Phone: 847-236-9134
E-Mail RHFConsultant@aol.com

URGENT CALL TO ACTION - Baltimore's Congregation Shomrei Emunah

Rabbi Ephraim Bryks /Rabbi Paysach Krohn /Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb

WARNING: Rabbi Paysach Krohn is Speaking in Baltimore Motzei Shabbos
Baltimore's Congregation Shomrei Emunah has invited Rabbi Paysach Krohn to speak on the topic "Bringing Out the Best in Our Children".

When: December 15, 2007, 7:30 PM
Where: 6221 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209

It is a known fact that Rabbi Krohn has been promoting alleged serial child molester, Rabbi Ephraim Bryks for years. How can it be that someone who has been protecting and promoting someone like Bryks be allowed to speak about "our children"?

It is time that everyone's voice be heard!
The Awareness Center is asking those who live in or around the Baltimore Jewish community to attend the event at Shomrei Emunah this Saturday evening.

Congregation Shomrei Emunah -- This Motzei Shabbos

7:30 - Navi Shiur by Rabbi Reisman on TCN

8:40 - Rabbi Paysach Krohn will be speaking on "Bringing Out the Best in Our Children".

CALL TO ACTION:

1. At the event do what you can to ask Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb how he could have someone who has been enabling an alleged sex offender to be speaking about children?

2. At the event and then afterwards, let Rabbi Krohn know how you feel about him promoting alleged sex offender Ephraim Bryks. Make sure Krohn understands that if any children are abused after the parents meet Bryks at an event he endorsed, that Krohn could be held accountable in a court of law, especially since he's been warned multiple times.

Rabbi Paysach Krohn
e-mail: pkrohn@brisquest.com
Phone: 866-846-6900

3. Starting on Sunday call Rabbi Gottlieb and let him know how upset you are that he would allow Rabbi Paysach Krohn speak at his shul considering he has been enabling and promoting Rabbi Ephraim Bryks.

Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb
Phone: 410-358-8604 (Option #1)
e-mail: rabbi@shomreiemunah.org

Dr. Thomas Weiss, President
e-mail: president@shomreiemunah.org

The only way things will change is by each and every one of you speaking out and letting your voices be heard! Just say no to sexual predators and those who enable them!
____________________

Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi Lipa Brenner and Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Ephraim Bryks
The Awareness Center - November 12, 2007
http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/bryks_ephraim.html

Rabbi Ephraim Bryks's wife is Rabbi Lipa Brenner's daughter; and Rabbi Paysach Krohn is married to Rabbi Ephraim Bryks sister.

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.

Update: Case of Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro

Bond was posted the day after Yisroel Shapiro was arrested by Yisroel Shapiro's wife and one of his brother's . Rumors are the Bail was set at $175,000

Connection: SURETY COMPANY

The Preliminary Hearing for alleged child molester, Yisroel Shapiro (son of Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro) will be:

Date: January 3, 2008

Time: 8:30 AM

Trial Location:
5800 Wabash Ave., Room 6
Baltimore, MD 21215-3330

Dr. Williams Ayres, Alleged Sex Offender - Another Lawsuit Filed Against him

Another lawsuit targets Ayres
With criminal statute of limitations passed, plaintiff seeks civil damages
By Michael Manekin, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
December 11, 2007

REDWOOD CITY — Dr. William Ayres, the prominent child psychiatrist awaiting trial on allegations that he molested seven pre-adolescent patients, has been slapped with a civil suit by another alleged victim.

The lawsuit, which does not cite Ayres by name, alleges that a 42-year-old man was molested by a child psychiatrist with a San Mateo practice when he was 10 years old.

That psychiatrist, identified in the suit as John Doe 1, is none other than Ayres, plaintiff's attorney David Drivon recently confirmed.

Under state law, when alleged victims of child sexual abuse file suit, they must use a fictitious name for themselves and those they are suing, Drivon said.

The alleged victim, identified in court documents as Manuel Doe, was "improperly touched" by Doe 1 and has since suffered "internalized shame, guilt, self-blame" and other complexes which have led to "loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life," according to the lawsuit.
However, Manuel Doe — who now lives in the Sacramento area, according to Drivon — is not one of the alleged victims cited by prosecutors in the criminal case against Ayres.

Prosecutors have been forced to build their criminal casearound patients who were allegedly abused by Ayres within the past two decades, due to the legal statute of limitations for child molestation cases.

The case of Manuel Doe, who was allegedly abused during the 1970s, is too old for prosecutors to cite in a criminal case.

However, like several dozen men whom county prosecutors allege were abused by the child psychiatrist over a period of decades, he is eligible to file a civil suit against Ayres.

Manuel Doe isn't just suing Ayres, Drivon said. He's also suing a "business entity" that employed the child psychiatrist in the city of San Mateo. The business, identified as John Doe II, is charged with failing to supervise Doe I or warn the alleged victim of the child psychiatrist's "dangerous propensities."

Additionally, the suit cites an unspecified number of individuals or organizations, identified as Does 3 through 300, who may be "liable in some manner" for the actions of Doe I.

Drivon did not confirm whether the "business entity" that employed Doe I is Peninsula Psychiatric Associates, the group practice where Ayres worked for years. He also declined to say whether any of the Does who may be liable are connected with the county's juvenile justice system, which sent Ayres thousands of youths in need of psychiatric evaluation.

The child psychiatrist's role as a "counselor and authority figure" enabled him to "assert control and influence" over Manuel Doe, according to the lawsuit.

"In his capacity as a psychiatric professional and by his words and actions, (Doe I) assured (Manuel Doe) that (his) conduct was proper," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit, filed in October, has not yet been served. Calls to Ayres' criminal defense attorney, Doron Weinberg, were not returned before press time. Neither were calls made to Donald Putterman, the attorney who represented Ayres in a 2003 civil suit alleging that the child psychiatrist molested a former patient.

The 2003 suit was settled outside of court for an undisclosed amount in 2005. The recent action filed by Manuel Doe, seeking unspecified damages, is the first known civil suit to be filed against Ayres since his arrest earlier this year.

In the criminal case, Ayres is expected to appear in the Hall of Justice on Dec. 17, where his defense attorney is scheduled to argue a motion that law enforcement violated the client-psychotherapist privilege by issuing a search warrant for Ayres' patient files.

Those files provided the basis of the criminal case against Ayres, according to prosecutors.
Ayres remains out of custody on $750,000 cash bail.

Staff writer Michael Manekin can be reached at 650-348-4331 or by e-mail at mmanekin@sanmateocountytimes.com.

Hope This Makes You Smile

Beth Tfiloh Teacher ‘YouTube’ Hit (Baltimore)

A teacher’s musical homage to the Jewish pastime of eating Chinese food on Christmas strikes a chord with the masses. . . The story behind the filmmaker.

Doctor Fled To Israel in 1989 - Sentenced to 12 years for rape

Doctor sentenced to 12 years for rape
CBS Eyewitness News
December 3, 2007

WATCH VIDEO Video High

A Bakersfield doctor convicted of raping two of his female patients almost two decades ago will be spending 12 years behind bars.

Doctor Kenneth Frank, 57, was convicted in 1989 for raping two Bakersfield women, but he fled to Israel before he could be sentenced.

Monday he was sentenced for two separate counts of raping of a drugged victim. For each count, Frank was sentenced to six years in state prison.

The defense attorney also requested a new trial for Dr. Frank which was denied by the judge.

Boycott Events Associated with Alleged Sex Offender, Rabbi Yaakov Menken

The following Call For Action Comes from The Awareness Center

CALL TO ACTION: Boycott Events Associated with Alleged Sex Offender, Rabbi Yaakov Menken
© (2007) The Awareness Center, Inc.
(You can download a pdf file of this call to action at: http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/MenkenCallToAction.pdf)

Over the last few years The Awareness Center has shared information with you regarding the case of Rabbi Yaakov Menken (AKA: Ken Menken). Due to the issue of confidentiality we have been limited in what we have made public. The allegations against Menken include sexual harassment and clergy sexual abuse.

Yaakov Menken's alleged modus operandi is to become a father figure to vulnerable young women and eventually manipulating them into having sexual contact with him. Menken is married with children and in his forties. The alleged women he targets are usually in their late teens or early twenties. In 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Menken had a discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky and confessed to having sexual contact with a very young woman he counseled. He basically blamed the survivor, stating "she came on to me".

Since The Awareness Center became aware of the allegations made against Yaakov Menken we were able to gathered information which included conversations with various rabbonim in Baltimore. It appears that a national Jewish outreach organization which includes a relative of the Menken survivors were in a bet din dispute right before and during the time that Rabbi Yaakov Menken was sexually manipulating a young woman from an extremely insulated community.
The survivor was barely out of her teens at the time that Yaakov Menken started his grooming process on her.

When Menken got started the young woman had recently moved away from her family for the first time. Menken allegedly marked her as an easy target and began to provide rabbinical counseling to her. It's important to keep in mind that Rabbi Menken was very angry with the survivors relative during this time period and the woman was unaware of the bet din dispute. It is believed that this is part of the reason why Menken picked her as a target and began to lure her in.

Usually when someone goes searching for spirituality they are in a vulnerable state because of some sort of personal crisis in their lives. These are exactly the type of people that Menken allegedly preys upon.

Several Kiruv organizations are partnering up with alleged sexual predator, Rabbi Yaakov Menken, for a Jewish Outreach event that will be featuring Dr. Gerald Schroeder. The problem is that by doing so they are basically saying that Yaakov Menken is safe and someone both affiliated and unaffiliated Jews can trust.

The Awareness Center is asking that you boycott all events associated with Yaakov Menken, Project Genesis, Torah.org, Project Genisis, Cross-Currents, and TorahMedia.org. We are also asking that you to call and or write the following people and demand that they stop working with Rabbi Yaakov Menken.

Contact:

The Advertiser
E-mail: ads.theadvertiser@gmail.com
Phone: 410-764-3787

The Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore
Adam Rosenberg
E-mail: arosenberg@associated.org

The Center for Jewish Education
Larry Ziffer, Executive Vice President
Phone: 410-735-5000, ext. 5005
E-mail: lziffer@cjebaltimore.org

Gerald Schroeder, Ph.D.
HaHish 5, Jerusalem 93223, Israel
Phone 011-972-2-5671233
E-mail: gs@geraldschroeder.com

Background information on Rabbi Yaakov Menken From The Awareness Center's Web page

Kenneth Lloyd Menken was born in 1965. While attending Princeton University, Menken became observant and started using his Hebrew name, "Yaakov Menken". He received his undergraduate degree in 1986. Upon graduating, started a seven year sabatical studying in various yeshivas (seminaries), such as Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, Bais Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood and Jerusalem, and the Mirrer Yeshiva Jerusalem.

Yaakov Menken has always been a computer maven. One of his goals was to educate unaffiliated college students who didn't have access to shiurim (Torah teachings). At the age of twenty-eight he founded his first organization, Project Genesis. It has been reported that Yaakov Menken received his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Moshe Silberberg, while attending Ohr Somayach. Silberberg also brought Menken his biggest client -- Compuplus.

Rabbi Menken is also the founder of TorahMedia.com, and a new journal of thought and opinion called Cross-Currents. Smaller Torah.org projects include Aveidah.org and more.

There have been many alleged and convicted sex offenders in Rabbi Menken's life. One of these individuals is Rabbi Eliezer Eisgrau, who is the prinicipal of Baltimore's Torah Institute. Both members of Shearith Yisrael also know as Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer's "Glen Avenue shul.

In the past Rabbi Menken stated that he felt the incest and molestation accusations against Eisgrau are ludicrous, as well as the sex abuse allegations against Rabbis Matis Weinberg and Mordecai Tendler. He also stated that the New York Jewish Week's editor, Gary Rosenblatt was wrong to expose rabbi Baruch Lanner, who was convicted and sent to prison for sexually abusing underage girls.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken has several computer businesses -- Project Genesis (which opperates several non-profit organizations and Team Genesis, which does commercial web development.

It's important to note that for several years Menken's organizations Team Genesis/Project Genesis had connection to convicted sex offender Rabbi Benyamin Fleischman, who was protected by the rabbonim of Baltimore until his conviction.

Some of the clients of Rabbi Benyamin Fleishman includes (click here to see the full list Rabbi Benyamin Fleischman's clients)

• Agudath Israel of America

• Agudath Israel of Baltimore

• Bais Yaakov of Baltimore (the Principal is the son Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro and is the brother of Rabbi Yisoel Shapiro)

• Ner Israel Rabbinical College (multiple allegations were made of clergy sexual abuse against the grandson of one of the founders)

• Torah Institute of Baltimore

• Project Genesis (Rabbi Yaakov Menken)