The waves of sexual abuse cases against religious sects have foregrounded a common denominator – that accused Churches are more than likely to dismiss, hide, and cover-up abuses. What makes this heinous conspiracy is the fact that abusers are typically known to victims; trusted community leaders and members, in fact.
The Role of Rabbis in Judaism
In Judaism, a rabbi is an ordained spiritual leader or religious teacher who may choose to lead a congregation or otherwise. Rabbis perform a multitude of services for the Jewish community. They are vital figures in transferring knowledge of the Torah (religious Jewish texts) down to generations. They also work in resolving conflict in Jewish courts, counseling and disciplining members, administering synagogue, taking part in dialogues and legislations (on behalf of Jewish interests), and delivering sermons among others.
Depending on the Jewish denominations, rabbis may have different ordination requirements. Customarily, rabbis were only men but thanks to the second-wave feminist movement in the 70s, women rabbis have been ordained in the Non-orthodox denominations. This progressive step is influenced by the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism.
As opposed to other Churches, rabbis are ordained with respect to credentials instead of spiritual or nominal grounds. They earn an institutional stamp of approval. Because of their strong ties to the Jewish tradition, knowledge, and community, rabbis are highly regarded. The Talmud (book of Jewish law) even states that honoring a rabbi and Torah scholar is considered a good deed or mitzvah.
Not all rabbis, however, actively perform their duties aside from studying. Some may opt to follow a different career after ordination. Despite not performing conventional rabbinic functions, they may still do so if needed or voluntarily.
Rabbi Sexual Abuse Cases
Like other religious leaders, parents and guardians entrust children under rabbinic supervision. While rabbis are generally respectable and trustworthy, some may abuse their power over members of the community. Here are some of the surfaced cases of rabbi sexual abuse:
- In 2019, 38 former students of the Yeshiva University High School claimed to have been abused by Rabbis George Finkelstein and Macy Gordon in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The lawsuit alleged that the school failed to protect the students with Rabbi Finkelstein being promoted to principal despite parents reporting the allegations to the administration.
The lawsuit indicated that Rabbi Finkelstein targeted children of holocaust survivors, telling them that reporting the abuse will further their parents’ suffering. Rabbi Gordon allegedly sodomized his victims with objects in a “vicious and sadistic” manner. Rabbi Gordon died in 2017 but both Rabbis have denied all allegations in the past. Rabbi Finkelstein moved to Israel and had since worked at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue.
- In another case in 2019, a rabbi was sentenced to 12 years in prison and was ordered to pay $15 million to the victim in a civil suit. Rabbi Daniel Greer was convicted for abusing a teenage boy between 2002 and 2003. According to the victim, Rabbi Greer sexually abused him in the perpetrator’s home, on school premises, and at motels in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Greer was convicted of four counts of risk of injury to a minor.
- In 2015, an exemplary figure in the Jewish community, Rabbi Shmuel Krawatsky was accused of sexual abuse by three boys then-aged 7, 7, and 8 years old. Rabbi K, as the perpetrator was known, reportedly groomed the children and abused them over the camp. Two of the victims revealed in an interview that the Rabbi had anally penetrated them, one of them also alleging oral sexual coercion.
During the investigation, the police brought one of the victims to the crime scene and have requested the father to leave the boy with him and Rabbi David Finkelstein, the camp’s director. The police ultimately failed to gather footage, sworn statements, and witnesses. The Child Protective Services (CPS) was initially able to substantiate two of the claims; however, the rabbi appealed the findings and CPS overturned their position. Rabbi K since filed a defamation lawsuit against the parents of the accusers.
- In 2013, Rabbi and school director Yoel Malik was arrested for abusing three teenage boys. The rabbi was accused of taking two of the boys to a hotel to sexually abuse them and touching another boy’s genital over the pants while touching himself. The rabbi was seen in video footage entering a hotel with a fourth victim at 3 am and leaving later in the morning.
Rabbi Malik admitted visiting a hotel with the boys but reported that some of them had made advances on him. According to Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg, the one who encouraged the boys to come forward with their stories, he had received a series of emails reporting abuse indicating students and former students. In 2016, Rabbi Malik was sentenced to an extremely generous plea deal of 60 days in jail and 6 years in probation because the victims were reluctant to testify in public.
The Effects of Rabbi Sexual Abuse among Victims
Victims and survivors of sexual violence aren’t just terrorized by the repercussions of their abuse but by the stigma and pressure of coming forward with their stories. Because of the power play between adult authoritative abusers and young accusers, victims are silenced until adulthood, by which time they may have little to no time searching for legal vindication. This scenario is exacerbated by the fact that even with relatively quick reporting, higher-ups deny allegations and opt to protect molesters instead of pursuing official inquiries and permanently removing these obvious threats to the children’s safety.
In yet another case of child sexual abuse, a Jewish family was shunned by their Jewish community, received harassing messages, and even kicked out of their home for reporting the abuse. According to the victim’s father, they had cooperated with the police and spoke about his teenage son’s abuse but was met with hostility and rejection from their own community. Others who have pursued justice for their abuse have also been excommunicated, harassed by neighbors, or bribed by community leaders to pressure them into dropping their cases.
A 64-year-old mother of another victim who had reported being groped as a student in the United Talmudic Academy in Williamsburg stated, “There is no nice way of saying it. Our community protects molesters. Other than that, we are wonderful.” She reported that her son was groped multiple times by a school official but upon reporting to the school, they had simply removed the rabbi but denied the allegations. When the statute of limitations ran, they reinstated the said rabbi to teaching.
This cyclical torment arising from acts of the abuser takes its toll to victims, and result to grave negative impacts. According to a study on CSA across the Jewish community, the repercussion of being abused include greater psychiatric distress, lower religious observance, and lower intrinsic religiosity. This resonates with one victim of Rabbi Finkelstein who said his abuse pushed him to abandon his religion.
Sexualization, stigmatization, betrayal, and powerlessness determines the degree of damage among victims of child sexual abuse, Jewish Community Watch reports. This is broken down into specifics like the identity of the abuser, the number of abusers, how long the abuse occurred, the abuse experienced, the response of the community upon disclosure of the abuse, etc. Aside from teaching children to report sexual misconduct done against them or someone they know, it’s important for parents and the community learn to properly acknowledge and respond to instances of CSA.
What to Do if You Have Been Sexually Abused in Illinois
While nobody wishes for this incident to happen, it’s best to be equipped with the proper knowledge to ensure you’re able to respond to emergency situations. If you or anyone you know has been sexually assaulted:
- Go to a safe place.
- Contact someone you trust.
- Contact a rape crisis hotline in Illinois.
- Visit your local Emergency Department for possible injuries.
- Submit to a medical examination to collect evidence (also known as a rape kit).
- Contact the police to report the assault.
- Contact a lawyer and know your legal options.
A typical treatment will include the following:
- Medical forensic services for injuries;
- Emergency contraceptives;
- Rape crisis counseling.
Where to Get Legal Help
Coming into terms with abuse is a difficult process. While legal recourse may be the last thing on a victim’s mind, it’s crucial to know that legal help will always be available. Our attorneys here at America’s Consumer Lawyer champion rights and holding abusers accountable – be it individuals or institutions.
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at what we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put people first.
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