Documents Related to Ultra-Orthodox Child Sex Abuse
A Brooklyn Father's Search for Justice for His Son
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This letter was sent to the district attorney's office seven months after Meir Dascalowitz, a Williamsburg man, was arrested and charged with molesting Mr. Jungreis's son. Mr. Jungreis was concerned that Mr. Dascalowitz might be allowed to make a plea deal with prosecutors. Mr. Dascalowitz remains in custody and is awaiting trial.
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As Mr. Jungreis's son, now 16, began to go to therapy, he started to reveal in journal entries the pain of his situation.
An Upstate Mother Tells Police of Threats
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In April, an ultra-Orthodox woman from Kiryas Joel, N.Y., took the unusual step of documenting to law enforcement the intimidation she faced after she reported to the police that her son had been molested. Three days after her statement was filed, the man accused of the abuse, Joseph Gelbman, 52, pleaded guilty to a single charge of endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to three years of probation.
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A Victim's Advocate Is Ostracized
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A flier was posted in the ultra-Orthodox sections of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, attacking Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg, because he had publicized child sex abuse allegations and blamed rabbis for covering up cases.
Translation:
Cursed You Are Above All the Animals and Wild Beasts.
Corrupt and Infamous Traitor.
Nachum N"achash (an acronym for "Nachum, the devil" and a play on the Hebrew word “snake”) Rosenberg Sh"ri (an acronym meaning "The name of the wicked shall rot.")
Leave, Tainted One!
Extract N"achash (Nachum, the Devil) from the Four Corners of the Earth (Translation by Irit Pazner Garshowitz)
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Excerpted translation:
Hundreds of rabbis and religious judges of New York, woe the generation that this has come up in its time…
…We have an enemy from within, Nachum Rosenberg, who calls himself rabbi of the mikvahs. And he shrouded himself in the cloak of a preacher of morals, so as to be able to say, by telephone, things of blasphemy and obscenity that the mind cannot stand, and their place is impure and defiles, and to our sorrow this voice is heard in many homes of Israel, and specifically youth are innocently drawn to listen to his venomous and disgusting speeches, and at this time he has brought down many victims, and all the nation is lamenting and crying. And we have already begged him and pleaded, and rabbis and educators warned him to abandon his evil ways and shut his mouth from speaking blasphemy, and he blocks his ears, and does not listen, and he stands rebellious to destroy and poison the youth in a horrible way and dares to threaten the rabbis that he will inform on them….
…It is a great obligation on parents and educators to oversee and warn old and young not to stumble and fall into the trap, God forbid, even by listening. He who cares about the future of his sons and daughters will know that this is a risk to their lives.
…This pervert is a stumbling block in the house of Israel and his sentence is that of one who sins and leads others to sin...
…And the public must beware and stay away from him and push him out of our camp, not speak to him and even more, not to honor him or support him and not allow him to set foot in any synagogue until he returns from his evil ways and completely stops the phone calls.
Signed by 32 prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis (Translation by Irit Pazner Garshowitz)
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Translation
Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar
March 27, 2008
To the sextons of our synagogue, Kahal Yetev Lev D’Satmar on Clymer Street, may its good name be blessed and praised.
After inquiring about your well-being, a terrible rumor has reached us that someone known as "Nachum Rosenberg" is planning to come and pray in our aforementioned synagogue.
The above-mentioned is infamous for creating his hot line, which publicizes adulterous and vulgar material, shaming adults and scholars, and a Jew is forbidden from hearing them, for it brings failure upon hundreds of children and youth of Israel when they hear the abomination on the hot line, and there has already been an appeal against him by the learned rabbis, members of the Union of Rabbis, may they live long and happily.
In light of this, we hereby notify your honors that this Nachum Rosenberg must not step foot in our synagogue with no exception until he closes this hot line and repents and regrets his bad acts.
Signed in sorrow
Board of the Community
(Translation by Irit Pazner Garshowitz)
Educating Children About the Risks
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Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, who heads Project Y.E.S., said that thousands of copies of this culturally sensitive book, which warns children of the dangers of being molested in the context of other safety risks, have sold since the book was made available this summer. Publisher: Mesorah Publications of Brooklyn.
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A Brooklyn Religious Court Urges Action
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On July 11, 2011, the religious court, or beth din, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, issued a strong ruling calling on Jews to report child sexual abuse allegations to secular authorities. The judges were responding in part to the testimony of Mordechai Feinstein, 19, who accused a Crown Heights rabbi of molesting him.
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As Crown Heights reeled last summer over the accusations of molesting against Rabbi Moshe F. Keller, who had led a foundation for at-risk youth, one community organization issued a warning: The Jews of Crown Heights, the Vaad HaKohol warned, should not rush to judgment about the accused man and should show mercy on his family. Mr. Keller pleaded guilty in May to one count of endangering the welfare of a child and received three years' probation. (Credit: COLlive)