Case of Unnamed The Synagogue Rapist

Case of Unnamed The Synagogue Rapist

Jerusalem, Israel

A 20 year old Jerusalem man was under arrest Wednesday for sexually assaulting at least ten children in a city synagogue.

If you have any more information regarding this case, please forward it to The Awareness Center

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Table of Contents: 

1. Jerusalemite held for assaulting children in synagogue (12/31/2003)

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Jerusalemite held for assaulting children in synagogueBy Etgar Lefkovits
The Jerusalem Post - December 31, 2003


A 20 year old Jerusalem man was under arrest Wednesday for sexually assaulting at least ten children in a city synagogue, police said.

The children involved in the sexual abuse case were aged six to twelve. The haredi suspect, who has confessed to carrying out the attacks, was apprehended late Tuesday night, after a minor complained to police that the suspect had shown him his sexual organ during prayers in the synagogue in the city's Romema district, and then sexually abused him in a nearby room.

During his interrogation, the suspect confessed to carrying out ten such attacks both in the synagogue, and on a city street, after first offering the minors to show them how 'children enter the world,' Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said.

The suspect was remanded by seven days late Wednesday by the Jerusalem Magistrate's court, and, despite police opposition, ordered the man sent for a psychiatric evaluation, and forbade the publication of his name.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

--Margaret Mead

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SECRETARY THOMPSON STATEMENT

SECRETARY THOMPSON STATEMENT

 

Date: December 22, 2003

For Release: Immediately

Contact: HHS Press Office

(202) 690-6343

 

STATEMENT BY TOMMY G. THOMPSON 

Secretary Of Health And Human Services

On the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003

 

President Bush on Friday signed important legislation that will authorize more than $200 million across the federal government to combat the practice of human trafficking -- including women and children forced into prostitution. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA) renews the U.S. government's commitment to identify and assist victims exploited for labor or sex in the United States and worldwide.

 

As President Bush declared before the United Nations General Assembly in September, "Nearly two centuries after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, and more than a century after slavery was officially ended, the trade in human beings for any purpose must not be allowed to thrive in our time."

 

The TVPRA is a decisive step toward meeting the President's challenge. It provides fresh resources and initiatives to assist, in particular, the 18,000 - 20,000 victims of human trafficking who are trafficked into the United States every year. It augments the legal tools which can be used against traffickers by empowering victims to bring federal civil suits against traffickers for actual and punitive damages, and by including sex trafficking and forced labor as offenses under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization statute. It also encourages the nation's 21,000 state and local law enforcement agencies to participate in the detection and investigation of human trafficking cases.

 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a significant role in implementing the law's victim-centered, compassionate approach to finding and aiding the victims of this modern-day slave trade. HHS is launching a major public awareness campaign, targeted at local officials and service providers most likely to encounter victims, to find, rescue and restore victims to a humane condition of life. HHS welcomes the additional authority this Act provides to assist victims from the moment of detection.

 

A bedrock principle of this legislation is that victims of trafficking in the U.S. (who likely are not legal aliens and may be involved in illegal practices such as prostitution) are not perpetrators of crime -- they are the victims of crime, and they ought be allowed to rebuild their lives by staying here in the United States.

 

By signing the reauthorization of the federal human trafficking program, the President is reaffirming his Administration's commitment to end the horror of human trafficking, and to ensure that the real criminals -- the traffickers of innocent people -- are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Survivors First Database on Catholic Sex Offenders

At around the same time The Awareness Center started creating a sex offender registry of alleged and convicted sex offenders regarding Jewish offenders, a Catholic organization started doing the same thing.

The difference is that the Survivors First database focused on clergy sexual abuse cases, where The Awareness Center's registry focused on all cases involving sex crimes where either the offender or survivor were Jewish.

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Survivors First Database on Catholic Sex Offenders

Important Notes on Priest Database

This Database was started in November 2002 for five reasons:

• To help survivors find abuser-specific support groups. We have learned that these groups are very helpful for survivors. Priest-specific groups exist for Birmingham, Hanley and others. Connecting with a survivor of the same abuser helps a survivor understand that he or she were not the only one who was abused (a common misperception by survivors). 
  
  
  
• To find more victims by eventually building a list of parishes in which an abusive priest served to assist reach-out efforts to survivors. We believe that thousands of survivors have not yet sought help due to the shame and guilt so often associated with sexual abuse. 
  
  
  
• To educate the mainstream Catholics that priests have actually been convicted (many do not believe that this is the case) 
  
  
  
• To help law enforcement and to educate lawmakers. The Priest Database as been used by grand juries, police and detectives as a law enforcement tool. It has also been useful in educating lawmakers of the importance of extending or eliminating the statute of limitations for sexual abuse, Such reform is the number one legislative goal of the Survivor Movement. 
  
  
  
• To help with Public Safety to keep kids safe. There are a number of documented cases in which an alleged abuser or convicted abuser left the church only to abuse children again in a secular setting because the Bishop did not inform authorities about his behavior.
  

Important notes about the Priest Database

1. The Priests Database at www.SurvivorsFirst.org is not breaking any new news. It is *reformatting* or "re-reporting" information that is already in the public realm. No new allegations are included in this Database, since each allegations has already been reported by the media.
   
   
   
2. The only way an allegation or legal action is entered into the Priest Database is if it has been reported by a reputable newspaper or we obtain a copy of a lawsuit or other similar instrument. SF maintains a file for each priest with a physical copy of the article.
   
   
   
3. SF compiles only facts -- the fact of an allegation or legal action. Since we are re-reporting previously reported information, this information has already been approved by the legal departments of respected newspapers (Globe, USA Today, etc.). SF should be judged with the same criticism that the NY Times, Boston Globe and San Francisco Chronicle are judged in their reporting of allegations -- no less or no more. 
   
   
   
4. The Priest Database does not state or imply that priests with allegations are guilty. It simply reports that an allegation exists. The U.S. legal system assumes one is innocent until proven guilty. Civil or private settlements are typically not admissions of guilt.
   
   
   
5. False allegations are extremely rare. According to the Church's own defense lawyer who has defended the Church against over 500 lawsuits, false allegations are less than 2% of all allegations (New York Times Aug. 31, 2002) . Greedy people who want a quick dollar would have a much better chance for a financial windfall with socially acceptable fake accidents like slipping on water in a department store, rather than a socially embarrassing and shame-ridden claim of being sodomized by a well respected priest. SF is building a list of priests cleared by a jury trial and welcomes help in finding such cases.
   
   
   
6. We do not list the victim's name or the current address or phone number of a priest. 
   
   
   
7. Keeping the database accurate and up-to-date is extremely important. We have 4 volunteers who monitor news sources to keep our database current and we receive many emails each week with updates and corrections. We actively welcome emails with corrections and updates and update the Priest Database on the web site once a month.
   
   
   
8. A very important public debate right now is the percentage of priests who are abusers. The Vatican insists that it is less than 1% and equal to averages in other groups. The Priest Database lends facts to this emotional debate. As with any disaster or scandal, it is responsible to estimate the size of the damage. When there is an oil spill, prudent people estimate the number of barrels of oil spilled. The Priest Database is a responsible effort to estimate the extent of sexual abuse in the Church.

 This website is maintained by survivors, their supporters and dedicated Catholics.

PRIMROSE PATH: Book About The Case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks

Libel chill leaves children's author feeling censored OPINIONS / Carol Matas's novel about a Jewish school and a child-abusing rabbi touched a nerve in Winnipeg. A synagogue cancelled her appearance amid threats of litigation.

By Marc Hubert

The Globe and Mall (Toronto) - December 19, 1995 

For more information on this case: CLICK HERE

FALLOUT from a high-profile investigation of child-abuse allegations against a former Manitoba rabbi has created a new form of libel chill for a Winnipeg author of children's books.  
 

Carol Matas - Author

Carol Matas had been invited to speak in February at an interfaith luncheon sponsored by the Sisterhood of Winnipeg's Shaarey Zedek synagogue. But her appearance was cancelled after the congregation received a legal opinion suggesting the synagogue could be sued for publication of a libel if it permitted Matas to speak. 

"This is paranoia of the worst sort and censorship in the worst way. Libel chill isn't a strong enough term. Basically, they're censoring me and not the book. Somehow, I am no longer acceptable," Matas said recently. 

Book about Rabbi Ephraim Bryks

What's prompting the controversy is Matas's latest novel, The Primrose Path. Published by Winnipeg's Blizzard Publishing, it's the story of a Jewish school enduring a child-abusing rabbi. The case bears some similarities to a Winnipeg police investigation of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks, former principal of the Torah Academy in Winnipeg. Now closed, Torah Academy was a school operated by Herzlia-Adas Yeshrun, an Orthodox congregation formerly led by Bryks, now living in New York. 

After a year-long review, Manitoba's public prosecutions office last month decided that no Criminal Code charges were warranted against Bryks, who was previously investigated for similar allegations by Winnipeg police and the city's child and family services department in 1987 and 1988. 

The Case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks - Alleged sexual predator

After a 1994 CBC documentary outlining other child-abuse allegations involving Bryks (which was broadcast before the police resumed their second investigation), the rabbi launched a defamation lawsuit against his accusers and the CBC. But beyond a preliminary notice, these cases have not progressed. Two years after the 1988 report by the city department, Bryks left Winnipeg for New York. 

While Matas says she was only asked to deliver a speech, the synagogue maintains that she was going to speak about her new book. By acquiescing to the threat of litigation, the synagogue's decision, to some, appears to be a highly unusual instance of the suppression of an author's freedom of expression, especially since no defamation lawsuits have been commenced against the book, which was published last September. 

Matas, who is emphatic that her book isn't based on Bryks, describes The Primrose Path as "a universal story which I based on research across North America. And in two other communities where I've spoken besides Winnipeg, people in the audience believe that the book is about a specific case in their community. It says to me that I'm doing my job as a writer because it is a universal story." 

Matas also says she is very upset about the synagogue's cancellation, initiated, it said, because of a "scheduling conflict." "I think it's shameful and outrageous. . . . And being unable to have me as a speaker because they're afraid that someone might sue them is scary business." 

Matas says she learned from Shaarey Zedek's president, Samuel Wilder, that her invitation had been cancelled because the synagogue's lawyers said that since "the story in The Primrose Path so closely parallels what happened in Winnipeg, the synagogue would be subject to a defamation action if they let me speak." 

Contacted earlier this month, Wilder refused to answer any questions for The Globe and Mail, saying "this isn't an issue for the press." 

Denise Waldman, president of the synagogue's Sisterhood, was equally reticent about answering questions and, she said, "if there is any Sisterhood board member who speaks to you, they will have to answer to me. I'm a young president of a flourishing sisterhood and we don't need any garbage." 

The Sisterhood's move is, however, attracting negative attention from both inside and outside Winnipeg. Penny Dickens, executive director of the Writers Union of Canada, for one, condemned the decision. "They took the easy way out. It certainly wasn't a heroic decision - they've silenced a writer. . . . This isn't chill, it's a major freeze." 

While characterizing libel chill as a term usually involving state action, Toronto criminal lawyer Clayton Ruby had "grave doubts" regarding the legal opinion. "Unless they knew in advance that she's going to be defaming someone, they wouldn't be responsible for giving her a platform." 

Ruby also deplored the Sisterhood's cancellation of Matas's address. "They don't understand literature and its role in a free society. It's a message from the community that we don't want to talk about that subject matter. And then authors won't write books like that. It's unhealthy and shortsighted." 

David Matas, a Winnipeg immigration lawyer and cousin of the author, agreed with Ruby. "Her work is a work of fiction. It doesn't identify a specific person. It's most unusual for a libel suit to come out of a fictional account," Matas said. 

However, Julian Porter, a Toronto lawyer noted for his expertise in libel and defamation, said that it is possible that the author of a fictional book could be sued for libel and that the synagogue could be sued, in turn, by allowing Carol Matas to speak. Generally speaking, he said, the test is if the work of fiction refers, or is capable of referring, to a real person. Although there are no Canadian precedents, civil liability for such cases has been found in the United States, England and Australia. 

Porter qualified his comments by noting that these types of cases are very rare. Yet, about 15 years ago, he successfully settled a libel case involving Toronto author Ian Adams, who wrote a novel suggesting that a government representative was part of a Communist spy ring. 

Porter predicted that to win such a case at trial a lawyer would have to put a number of people in the witness box, each of whom believed that the book was about the allegedly defamed person. To safely write a roman a clef, Porter recommended that writers should change a host of personal details. "Changing a couple of little things isn't enough." 

But Matas's Winnipeg-based publisher, Anna Synenko, dismisses the possibility of libel action involving The Primrose Path. "We haven't received any libel suits yet and I don't think we will. I really don't understand what the Sisterhood's problem is. The book is based on a large amount of research and not on one incident." 

Matas is the author of 15 books, most aimed at readers aged 10 to 17. Her novels include Daniel's Story, commissioned by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993, and Sworn Enemies, which won the National Association of Jewish Libraries' Sydney Taylor award in 1993. 

For more information on this case: CLICK HERE

Remembering To Exhale

Remembering To Exhale
 © (1997) Victoria Polin, MA, NCC, ATR-BC, LCPC

Don't you just hate it when you're upset, and someone tells you to take a deep breath and exhale? I know for myself that used to be the last thing I wanted to hear. I remember thinking yeah right, what is breathing going to do! When we are sick, hurting, or lonely all we want is to be soothed. Being an adult means taking care of our selves. Remembering to breathe is just one of the many things we can do when we're feeling bad. One thing I've learned about breathing is that if I don't exhale, I begin to lose control of my life. By just remembering to breathe (in and OUT) I can do just about anything!

When we are surprised, shocked, panicked, stressed, or have flashbacks -- we automatically inhale fast and deep, but usually forget to exhale. When we don't let our breath go out, our body toxins and the attached feelings to the stressor get stuck inside. After several years of keeping our breath inside, our feelings also build up and we begin to feel stuck. When this happens we begin to feel like we can't do anything.

Why is it so important to breathe? When you stop breathing, your brain stops receiving oxygen. When that happens, you can't think clearly, and you can't solve problems. I know for myself when I can't solve problems I start to feel stuck, helpless, unable to move beyond the point that I'm at.

If you stop and think about it there are several types of breathing. One important type is the kind women learn in Lamaze classes. They teach mothers-to-be to reduce labor pains, with two short breaths out, and one long, deep breath in. Remember the key word to relieving pain -- breathing OUT!!! This is true for both physical and emotional pain.

When we go to the doctor and need to have an X-ray taken, the technician always reminds us to take a deep breath, right before they take the picture. But how many of us forget to let go of the air and exhale? What kinds of feelings do you have when you are breathing in before an X-ray? I know for myself when I'm going to have an X-ray taken, it's because I've fallen, or am sick and are tying to find out if something more serious is wrong. If I don't remember to exhale, I am once again breathing in anxiety, panic, stress, etc.

When most of us are on a roller coaster and about to go down hill, we take a deep breath in. Do we remember to exhale? If the answer is NO, once again we keep in the stress. The same thing happens when we are about to take a test at school, for a job, confronting someone about something that bothers us. We all take a deep breath in, but how many of us remember to let it go. I wonder how many deep breaths are stuck inside each and everyone of us? How many of those feelings attached to those breaths are also stuck inside us? I also wonder how many of us develop stressed related illnesses because we forget to let go of our breath? Breathing (in and OUT) can help us think more clearly, elevate stress and anxiety. Paying attention to our breath can also help bring us back to the Here and Now, when we are having flashbacks, or when we are frightened by a memory and/or thought.

I think the two most important things about breathing is we all know how to do it, and IT'S FREE! You don't have to go to the doctor to get a prescription to breathe. It's innate, we are born already knowing how and when to breathe. I think another important thing to remember is that I've never heard of anyone overdosing from taking slow, long, deep breaths and then exhaling slowly. I don't think I've ever heard of any one dying from it either. So the next time someone reminds you to breathe, remember they are trying to help you learn to live!

Question: How does being sexually molested affect a girl's later ability to marry a Cohen?

Question: How does being sexually molested affect a girl's later ability to marry a Cohen?
The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - 

 
The short answer is:

If she was less than three years old at the time, she can marry a Cohen no matter who the molester was or what age he was.

If the molester was less than nine years old, she can marry a Cohen no matter who the molester was or what age she was.

If there was neither vaginal nor anal intercourse, but only other types of contact such as oral sex or fondling, she can marry a Cohen no matter who the molester was or what age they were. (However, even partial insertion of the penis is considered sexual intercourse.

If the molester was a Jew whom she is allowed to marry (see below for details) she can marry a Cohen no matter what age they were.

If there was intercourse, and she was three years old or older and he was nine years old or older and it was someone whom she is not allowed to marry (such as a non-Jew or a close relative (see below)), she may not marry a Cohen.

If she was married, and the molester was nine years old or older she may not marry a Cohen whether it was rape, mistake or voluntary.

In any case where there is doubt as to who the perpetrator was or whether or not there was sexual intercourse, an expert Rabbi must be consulted.


The long answer:
A Cohen is forbidden to marry a divorcee, a chalalah or a zonah Rambam Issurei Biah 17:1.

A divorcee includes one who was divorced after erusin Rambam Issurei Biah 17:18 even though she didn't yet have nissuin, even if she is still a virgin. Erusin is the first part of the wedding ceremony where the groom gives his bride the ring and declares "harei at m'kudeshet li etc." Nissuin is the second part, which is either the reading of the sheva b'rachot under the chuppah or the entering into a private room afterwards.

 

There are three kinds of chalalah.

1. A woman whose mother was a chalalah is a chalalah.
2. A woman whose father was a Cohen and whose mother was forbidden to a Cohen is a chalalah. This case actually falls under the first case. Since the cohen was forbidden to be with this woman, he made her into a chalalah. Therefore she is the daughter of a chalalah.
3. A woman who was forbidden to marry a Cohen who had sexual intercourse Whether vaginal or anal intercourse, but does not include oral or manual sex. See Rambam Issurei Biah 19:2 with a Cohen becomes a chalalah.

It does not matter whether she knew that it was permitted to be with the Cohen or not, and it does not matter if it was voluntary or forced or by mistake. Rambam Issurei Biah 19:2

A zonah includes several categories, but note that it does not include the most common translation of the word which is prostitute. A non-married Jewish girl who sells herself for sex or freely has sex with everyone, as long as she does not have sex with someone whom she is forbidden to marry such as a non-Jew or a close relative is not a zonah and may subsequently marry a Cohen. In regard to a Cohen, the word zonah is a technical term and someone may become a zonah in regard to these laws through no fault of her own, and no one intends to insult her thereby.


The following are considered zonah for the purposes of the prohibition to marry a Cohen:

• A non-Jew
• A convert
• A Canaanite slave
• A freed Canaanite slave

A woman who had sexual intercourse with a man with whom she was forbidden to have sexual intercourse Whether vaginal or anal intercourse, but does not include oral or manual sex. based on a general prohibition As opposed to a prohibition limited to certain classes of people such as Cohanim.. This includes close relatives, non-Jews, mamzers The halachic term mamzer is not the same as the English word bastard. A bastard is one whose parents were not married to each other. A mamzer is one conceived from a union which was forbidden and was punishable by caret (excluding the case of the mother being a niddah). Canaanite slaves and for a married woman, any man other than her husband.

It does not matter whether she knew that it was permitted to be with the person or not, and it does not matter if it was voluntary or forced or by mistake Rambam Issurei Biah 18:6.. Therefore if (r"l) a Cohen's wife was raped, he is required to divorce her.


For purposes of these laws, close relatives include:

• father or grandfather
• brother
• son or grandson
• nephew
• step-father or step-grandfather
• step-son or step grandson
• father-in-law (even after she is widowed from her husband)
• brother-in-law
• adopted relatives are not considered relatives for these laws

Neither uncles nor cousins are considered close relatives for this purpose, and in fact a woman is allowed to marry her uncle or her first cousin.

In all of the cases of zonah and chalalah, the woman becomes forbidden to a Cohen through an act of sexual intercourse. This includes either vaginal or anal intercourse. It does not require full penetration of the penis. If the entire head of the penis entered either the vagina or the anus, this is considered sexual intercourse for all of the laws of the Torah. If only part of the head entered or it is in doubt, an expert rabbi should be consulted.

Throughout the Torah, and specifically for these laws, for the act of sexual intercourse to have consequence, the female must be at least three years old and the male must be at least nine years old. Therefore, any molestation of a girl under three years of age has no effect on her status, and she is considered to be a virgin. Similarly if the molester was below the age of nine, the intercourse does not count and she is considered a virgin.

So too, lesbian sex and bestiality, even though they are forbidden, are not considered sexual intercourse to affect someone's ability to marry a Cohen.

Sexual acts other than sexual intercourse, such as oral sex (both fellatio and cunnilingus), fondling or other types of manual sex, masturbation, kissing, etc. do not affect a woman's ability to marry a Cohen.

On the other hand, if there were sexual intercourse of the type that would forbid a woman to marry a Cohen, it does not matter if it were voluntary or by rape or by mistake.

In any case where there is doubt as to who the perpetrator was or whether or not there was sexual intercourse, an expert Rabbi must be consulted.

A regular Cohen (as opposed to the Cohen Gadol) may marry a woman who is not a virgin. So if a woman (or girl) had sexual intercourse with a Jew (even if she was above the age of three and even if he were above the age of nine) whom she is allowed to marry, even if they were not married, she is still allowed to marry a Cohen after that. It does not matter is it was voluntary or rape or error.

These laws are given by Hashem in the Torah. They are not designed as punishments or insults. They are a recognition of the special holiness of a Cohen. The laws are based on his status as a Cohen, whether or not he receives the privileges of a Cohen and whether or not he performs the duties of a Cohen. If a woman who is forbidden to marry a Cohen marries a Cohen (or has intercourse with a Cohen not in marriage) she commits an aveirah (sin). In addition, her children are chalalim. This means that even though the father is a Cohen, the children are not. In addition, the status of chalalah is carried down in the female line, so that her daughters, their daughters, etc. may never marry Cohanim, and if they do, their children will not be Cohanim.

Secrets That Must Be Told: Announcing A New Hotline In Israel

By Yechezkel Chezi Goldberg

Jewish Press - December 10, 2003

Chezi Goldberg

Sruli is a quiet shy boy who has a horrible secret. No one knows what his secret is. He cannot tell.

Pinchas is a strapping young yeshiva bachur with a good head. No on knows that he holds a terrible secret alone in his heart. He never thought he could tell anyone what happened to him 14 years ago. So he never did tell. He kept that secret locked away where it haunts him as he grows through life.

Avi was known as a trouble-making student throughout high school. Actually, the change was quite sudden. Throughout his primary school years he did well, even excelled. Suddenly, half way through his first year in high school yeshiva, something happened. He never told anyone. How could he tell?

Who could he tell? Who would understand? Who would be believe him?

Yidi suddenly stopped going to the mikva in the mornings as was his family custom for generations. His father was angry with Yidi. Abba could not understand Yidi`s stubborn change of heart and over time, their relationship worsened. Eventually, Yidi became so aggravated with his father`s non-stop onslaught of pressure that he go to the mikve that he finally left home. Yidi felt ashamed of his reason for not going to the mikve. He had tried to tell a friend once, but he felt that his friend was not helpful. In fact, the friend seemed callous and cruel about it. Yidi swore he would never divulge his secret to anyone. It was too risky.

These young men have secrets that must be told. Until now, they have felt cornered and unable to turn anywhere for help, guidance, understanding and direction. Now that has changed. Each of these young men has a story to tell and now there is an address where they can turn for help.

The Hotline For Religious Male Victims of Sexual Abuse (972-2-532-8000) has been launched in Israel.

Sruli was molested by his Cheder Rebbe. He wasn`t the only one to be molested but nevertheless, he felt quite alone. By contacting the hotline, Sruli and his parents were able to get initial help putting the molestation in perspective and then, with the help of staff, they were able to map out a plan of action. Reaching out to the hotline ended the isolation.

Pinchas was at a Purim party when some older bachurim became drunk and molested him. He was deeply traumatized by the event. The abuse continued afterwards in yeshiva, as the group continued to verbally abuse him. While he never forgot the horrific event, he never told anyone. It caused him deep, psychological scars including making him wonder if he could ever marry, after being put through such a terrible experience. No one understood how such a great bachur could be unmarried at 32. If they only knew the story. By contacting the Hotline, Pinchas was able to retrace his life steps and get the help he desperately needed.

Avi was away from home at sleep away camp when his counselor molested him. Avi had stayed back from a camping trip with a cold. One counselor offered to stay behind. That night, he invaded Avi`s bed space without a word and proceeded to molest Avi. Avi was never the same again. The counselor threatened Avi to keep the secret quiet. Since the counselor was bigger than he was, and since his father was a well known powerful community Rabbi, Avi was convinced that no one would believe him anyway. Who could he tell? Who should he tell? Who would understand? Calling the hotline was the first step out of the darkness.

Yidi stopped going to the mikve when he once accidentally came upon a local man acting inappropriately with a young boy. Although Yidi himself was not involved physically in the incident, what he viewed was traumatic for him. He ran from the mikve as fast as he could and he never went back. He also never forgot what he had seen. However, he did not feel that he could discuss the topic with anyone that he knew. As a result, Yidi seemed continually haunted by the scene as it replayed itself in his mind, countless times over the years.

Although Yidi was not molested himself, what he saw with his own eyes, continued to disturb him for years. It was hard for Yidi to concentrate. It affected his faith in G-d since the man who was doing the molesting who looked — in Yidi`s eyes — a ``rabbinic``man. Then, after Yidi left home, the story and images seemed to leave his memory. One day, he was visiting friends for the weekend when his friend asked Yidi if he wanted to visit a mikve before the Sabbath. Suddenly, Yidi went numb. He went pale. His friend had no idea what had happened. When Yidi recovered his wits, he realized that the past nightmare had returned.

Yidi had felt in the past, that he had nowhere to turn. Now, Yidi had somewhere to go with his story.

He knew he had to release this secret or these demons would chase him forever. The hotline is a place to turn to, where those answering the hotline do indeed, understand and they have the necessary tools to deal with what is haunting Yidi.

Some secrets must be told or they simply eat away at our neshamas and destroy our lives and our families. I must stress that the important issue is to share the secret, to lighten the load, the stress and pain by reaching out for help.

In the Orthodox community, it took years until it was considered permissible to set up hotlines for abuse for women. Many of the taboos encountered in helping female victims have been torn down; some still remain. Yet, religious men still have nowhere to turn when they are victims of sexual abuse.

The new Israel-based hotline, reaching out to male victims, is a daring venture, precisely because, even in the non religious world, today in our supposedly enlightened 21st century, people have a harder time digesting the concept of men being molested and abused. These victims need a place to turn for help and guidance. They need to be able to end their isolation.

Especially within the religious world, where discussing sexual matters is not encouraged and is often frowned upon, it is particularly difficult for victims to find a person to talk to. Add to that the complicated nature of sexual abuse, and the confusion victims endure as a result of the abuse, it is clear that a Hotline to help male victims is long overdue.

Discussion of sexual topics is often taboo. Victims of sexual abuse often have fear of suffering further community ostracism, difficulties in finding shidduchim and even exclusion as an outcast, because of the nature of the attack they suffered.

The Hotline has a simple and straightforward agenda. To help, assist: offer guidance and direction to male attack victims and their loved ones.

We wish them great success.

The Hotline For Religious Male Victims of Sexual Abuse (972-2-532-8000).

Teach Your Children To Think: Kids, skepticism, and safety

Please note this is from a Christian perspective, yet very relivent given the case of alleged cultic practices at the Yeshiva in Israel in regards to the case of Rabbi Matis Weinberg.

 
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Teach Your Children To Think:  Kids, skepticism, and safety

About.com - December 7, 2003

I was in church, preparing to speak at a Lenten service, when my wife called me with the wonderful news about Elizabeth Smart's safe return. At the moment, we don't know much more than the fact that she is alive and well, but the news got me to thinking about children and their safety. It's very possible that none of the following thoughts are relevant to her case, but her return inspired me to share some advice about teaching your children to stay safe.

A friend of mine once told me that during her teenage years, she lived in terror of cults and charismatic preachers. She couldn't figure out why -- couldn't articulate the reason for this fear. All she knew is that she felt an extreme level of vulnerability to cults of any kind.

When she got older and more self-aware, she realized that she had been raised in an environment where questioning was not allowed -- not her parents, not her teachers, and especially not her pastors. She had been taught that respect equalled unquestioning loyalty, and questioning was the same as betrayal and rejection.

Unfortunately, this kind of teaching has become more common, not less. Some religions teach that if you ask even the simplest questions, then your faith (and, presumably, God) will unravel like a cheap suit. In teaching children, they emphasize obedience instead of love, mercy or kindness.
This was the environment experienced by my friend. And on some level, she could sense that she was very susceptible to recruitment by a cult.

Luckily, she managed to avoid recruitment, although she came within a hair's-breadth of becoming a "Moonie." Her parents ordered her to come home just in the nick of time, but it never occurred to them that her spiritual training needed some work.

Sometimes, parents feel like they are in a never-ending power struggle with their kids. In many ways they're right -- kids constantly test boundaries, and then they develop a massive case of "Smart Mouth" until you just want to scream. So I can imagine an exhausted parent looking at me and asking, "And you want me to encourage this?? Get away from me!"

No. That's not what I'm saying.

According to the experts (CSJ.org) these are some of the characteristics of people who are susceptible to brainwashing, mind control or cult recruitment:
     1.     Inability to say no
     2.     Inability to express doubt or criticism
     3.     Not able to question what one is told
     4.     Need for absolute answers


When your child is driving you crazy with questions, try to resist the temptation to finally yell, "Because I said so, that's why!" (I acknowledge that this will not always be possible.) Try not to teach your child to blindly accept what they are told. Questioning, reasoning, and criticising what is said is not dangerous or disloyal -- on the contrary, those are the tools that help children develop into rational, strong, self-confident adults.

Don't just tell your kids what to believe. Tell them why you believe it. Teach them to demand reasons and evidence, so they have some fundamental principles, some bedrock on which their beliefs can rest. For example, there is no excuse for the fact that my friend had not been taught the difference between the teachings of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Moonies. Any decent religious classes should have taught her how to discern false prophets from the Real Thing. But she wasn't the only one with a deficient spiritual education. Thousands of people joined cults back then, and thousands of people join cults today.

There are too many organizations that practice a "Believe what I tell you, don't ask why, and give me your checkbook" philosophy. Members of those organizations are vulnerable to any convincing, charismatic person who comes along. Strive to teach your children differently, so if they are ever confronted by a cult recruiter, their instinct will be, "that doesn't quite sound right, so I'd better go check it out, goodbye."

This questioning attitude can be a life-saver. Law enforcement experts report that pedophiles still lure young children with the simplest lies, like "Your mom told me to pick you up from school." Instead of teaching obedience, parents should work to teach healthy questioning, so your child would think, "Wait a minnit, mommy never said anything about not picking me up, and I've never seen this person before, so I'm gonna go ask my teacher."

Strong values, real values, will stand up to questioning, just like a strong, real religious faith. In fact, the questioning will make the values stronger, and make your child stronger for knowing them.

You can't be with your child every minute of every day. But if you teach your child properly, they'll carry your values with them, and will be much more resistant to the next charlatan that comes along.

Case of Zerach Brown

Case of Zerach Brown
(AKA: Scott Brown, Scott L. Brown)

Seattle, WA
Mountaindale, NY
(Crown Heights) Brooklyn, NY

Arrested in 1999 in Mountaindale, NY on charges relating to sexually improper conduct in respect to minors. Mr. Brown plead guilty at that time to a misdemeanor charge of providing alcohol to minors and was on probation thereafter.  A condition of his probation was that he seek counseling for pedophilic tendencies.

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Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet their own personal needs.

Table of Contents:

2004

1. School of the Macabees  (12/04/2004)

2005

1. Information on Zerach Brown #2 - Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle  (06/07/2005)
2. Information on Zerach "Scott" Brown #1 - Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle  (06/09/2005)

2009

1.  Zerach Brown is a child molester

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School of the Macabees
Jacob Lunon, Master Instructor, Seattle, WA  (206) 722-4614
Macabee Martial Arts Academy - December 4, 2004
kosherkungfu.com/macnews/dec.pdf
Torah, Kung-fu, Exercise and Achdus

by Zerach Brown

Ahavas Yisroel, the love of a fellow Jew, which is one of the foundations of the Torah, commands upon a Jew to go and to save the life of another Jew whom might be in danger. This Mitzvah is on an individual as well as a community as a whole. It is encompassed by the Mitzvah (Vayikro 19,18) of "You shall love your fellow as yourself". However there is also a specific Mitzvah (Vayikro 19.17): "You shall not stand aside while your fellow's blood is shed - I am Hashem".

In Shulchan Oruch (Hilchos Nezikei Haguf V'Nefesh, Halacha 7), it states: "A person who sees his friend drowning or robbers coming upon him, and has the capability of saving this friend, or hiring someone else to save him, must make the effort to save him, or to hire such person capable of doing so. (According to some, you must make the effort even if it puts your own life in danger, for if you won't help him he is sure to perish, where if you do help him, you have only the possibility of perishing with him). We understand this from the Posuk; (Vayikro 19,17), "You shall not stand aside while your fellow's blood is shed". There Rashi explains; "To see your friends death and you could save him". Also brought down by the Rambam (Nezikin, Rotzeach 1,14) concerning drowning, Pirush La'am adds; "This only applies to someone who knows how to swim". Is this concept true, that only a person who knows how, and is capable of saving him, must himself make the effort? If this is the case, should not one learn the required skills to save another? If you learn how to save a life, and if such a danger arose, you may merit the greatest Mitzvah; (Sanhedrin 37a), "A person who saves one life of Israel, it is as if he saves an entire world". At the same time you will have increased the odds a great deal by having been prepared in advance. A person who does not act in these circumstances, G-d forbid, forgoes on one positive commandment; (Devarim 25,12) "You shall cut off her hand" and also on two negative commandments (ibid.) "Your eyes shall not show pity" and (Vayikro 19,17) "You shall not stand aside while your fellow's blood is shed". If learning how to protect yourself aids in your ability to save others, how important should it be to learn these skills, if they could one day be needed to save your own life let alone that of another?

To be continued.............

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Information on Zerach Brown #2
Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle - June 9, 2005

Letter #2

http://www.seattlevaad.org/


June 9, 2005

Further communication from the Rabbis of the Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle regarding the case of Zerach "Scott" Brown:

In the last day, since our announcement regarding Zerach "Scott" Brown was disseminated, we have received welcome input from a number of community members. Generally people have recognized that the Va'ad has tried to advise the community quickly of an issue we regard as very serious, and that the text of our communication was an attempt to balance clarity and discretion. In a few cases, however, there was some confusion about the import of our message. We apologize for any lack of clarity, and issue the following supplemental statement in order to communicate our very high level of concern. The first paragraph of our prior release was authorized by Zerach Brown; the following statement is not so authorized.

Rabbis of the Va'ad received unambiguous testimony from Zerach Brown that he has previously molested children. Zerach Brown denied having engaged in any such activity in Seattle. The undersigned Rabbis express no opinion as to Zerach Brown's truthfulness in connection with the second sentence of this paragraph. If anyone is concerned about his or her child having been alone with Zerach Brown, he or she may wish to seek appropriate professional guidance in this very serious matter.

Rabbi Simon Benzaquen, Rabbi Salamon Cohen-Scali, Rabbi Mordechai Farkash, Rabbi William Greenberg, Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, Rabbi Yechezkel Kornfeld, Rabbi Sholom Ber Levitin.

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Information on Zerach "Scott" Brown #1
Va'ad HaRabanim of Greater Seattle - June 9, 2005
Letter #1
http://www.seattlevaad.org/

June 7, 2005
Va'ad Statement Regarding Case of Zerach "Scott" Brown

The Rabbis of the Va'ad of Greater Seattle regret to inform you that information has come before us to the effect that Mr. Zerach "Scott" Brown was arrested in 1999 in Mountaindale, NY on charges relating to sexually improper conduct in respect to minors. Mr. Brown pled guilty at that time to a misdemeanor charge of providing alcohol to minors and was on probation thereafter. A condition of the probation was that he seek counseling for pedophilic tendencies. Zerach Brown has confirmed the foregoing information.

In connection with the matter involving Zerach Brown, Jacob Lunon appeared before the Va'ad on June 6, 2005, and made a statement in writing, which Mr. Lunon agreed the Va'ad might make public as necessary to protect the community. The following excerpt, which substantiates in part the statement by Zerach Brown, is from Mr. Lunon's written statement:

"1) Prior to coming to Seattle in July of 2004, Mr. [Zerach] Brown confided with Mr. Lunon that during a period [prior thereto]... Mr. Brown went into the woods and [engaged in certain conduct not in accordance with Halacha, but not involving another person], where he was seen by a member of the local Jewish community who reported the incident to the rabbis of the community. 2) Also, prior to coming to Seattle, Mr. Brown related to Mr. Lunon that he had been previously arrested for and convicted of providing alcohol to a minor. Mr. Brown related that he was sent to therapy for this..."

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Zerach Brown is a child molesterBy Ian
December 15, 2009

Zerach Brown (also known as Scott brown) is a child molester. Zerach Brown is a sexual predator who desires to exploit male children.

Zerach Brown has a history of exploiting and molesting children. Zerach Brown lived in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, New York where Zerach Brown systematically molested many children. As Crown Heights is an insulted, ultra-orthodox, Jewish community; the members of the community did not report Zerach to the police upon learning that Zerach was a sexual predator; instead, they forced Zerach Brown to relocate out of the community. Thereafter, Zerach moved to the Jewish community of upstate New York and molested many children, until that community forced Zerach Brown to relocate. At some point, Zerach Brown moved to Jewish community of Seattle Washington. Upon learning that Zerach Brown was a child molester, the Rabbis conducted a thorough investigation and released a report confirmed that Zerach Brown was a child molester.

In fact, Zerach Brown molested me. I was about 14 year old. At that time, Zerach Brown would allow children use of his apartment to watch movies, hang out, and socialize. Zerach Brown gave many approximately children keys to his apartment so that they could use it when he was not present. On one evening, I was watching a movie alone when Zerach Brown came home. Zerach Brown made me pull down my pants and underpants and lay down on his bed. Zerach Brown also removed his pants and underpants and lied down on the bed in such a manner that I could not run out of the apartment without jumping over him. I felt trapped. Zerach Brown told me that he wanted to watch me masturbate and instructed me to masturbate in front of him. I was stunned, scared, and could not get an erection. Zerach Brown proceeded to touch and play with my genitals and penis to make me erect. This sexually excited Zerach Brown and caused him to have an erection. Zerach Brown proceeded to masturbate before me and forced me to watch him ejaculate. After Zerach Brown cleaned up his sperm from the bed sheets, he allowed me to don my cloths and leave his apartment.

Many other people related to me that Zerach Brown molested them. In fact, I learned that Zerach Brown molested children as young as 11 or 12 years old by masturbating in front of them and trying get the child to masturbate and ejaculate in front of him.

I write this story for two reasons. First, I hope that it will provide a forum for victims of Zerach Brown’s molestation to write their stories and heal from Zerach Brown’s abuse. Second, I hope that this will prevent Zerach Brown from molesting other children by informing the world of Zerach Brown ’s malevolent, vicious, and heinous actions against children.

This is a picture of Zerach Brown

Final note: if you are a parent, you are feeding your child to the wolfs if you let your child be alone with Zerach Brown.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

--Margaret Mead

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