Friday, July 07, 2006

Case of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann - Ner Israel

Case of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann - Ner Israel
(AKA: Mario Eisemann, Moshe Eiseman)
 
Rabbi Moshe Eisemann - Alleged Sex Offender

Past Mashgiach Ruchni (Spiritual Advisor) - NerIsrael Rabbinical College, Baltimore, MD
Lakewood Yeshiva - Lakewood, NJ
Gateshead Yeshiva - Gateshead, England
London, England

 
CALL TO ACTION: Case of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann and Ner Israel Rabbinical College and High School
 
There have been serious allegations of clergy sexual abuse made against Rabbi Moshe Eisemann. The allegations against him include boys both under and over the age of 18. Due to confidentiality issues, the Baltimore Jewish Times could not disclose a great deal of the details in their September 1, 2007 article "When Whispers Get Louder", regarding Rabbi Eisemann.

If you or anyone you know were sexually victimized by Rabbi Moshe Eisemann and are looking for resources, please feel free to contact The Awareness Center and or your local rape crisis center.
 
Ner Israel Rabbinical College and many of the rabbonim in Baltimore refuse to handle this case appropriately. For these reasons The Awareness Center, Inc. is demanding the following:

  1. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann immediately be move off the campus of Ner Israel.
  2. Rabbi Eisemann cease teaching and or tutoring students in his home or else where.
  3. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann have absolutely no contact with children or male adults under the age of 40. (According to Jewish custom, forty is the age in which a man is considered mature enough to study Kabbalah and less likely be able to be sexually manipulated by an sexual predator).
  4. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann be immediately evaluated by a licensed mental health professional who specializes in sex offenders. The professional must be approved by The Awareness Center, Inc. to insure the professional is not biased nor associated with Ner Israel any other individual or organization.
  5. Artscroll/Mesorah publications cease and desist from publishing, selling or distributing any books created by Moshe Eisemann.
  6.  All books written by Moshe Eisemann be banned by every yeshiva (seminaries) in the US and abroad. 
  7. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann not be allowed to leave the United States.
  8. Ner Israel Rabbinical College finance a team of child abuse experts who will evaluate all past and present students of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann to determine if there are any more survivors. The team of experts will be approved by The Awareness Center to insure things are handled properly and appropriately.

Contact The Following:
Ner Israel Rabbinical College (and High School):
Phone: 410-484-7200
  • Rabbi Aharon Feldman - Rosh Yeshiva (Head of the School)
  • Rabbi Beryl Weisbord - Dean of Students
  • Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger - President
  • Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer - Shearith Yisrael (Glen Ave. Shul):
  • Phone: 410-466-3060 Fax: 410-367-9183
Artscroll/Mesorah Publications
Phone: 718-921-9000 Fax: 718-680-1875
  • Rabbi Nosson Scherman, the General Editor
  • Meir Zlotowitz - Founder of Artscroll Publications
 
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:

Background Information:
  1. About Rabbi Moshe Eisemann

1993
  1. RELIGION NOTES (02/25/1993)

2002

  1. A Leader Among Us (09/13/2002)


 2006
  1. Survivor #1 of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann (07/06/2006)
  2. Survivor #2 of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann (07/06/2006)
  3. Survivor #3 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  4. Survivor #4 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  5. Survivor #5 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  6. Survivor # 6 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  7. Survivor # 7 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  8. Survivor # 8 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  9. Survivor # 9 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  10. Survivor # 10 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  11. Survivor # 11 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  12. Survivor # 12 of Rabbi Moshe Eiseman (07/06/2006)
  13. Calls To Action
    • CALL TO ACTION: Rabbi Moshe Eiseman's Removal From Ner Israel, Baltimore, MD  (09/03/2006)
    • UPDATED CALL TO ACTION - Demand Rabbi Moshe Eisemann Do The Following (09/05/2006)
2007
  1. Testimony Provided at Maryland Senate Hearing on SB575 (03/01/2007)
  2. When Whispers Get Louder - Abuse Questions Raised on Ner Israel's Rabbi Moshe Eisemann (08/31/2007)
  3. Former Student Speaks Up - Mike Simms has bitter memories of his time in Yeshiva (08/31/2007)
  4. Calls To Action
    • UPDATE: Rabbi Moshe Eisemann is still tutoring students (05/01/2007)
2009
  1. Ner Israel Rabbinical College Turns 76 - The History that gets swept under the rug (click on link to read article) (12/11/2009)

 2012
  1. Can we trust the rabbonim of Baltimore to really monitor Rabbi Stanley Levitt?
 (08/03/2012)

Also see:  
___________________________________________________________________________________

RELIGION NOTES
Baltimore Sun - February 25, 1993

Purim holiday to be explored in rabbi's lecture

The nearly 3,000-year-old Persian origins of the Jewish holiday Purim and the relevance of its customs for modern Jews will be discussed by Rabbi Shlomo Porter at 8 p.m. Monday at the Etz Chaim Center for Jewish Studies, 3702 Fords Lane.

And at the same time on Tuesday, also at the Etz Chaim Center, Rabbi Moshe Eisemann of Ner Israel Rabbinical College will teach a class on the ancient theological lessons of Purim.

A spirited holiday that incorporates carnivals, parties with special food, costume plays and dances, Purim falls this year on March 7.

The holiday derives its name from the dice, called purim in Hebrew, that were cast by an evil prime minister named Haman to determine the day on which Jewish people would be massacred. When the day came, however, the Jews were prepared for battle because of the intervention of Queen Esther, and the holiday celebrates their victory.

On the eve of Purim, it is traditional for the Book of Esther to be read in the synagogue, and at every mention of Haman's name, children stamp, clap and make noise in other ways. Thus, his name and the memory of his wickedness are symbolically blotted out. The next morning, with prayers of thanksgiving, Jews express their gratitude for the defeat of Haman.

For more information about these and other Etz Chaim classes: 764-1553.

___________________________________________________________________________________


CALL TO ACTION: Rabbi Moshe Eiseman's Removal From Ner Israel, Baltimore, MD
The Awareness Center - September 3, 2006
 
There have been serious allegations made against Rabbi Moshe Eiseman over the last several years of molesting boys at Ner Israel of Baltimore, MD. The allegations were first reported by a blogger by the name of Unorthodox Jew. These allegations have since been confirmed by various reliable rabbinic sources.
 
It has been over a month since the Ner Israel administration brought the allegations to Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer who made a decree that Rabbi Eiseman needed to leave the Ner Israel. To this day Rabbi Moshe Eiseman is still employed by Ner Israel and continues to lives on their campus. Each day that goes by puts another child at risk of harm.
 
The Awareness Center is demanding that Rabbi Moshe Eiseman be relieved of his duties immediately, move off campus and required to attend treatment at a residential facility for sex offenders. It is also imperative that all communities members in which Rabbi Eiseman has worked be made aware of the allegations. The goal is to prevent one more child from being harmed and also to make sure that all past victims get the help they need.
 
Those who have been sexually victimized deserve to be treated with respect and dignity by professionals who have the experience and training to work with survivors of sex crimes. It is also very helpful if survivors contact local rape crisis centers who have free legal advocates available to go with them to file police reports.
 
There is a realistic fear that Rabbi Eiseman will return to Russia or return to working with Russian immigrants. These communities also need to be made aware of the past allegations and that if survivors come forward that they be referred to local rape crisis centers.
 
The goal is to prevent on more child from becoming the next victim and to ensure those who have already been sexually victimize receive help.
 
Please contact the administration at Ner Israel and Rabbi Hopfer and demand that Rabbi Moshe Eiseman be removed today!
 
Ner Israel Contact Information:
410-484-7200
Rabbi Aharon Feldman - Rosh Yeshiva (Head of the School)
Rabbi Beryl Weisbord - Dean of Students
Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger - President
 
Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer Contact Information:
Shearith Yisrael (Glen Ave. Shul)
410-466-3060
410-367-9183 fax

Demand Rabbi Moshe EIsemann Do The Following:
The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - September 5, 2006
Please contact the following administrators at Ner Israel and also Rabbi Hopfer. Demand that Rabbi Moshe Eisemann leave his position at Ner Israel aand move off campus immediately. He must also go to police in Baltimore and confess to his crimes. Please note that there is no statue of limitation on sex crimes against children in Maryland. Rabbi Mose Eisemann must also pay restitution to his victims and enter into residential treatment for sex offenders.
 
It is believed that Ner Israel has known about this case for some time, yet has refused to take action. Please demand that they change their policies immediately!
 
How many more children will need to be sexually victimized before they start to take this issue seriously?
 
Contact:
Ner Israel Contact Information:
410-484-7200
Rabbi Aharon Feldman - Rosh Yeshiva (Head of the School)
Rabbi Beryl Weisbord - Dean of Students
Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger - President
 
Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer Contact Information:
Shearith Yisrael (Glen Ave. Shul)
410-358-3450 or 410-466-3060
410-367-9183 fax

 
UPDATE: Rabbi Moshe Eisemann is still tutoring students
May 1, 2007
 
The Awareness Center continues to receive reports that Rabbi Moshe Eisemann is still allowed to tutor students in the privacy of his apartment located on the Ner Israel Rabbinical College campus. For more information on the allegations made against Rabbi Moshe Eisemann contact Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer and the administration at Ner Israel (see numbers below).
 
Please note that Rabbi Moshe Eisemann and Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger (President of Ner Israel) are related through marriage. Rabbi Moshe (Mario) Eisemann is also a relative of Rabbi Eliezer Eisgrau (through marriage).
 
Contact:
Ner Israel Contact Information:
410-484-7200
Rabbi Aharon Feldman - Rosh Yeshiva (Head of the School)
Rabbi Beryl Weisbord - Dean of Students
Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger - President
 
Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer Contact Information:
Shearith Yisrael (Glen Ave. Shul)
410-358-3450 or 410-466-3060
410-367-9183 fax


http://www.yeshivakishiniev.org/about.htm
 
Hi! Thanks for visiting this site. What I really want to do is to get you acquainted with the Yeshiva of Kishiniev. It is a great place to know and our students are great people to meet.
First let me introduce myself. My name is Moshe M. Eisemann. I am a Rebbi at Yeshivas Ner Israel in Baltimore and have been for the past thirty-five years. I was born in Germany from which hell my family managed to escape in 1937. We went to England, where my father who was an expert on antique books, manuscripts and prints, was able to reestablish his business. My siblings and I were spared the horrors of the Blitzkrieg, because, together with all the other children in our school, we were evacuated away from London to Shefford, a small village, where we lived as foster children of the local populace. Subsequently my parents also moved from London to a small town, Chesham, where after three years of separation we were able to rejoin them.
 
When the war ended we moved back to London where I graduated from the Hasmonean Grammar School. After that I was privileged to study for six years at the famous Gateshead Yeshiva. From there I went off to the USA to continue my learning in Lakewood. Today, everybody knows Lakewood as a huge Yeshiva with over three thousand Talmidim. When I got there in 1952, there were just a hundred of us. After two years there, I returned to England to meet and marry my wonderful wife. We remained another three years in Lakewood after which I took a teaching position in the Yeshiva of Philadelphia. After eleven wonderful years there, we moved to Baltimore and have been here ever since.
 
The Kishiniev story could be said to begin in 1984 when I made my first visit to the former Soviet Union. I missed Brezhnev but arrived under Andropov, a former head of the KGB. Things were still very tight and whatever teaching we managed to do, and we did a lot, had to be done in secret. Even so, there was a constant need to be aware that we were being followed and bugged all the time.
 
Let me tell you a story that happened to me in Kishiniev long before anybody ever dreamed that there would be a Yeshiva there one day. In those days we were sent under the aegis of the VAAD L'HATZOLAS NIDCHEI YISRAEL and always went as a twosome. It was deemed to be too dangerous to travel there alone. On every visit we would go to Moscow and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and one other city. I remember that on the first trip we went to Riga (capital of Latvia), on the second to Yerevan (capital of Armenia) and on the third, to Kishiniev (capital of Moldova). So this must have been in '86 or '87.
 
At that time there was, as far as we knew, only one observant Jew in Kishiniev but on these trips we did not count noses. If one Yid wanted to learn, that was enough for us to go. We were staying in the Intourist Hotel, an old moth-eaten tumble down place with a very slow elevator. With a lot of huffing and puffing it eventually got you where you needed to go, but it took a long, long time. We had made an appointment to meet our contact at 9 o'clock in the morning, just outside the hotel. We made sure to leave our room in time and, in fact, made it down with about a minute to spare. Then, to my horror, I remembered that I had left my address book on the table in our room and the last thing that we wanted was that the KGB should get a peek at that. I had to go back, but that would make me late for the appointment. I decided not to take the elevator but to run up the stairs. I got to the room, closed the door but did not lock it, and sat down by the table in order to take care of my notes.
 
All of a sudden, the door opens and there were four of five people standing there, clearly very perturbed at seeing me in my room. They apologized profusely and explained that they had made a mistake and come to the wrong room.
 
What happened of course was that they had seen us come down in the elevator, but had not noticed that I had run up again by way of the stairs. They were the team assigned to search our room and the last thing that they had expected was to see me there.
 
In a way, all this shadow boxing that we had to do with the KGB sounds funny. To tell the truth, it was not funny at all. They played hard ball in those days. As foreigners, we were fairly safe, but the Yidden whom we visited and taught, never knew when, where or how they would be hit. People landed in jails and, worse still, in psychiatric hospitals. The Communists battle with the Ribono shel Olam was deadly serious. Nobody then could even dream that in a few short years the whole thing would simply roll over and die. That was a miracle if ever there was one.
 
Life among the refuseniks was no fun. What does "refusenik" mean? It means that they had applied for permission to leave the Workers Paradise and go to Eretz Yisrael, and had been "refused". Why was it no fun? Because immediately upon applying to leave, they would loose their jobs or, if they were students at a university, they would be thrown out. There they were with absolutely no income, their careers a shambles, with nothing left beside their Emunah and their integrity. What do you do about eating? What do you do about keeping the children home from compulsory school on Shabbos? There are many stories of unsung heroes and heroines who stood up straight and refused to equivocate. Apparently life with the Ribono shel Olam was worth many all to real sacrifices.
 
Let me tell you a little story. On my first trip a met a young fellow who, two or three months before his graduation was expelled from his university because he had applied to make Aliyah. I asked him why he had not waited until he had received his degree? His answer still reverberates inside my mind: "It was so cold out there, I needed a little warmth!"
 
It was against the background of this Jewish experiences that a few years later we were able to found the Yeshiva of Kishiniev. Of the events leading up to that auspicious moment and an account of how the project got onto its feet, more in a future posting.

 
Survivor #1 of Rabbi Moshe Eisman
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
When I was --- years old, I was a talmid of Ner Israel. At that time, the Mashgiach Ruchni was Rabbi Moshe Eisemann. I became close to him and trusted him totally like a father figure. He is a very sick man. He would tell me he loved me and would hug and kiss me inappropriately. In this day and age, what rebby does this? He tried to control me by telling me loshon harah against my friends and family, and by telling my best friend not to be friends with me, and other ways.
 
I was very uncomfortable, but thought I was crazy for thinking he was weird. One day, he felt up my rear end IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BEIS MEDRASH! I couldn't believe it. I was shocked, angry and dismayed. But I did not have the guts to even say excuse me, what the hell are you doing. I did have the guts to tell my parents that he was "bothering " me and my mom called him and told him to stay away. He did not listen at first, but had the nerve to approach me a couple more times and to write me a letter threatening that love can easily turn to hate. I may still have that letter.
 
I know that this story does not sound like much, but there is more. Shortly thereafter, a friend of mine had problems and was thrown out of the dorm. Rabbi Eisemann offered to take him into his house. One night in the middle of the night, thinking my friend was asleep, Rabbi Eisemann went in and put his hand under the cover, and groped my friend's privates. My friend was only ---. He was horrified. The next day he told ......., who went to the hanhalla. Rabbi Herman Neuberger, A"H, reacted by saying that the boy had to leave the yeshiva.
 
My friend was devastated. He came to me to ask me to come forward. Es Chatai Ani Mazkir Hayom, I wasn't ready completely. I told him if there was any other way to save his brother, he should do it, but if not I would come forward. He found another victim whose father was a huge gvir and who had also been touched inappropriately. So my friend was allowed to stay.
 
Reb Tzvi Berkowitz,the son-in-law of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky of Philadelphia, told my friend not to tell anyone what happened because it could be bad for the yeshiva.
 
I have suffered for years. Only years later was I able to tell my parents what truly happened. I have still not been able to confront the yeshiva satisfatorily on this issue.A few years ago, I DID tell Shragi Neuberger about it. He is a rebby, and Rabbi Neuberger's son and we were close once upon a time. He did not deny the problem. There had been a bochur who told Reb Dovid Cohen a similar story (a Russian bochur with no political clout) but that the story was "unsubstantiated".
 
I'm here to substantiate the fact that R. Eisemann has a real problem. What to do, the follow up phone calls have gotten us nowhere. I want to go further, but am afraid of being hurt personally by the yeshiva.
 
What I would like to know from you is, do you have a way to investigate and find others who have been affected? I'm sure there are. I found another person who said that he was also was felt up on three occassions, and although he was not traumatized he decided to stay away from Rabbi Eisemann. His story happened several years after mine. He also knows of one other person. By the way, I was traumatized mostly because of the relationship I had with Rabbi Eisemann, and also by the covering up and complete lack of caring on the part of the yeshiva. It is true that what happened to me from a sexual standpoint was "not as bad" as some other stories. After all there was no penetration, right??? There might not be a lawsuit, but is that really necessary even at this point? Wouldn't you think that the thought of a scandal now would get them to act? But Rabbi Eisemann is still sitting on the dais at the recent Rabbi Neuberger memory dinner, and what's worse, still talks in learning with unsuspecting yeshiva boys on a daily basis. What is wrong with these people???? Ignorance is only an excuse up to a point, no?!
 
If you have any ideas or advice for me, I would be so grateful.
 
One last thing. I thought of you this yomtov. Take a look at the Yalkut Meam Loez on Rus on Vayehi Bimay Shfot Hashoftim. He says that the judges / leaders of Klal Yisroel were judged by the people for their corruption. He writes pages and pages about this. He says that when Moshe Rabeinu "criticized" the Jews saying , a little more and they'll stone me", it was not a put down but praise that the Jewish people don't stand for phony, incompetent, self-interested leaders, but demand integrity from them, no matter who they are. I felt like he was writing about you. Really, take a look, and let me know what you think.

 
Survivor #2
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
I went to Gary Rosenblatt to ask advice. He's the editor of Jewish Week who did the expose on Baruch Lanner. He had been the head of the Jewish paper in Baltimore. He told me that Rabbi Neuberger had been involved in a case in the city (Eisgrau) where he insisted that it be kept quiet and nothing was done. It's as if there is some kind of Mesorah that he had that this is the correct thing to do in these situations. You know, chillul hashem, etc.
 
Shragi told people that Rabbi Eiseman has a heart condition, and this has to be considered in deciding to act or not. He also said that the Neubergers had been aware for years of Matis Weinberg's problems, but did nothing. He said "Everyone knows that the Neubergers and Weinbergs don't get along well, so they would not have believed us." Come again???
 
David Mandel from Brooklyn had started a Beis Din in Baltimore to investigate allegations of sexual abuse in the frum community.The Beis Din consisted of Shragi, Rav Heinneman, Rav Hopfer, Rabbi Hauer, and Rabbi Goldberger. Shragi said that when Rabbi Heinneman is at the meetings they can't really speak about it because he doesn't get it as well as the rest of them. How do you explain this? A rabbi on Beis Din who does NOT understand the sickness?
 
According to Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, "There are as many rabbis out there that will hurt you than will help you," and "There ARE no more Gedolim, veharaya, that people come to me with questions that they used to go to gedolim."
 
Survivor #3
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
Did you hear about the two evenings that Ohel had entitled "let's talk about what never happened, but it really did"? The first one featured Rav Pam, Reb Shmuel and Reb Dovid Cohen and was emceed by Sruly Reisman. I gave them an A for effort, but their cluelessness caused, I believe, much pain to the victims/survivors in the audience. Reb Shmuel was asked by a lady what she should do about being molested 30 years ago and never telling anyone. She said that she was recently experienceing psychological symptoms. He told her to see a shrink, but to not tell her husband under any circumstances, because there is no way he would understand. This is in public and on tape. Rav Pam spoke about frum people with psychological issues like OCD, but didn't mention molestation, abuse of any sort, anything to do with sex or what the purpose of the evening was supposed to be. I wonder if someone told him, even? My favorite was of course, Rabbi Reisman, who after offering the caveat that he was not a psychologist, still felt that he had something intelligent to offer on the subject beacause of his experiences with victims. He then told two stories in which he went out of his way to point out that the molester was NOT Jewish. It did not take my years of leaning lamdus to make the diuk that apparently frum people of course don't molest, and that what had happened to many of the people in the room, really didn't happen at all according to the resident Navi expert. To "help" people even more, when asked by one survivor about the feelings of betrayal, he opined that this was not an issue at all, because like Don Rumsfeld said about the war in Iraq, "Stuff happens".
 
Basically, the message was to victims: we want to help you to get over it... so get over it, ok?

 
Survivor #4
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
I hope you took no offense that I called you meshuga. I think that anyone who is not made meshuga by the horrible world of hypocrisy that is called the frum velt has something really wrong with them. Anyway, sorry for the choice of words. Again, you are my hero.
 
One thing that impressed me about your approach, is that with the Gerrer situation (the gerrorists) you got the job done and didn't feel the need to "take them down" or to necessarily go after the yeshiva, etc.
 
I'm mentioning this, because although sometimes the situation calls for drastic measures like multimillion dollar lawsuits and possibly razing a yeshiva to the ground, each situation is different and this whole problem does require sophistication as well as passion. In my case of Ner Yisroel, maybe something subtle like a letter writing campaign, or a few choice phone calls asking politely for Rabbi Eisemann to be taken care of, might do the trick especially now that they see what the problem could lead to.

 
Survivor #5
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
I do not think it is enough to dismiss these people from their jobs. Look at the two guys who were fired. They go to Israel and will most likely end up like Mattis Weinberg molesting again at a later date. What needs to be done is:
 
Rabbi Eisemann should be told that the community, i.e. hanhalla of yeshiva, will monitor him and talk to his therapist to be sure he is complying. He will be given a job doing something with no child contact, but if he does not comply, he will be punished with fines or something else. His passport should probably be taken away.
 
His treatment should be comprehensive at a place that specializes in sex offenders and should include objective assessment for pedophilia (lie detector test, sexual deviancy measures, etc.) group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy.
The yeshiva, as part of the change that needs to be made, should have to track down as many victims as possible and apologize.
 
Am I asking too much?

 
Survivor #6
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
You have touched on many issues, and are right on target.
 
Firstly, Shlomo Gottesman at Torah Umesorah is a big part of the problem, he's known about these problems At Ner Israel for years and is deeply involved in covering up this issue.
 
The gedolim, at least the ones they call gedolim, are clueless outside their daled amos. As a general rule, the Europeans don't get it, and the great chachomim like R' Ruderman are gone.
 
The present rabbonim in America are either businessmen protecting their businesses, or shluchim from them. I can't think of one name today that can compare to the toes of a R' Ruderman.
 
What's worse is that they in their ignorance and self-interests are causing the destruction of authentic Orthodox Judaism. R' Moshe didn't know about N.Y. water? Romaine lettuce?
 
Chumras upon chumras...where's the beef??? kinderlach's lives and neshomas??????
 
The Neuberger's behavior come as a shock and will come back to haunt them. What about Tzvi Berkowitz?/ Is he out of his mind or just waiting for the rosh yeshiva's job? Eiseman is sick, he has molested me for years when I went for shabbes to his house. He said it is ok to feel good. How crazy is that???I'm at a loss to explain what's going on. Maybe this is the next dor hamabul...the rishaim seem to be everywhere. I need time to think of an aitza, right now, I'm shocked out of my mind.
 
Sincerely and all the very best,do not let the Neubergers fool you, they will do nothing.
 
Survivor #7
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006.
I know five of us that Eiseman masturbated, but I'm not sure how many would agree to help or come forward. There is the Russian boy but only Dovid Cohen know who this bochur is. I'm shocked that Dovid Cohen did not do anything to get rid of Eiseman, he told people years ago that he spoke to the Neubergers and they agreed to fire him.

 
Survivor #8
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
Oh, by the way, you know that Moshe Eisemann went for years and years to Russia to work with unsuspecting Jewish children there under Agudas Yisroel's plan for harbotzas torah.
I'm going to write Neuberger that he really needs to fire Eiseman, pronto. And if Eiseman takes the yeshiva to a din torah (sure) then I'm willing to back up the yeshiva. But I will not help them in any way until he's fired.
 
Survivor #9
I have two more victims of Eiseman who might be willing to contact you anonymously. Maybe three. Reb Dovid Cohen was also approached by somebody about Eiseman a while ago. I'm sorry you are having health problems. I'm suffering a lot too. Will it be all over soon? Or will it take as long as YTT is taking? Have you gotten any response from Ner Israel?

 
Survivor #10
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
I have an insider in Torah Umesorah...they ( Ner Israel) have no interests in doing the right thing at all. They're more concerned about finding me. I went to Herman 12 years ago and told him that Eiseman is sick, so they know full well and decided to do nothing. They learned NOTHING from the Margulies fiasco. I will be going public. Hopfer has been covering for Eisgrau...Eisgrau raped his own daughter, I'm in contact with her.
They're going to learn the hard way. I'll testify if needed!

 
Survivor #11
The Unorthodox Jew Blog - July 7, 2006
 
Apparently someone calling himself UOJ told Reb Sheftel that they've got 10 days to act or else. I had been wondering if they would make the top 3. Suddenly, Shragi says to my friend they are ready to act. Not to botch it up like TT did. He wants to go to a beis din first with Rabbi Hopfer. Many people told him that that's a waste of time, totally unnecessary. All they need to do is retire Eiseman based on 2 credible complaints, period. My friend said what are you afraid of that Eiseman will sue?!! I told him not to worry about Eiseman's heart condition, the victims come first. I think he might have heard me, but we'll see. Either way, I think in 10 days it will all be done. I hope. Shragi asked my friend if you had other victims. You told me that you didn't want to name others to me about other victims. He was very puzzled about how the molestation had taken place in the beis medrash, and I clarified to him that for some very sick individuals, that is what gets their rocks off.
 
Yasher Koach and keep up the good work. Soon it will be done and you can take a real hiatus and recuperate, I hope.
 
I'm feeling better already, but it ain't over till its over.

 
Survivor #12
On second thought, I don't trust Shragi at all to be looking out for my interests, I don't feel a need to confront Eiseman to his face, and I certainly don't want to have to speak to this guy Hopfer. So, I'm going to call off the charade and tell them to just do what you are calling for, which happens to also be the best thing for all people concerned. I truly hope they do what they need to.
 
A victim responds to a question that I pose about them calling for an immediate hearing:
No, they did not agree. In matter of fact my friend just got a call from Shragi from Eretz Yisroel, that when he gets back, he wants to have a meeting with me, my friend, any other victims, Rabbi Eiseman and Rabbi Hopfer. I'm not quite sure why they need his involvement. I'm not sure why they need anybody's involvement. It makes me nervous, but I'm willing to help do things their way for now. It's the bottom line that matters. I'm nervous about this too. Shragi now talked to my friend about making "restrictions" for Eiseman, it seems Eiseman is staying, and the talk of his dismissal is a charade.
 
Any victims of Moshe Eisemann please contact me. I am willing to assist you in legal action against Ner Israel and Eiseman.
 
The next yeshiva has one week to terminate their in-house sexual abuser!

 
Ner Israel Rabbi Alleged Abuser
By Phil Jacobs
Baltimore Jewish Times (Page 24) - September 1, 2007
http://www.jewishtimes.com/scripts/edition.pl?stay=1&SubSectionID=48&ID=3241
 
The whispering got louder in the summer of 2006. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, 71, a beloved longtime Ner Israel Rabbinical College scholar, teacher and author, was associated with the words "alleged molester."
 
A Baltimore-area pulpit rabbi and Ner Israel colleague left Rabbi Eisemann off the invitation list to his daughter's wedding, because of the uncertainty of it all.
 
The blogs, the Internet sites, were teeming with allegations of molestations by many rabbis, including Rabbi Eisemann. There have never been any complaints or charges filed with the police against the rabbi.
 
When students identified themselves as victims to Ner Israel, the school allegedly chose Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer, president of the Baltimore Vaad HaRabonim, to look into the accusations.
 
Rabbi Hopfer, spiritual leader of Shearith Israel Congregation in Upper Park Heights, is not on the faculty or staff of Ner Israel. He did not return two telephone calls to the Baltimore Jewish Times made in early August of this year. His response could have cleared up much of the speculation. He also chose not to respond to a personal letter mailed to him by the Jewish Times on Aug. 5, 2007, pertaining to the status of Rabbi Eisemann. The letter was referred to by Rabbi Eisemann in a recent conversation he had with the Jewish Times.
 
Ner Israel's response to a request for answers on the subject was an e-mail from its president, Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, which read: "Ner Israel takes claims and complaints of abuse made by an individual very seriously. It has implemented an independent process to investigate and deal with such claims and complaints as necessary. Given the sensitivity and nature of the subject, and the Yeshiva's concern for all involved, both claimant and accused, it is the policy of the Yeshiva to refrain from discussing or commenting on these matters."
 
The Jewish Times had asked: "Is Rabbi Eisemann still teaching at Ner Israel? Is he still living on campus in faculty housing?"
 
In the summer of 2006, this reporter telephoned Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger and asked these two questions. Rabbi Neuberger replied that "Rabbi Eisemann would most likely retire from the Ner Israel faculty" and "most likely move off of campus."
 
There was, according to a source close to the Vaad HaRabonim, no actual din Torah (rabbinic court ruling) in Baltimore concerning Rabbi Eisemann. Instead, the source confirmed that Rabbi Hopfer was asked to act as sort of a one-man decision maker.
 
The source said he thinks Rabbi Eisemann admitted some of the abuses to Rabbi Hopfer.
The abuses, according to another source, "weren't extreme, but were on the cusp of abuse," such as back-rubbing or kissing.
 
The source added that Rabbi Eisemann was allegedly also told to work through some of his issues with a therapist not connected to Ner Israel. That therapist, according to the source, did not consider Rabbi Eisemann's actions "terrible abuse."
 
Also, Rabbi Hopfer, according to the source, said that Rabbi Eisemann was "contrite."
 
Still, he was — based allegedly on Rabbi Hopfer's recommendations — retired from teaching students.
 
But in an interview last week with the Jewish Times, Rabbi Eisemann said that he denied any of the allegations of molestation. He also said that he was still "seeing students" and "still living on Yeshiva Lane," and was never directed by any rabbinic authority to leave campus or stop teaching.
 
"The whole story [concerning the molestations] is really removed from me," Rabbi Eisemann said. "I can't get involved in it. I feel totally removed from it. I haven't looked at any blogs or Internet sites, though people have told me about them.
 
"It is not I," he continued. "I have a life to live, and I don't have the strength to deal with these rumors. I have done no harm to anyone. It's all wrong, and I can't even dignify it."
 
But on Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, an e-mail arrived at the Jewish Times from Rabbi Eisemann. It simply stated: "After reflecting on our brief telephone conversation, I wish to make it clear that I voluntarily retired from Ner Israel in August 2006."
 
One source said: "You have Eisemann denying all of this. You have Ner Israel's legal statement. You have Rabbi Hopfer's judgment call. Also, Rabbi Hopfer found Eisemann's accuser credible. Put it all together, this is what you have."
 
Earlier in the summer, Rabbi Eisemann was in the Upper Park Heights neighborhood for Shabbat. Rabbi Moshe Heinemann gave him a VIP seat at the Agudath Israel Synagogue to daven. Rabbi Heinemann was one of 22 rabbis who signed a community letter last April of condemnation against child molestation.
 
Also, in Rabbi Eisemann's book, "Music Made in Heaven," copyright 2007, Rabbi Aharon Feldman, rosh yeshiva of Ner Israel, writes in a forward: "Rabbi Eisemann has deeply influenced the students at Ner Israel with his classes for over 30 years."
 
Perhaps the first public comments concerning Rabbi Eisemann came from the blog Unorthodox Jew and from a blog called Chaptzem.
 
One anonymous blogger wrote, "When I was __ years old, I was a talmid [student] of Ner Israel. At that time, the Mashgiach Ruchni [spiritual adviser] was Rabbi Moshe Eisemann. I became close to him and trusted him totally like a father figure. He is a very sick man. He would tell me he loved me and would hug and kiss me inappropriately."
 
Another anonymous blogger wrote that he met with New York Jewish Week publisher and editor Gary Rosenblatt, who wrote the expose on the molestations by former NCSY executive Rabbi Baruch Lanner. The blogger wanted advice on where he should go with his story of molestation.
 
Mr. Rosenblatt said he did receive a phone call from an alleged victim who wanted to discuss the issue of molestation specifically at Ner Israel. But, according to Mr. Rosenblatt, Rabbi Eisemann's name was never discussed.
 
Then there was another contact made. This time, it was with Rabbi Yosef Blau, a faculty member of Yeshiva University of New York. According to the YU website, "Rabbi Yosef Blau has been the masgiach ruchani (spiritual guidance counselor) at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary since 1977. He also is spiritual guidance counselor for students at the university's undergraduate schools and colleges for men." He is also the current president of the RZA (Religious Zionists of America). The Jewish Times traveled to Manhattan to meet with him.
 
The rabbi, who has counseled many sexually molested Jewish men and women, explained that he had ongoing contact with an individual who reported that Rabbi Eisemann had behaved inappropriately with him and others. He was loyal to the yeshiva, but was troubled by the lack of response to the allegations.
 
"Through him, I became aware of the process where Ner Israel graduates who had complained to the administration were asked to tell their stories to Rabbi Hopfer," said Rabbi Blau. "After he spoke with Rabbi Hopfer, he informed me that it was clear that Rabbi Hopfer believed the allegations. There would be an agreement that Rabbi Eisemann would be retired. There was a decision to leave him on the grounds so he wouldn't go somewhere else where they couldn't take responsibility. Rabbi Eisemann was allegedly retired without any explanation given. He stayed on campus. The fellow I am counseling is still somewhat disappointed with these results. But on the other hand, he didn't want to hurt the yeshiva and is filled with mixed feelings."
 
Mike Simms sits for a crowded but comfortable late lunch at the Hometown Buffet, a favorite restaurant location of his in Phoenix, Ariz. It's 115 degrees this afternoon, a day when a cold drink and a piece of fruit would do.
 
Instead, he's got the steamship round au jus on his plate, along with a salad and some hot potatoes and brown gravy.
 
Mike, who has graying long hair and a gregarious personality, brings up words like Rashi and drasha during informal conversation. He jokes that this is probably the first time those words have ever been spoken at the Hometown Buffet.
 
He's almost certainly correct.
 
A Hispanic woman comes over and takes away his empty plate. He gets up and goes for more.
 
Mike Simms, originally Zev Simanowitz, has come a long way since he was a student of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, a teacher, author and scholar at Baltimore's Ner Israel Rabbinical College.
Mr. Simms, a Phoenix-area locksmith, former community newspaper publisher and writer, was Rabbi Eisemann's student in the 1960s at the Philadelphia Talmudical Academy.
 
He said he doesn't remember much from his classes with Rabbi Eisemann. But he does recall his former teacher had a "habit of staring at people's crotches. I knew that being around him there was an ongoing assault on my privates. He'd stare at my privates to the point where it made me uncomfortable."
 
So uncomfortable that as a young teen, Mr. Simms went to a local store and purchased an athletic supporter that would flatten out any hint of his genitals.
 
"I remembered that soon after I put on the jockstrap, he looked at me with this face of, `What happened?'" Mr. Simms said. It worsened, according to Mr. Simms. One day after school, he found himself alone in the classroom with the rabbi.
 
"I remember distinctly him trying to calm me down. He was talking to me about masturbation. He told me it was sh'cha'tat zera [destruction of the seed]," he said. "That was all very nice, but I didn't ask him for the lecture. I remember him saying that if you are not multiplying with your sperm, you are not multiplying. When he came out with this, I got like 40 shades of red."
 
Then Mr. Simms left the room, but not before he believes Rabbi Eisemann touched him on his rear end twice.
 
There were other troubling signs, recounted Mr. Simms.
 
"When he was teaching, he'd have sitting on his desk a boy who happened to be the smartest kid in the class," he continued. "He was slight of build, short and cute with glasses and curly light brown hair. Eisemann would sit there and this kid would sit at his right hand in front of the class. Eisemann would be patting his tush forever, almost caressing it at times.
 
"I was overwhelmed," he continued. "What do you say about the rebbe with the beard doing something like this?
 
"If Rabbi Eisemann was here in front of me now, I guess I'd say to him that I wish I had the courage to say something along the way even though I know I would have been ignored. I wish I had been more knowledgeable about the subject so that I could not have been so naive," he added.
 
Mr. Simms would go on to graduate from a different yeshiva. But when it came to continuing his Jewish education, he decided to go away from it to the extreme, joining the U.S. Marines. He stayed single all of his life.
In the Phoenix restaurant, he said the Rabbi Eisemann incident wasn't the exclusive reason he wasn't interested in Judaism any longer. It was just part of the process that turned him off.
 
"People like me could have been directed better," he said. "But everyone did the same thing, `Shut up and do this.' They would tear the covers off of Agatha Christie books because there was a woman on them. They lost us to unorthodoxy and to wandering in the land. They didn't teach us spirituality. They taught us religion. It was sit-down-and-shut-up stuff."
 
Mr. Simms takes some gulps of coffee from a brown cup.
 
"This was all a huge chilul HaShem," he said. "For me, it was an encounter with evil. But it was also the whole Tevya, `Fiddler on the Roof' thing. There was no room for question; You did things because you were told to do them. Even if it meant getting molested. Who knows what this guy did? Who knows?"
 
Mike Simms answered his cell phone on this day in August. It was time to go.
 
Someone was locked out. 


Can we trust the rabbonim of Baltimore to really monitor Rabbi Stanley Levitt?

By Vicki Polin
Examiner - August 3, 2012

Yesterday Rabbi Stanley Levitt received 10 years probation and is required to register as a sex offender, after pleading guilty on charges of sexually assaulting 3 boys in Boston. It's been reported that he’ll also have to wear a ankle monitoring device. If he violates any of the terms of his probation he will end up in jail. According to a reliable source, Levitt has chosen Baltimore, MD as his place of residence.

After the sentencing hearing one of the individuals who was victimized by Levitt stated: “this will mean that another life will be ruined for him to end up in prison, and I went through all of this so that wouldn’t be the case. . . All we can do is hope he violates his probation without harming another child.”

The issue still remains of how prepared the ultra-orthodox community of Baltimore will be to keep the children in their community safe? Considering the track history of being non-compliant with Jewish law, which requires all adults to be mandated reporters, let alone stonewalling law enforcement officials during several past investigations of possible child molestation, one has to realize that the Baltimore orthodox community is becoming a sort of mecca for Jewish sexual predators residing in the United States.

Shmuel Zev Juravel is a quintessential example of how ineffective rabbinical "monitoring" is of sex offenders, especially in Baltimore’s ultra-orthodox community. Juravel was known by Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer to have molested many boys within the eruv (Jewish community), but was never reported to the secular authorities, as he comes from an internationally highly respected, prestigious rabbinical family, who had strong ties to the Baltimore community. When Shmuel Juravel moved to Savannah, GA, Rabbi Hopfer notified the Orthodox rabbi there that Mr. Juravel should be "monitored" around children.

At the time Shmuel Juravel was married with four sons of his own. It didn’t stop him from allegedly molesting several other boys in the Savannah community as well. He was finally stopped by the FBI in an internet sting operation for soliciting boys on Craigs List and then crossing state lines to meet the alleged victim. The now, 35 year-old inmate is now incarcerated, serving a 22 year sentence in the federal prison system in Otisville, NY. He’s scheduled to be released on March 28, 2024.

The Awareness Center is the international Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault. Since 2001 they have attempted to warn the Baltimore community about numerous alleged and convicted sexual predators from within their own community. Unfortunately, their cries have been ignored. Besides Shmuel Juravel, The Awareness Center has attempted to warned not only community members, but also the Vaad Harabonim (orthodox board of rabbis), in which Rabbi Hopfer is president.

Rabbi Moshe Eisemann is a 76-year-old, highly respected author and religious leader. For many years he was the Mashgiach Ruchni (head spiritual advisor) at Ner Israel High School and College. According to a reliable source, throughout the years at Ner Israel, there were mumblings of him molesting boys (both minors and those slightly past their 18th birthdays). Instead of making hotline or police reports, the administration at Ner Israel decided to handle the allegations quietly and internally.

Instead of doing the right thing, Ner Israel did what many prestigious organizations, institutions and schools do around the globe -- they shifted the alleged offender to another position -- yet allowed Eisemann to live on the high school/college campus and also allowed him to privately tutor students in his home -- without any type of supervision.
Back in 2006, The Awareness Center did their best to publicize the allegations made against Rabbi Moshe Eisemann of the molestation of teenage boys including the few who were molested who were over the age of 18. At the time hotline reports were made, yet due to the fact that none of the alleged victims resided in his home, and the investigators were stonewalled, nothing could be done.

In 2007, after the exposé, "Ner Israel Rabbi Alleged Abuser: When Whispers Get Louder" was published by the Baltimore Jewish times, The Awareness Center put out a call for action, which five years later has still been ignored.

The organization demanded the following protocols be set up to keep students safe:
  1. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann immediately be move off the campus of Ner Israel.
  2. Rabbi Eisemann cease teaching and or tutoring students in his home or else where.
  3. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann have absolutely no contact with children or male adults under the age of 40. (According to Jewish custom, forty is the age in which a man is considered mature enough to study Kabbalah and less likely be able to be sexually manipulated by an sexual predator).
  4. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann be immediately evaluated by a licensed mental health professional who specializes in sex offenders. The professional must be approved by The Awareness Center, Inc. to insure the professional is not biased nor associated with Ner Israel any other individual or organization.
  5. Artscroll/Mesorah publications cease and desist from publishing, selling or distributing any books created by Moshe Eisemann.
  6. All books written by Moshe Eisemann be banned by every yeshiva (seminaries) in the US and abroad.
  7. Rabbi Moshe Eisemann not be allowed to leave the United States.
  8. Ner Israel Rabbinical College finance a team of child abuse experts who will evaluate all past and present students of Rabbi Moshe Eisemann to determine if there are any more survivors. The team of experts will be approved by The Awareness Center to insure things are handled properly and appropriately.
Considering the track record of Baltimore’s orthodox Jewish religious leaders of doing nothing to protect the community from sexual predators, it’s difficult to believe that anything has change. Needless to say, without public outcry nothing will change and individuals like Rabbi Stanley Levitt will continue to offend.
The Awareness Center also asks that the following individuals be contacted:
President of the Vaad of Baltimore:
Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer - Shearith Yisrael (Glen Ave. Shul):
Phone: 410-466-3060 Fax: 410-367-9183
Ner Israel Rabbinical College (and High School):
Phone: 410-484-7200
Rabbi Aharon Feldman - Rosh Yeshiva (Head of the School)
Rabbi Beryl Weisbord - Dean of Students
Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger - President
Artscroll/Mesorah Publications
Phone: 718-921-9000 Fax: 718-680-1875
Rabbi Nosson Scherman, the General Editor
Meir Zlotowitz - Founder of Artscroll Publications
 

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Last Updated:  05/01/2007

"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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