Case of Dr. Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowich

Case of Dr. Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowich
(AKA: Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich)

CEO, Jewish Heritage Tours - (Midwood) Brooklyn, NY
Dean, Ahavath Torah Institute - Brooklyn, NY
(Kew Garden) Queens, NY
 

Caught sending child pornography to an undercover police officer. Rabbi Rabinowich runs a tour company and a synagogue from his home.

Considering the fact that Rabbi Nosson Rabinowich travels the world for a living and he was attempting to meet up with a teenage girl he met on the internet for sex, there is a strong possibility that this was not his first time.  If you or anyone you know might have been sexually abused by this alleged sexual predator please contact your local rape crisis center for help.  You can also call: Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).

According to an article published by Totally Jewish Travel back in 2010, "Ha'Rav Dr. Nosson Dovid Rabinowich, who is universally recognized not only as a wonderful Talmid Chacham, but also as a leading historian, with a specialty in the Geonic and Medieval Periods."

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Table of Contents: 

1988

1.  Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich accused of plagiarism (1988)
   

 2009

1. New Exciting Jewish Heritage Tour; Now,for the second year! (2009)
   

 2012

1. Back from Jewish Heritage Tour to Italy (07/22/2012)
    

2013

1. Bio:  Dr. Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowich (02/14/2013)
2. Rabbi arrested in ‘To Catch a Predator’-style bust (02/14/2013)
3. Rabbi busted after setting up Queens date for sex with a '14-year-old girl' online (02/14/2013)
4. Rabbi Arrested After Trying to Lure Teenage Girl (02/15/2013)

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Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich accused of plagiarism

In 1988, Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich published a book titled Talmudic Terminology. However, as was noted in brief by Dr. Marc Shapiro, this was plagiarized from Moses Mielziner's Introduction to the Talmud, first published in 1894. This omission, however, has been corrected in Rabinowich's reprints of his Talmudic Terminology where the title now reads that Rabinowich's work is "adapted" from Mielziner's.

would appear to be the end of the matter it is not. Dr. Shapiro has investigated this issue further and has sent the following:

After I published my book on Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox a number of people pointed out to me that Nosson Rabinowich's plagiarism of Mielziner is more extensive than what I point out. I didn't know what they were referring to since I had the first edition of his book M. Mielziner's Talmudic Terminology, published in 1988 (in my kuntres there is a typo, as it says 1998). Or so I thought. I succeeded in locating another copy by interlibrary loan, and lo and behold, the title page does not say M. Mielziners Talmudic Terminology adapted by N. Rabinowich but it identifies him as the author. What's even more fascinating is that the other edition has haskamot of Rabbis Ovadiah Yosef and Aharon Feldman. Obviously when the scandal broke, Rabinowich quickly produced a new title page and took out the haskamot (and also added a note on p. xv and made a slightchange in note 2 on. p. xv (replacing "some" with "most".) It is obvious why the haskamot were taken out, since they praise Rabinowich for producing a book which he didn't write. In fact, Rabinowich is responsible for something very interesting. We find here the first example in history where gedolim put a haskamah on a work written by a Reform rabbi! Unknowingly Rabbis Yosef and Feldman gave a haskamah to Mielziner. You can be sure this is not something that makes them happy.

Additionally, in an effort to keep the two "editions" the same, Rabinowich did not alter the pagination, this is so, even though he removed the haskamot. Consequently, the "new" edition is missing those pages. I have provided both title pages as well as Rabbis Yosef's and Feldman's haskamot (as one can no longer get them).

Additionally, in an effort to keep the two "editions" the same, Rabinowich did not alter the pagination, this is so, even though he removed the haskamot. Consequently, the "new" edition is missing those pages. I have provided both title pages as well as Rabbis Yosef's and Feldman's haskamot (as one can no longer get them).

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New Exciting Jewish Heritage Tour; Now,for the second year!

Totally Jewish Travel - 2009
 
FASCINATING FRANCE : August 8- August 17 (2010)
Jewish Heritage Tours is proud to announce a new and exciting tour: Paris, South of France and Monaco. For years, Jewish Heritage Tours has been the U.S. leader in glatt kosher tours to Western Europe and due to popular demand this new destination has now been added. The primary objectives of this tour are: to appreciate the natural beauty of Provence,=2 0to learn about our fascinating heritage in Provence and the Languedoc regions during the period of the Rishonim, to visit the gravesite areas of the revered Rashi and his family including his saintly grandsons: Rashbam, Rivam and Rabbeinu Tam and to discover Paris, one of the world's most fascinating cities. A very thorough overview of France's turbulent Jewish history and an in-depth appreciation of its various rabbis & leaders will be offered by a serious scholar, Ha'Rav Dr. Nosson Dovid Rabinowich, who is universally recognized not only as a wonderful Talmid Chacham, but also as a leading historian, with a specialty in the Geonic and Medieval Periods.

In addition, the tour offers other highlights such as: the Palace of Versailles, residence of the Sun King, Louis XIV and the famous French-style gardens, Normandy: the American Cemetery, Caen Peace Memorial, the wonderful D-Day museum and Omaha Beach, Avignon , the location of the majestic Palace of the Popes who welcomed and protected the Jews of Provence and Languedoc after they were expelled in the 14th century (hence, "the Pope's Jews") and, of course, the fascinating cities of Marseilles, Cannes, Nice and Monaco, the second smallest independent state in the world. It might be small -- only ¾ square mile, but it has some awesome buildings, gardens and, of course, world-famous casinos.

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Back from Jewish Heritage Tour to Italy

By C Teitch

Fodor's Travel Talk Forum - July 22, 2012

Looking for a Jewish tour of Italy, we booked "Jewish Heritage Tours" headed by Rabbi Nosson Dovid Rabinowich. 

Overview of the tour: The tour director, Rabbi Dr. Nosson Dovid Rabinowich, showed a complete disregard for the well-being and welfare of those on the tour. Food and water were insufficient and he made no effort to ensure that our group of 32 travelers was present and accounted for. Indeed, he had no qualms about abandoning members of the group.

He was abusive and insulting and consistently lied (for example, he specifically told a member of the group that he would accompany the group to the airport for the trip home but in fact, without warning, walked away from the bus as we pulled away, leaving the group to fend for itself at the airport without any direction or instructions and with no time to spare to make our flight). Finally, despite his claims of being a scholar with a doctorate in medieval Jewish history, his lack of knowledge, and failure to adequately educate the group was readily apparent. 

Specific examples: Three incidents stand out as examples of his intentional disregard for the welfare of those traveling on this tour. 

1) Upon arrival in Rome at 7:30 in the morning on a very hot July morning, despite promising breakfast, no food or water were provided. When asked for water the tour director said he would provide it later, despite the fact that he himself was carrying a bottle of water. When I told him that one of the members of the group was showing signs of dehydration and was looking ill, he gave me his half empty bottle and told me to give it to her. His lack of concern was shocking.

2) A member of the group had prior conversations with Rabinowich about special dietary needs as she had celiac disease and other food issues. He repeatedly assured her that her needs would be taken care of. On arrival however, there was no accommodation made for her and he told her that food was her own responsibility, and that she should go home if she was not satisfied. There were several meals when this traveler had nothing to eat. 

3) While there were many other incidents that demonstrated his complete disregard for members of the group, on incident stands out. When in Siena, he told the group to meet him at a designated location from which we would depart for the bus and leave for Florence. Members of the group were waiting as instructed but he never arrived. Instead he was at a different location and, without trying to inform everyone that he was leaving, started walking to the bus, leaving members of the group in the bathroom. 

Once on the bus, he instructed the driver to pull away, despite the fact that four members of the group were still at the restroom. When he was told to wait, he said that those missing were to blame and that they were now on their own. When he was told that it was his fault as he did not meet the group at the designated spot and that he cannot abandon members of the group, he stood up, walked down the aisle of the bus, and proceeded to scream at members of the group saying that they were nothing but trouble and that they should leave the group and go home. He was completely irrational and out of control and it appeared that he might strike the person who spoke up. From that point on members of the group were afraid to speak for fear of being left behind or verbally abused.

As for the tour itself, while we did see Italy, many of the things promised on the itinerary were not provided (e.g., appropriate food and some promised sites). Simply stated, he lied about many things, did the bare minimum, and did not follow through on all that he had promised.

If you want to take a Jewish Heritage trip to Italy, do NOT go with this group. You are better off booking some of the many Jewish day trips readily available once you are in Italy. 

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 Bio:  Dr. Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowich
Jewish Heritage Tours - February 14, 2013

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Rabbi arrested in ‘To Catch a Predator’-style bust

PIX - February 14, 2013

Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowich and a criminal defense attorney hurriedly walked out of the Queens County courthouse Thursday.  Police say the 59-year-old Brooklyn based rabbi thought he was sending sexually explicit instant messages to a 14-year old girl in December and then again over the last two weeks.

It turns out that girl was really an undercover NYPD vice detective.

Investigators say Rabbi Rabinowich used two AOL screen names…”NYC-NORMAL100″ and “NORMALGENTNYC”.

He was arrested last night when he left his Brooklyn home and showed up in Queens to meet with the would be 14-year old.

Rabinowich is faces attempted rape, and two other luring related charges. If convicted, the rabbi faces up to four years in prison. He’s due back in court on march 7th.

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Rabbi busted after setting up Queens date for sex with a '14-year-old girl' online 

By Kerry Burke , Joe Stepansky AND Daniel Beekman 

New York Daily News - February 14, 2013

Nathan David Rabinowich, 59, was charged Wednesday when he showed up to have sex with who he thought was a girl he had been communicating with for months. He was released Thursday night after making bail following attempted rape charges.

A Brooklyn rabbi and travel guide exchanged sexually explicit online messages with an undercover cop he thought was a 14-year-old girl, then set up a date with her in Queens, prosecutors charged Thursday.

Nathan David Rabinowich, 59, was arrested Wednesday night when he showed up for the pervy rendezvous, police said. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted of attempted rape and other counts.

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Rabbi Arrested After Trying to Lure Teenage Girl

New York Times - February 15, 2013

A rabbi has been arrested after sending sexually explicit messages online to a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl and arranging to meet her in Queens for sex, the district attorney’s office said on Thursday. Instead, a New York police detective had impersonated the girl, the authorities said. 

The rabbi, Nathan David Rabinowich, 59, of Brooklyn, was arrested Wednesday. He was charged with four sexual offenses, including attempted rape, the Queens district attorney’s office said in a statement. 

“It is disturbing that a man who is supposed to be held in high esteem by the community in which he lives would allegedly try to lure a child to meet him for sex,” the district attorney, Richard A. Brown, said. 

Rabbi Rabinowich runs a tour company and a synagogue from his home in the Midwood section, according to the statement. He exchanged online messages, some sexually graphic, with the detective in December and this month, the statement said. 

The rabbi was arraigned Thursday evening, and bail was set at $50,000, a spokeswoman for Mr. Brown’s office said. 

He is scheduled to appear in court again on March 7. 

A lawyer for Rabbi Rabinowich did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Thursday night. 

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