Case of Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon
Executive Director - Boca Raton Kollel
Boca Raton Florida
This is a case of alleged clergy sexual abuse against an adult.
A former employee sued a Boca Raton Judaic studies institute, alleging that Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon groped and sexually harassed her.
The allegations include Rabbi Ohayon asking the survivor to expose her breasts, and put his hands on her buttockss. Ohayon also asked victim to accompany him to strip clubs, come to his house on nights his wife was out of town and to provide after-hours massages in exchange for extra money, according to the lawsuit.
Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon possible civil trial, there was a motion to dismiss by the Boca Raton Community Kollel-Defendent, the plaintiff was given time to amend her claim which she did, the Boca Raton Community Kollel-Defendent also unsuccessfully filed a motion to dismiss. The Boca Raton Community Kollel subsequently filed a corrected proposal for settlement on December 20, 2005.
Gabriel Ohayon, vice president of the Boca Raton Synagogue, which is Rabbi Mordechai Gafni/Winiarz/Winyarz's old synagogue.
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2005
- Boca Raton Judaic Fellows Program
- Lawsuit alleges rabbi groped former employee (07/19/2005)
- Rabbi's lawyer denies woman's harassment charge (07/20/2005)
2006
- Recent events (02/09/2006)
- Boca Raton Synagogue - Executive Board & Board of Directors (03/06/2006)
- The Community Kollel Newsletter (Boca Raton, FL) (03/06/2006)
- Clerk Connect (03/27/2006)
Also see:
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Boca Raton Judaic Fellows Program
The Community Kollel
Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon, Executive Director
Rabbi Ohayon has been a leader of the Boca Raton Synagogue since 1991 when he joined the Board of Directors.
He served as President of the Synagogue from 1994 through 1995, and was one of the founding members of its Sephardic Minyan, which numbers well over 150 participants.
Rabbi Ohayon received his ordination and studied in Mirrer Yeshiva, in Brooklyn, NY; a Teacher's Certificate from Toronto Hebrew Teacher's Seminary; and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in International Business and Trade from Ryerson University, in Toronto.
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Lawsuit alleges rabbi groped former employee
South Florida Sun Sentinel - July 19, 2005
A former employee sued a Boca Raton Judaic studies institute Monday, alleging that a rabbi there groped and sexually harassed her.
The harassment happened between January 2004 and June 2004 while victim was an administrative assistant for Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon at Boca Raton Community Kollel, according to the lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
During that period, Ohayon asked victim to expose her breasts, and put his hands on her buttocks, the lawsuit alleges. Ohayon also asked victim to accompany him to strip clubs, come to his house on nights his wife was out of town and to provide after-hours massages in exchange for extra money, according to the lawsuit.
Ohayon pushed victim out of her chair when she was on the phone with her boyfriend, hung up the phone and yelled that she was not to talk to men on the phone while in the office, according to the lawsuit.
Ohayon was not listed Monday in the faculty section of the Community Kollel Web site. Institute officials could not be reached for comment Monday night, despite attempts by phone and e-mail.
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Rabbi's lawyer denies woman's harassment charge
By Stephanie Slater
Palm Beach Post - Wednesday, July 20, 2005
A lawyer called allegations of sexual harassment against a well-known suburban Boca Raton rabbi baseless and outrageous Tuesday.
Howard DuBosar, a lawyer for the Boca Raton Community Kollel, the nonprofit organization where the harassment allegedly occurred, also questioned the motivation of the Broward County woman who filed a lawsuit Monday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court.
Alleged victim is seeking more than $15,000 in damages from the kollel and its former executive director, Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon, 63, who she claims made unwanted sexual advances and requests while she worked as his administrative assistant.
Alleged victim alleges that from Jan. 22, 2004 through June 4, 2004, Ohayon tried to kiss her and remove her clothing, asked her to go with him to strip clubs, and followed her into a room, locked the door and asked to see her breasts, according to the suit.
She also accuses him of battery for pushing her out of a chair when she was on the phone with her boyfriend.
Ohayon resigned as executive director of the kollel this year to pursue other business opportunities, DuBosar said.
The kollel, a Jewish organization that promotes spiritual growth through free educational workshops and lectures, was formed in 1996 by Rabbi Kenneth Brander, head rabbi at the Orthodox Boca Raton Synagogue.
"The kollel has no reason to believe Gabe engaged in any wrongdoing and accepts his denial," DuBosar said. "Whatever the motivations of the plaintiff might be, it's a shame she's taking it out on a not-for-profit organization such as this."
Ohayon did not return a call for comment Tuesday but said Monday he did not know anything about the suit.
Nearly two weeks before she claims the harassment began, alleged victim was arrested by the Broward County Sheriff's Office on grand theft and drug possession charges, court records show.
Alleged victim pleaded guilty and spent 26 days in the county jail, though it is unclear when she served the time.
Her first arrest came at the age of 14 when Coral Springs police charged her with shoplifting, according to state records.
West Palm Beach police arrested her on larceny and petit theft charges in December.
Alleged victims' attorney, Kenneth Carman, did not return calls for comment.
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Recent events
February 9, 2006
Rabbi Gabriel Ohayon possible civil trial, there was a motion to dismiss by the Boca Raton Community Kollel-Defendent, the plaintiff was given time to amend her claim which she did, the Boca Raton Community Kollel-Defendent also unsuccessfully filed a motion to dismiss. The Boca Raton Community Kollel subsequently filed a corrected proposal for settlement on December 20, 2005.
1) ORDER 06-FEB-2006
Docket Text: ON PLT'S MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME IS GRANTED. PLT SHALL SERVE RESPONSES W/IN 15 DAYS.
2) ORDER 06-FEB-2006
Docket Text: ON DATE FOR PLT'S DEPO. PLT'S COUNSEL SHALL PROVIDE KOLLEL'S ATTY IN WRITING, NO LATER THAN FEB 13TH, W/3 SEPARATE DATES WHICH PLT AND HER COUNSEL ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEPO.
3) ORDER 06-FEB-2006
Docket Text: ON DFT'S OBJECTIONS TO REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION #1 IS DENIED
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Boca Raton Synagogue - Executive Board and Board of Directors
March 3, 2006
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Kollel FellowsRabbi Shmuel Rabinovich - Senior LecturerRabbi Avi HellerRabbi Baruch PlotkinRabbi Moshe SchochetRabbi Aaron Levitt
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Clerk Connect
Civil Courts Public Access - March 27, 2006
http://courtcon.co.palm-beach.fl.us/pls/jiwp/ck_public_qry_main.cp_main_idx
44 MOT - MOTION
Filing Date: 27-MAR-2006
Filing Party: COMMUNITY KOLLEL INC. DBA THE BOCA RATON COMMUNITY KOLLEL,
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: FOR INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420, W/ATTCHMNTS
45 SUP - SUPPLEMENT
Filing Date: 03-APR-2006
Filing Party: COMMUNITY KOLLEL INC. DBA THE BOCA RATON COMMUNITY KOLLEL,
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: TO MOTION FOR INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420 AND ENTRY OF JUDGMENT THEREON, W/ATTCHMNTS
46 NOH - NOTICE OF HEARING
Filing Date: 05-APR-2006
Filing Party:
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: ON 4/11/06 AT 8:45 AM ON DFT'S THE COMMUNITY KOLLEL, MOTION FOR INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420 AND SUPPLEMENT TO MOTION FOR INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420 AND ENTRY OF JUDGMENT THEREON
47 NOH - NOTICE OF HEARING
Filing Date: 10-APR-2006
Filing Party:
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: (COPY) ON 4/11/06 AT 8:45 AMON DFT, RABBI GABRIEL OHAYON'S NOTICE OF JOINDER REGARDING DFT, THE BOCA RATON COMMUNITY KOLLEL'S MOTION FOR INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420 AND SUPPLEMENT TO MOTION FOR INVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420 AND ENTRY OF JUDGMENT THEREON, W/COPY OF SAME ATTCHD HERETO
48 ORD - ORDER
Filing Date: 17-APR-2006
Filing Party:
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: GRANTING DFTS' MOTIONS FOR UNVOLUNTARY DISMISSAL PURSUANT TO RULE 1.420. DFT. GABRIEL OHAYON'S ORE TENUS MOTION TO DISMISS COUNTERCLAIM W/OUT PREJUDICE IS GRANTED. CLERK INSTRUCTED TO CLOSE FILE.
49 JUD - JUDGMENT Book 20226 - Page 1419
Filing Date: 17-APR-2006
Filing Party:
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: ON AWARD OF SANCTIONS. DFT, THE COMMUNITY KOLLEL RECOVER FROM PLT, NICOLE DAVIS, SUM OF $725.00 AS A SANCTION TO RULE 1.380, FRCP, LET EXECUTION ISSUE.
DJ - DISPOSED BY JUDGE 49
Filing Date: 17-APR-2006
Filing Party:
Disposition Amount:
Docket Text: none.
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