Case of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel

Case of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel
(Cantor / Hazzen)

(Born) La Paz, Bolivia
(1949) Lima, Peru
(1955 - 1959) Telzer Yeshiva (High School) - Cleveland, OH
 (1966 - 1968) Yeshiva University (Cantorial School) - New York, NY
(1966 - 1968) MBA in International Marketing - City University of New York - NY, NY
(2002 - 2006) Jewish Theological Seminary (Rabbinical School) - New York, NY 

Mexico
President, Zionist Federation of Peru - Peru
Cantor, Religious Affairs Director and Bar Mitzvah Instructor - Peru
Bakery Business, Israel
(1990) Toronto, Canada
(1968 - 2006) Former Member - Cantor Assembly (CA)
(1990 - 1992) Former Cantor, Shaar Shalom - Thornhill, Canada
(1994 - Present) Cantor, Beth Tzedec - Toronto, Canada
(2006) Spiritual Director, Camp Ramah - Utterson, Ontario, Canada
(2006 - 2007) Former Member - Rabbinical Assembly (RA)
(2006 - 2008) Rabbi, Beth Tzedec - Toronto, Canada
(2008 - Present) Rabbi, B'nai Shalom North Congregation - Toronto, Canada

Rabbi Tobias Gabriel was accused by a few women of clergy sexual abuse /professional sexual misconduct, while providing spiritual counseling.

Early in 2007, the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) and the Cantor Assembly (CA) organized a tribunal headed by Rabbi Harold Kravitz of Adath Jeshurun Synagogue (Minnetonka, MN), to hold a hearing in Toronto as part of the investigation of the allegations.  Beth Tzedic synagogue also conducted its own internal investigation, yet the results of that investigation were never been made public.

Upon hearing of the intention of the RA and the CA to come to Toronto to investigate the allegations, Rabbi Gabriel resigned from both organizations and is no longer a member of either. As past policy, upon Gabriel's resignation the tribunal cancelled its investigation.

June, 2007 - Rabbi Gabriel attempts to re-applied for admission to the Rabbinical Assembly and the Cantor Assembly, He was informed that he could not be re-admitted without them first completing their investigation.

October, 2007 - An out-of-c ourt settlemen was reached between Rabbi Tobias Gabriel, Beth Tzedec Synagogue and the two women who state they were sexually victimized.  Neighter Gabriel or Beth Tzedec made admission of fault or liability in the settlement.

March 21, 2008 - According to an e-mail sent by Herbert S. Garten,Esq. - Counsel to Cantors Assembly, Inc., Tobias Gabriel is no longer considered a member.

If you or anyone you know feel they have been sexually manipulated or victimized by Rabbi Gabriel please contact The Awareness Center immediately.

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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:  

2007

1. Background Information   (06/16/2007)
2. Beth Tzedec cantor is ordained as rabbi at age 62  (02/02/2007)
3. Rabbi Tobias Gabriel  (06/16/2007)
4. Looking for more survivors of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel  (08/29/2007)
5. Rabbi, synagogue sued over seduction scandal (08/29/2007)
6. Woman sues rabbi over alleged brief affair: Bathurst Synagogue (08/30/2007)
7. Forest Hill synagogue, rabbi sued for sexual misconduct (08/30/2007)
8. Richmond Hill woman suing Toronto synagogue (08/30/2007)
   
9. Toronto Congregation Rocked by Allegation That Rabbi Had Illicit Affair (09/05/2007)
10. Update:  Case of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel (09/06/2007)
11. Synagogue settles sex lawsuits (10/17/2007)
12. Accuser settles out of court with rabbi, synagogue (10/17/2007)
13. Synagogue settles sex suit  (10/18/2007)
14. Settlement reached in case of alleged sexual misconduct (10/24/2007)

2008 

1. Rabbi Tobias Gabriel Expelled from the Cantors Assembly   (03/21/2008)

2012

1. Tobias Gabriel on Linkedin  (01/06/2012)

2013

1. Tobias Gabriel on Linkedin (12/29/2013)

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Background Information

The Awareness Center - June 16, 2007
Rabbi Tobias Gabriel has been accused by more then one woman of clergy sexual abuse /professional sexual misconduct.

Early in 2007, the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) and the Cantor Assembly (CA) organized a tribunal headed by Rabbi Harold Kravitz of Adath Jeshurun Synagogue (Minnetonka, MN), to hold a hearing in Toronto as part of the investigation of the allegations.

Beth Tzedic synagogue has also conducted its own internal investigation, yet the results of that investigation have never been made public.

Upon hearing of the intention of the RA and the CA to come to Toronto to investigate the allegations, Rabbi Gabriel resigned from both organizations and is no longer a member of either. As past policy, upon Gabriel's resignation the tribunal cancelled its investigation.

Recently Rabbi Gabriel re-applied for admission to the Rabbinical Assembly and the Cantor Assembly . He was informed that he could not be re-admitted without them first completing their investigation. They are now scheduled to hold meetings in Toronto this coming August.

If you or anyone you know feel they have been sexually manipulated or victimized by Rabbi Gabriel please contact The Awareness Center immediately!

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Beth Tzedec cantor is ordained as rabbi at age 62
By RANCES KRAFT, Staff Reporter
Canadian Jewish News - February 2, 2006 (6 Shevat, 5766)


Congregants at Beth Tzedec Congregation are still getting used to referring to their chazzan sheni as Rabbi Gabriel, instead of the more familiar "Cantor Gabriel."

Rabbi Tobias (Tobi) Gabriel was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary on Dec. 15, an accomplishment all the more impressive for the fact that he kept up with full-time synagogue duties while commuting by plane twice a week to classes in New York, just over 800 km away. Not to mention that, at age 62, the father of three and grandfather of seven is decades older than most of the students in his graduating class.

The new rabbi said there were a number of factors involved in his decision to enter rabbinical school, including "a thirst for learning," but above all he sees it as professional development.

"When you're building community and you are in a clergy capacity, you owe it to yourself to get as much knowledge as possible."

In a way, he is also returning to his roots. A native of La Paz, Bolivia, Rabbi Gabriel was raised in an Orthodox home in a small, tightly knit Jewish community by German immigrant parents who fled Europe in 1938. As a young teenager, his parents sent him from Peru (where they moved when he was 7) to New York to get a Jewish high school education.

A graduate of Yeshiva University where he attended cantorial school and also took some classes in the rabbinical school, Rabbi Gabriel distanced himself shortly afterward from an Orthodoxy that he felt left little room for questioning. "I found my niche in Conservative Judaism, which allowed me to learn and to query...in an an environment where I was still able to follow the halachic tradition."

He earned his MBA in International Marketing at the City University of New York in 1968 and embarked on a business career that took him and his family to Mexico, Peru and Israel before they immigrated to Toronto in 1990. A constant thread, however, was their involvement in local Jewish communities.

In Lima, Rabbi Gabriel served as president of the Zionist Federation of Peru for two years, and – in the absence of an Ashkenazi rabbi for almost 12 years – led services and served as cantor, religious affairs director and bar mitzvah instructor.

Following his arrival in Canada, he was involved in Shaar Shalom Congregation in Thornhill, volunteering as cantor, Torah reader and ritual committee member until he left the business world and took on the position at Beth Tzedec in 1994.

He credits family – Sara, his wife of 41 years, and their children – as well as Beth Tzedec congregants, friends and colleagues at the synagogue for making his studies possible, including scholarship funding from the synagogue and the donation of air miles by congregants.

Although it took "a bit of imagination and hard work" to convince JTS to accept him as a student while he was holding a full-time job, faculty members ended up being very supportive, he said.

Technology also "helped quite a bit," he added, referring to distance courses included in his curriculum and also his ability to use the Internet for research.

But his schedule was "brutal, to say the least," he said of the two-year endeavour. Although he was exempt from some courses because of his experience and background, he was considered a full-time student with courses two half-days a week, some distance courses, and a full-time intensive course load over his four-week summer vacation.

"There were a lot of sleepless nights and weekends," said Rabbi Gabriel. Occasionally, he noted, if a flight was delayed by weather, his colleagues at Beth Tzedec would cover for him. Likewise, faculty members at JTS were "very understanding" if he was snowed in and arrived late to class. If he couldn't make it at all, someone would tape the classes for him.

While he will maintain his ongoing duties at Beth Tzedec, where the clergy includes three other rabbis, "the congregation will dictate" any new directions Rabbi Gabriel may take in the synagogue. He will also become involved with Camp Ramah in his new capacity as a rabbi.

"It was hard going back to school," he admitted. "But I adapted rather quickly... I always loved doing research."

No matter what stage of life you're in, he said, "if you want to go for professional development, you can do it." The right attitude, time management, and "a little help from friends" ease the way, he added.

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Rabbi Tobias Gabriel
Beth Tzedec - June 16, 2007
http://www.beth-tzedec.org/our_clergy/

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Looking for more survivors of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel

The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - August 29, 2007

Through out the life of Tobias Gabriel he moved around from country to country (Bolivia, Israel, Mexico, USA, Canada). It is believed that he left survivors of professional sexual misconduct along the way.  As of today there have been several women who have come forward  accusing Rabbi Tobias Gabriel of clergy sexual abuse/professional sexual misconduct. 

If you or someone you know has been sexually manipulated by Rabbi Gabriel please contact The Awareness Center immediately

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Rabbi, synagogue sued over seduction scandal
By  Sandro Contenta
Toronto Star - August 29, 2007


Woman who claims cleric pressured her into a sexual relationship wants $1.3M in compensation

A woman claiming she was coerced into a sexual relationship by a rabbi is suing the rabbi and a prominent Toronto synagogue for $1.3 million.

Richmond Hill resident (NAME REMOVED), is suing Rabbi Tobias Gabriel and the Beth Tzedec Synagogue for breach of fiduciary duty and the pain and suffering she claims the relationship caused her and her marriage.

The lawsuit highlights an issue that has pushed some religious institutions into writing codes of conduct that govern relationships between clergy and members of their congregations.

(NAME REMOVED) position is the rabbi abused the trust of a deeply religious woman, according to her lawyer Simona Jellinek.

Gabriel responded to a Toronto Star request for an interview by calling the allegations "groundless" and refusing further comment. His lawyer, Alf Kwinter, stressed none of the allegations have been proven in court. "He's going to vigorously defend this lawsuit," he added.

Kwinter described Gabriel's 13 years of service at the synagogue as "outstanding" and "exemplary." Beth Tzedec's website describes Gabriel as happily married.

The incident rocked the congregation Monday when a letter was sent to the synagogue's 6,000 members, three days after the Toronto Star made repeated requests to Beth Tzedec authorities for comment.

"Unfortunately, there is little doubt that the impropriety occurred," wrote Shep Gangbar, president of the Beth Tzedec Congregation, who called the situation "distressing."

While the synagogue "strongly affirms that such actions are improper and wrong," it is not legally liable for the actions of Gabriel, the letter states. "Beth Tzedec has never condoned or tolerated such behaviour and will never do so."

Beth Tzedec is prepared to provide financial compensation to (NAME REMOVED), the synagogue's lawyer, Michael Royce, said yesterday.

Gabriel, who was hired as a cantor by Beth Tzedec, has accepted an agreement with the synagogue that will see him resign at the end of the year, Kwinter said. He will be paid until then, he added.

Gabriel, who is not the synagogue's chief rabbi, has been suspended and will no longer work at Beth Tzedec, Royce said.

This week, representatives of the New York-based Rabbinical Association, of which Gabriel was a member when the incidents are said to have occurred, will come to the synagogue to investigate the claims. The group runs the cantor classes Gabriel taught in the synagogue.

Beth Tzedec, in the affluent Forest Hill neighbourhood, practises the Conservative stream of Judaism. One of the country's largest synagogues, it was recently the site of Ed Mirvish's funeral.

In July 2006, (NAME REMOVED) was the only female in Gabriel's class for student cantors at the Bathurst St. synagogue when Gabriel became "friendly and flirtatious," according to a statement of claim filed by (NAME REMOVED) and her husband (NAME REMOVED) at Ontario's Superior Court last month.

Gabriel kissed (NAME REMOVED) in his office at the end of the course after she gave him "a small token of appreciation," the statement alleges. She "fled" the office "confused and shaken," the statement adds.

Gabriel then called her repeatedly while she vacationed in Israel, the statement alleges. It claims he "pressured" her into seeing him when she returned.

When they met, "Rabbi Gabriel began to kiss (NAME REMOVED) and told her that he will take responsibility and that it would not be wrong to be intimate with him," the statement claims. He told (NAME REMOVED) "it is acceptable that she love two men," it alleges. The claim also alleges the relationship progressed to sexual intercourse.

"Did he use violence and rape her? No, he did not," Jellinek said. (NAME REMOVED)'s husband, who learned of the relationship last September, is claiming $100,000 for the damage it caused to his marriage.

The claim alleges the synagogue knew that Gabriel "had previously engaged in sexual relations with another married woman who was attending the Beth Tzedec Synagogue while she was grieving the loss of one of her parents."

The statement of claim says (NAME REMOVED) relied on Gabriel as "an authority figure to give advice to her, to guide her and to protect her from harm."

"Gabriel knew or ought to have known that (NAME REMOVED) would follow his instructions without resistance," it says. "Gabriel knew or ought to have known that he had (NAME REMOVED)'s absolute trust in all regards and that she would obey Gabriel's instructions and follow his advice in all matters."

(NAME REMOVED) refused to comment when contacted by the Star. Her husband, (NAME REMOVED) said: "There's been incredible grief and publicity would only cause more."

The experience continues to cause (NAME REMOVED) "physical and mental stress," including "inability to trust others ... suicidal behaviour ... sexual dysfunction ... (and) marital discord and breakdown," the statement of claim says. It calls the alleged incident a "sexual assault."

The synagogue does not have a written policy governing conduct between employees and members of the congregation. But the New York-based Rabbinical Association strictly forbids sexual relationships, Royce said.

Kwinter accused Beth Tzedec of convicting Gabriel although none of the allegations have been proven.

"We're not talking about young children. ... Nothing here is alleged to be illegal," Kwinter said. "The allegations are being made against adults."

Rabbi Michal Shekel, executive director of the Toronto Board of Rabbis, would not comment on the case but noted that adultery contravenes one of the Ten Commandments.

More modern concerns about the power a cleric may have over a member of the congregation, particularly one seeking counselling, has resulted in different branches of Judaism “ Reform, Conservative and Orthodox “ writing codes of conduct, Shekel said.

In the United States, windows are being added to rabbis' offices when old synagogues are redesigned. It allows for privacy while ensuring that others can witness the meeting, Shekel added.

In a teacher-student relationship, concerns are similar to those in universities, where a teacher has power over whether a student makes the grade, Shekel said.

In the Anglican church, it used to be common for a young cleric to fall in love with, or marry, a parishioner, said Archdeacon Peter Fenty, executive assistant to the Anglican Bishop of Toronto.
But recent reforms, including a "Sexual Misconduct Policy" for staff and volunteers adopted by the General Synod in 2005, resulted in the Toronto diocese banning romantic relationships between a cleric and a parishioner, Fenty said.

When that happens, the parishioner is asked to seek another parish. It avoids embroiling the parish into conflict that may arise if the relationship breaks down, and preserves the integrity of the pastoral relationship, Fenty added.

"When are you the person's priest and when are you the person's lover? It is in the interest of the cleric, the parishioner and the church community that there be clarity," Fenty said.

Rabbi Reuven Tradburks, president of the Toronto-based Council of Orthodox Rabbis, said his Judaic movement prohibits any man or woman being alone together in a room unless they're married or closely related.

Single rabbis are permitted to date and marry members of their congregations but sex is the reserve of married couples, Tradburks added.

People who go to rabbis for wisdom and guidance have a right to expect high ethical and moral standards from representatives of the Torah, Tradburks said.

"People will say, `Well, if a rabbi can behave that way, who needs the whole religion; it must not be worth much if he can act like that,'" he said.

"I'm a person like anyone else and I have my failings, but that's an expectation people have a right to make: a rabbi should do things differently," he added.

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Woman sues rabbi over alleged brief affair: Bathurst Synagogue

By Natalie Alcoba
National Post - August 30, 2007

A Richmond Hill woman who is suing a Forest Hill rabbi for allegedly manipulating her into a sexual relationship hopes to settle the case out of court, her lawyer says.

(NAME REMOVED), alleges Rabbi Tobias Gabriel and the Beth Tzedec Synagogue, on Bathurst Street, breached their fiduciary duty leading up to and during a two-or three-month affair in which she claims she was "subjected to heinous sexual and emotional assaults" at the hands of her rabbi, Mr. Gabriel. She blames Beth Tzedec for allowing the relationship to start and continue and is claiming $1.3-million in damages.

Her husband, (NAME REMOVED), is claiming $100,000 for the damage to his marriage.

Beth Tzedec sent a letter to its 6,000 members this week informing them of the lawsuit and stating that the synagogue would no longer employ Rabbi Gabriel.

"It's a tragic situation for all concerned," Michael Royce, the synagogue's lawyer, said yesterday. He said Beth Tzedec only became aware of the alleged affair after the fact, when Ms. (NAME REMOVED) issued a complaint late last year.

Mr. Gabriel agreed then to resign by the end of this year. He has since been suspended from his duties, but will be paid until the end of the year, according to his lawyer.

Alf Kwinter said his client intends to "strongly challenge these allegations" and criticized the synagogue for issuing the letter to the congregation. He noted that when the complaint first surfaced, Beth Tzedec chose not to suspend Rabbi Gabriel.

Mr. Kwinter said his client has served the Beth Tzedec congregation in an "exemplary manner" for 13 years.

Ms. (NAME REMOVED), a devout Jew, began studying to become a cantor under Rabbi Gabriel in July, 2006, according to a statement of claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The rabbi was "friendly and flirtatious," it is alleged, and when Ms. (NAME REMOVED) gave him a token of her appreciation at the end of the course, he "closed the door of his office and kissed (NAME REMOVED)."

Ms. (NAME REMOVED) fled, shaken and confused, the statement claims.

Ms. (NAME REMOVED) claims that over the next few months, Rabbi Gabriel "kept almost constant contact" with her, convinced her that it is acceptable to love two men and that "it would not be wrong to be intimate with him." They eventually had sexual intercourse. Ms. (NAME REMOVED) describes it all as a "sexual assault" because she did not consent to it.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

"When you've got a fiduciary relationship it is, in most situations, impossible for somebody to give consent because there are very, very unequal bargaining powers between the two," her lawyer, Simona Jellinek, said yesterday in an interview. The rabbi abused his position of trust, she alleged, adding that the ordeal has shaken the foundations of her client's marriage and her faith.

Ms. (NAME REMOVED) also alleged the synagogue had prior knowledge of another sexual relationship the married rabbi had with another married woman, an allegation refuted by Beth Tzedec's lawyer.

Mr. Royce said Beth Tzedec is anxious to sit down with Ms. (NAME REMOVED) and her husband "to hear what they have to say," but he has advised his client that they bear no legal responsibility for any impropriety because they were unaware of it while it was occurring.

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Forest Hill synagogue, rabbi sued for sexual misconduct
Inside Toronto - August 30, 2007

A congregant of Forest Hill's Beth Tzedec Synagogue is suing her place of worship and Rabbi Tobias Gabriel for $1.3 million, alleging the rabbi coerced her into a sexual relationship.

The suit, launched by (NAME REMOVED), claims that Gabriel told (NAME REMOVED) that it "would not be wrong to be intimate with him," spelling out an alleged breach of trust from a man in a position of religious power. The claim goes on to say that the rabbi "knew or ought to have known that he had (NAME REMOVED)  absolute trust in all regards and that she would obey Gabriel's instructions and follow his advice in all matters."

The allegations have not been proven in court.

The 52-year-old (NAME REMOVED) is married, as is the rabbi. 

Gabriel's lawyer, Alf Kwinter, said the rabbi will challenge the charges in court. Kwinter cited Gabriel's 13 years working with the Beth Tzedec organization.

"You don't stay at one of the foremost synagogues in the world for that long if you don't do exemplary work," Kwinter said. "There are an awful lot of allegations in the statement of claim, and they're all subject to proof. Anyone can put anything they want in a statement of claim."

Beth Tzedec Congregation president Shep Gangbar sent a letter to synagogue members, in which he claims that, "There is little doubt that the impropriety occurred." Kwinter said the letter was "ill-conceived" and said that he and his client were shocked and disappointed that it was sent before any of the charges laid against Gabriel were heard in court.

"The letter convicts him without any kind of hearing," he said. 

Kwinter added that Gabriel has reached an agreement with the synagogue in which he will no longer perform services at Beth Tzedec, but "he will continue to be paid for a certain period of time."

Calls to the synagogue and its lawyer, Michael Royce, were not returned as of press time Thursday. 

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Richmond Hill woman suing Toronto synagogue
By Michael Power 
York Region - August 30, 2007 

 lawsuit against Beth Tzedec Synagogue is for "negligence, vicarious liability, breach of duty of care and fiduciary duty owed to the plaintiffs," says the statement of claim.
A Richmond Hill woman is suing a rabbi and a Toronto synagogue, claiming he manipulated her into a sexual relationship.

(NAME REMOVED), 52, is suing Rabbi Tobias Gabriel and the Beth Tzedec Synagogue for breach of fiduciary duty in the relationship, a situation that saw the rabbi "satisfying his own sexual needs to the detriment of (Ms Nadler)," according to her lawyer, Simona Jellinek.

(NAME REMOVED) is suing for $300,000 for pain and suffering, $500,000 for special damages, $250,000 for aggravated damages and another $250,000 for punitive damages for a total of $1.3 million.

The synagogue failed to properly screen Mr. Gabriel as an employee and breached its fiduciary duty "to ensure that Gabriel would not take advantage of Yona for his own sexual gratification," the statement of claim continued.

Her husband (NAME REMOVED) is also asking damages of $100,000.

Mr. Gabriel's lawyer, Alf Kwinter has stated his client plans to vigorously defend against the allegations. Mr Gabriel has called the allegations "groundless."

None of the claims against either Mr. Gabriel or the synagogue have been proven in court.  

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Toronto Congregation Rocked by Allegation That Rabbi Had Illicit Affair
By Sheldon Gordon
Forward -  September 05, 2007

Toronto - In a case that has rocked one of North America’s largest Conservative synagogues, a woman who was taking singing lessons from an area rabbi is claiming that the rabbi seduced her. She is seeking a total of more than $1 million in damages from both him and the synagogue he once served.

(NAME REMOVED), 52, brought the suit last month in Ontario Superior Court against Rabbi Tobias Gabriel and Beth Tzedec Congregation for breach of fiduciary duty and for the pain and suffering that the alleged sexual relationship caused her and her marriage.

(NAME REMOVED) is alleging that the synagogue failed to properly screen Gabriel as an employee and that it breached its fiduciary duty “to ensure that Gabriel would not take advantage of (NAME REMOVED) for his own sexual gratification.” The allegations have not been proven in court.

With 6,000 members, Beth Tzedec is Toronto’s leading Conservative congregation. Its membership includes much of Canadian Jewry’s professional and business elite. Gabriel was, until recently, one of five rabbis employed by the synagogue.

He has dismissed the allegations as “groundless,” and his lawyer insisted the rabbi will challenge them vigorously in court. In a letter sent last week, however, the congregation’s president told members that “the impropriety” likely occurred, but maintained that Beth Tzedec neither condoned the behavior nor bore legal liability for it.

The plaintiff’s statement of claim alleges that the synagogue had known that Gabriel “previously engaged in sexual relations with another married woman who was attending the Beth Tzedec Synagogue while she was grieving the loss of one of her parents.”

Gabriel, who was hired by the synagogue 13 years ago and is described on its Web site as “happily married,” has “resigned” from Beth Tzedec, according to his lawyer, Alf Kwinter.
“He was not dismissed,” Kwinter emphasized.

Both (NAME REMOVED) and Gabriel declined to be interviewed for this article.

Last week, a joint delegation from the Rabbinical Assembly, which is the international association of Conservative rabbis, and the Cantors Assembly, the world’s largest cantors’ organization, came to Toronto to meet with the parties involved and to conduct an investigation. At press time, their findings were not yet released.

The R.A. has a “zero tolerance” policy toward rabbinical impropriety, said its executive vice president, Rabbi Joel Meyers, “but the goal is not always to just say, ‘Sorry, you’re finished.’ As rabbis, we absolutely believe that teshuvah [repentance] is possible. The question is whether there is a commitment to changed behavior.”

According to the statement of claim, in July 2006, (NAME REMOVED) who was not a member of Beth Tzedec, was enrolled in a course for student cantors at the synagogue. She was the sole woman in the class given by Gabriel, and, according to a statement she has filed with the court, he became “friendly and flirtatious.” The rabbi kissed her in his office at the end of the course after she had given him “a small token of appreciation,” her statement of claim says. She then “fled” the office, “confused and shaken.”

The statement of claim alleges that the rabbi then phoned (NAME REMOVED) repeatedly while she was on a visit to Israel. He “pressured” her into seeing him when she returned. When they met, “Rabbi Gabriel began to kiss (NAME REMOVED) and told her that he will take responsibility and that it would not be wrong to be intimate with him,” according to the statement of claim. He told her that “it is acceptable that she love two men.” The statement of claim alleges that the relationship progressed to sexual intercourse.

When asked if Gabriel acknowledges that a sexual relationship occurred, his lawyer replied: “Absolutely not. He has acknowledged nothing.” Statements of defense from the rabbi and the congregation are not yet due to be filed.

In his letter to congregants, Beth Tzedec president Shep Gangbar wrote, “Unfortunately, there is little doubt that the impropriety occurred.” While the synagogue “strongly affirms that such actions are improper and wrong,” it is not legally liable for the rabbi’s actions, the letter said. “Beth Tzedec has never condoned or tolerated such behavior and will never do so,” it stated. Gangbar and other synagogue officials declined interview requests.

But (NAME REMOVED) is arguing that the synagogue is far from blameless in the matter. Her lawyer, Simona Jellinek, told the Forward that if the lawsuit goes to trial, she can elicit testimony from another married woman who “many years ago” was also seduced by Gabriel while he was employed by the synagogue. “Beth Tzedec was well aware of what was happening, and they failed to put an end to it. Our case against the synagogue for negligence is very strong,” she said.

Jellinek said that her client’s emotional state is “very, very poor.” (NAME REMOVED) and her husband, who is suing the defendants for $90,000, have gone for counseling, “but whether or not their marriage will survive is unclear,” the lawyer said.

Gabriel was born in Bolivia to parents who had fled Nazi Germany. He has lived in the United States, Peru, Mexico, Israel and, since 1990, Canada. A graduate of Yeshiva University’s Cantorial School, he was hired as a cantor by Beth Tzedec in 1994 and was ordained as a rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2006 at the age of 62. He and his wife, Sara, have been married for 31 years and they have two married sons and a daughter.

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Update:  Case of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel 
The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - September 6, 2007

Rabbi Gabriel was accused by more then one woman of clergy sexual abuse / professional sexual misconduct.

Last night (September 5, 2007) the Vaad Hakavoad of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA) and the Cantor Assembly (CA) decided to recommend the expulsion of Rabbi Tobias Gabriel from both organizations.  We are now waiting for the executive committee of the RA to make a final decision.
 

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Synagogue settles sex lawsuits:  Out-of-court deal follows allegations of misconduct by rabbi, who will resign at year's end
By Sandro Contenta
Toronto Star - October 17, 2007


Two women accusing a rabbi of sexual misconduct have agreed to an out-of-court settlement with the rabbi and a prominent Toronto synagogue, their lawyer says.

The defendants in the case – Rabbi Tobias Gabriel and Beth Tzedec Synagogue – make no admission of fault or liability in the settlement, Simona Jellinek, the women's lawyer, said yesterday.

Negotiations began after Richmond Hill resident (NAME REMMOVED), 52, filed a statement of claim in Ontario Superior Court last July, alleging she was coerced into a sexual relationship by Gabriel a year earlier.

Her lawsuit demanded $1.3 million from Gabriel and Beth Tzedec for breach of fiduciary duty and the pain and suffering she claims the relationship caused her and her marriage. The rabbi was accused of abusing the trust of a deeply religious woman.

Gabriel, who spent 13 years working at the synagogue, was Beth Tzedec's cantor at the time of (NAME REMOVED)'s alleged incident. He has rejected her claims as "groundless," and his lawyer has defended his work as "exemplary." He was suspended with pay until the end of the year, when he'll officially resign.

The allegations rocked the congregation when the Bathurst St. synagogue sent a letter to its 6,000 members last August stating that "the impropriety (had) occurred."

A second woman came forward with allegations similar to (NAME REMOVED)'s after the Star published a story about (NAME REMOVED)'s claim.

Jellinek said the second woman, who lives in Toronto and is in her early 50s, was mentioned but not named in (NAME REMOVED)'s statement of claim. The Toronto woman was married and became sexually involved with Gabriel "while she was grieving the loss of one of her parents," according to the statement.

Beth Tzedec officials knew of Gabriel's relationship with the Toronto woman before he became involved with (NAME REMOVED), the statement of claim says.

Asked if the women received financial compensation as part of the settlement, Jellinek said the agreement prevents her from revealing such details. "Everybody knows there's going to be money exchanged, but I can't tell you that that is in fact true," she said.

Beth Tzedec's lawyer, Michael Royce, told the Star in August that the synagogue was prepared to compensate (NAME REMOVED) financially. Royce was not available for comment yesterday.

Jellinek described (NAME REMOVED) and her husband as somewhat relieved by the settlement, but added: "It's going to take them a while to rebuild their marriage."

The New York-based Rabbinical Assembly, a world-wide association of conservative rabbis, is expected to bar Gabriel from membership at a meeting later this month, Jellinek said. That would make it difficult for him to get a job as a rabbi or cantor in North America, she added.

(NAME REMOVED) alleged she was pressured into a sexual relationship with Gabriel while she was the only female student in his class for cantors at the synagogue in July 2006.

Beth Tzedec recently said it would implement a code of conduct for its clergy, Jellinek said.

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Accuser settles out of court with rabbi, synagogue
York Region - October 17, 2007
 
A Richmond Hill woman who accused a rabbi of sexual misconduct has agreed to settle out of court with him and the prominent Toronto synagogue where he worked.

The woman, (NAME REMOVED), had filed a statement of claim against Rabbi Tobias Gabriel and Beth Tzedec Synagogue on Bathurst Street last July.

In the settlement, neither party made any admission of fault or liability, said Ms (NAME REMOVED) lawyer Simona Jellinek.

In her statement of claim, Mrs. (NAME REMOVED), 52, alleged she was coerced into a sexual relationship a year earlier by Mr. Gabriel.

Mr Gabriel, who has rejected the claims as “groundless”, will resign from the synagogue at the end of the year. Mr. Gabriel’s lawyer has said his client’s work with the synagogue has been “exemplary”.

According to the statement of claim filed against Mr. Gabriel and the synagogue, Mr. Gabriel became “friendly and flirtatious” with (NAME REMOVED) while she was the only female student during a 2005 course for ritual directors at the synagogue. Mr. Gabriel was then acting as one of her technical instructors, the statement of claim alleges.

The relationship progressed to a sexual one, according to the statement of claim. Mrs. (NAME REMOVED) husband, (NAME REMOVED), learned of the relationship in September 2006, the document says.

In an interview with the Toronto Star, Ms Jellinek would not reveal whether (NAME REMOVED) — along with a Toronto woman who made similar claims against Mr. Gabriel and the synagogue — received financial compensation in the settlement, as the agreement prevents her from revealing such details.

But she did say it would take some time for (NAME REMOVED) and her husband to rebuild their marriage.

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Synagogue settles sex suit

Durham Region - October 18, 2007


A Midtown Toronto synagogue has settled out of court with two women who accused a rabbi at the place of worship of sexual misconduct.

One of the accusers, 52-year-old (NAME REMOVED), said Beth Tzedec Synagogue Rabbi Tobias Gabriel coerced her into a sexual relationship, telling her it "would not be wrong to be intimate with him" while she was a student of his in July 2006. Her lawsuit also stated that her faith made her vulnerable to manipulation from someone in a position of religious power such as Gabriel.

Both (NAME REMOVED) and the rabbi were married at the time of the alleged sexual misconduct.

A second accuser surfaced with similar allegations after (NAME REMOVED) claim went public.

The allegations were shocking, given the Forest Hill synagogue's reputation and prestige.
(NAME REMOVED) filed a lawsuit for $1.3 million in late July, and Beth Tzedec Congregation president Shep Gangbar sent a letter to the synagogue's 6,000 members shortly thereafter in which he started that there was "little doubt that the impropriety occurred."

Beth Tzedec Synagogue and Gabriel settled with the accusers, though the settlement does not include any admission of liability or fault. The restitution (NAME REMOVED) and the second, unnamed accuser received in the settlement was not released.

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 Settlement reached in case of alleged sexual misconduct
Canadian Jewish News - Thursday, 25 October 2007


TORONTO — Beth Tzedec Congregation and one of its rabbis have settled a lawsuit with two women who alleged improper sexual conduct on the part of the clergyman.

Details of the settlement were not released and neither Rabbi Tobias Gabriel nor the synagogue admitted fault or liability.

(NAME and Age Removed), had alleged that Rabbi Gabriel pressured her into a sexual relationship after participating in a program offered by the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly to train shamashim, synagogue beadles who serve as attendants, caretakers or custodians. The course was offered last summer at Beth Tzedec, and Rabbi Gabriel was one of the instructors. (NAME REMOVED) was the only woman in the program.

The second woman, who is unidentified, says she became sexually involved with Rabbi Gabriel while grieving the loss of one of her parents. She was mentioned, though not named, in (NAME REMOVED) statement of claim, which demanded $1.3 million from the rabbi and synagogue for breach of fiduciary duty and for pain and suffering.

In a letter to members distributed when the allegations were publicized, Beth Tzedec President Shep Gangbar referred to allegations of "impropriety and abuse" stemming from an "inappropriate relationship between Rabbi Gabriel and a married adult woman who is not a congregant... Unfortunately, there is little doubt that the impropriety occurred."

The letter went on to distance the synagogue from the allegations, saying "it is not liable for the actions of Rabbi Gabriel" and it noted that the rabbi would no longer be involved with the synagogue in any capacity.

In New York, meanwhile, the Rabbinical Assembly, the international association of Conservative rabbis, was considering disciplining Rabbi Gabriel.

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Rabbi Tobias Gabriel Expelled from the Cantors Assembly
Subject: RE: Tobias Gabriel
From: Herbert S. Garten
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008

This is to advise you that Tobias Gabriel is no longer a member of the Cantors Assembly, Inc. and that he will not be eligible for readmission at any time in the future.


Herbert S. Garten,Esq.
Counsel to Cantors Assembly,Inc.

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Tobias Gabriel on Linkedin
Linkedin - January 6, 2013



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Tobias Gabriel on Linkedin
Linkedin - December 29, 2013

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FAIR USE NOTICE
Some of the information on The Awareness Center's web pages may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.

We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

_________________________________________________________________________________

"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

_________________________________________________________________________________

Case of Cantor Philip Friedman

Case of Cantor Philip Friedman

Former Cantor - Temple Israel, Albany, NY

Queens, NY

Bar and Bat Mitzvah Teacher - Long Island Jewish Center, Long Island, NY

Teacher - Hebrew Academy, Pittsburg, PA

Former Cantor - East Northport Jewish Center, East Northport, NY

New Scotland Avenue synagogue

Back in 2000 criminal charges were never filed yet in another case a lawsuit was settled out of court in 2000 for 20 years of payouts to the girl totaling about $600,000.

Temple Israel fired its longtime cantor for "inappropriate behavior" toward a member of the congregation. Philip Friedman is NOT a member of the Cantors Assembly.

Philip Friedman, who had served in various synagogues for more than 40 years, pleaded guilty in August, 2006 to forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child under a plea bargain. He will be required to register as a sex offender and is expected to be classified as a Level 1 offender, the lowest. Court records indicate that Friedman, 66, hugged, kissed and touched the breasts and buttocks of the girl in incidents occurring between May 2004 and May 2005.

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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:

1990

1. A Suffolk County synagogue forced Friedman to resign in 1990 after allegations were raised about his conduct with at least one child.  Friedman, never faced criminal charges and the lawsuit was settled in 2000 for 20 years of payouts to the girl totaling about $600,000. 

2006

1. Background Information
2. Albany temple fires cantor (07/19/2006)
3. Fired cantor has a troubled history - Philip Friedman, dismissed by Temple Israel, was accused of molesting a girl on Long Island  (08/21/2006)
4. Former cantor pleads guilty to molestation  (08/24/2006)
5. Local Cantor Guilty of Sex Crime  (08/24/2006)
6. Cantor admits fondling girl, 11 - District attorney says Philip Friedman, formerly of Temple Israel, had other victims (08/25/2006)
7. Cantor Molests Girl Preparing For Bat Mitzvah (08/25/2006)
8. Cantor receives six years probation: Philip Friedman, former cantor at Temple Israel, must also register as sex offender for molesting girl (12/14/2006)
9. Ex-Albany Cantor Sentenced For Molesting Student (12/15/2006)
10. Former cantor sentenced  (12/15/2006)

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Background Information

BORN: Nov. 19,1940

HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh; moved to Albany in August 1992.

RELIGIOUS AFFILATION: Cantor at the conservative Temple Israel in Albany, since 1992.

Cantor Philip Friedman has been an integral part of the Judaic studies program for 13 years. He has influenced a great number of Hebrew Academy students with his scholarship and beautiful voice. Todah Rabbah.

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Fired cantor has a troubled history

Philip Friedman, dismissed by Temple Israel, was accused of molesting a girl on Long Island

By Marc Parry 

Times Union - Monday, August 21, 2006

ALBANY–– A former Temple Israel cantor now under investigation for inappropriate conduct with a member of his Albany congregation was accused of molesting a young girl at a Long Island Jewish Center where he used to work, according to court records and a law enforcement official.

The girl claimed in a lawsuit that Cantor Philip Friedman fondled her while they were alone in his office at the East Northport Jewish Center. She was a religion student between 8 and 10 years old during the alleged abuse. The Suffolk County synagogue forced Friedman to resign in 1990 after allegations were raised about his conduct with at least one child, court documents show.

Friedman, 65, never faced criminal charges and the lawsuit was settled in 2000 for 20 years of payouts to the girl totaling about $600,000. But legal documents obtained by the Times Union outline a disturbing picture of a religious leader once again accused of misconduct.

This time, the setting is Albany's largest Conservative synagogue.

And the story's elements -- a clergyman accused of predatory behavior, only to work with children again elsewhere -- evoke the abuse scandals that consumed the Roman Catholic Church.

"It was devastating for her, for the young girl that I represented," said Harvey Weitz, a Manhattan-based lawyer who handled the East Northport case. "... It had a really terrible effect on her relationship with her entire family. It was just an awful, awful affair."

The Albany County district attorney's office, which is looking into the allegations here, started investigating Friedman after the board of trustees at Temple Israel came forward with accusations that appear to resemble those he faced in Long Island. Friedman served as the temple's cantor from 1992 until synagogue leaders fired him in May.

Rachel McEneny, a spokeswoman for the district attorney, confirmed that the Philip Friedman named in the lawsuit is the same man now under investigation by her office.

Friedman, reached at home in Albany, refused to discuss the East Northport lawsuit, either himself or through his attorney.

"I will instruct my attorney not to talk to you," he said.

But at the time, Friedman denied wrongdoing, documents show. He admitted only that he gave the girl candy, kissed her on the cheek and sat her on his lap. He said the door was open and that his behavior was appropriate. The decision to terminate him, he said, was unfair.

Temple Israel hired him as cantor about two years later -- to do essentially the same job in Albany he did in Long Island. There is no indication synagogue leaders here knew of his past problems.

Friedman's duties, according to one Temple Israel member, involved chanting the liturgy of services, teaching Hebrew school and conducting one-on-one lessons to prepare students for bar and bat mitzvahs.

His job description is characteristic of how cantors' roles have evolved over the last generation. Historically "pulpit artists" who mesmerized congregations through their voice and prayer, cantors now do everything from fundraising to family counseling to life-cycle events like weddings and funerals.

"We're seen as full clergy, not just decorative addendums," said Steven Stoehr, president of the Cantors Assembly, an international group that is effectively the union for Conservative cantors. "... It's almost a mirror career to a rabbi."

In Long Island, meanwhile, word that Friedman had furthered his career with a new job at a large temple upstate filtered down to the East Northport Jewish Center.

Robert Jay Dinerstein, a lawyer who represented the Jewish Center when it was targeted for damages in the Friedman abuse case, said some congregants' children attended the University at Albany, which draws more than 25 percent of its undergraduates from Long Island.

"And I think they, either directly or through their parents, were the source for telling us that he was engaged up there," Dinerstein said.

He added, "I felt it should have raised some eyebrows (at Temple Israel) that he was fired and had something to do with inappropriate conduct with a child."

Temple President Gavin Setzen told the Times Union last week that he had been advised not to talk about the former cantor while the district attorney's office continues to investigate him.

But in June, Setzen co-signed a chilling letter to his fellow congregants at the New Scotland Avenue synagogue. It revealed that the board of trustees had fired Friedman for "inappropriate behavior" toward a member of the congregation.

The cryptic letter gave few details beyond saying that temple leaders had reported the incident to law enforcement officials. The synagogue urged any others with concerns about Friedman's behavior to come forward.

One congregant who did not want his name published said the letter prompted "a real candid discussion" with his child, who studied Hebrew under Friedman. The child said nothing inappropriate happened.

"It's what makes this situation disheartening, because I'm still not sure what happened," the temple member said.

One thing appears clear. The temple did not find Friedman through what -- at least over the last dozen years -- has become standard procedure for hiring from the relatively small pool of Conservative cantors.

Most cantors belong to Stoehr's roughly 500-member Cantors Assembly. The group, in turn, gets most of its members from two established cantorial programs, both based in New York.

"Almost all Conservative congregations will make their initial attempt at hiring a cantor through our placement services," Stoehr said. Philip Friedman has never been a member of the Cantors Assembly, Stoehr said.

Officials from the district attorney's office won't officially say what Friedman is suspected of doing at Temple Israel. But McEneny, the spokeswoman, noted that the case was referred to the special victims unit. That bureau specializes in sex crimes and crimes against children, she said.

"I think you can draw your own conclusions," she said.

She added, "It appears ... that this particular cantor has a predatory nature. The lawsuit confirms that. And I don't believe that Temple Israel knew about this."

Other questions remain. Did Friedman work between 1990 and 1992? Did he face any other allegations? Why were no criminal charges pursued in Long Island?

Dinerstein, the East Northport temple's attorney, got involved only when the synagogue faced the lawsuit in 1996. That came roughly six years after the abuse the girl allegedly suffered ended, according to court papers.

At that point, he said, "It wasn't timely to bring it to the attention of police, especially since Friedman was no longer affiliated with the East Northport Jewish Center."

When Dinerstein tried to find out what happened, he was advised that the only person who would know if the Jewish Center had consulted with police was Stan Rubenstein, a former temple president. Rubenstein had passed away.

And, as Dinerstein recalled, the infraction that got Friedman fired in 1990 was not molestation, but lesser misdeeds, like having the girl sit on his lap.

The lawyer was not surprised to hear his former cantor had run into trouble again, however.

"Where there's smoke, there's fire," Dinerstein said. "While I believe that my interrogation of the girl established that her story wouldn't withstand scrutiny, I believe that certain elements of it were certainly true, and that was enough to raise questions about Cantor Friedman's trustworthiness with children."

For all their demonization of Friedman, the legal documents also raise questions about the credibility of his accuser. When first questioned by her parents in 1990, the girl denied Friedman had molested her. The lawsuit was filed six years later.

Paul Shapiro, a former president of the East Northport Jewish Center, seized on that time lapse in a sworn affidavit. By the time the abuse allegations did surface, the girl was in psychological counseling for conditions such as oppositional defiant disorder and borderline personality disorder, he said.

Shapiro viewed the case as "analogous to the Tawana Brawley debacle," a reference to the allegations of a black teenager whose claims that a group of white men kidnapped and raped her were found to be made up.

The district attorney's office declined to say what the next step would be in its investigation of Friedman.

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Albany temple fires cantor

Letter cites episode of "inappropriate behavior" as prosecutor takes look 

By Marc Parry 

Times Union - July 19, 2006

ALBANY -- Temple Israel fired its longtime cantor for "inappropriate behavior" toward a member of the congregation, and the Albany County district attorney's office confirmed Tuesday that it is investigating the matter.

The Albany temple's board of trustees voted unanimously to terminate Cantor Philip Friedman on May 31, Temple Israel President Gavin Setzen said in a prepared statement responding to questions from the Times Union. Synagogue trustees reported the episode to law enforcement officials on the advice of counsel, he said.

Setzen declined to provide details about Friedman's inappropriate behavior, citing an ongoing investigation by the district attorney's office.

Friedman, 65, became cantor of Temple Israel in 1992. The 57-year-old temple on New Scotland Avenue is Albany's largest Conservative synagogue. Friedman served congregations in Queens and Long Island before he moved to Albany.

A cantor chants the liturgy of a service. Friedman also worked with students at the temple.

"Relieving Cantor Friedman was a wrenching, painful decision," said a June 6 letter to Temple Israel congregants co-signed by Setzen. "The board, however, had no alternative, given Cantor Friedman's conduct."

Mark Harris, bureau chief of the district attorney's homicide and special victims unit, said information "was provided to the district attorney's office, and there is an ongoing investigation of that matter."

Harris said he is handling the probe but declined to give any details.

Special victims unit cases range from domestic violence to child abuse to failing to register as a sex offender, Harris said.

Friedman, reached at home, had no comment.

The letter to congregants announcing Friedman's departure said temple leaders would not give more details about the incident at this time "out of respect for the privacy and confidentiality of the family involved."

"Should anyone have had any concerns about Cantor Friedman's conduct, please advise us as soon as possible," the letter said.

The synagogue's Web site now lists Rogerio Marx as cantor.

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Local Cantor Guilty of Sex Crime

WTEN-Channel 10 (Albany) - August 24, 2006

The cantor at a capital region temple has pled guilty to inappropriately touching a young girl.

Philip Friedman, the former cantor at Albany's Temple Israel, pled guilty today to sex crime charges involving a young girl.

Court documents sate that Friedman, 65, hugged, kissed, and touched the breast and buttocks of an 11 year-old girl. The incidents took place between May 2005 and May 2005. The girl was a member of Temple Israel in Albany, where Friedman was a cantor at the time.

In a plea bargain, Friedman faces six years probation after pleading guilty to one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of Forcible Touching. In addition, Friedman will have to register as a sex offender.

Temple Israel fired Friedman and reported him to the police after the allegations surfaced in May. In a written statement, Temple Israel officials stated "Sadly, the Board of Trustees had to meet this recent challenge by, among other things, terminating Mr. Friedman and referring the matter to the District Attorney's Office; reaching out to the Congregation to determine if others had been victimized; providing professional victim counseling; and notifying the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Cantor's Assembly of Mr. Friedman's behavior."

This is not the first time Friedman has been accused of inappropriate conduct with a child. In 1990, the ex-cantor was forced to resign from a temple in Long Island after a similar allegation surface.

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Cantor admits fondling girl, 11

District attorney says Philip Friedman, formerly of Temple Israel, had other victims

By Marc Parry

Albany Times Union, NY - August 25, 2006

ALBANY -- A longtime religious leader entrusted with teaching children at Albany's largest Conservative synagogue admitted in City Court Thursday that he molested an 11-year-old girl -- and District Attorney David Soares later said there were other victims.

Philip Friedman, cantor at Temple Israel until synagogue leaders fired him in May, faces six years of probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors in a deal with prosecutors. Friedman had access to the child while preparing her for the Jewish rite of passage known as bat mitzvah, Soares told the Times Union.

For more than 40 years, Friedman served as a religious pillar in several synagogues, chanting at services and teaching children. But on Thursday, dressed for court in a white fedora and dark suit, he waited for his turn before a judge next to accused criminals in yellow jump suits. He exhaled deeply and repeatedly checked his watch.

When Judge William Carter called Friedman to rise, the cantor -- once loved for his uplifting voice -- pleaded guilty in a barely audible murmur to endangering the welfare of a child and forcible touching.

The 65-year-old father of two sons groped the girl's breast and buttocks and inappropriately hugged and kissed her, according to court documents. It happened over a roughly one-year period between 2004 and 2005, when she was 11 and 12 years old.

Friedman will have to register with the state as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 12.

By surrendering to authorities and pleading guilty Thursday, Friedman completed a long fall that began at least 16 years ago when a Long Island synagogue forced him to resign as cantor after allegations surfaced about his behavior with at least one young girl.

Friedman's only words as reporters trailed him out of the busy Morton Avenue courthouse Thursday were "no comment."

The Albany charges emerged from Friedman's abuse of one girl at Temple Israel. But Soares told the Times Union the cantor preyed on more children there.

"I can say that there were other victims, and I would encourage them to come forward," the district attorney said in an interview. "I would offer the parents my word that we would do everything within our ability to not expose their children to further trauma."

Asked how many others, Soares said only that "there were a few other children that we did not receive cooperation from."

The district attorney praised Temple Israel for cooperating with investigators. He added pointedly that East Northport Jewish Center in Suffolk County, which employed Friedman from 1971 until it forced him to resign in 1990, "had an obligation here to put all other temples on notice."

Friedman never faced criminal charges for the alleged abuse on Long Island. But after the alleged victim sued claiming he molested her, she won payouts totaling about $600,000 in a 2000 legal settlement.

Now, Friedman will be under intense supervision over the next six years, prohibited from work involving children. But where that will be isn't clear.

In a July interview with the Times Union, the cantor indicated he would be leaving town. On Thursday, a "for sale" sign flapped in the breeze outside his house on Albany's Hackett Boulevard.

At Temple Israel, a brick building by St. Peter's Hospital, Executive Director Richard Caplan greeted a reporter's inquiry with a prepared statement.

"A difficult chapter in the life of Temple Israel is closed," read the statement from Temple President Gavin Setzen and Vice President Henry Greenberg.

"Now we at Temple Israel look forward to moving ahead, squarely focused on the heart of our existence: our religious programming and services, our prayer and spiritual growth."

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Cantor Molests Girl Preparing For Bat Mitzvah

North Country Gazette - August 25, 2006

ALBANY---A long-time cantor at Temple Israel, entrusted with teaching children, has admitted that he molested an 11-year-old girl while preparing her for her bat mitzvah.

Philip Friedman, who had served in various synagogues for more than 40 years, pleaded guilty to forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. He will likely face six years of probation when sentenced on Oct. 12. He will have to register as a sex offender.

Court records indicate that Friedman hugged, kissed and touched the breasts and buttocks of the girl in incidents occurring between May 2004 and May 2005.

Friedman, 65, was fired in May. He is the father of two sons. He had been forced to resign as a cantor in 1990 from a Long Island synagogue after allegations arose about his behavior with another young girl. He was not criminally charged in that situation but the alleged victim won about $600,000 in a 2000 settlement. 8-25-06

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Cantor receives six years probation: Philip Friedman, former cantor at Temple Israel, must also register as sex offender for molesting girl
By Marc Parry
Times Union - December 14, 2006

ALBANY -- A City Court judge on Thursday sentenced disgraced cantor Philip Friedman to six years probation for molesting an 11-year-old girl.
 
The former cantor at Albany's Temple Israel must also register as a sex offender under the sentence imposed by Judge William Carter.

``I wish to apologize to the members of Temple Israel, to Rabbi Paul Silton, and, most of all, to my students,'' Friedman said in court, according to his lawyer.

Friedman, 66, had access to the child while preparing her for the Jewish rite of passage known as bat mitzvah.

He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in August in a deal with prosecutors.

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Former cantor sentenced 

Philip Friedman, 66, gets six years' probation for groping 11-year old girl

By Marc Parry 

Times Sun - Friday, December 15, 2006

ALBANY -- A City Court judge on Thursday sentenced disgraced cantor Philip Friedman to six years' probation for molesting an 11-year-old girl.

The former cantor at Albany's Temple Israel also must register as a sex offender under the sentence imposed by Judge William Carter.

"I wish to apologize to the members of Temple Israel, to Rabbi Paul Silton, and, most of all, to my students," Friedman said in court, according to his lawyer.

Friedman, 66, had access to the child while preparing her for the Jewish rite of passage known as bat mitzvah.

He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in August in a deal with prosecutors.

The father of two sons groped the girl's breast and buttocks and inappropriately hugged and kissed her, according to court documents.

Friedman has moved to Florida, where he and his wife have a residence, according to his attorney, Eugene Z. Grenz.

"He came back here to be sentenced," Grenz said.

In court Thursday, Friedman acknowledged that he would never teach again but said he hoped to "redeem myself by being a contributing member of society in the future."

He described his actions as "unlawful and sinful."

"I have undertaken a course of therapy to understand my behavior and cure me," he said.

Temple Israel fired Friedman in May. He acknowledged molesting one girl, but District Attorney David Soares has said Friedman preyed on more children at the synagogue.

"At this point, based on our investigation, there are no more victims who are willing to come forward for a prosecution," said Mark Harris, bureau chief of the homicide and special victims unit in Soares' office.

Friedman is due back in court in February, when a judge will classify him as a level 1, 2 or 3 sex offender. He is expected to be classified Level 1, the lowest level.

Harris said Friedman's apology may be "an indication that he now understands that it was not a high testosterone level that caused him to commit this sexual offense against a child, which he had previously stated was the reason."

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FAIR USE NOTICE

Some of the information on The Awareness Center's web pages may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.

We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

_______________________________________________________________________________

"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

_______________________________________________________________________________