Possible case of Jason Saver (Baltimore, MD)

There is an group of survivors in Baltimore that has a history of posting signs just like this to warn community members of alleged offenders.  Several years ago they posted information like the information provided below regarding allegations regarding rabbi Yisroel Shapiro several years prior to his arrest and prosecution.  At the time community leaders responded just as they are with Jason Saver.

If anyone is a suspect of child molestation all calls should be directed to either child protective services or the police.  Shomrim should NOT be a part of the equation.  The following flyer was placed in several different orthodox synagogues in Baltimore without permission of Shomrim.

Background information on Jason Saver:
Where, What When

"Baltimorean Jason Saver’s work in New Orleans has yet to begin. Commissioned as a major in the Maryland Defense Force by General Smalkin, as a Jewish chaplain, he awaits his deployment date to the Gulf States area. The third generation soldier, and male nurse, received a donation of kosher food from the Jewish Soldier Foundation. He will be doing crisis intervention for Katrina’s and Rita’s victims and emergency responders.

I didn’t have to respond to the deployment,” said Major Saver, “but I feel it is important. As a pastoral counselor, I will be helping people cope with post-traumatic-stress disorder.”

Major Saver is willing to do whatever is necessary to help out the hurricanes’ victims, even if it means staying over Yom Tov. “It’s not just a mitzva or a chesed. It’s a kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d’s name). When a tragedy happens and people respond, we are emulating Hakadosh Baruch Hu (G-d).”

Begin forwarded message:

From: Azi Rosenblum <arosenblum@remsource.com>
Date: May 11, 2012 3:42:26 PM EDT
To: "all@shomrim.net" <all@shomrim.net>
Subject: FW: The Information on this Flyer put in all the Shuls This Morning Is Totally False!!!!

Hey old friends, anyone got any info on this? Its got the hotline # on it.

Azi Rosenblum

office- 410.504.6720
mobile- 443-854-2172
arosenblum@RemSource.com
www.RemSource.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Goldsmith, Isser [mailto:Isser.Goldsmith@baltimorecity.gov]
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 3:40 PM
To: Goldsmith, Isser
Subject: The Information on this Flyer put in all the Shuls This Morning Is Totally False!!!!
Importance: High

Rabbosi,

Numerous copies of the attached disturbing flyer were put in all the shuls this morning. I have very reliable information from a few sources that all the information on this flyer is totally false. Obviously, someone has a personal vendetta against Mr. Saver and is out to get him.

This poor guy's reputation must be restored because of these false allegations and I am alerting the rabbim to this fact.

Have a Good Shabbos.

Isser
----------------------------------------------
Isser Goldsmith
Accounting Systems Analyst II
Baltimore City Department of Finance
Bureau of Accounting & Payroll Services
401 E. Fayette St. - 5th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 396-1880
Fax (410) 396-3770
E-mail: Isser.Goldsmith@baltimorecity.gov

Rabbi Accused of Molesting Bar Mitzvah Students

Rabbi Accused of Molesting Bar Mitzvah Students

WJZ - December 20, 2007

A rabbi has been accused of molesting boys during bar mitzvah lessons.

PIKESVILLE, Md. — At a kosher deli off Reisterstown Road in a Pikesville stripmall, Eyewitness News found Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro, a butcher who jumped out from behind his desk and hid from our cameras when we tried to ask him about new criminal charges that he sexually abused two young boys during Bar Mitzvah lessons.

Shapiro never came out, but a coworker did. The man later yelled at Eyewitness News after we walked out the door that the allegations against Shapiro were "fabricated."

City prosecutors say "Over the past several months, police and prosecutors have conducted an extensive investigation that led to the charges."

The alleged abuse took place at Shapiro's home off Olympia Street in 1988 and 1994. Some neighbors caught wind of the allegations a few years back and posted flyers.

One victim tells police he was forced to chant passages from the Torah as he was inappropriately touched.

"The problem is that we don't know if there's more victims. We know a few but not how many there have actually been," said Vicki Polin.

Polin heads a support group for victims of rabbi abuse. She's concerned that some leaders in the Orthodox community keep abusers quiet.

"They're told they shouldn't report it to secular authorities because it could start another holocaust. Unfortunately, it starts another type of holocaust where an accuser has access to hundreds of children and each time they perfect their skills," she said.

Accused Of Molesting Bar Mitzvah Students

by Adam May

CBS News (Baltimore) - December 19, 2007

Click here to watch video: http://wjz.com/local/rabbi.molesting.yisroel.2.614587.html 

PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) — At a kosher deli off Reisterstown Road in a Pikesville stripmall, Eyewitness News found Rabbi Yisroel Shapiro, a butcher who jumped out from behind his desk and hid from our cameras when we tried to ask him about new criminal charges that he sexually abused two young boys during Bar Mitzvah lessons. 

Shapiro never came out, but a coworker did. The man later yelled at Eyewitness News after we walked out the door that the allegations against Shapiro were "fabricated." 

City prosecutors say "Over the past several months, police and prosecutors have conducted an extensive investigation that led to the charges." 

The alleged abuse took place at Shapiro's home off Olympia Street in 1988 and 1994. Some neighbors caught wind of the allegations a few years back and posted flyers. 

One victim tells police he was forced to chant passages from the Torah as he was inappropriately touched. 

"The problem is that we don't know if there's more victims. We know a few but not how many there have actually been," said Vicki Polin. 

Polin heads a support group for victims of rabbi abuse. She's concerned that some leaders in the Orthodox community keep abusers quiet. 

"They're told they shouldn't report it to secular authorities because it could start another holocaust. Unfortunately, it starts another type of holocaust where an accuser has access to hundreds of children and each time they perfect their skills," she said.

Former Bar Mitzvah Teacher Charged in Abuse

Former Bar Mitzvah Teacher Charged in Abuse

By Melissa Harris

Baltimore Sun - December 19, 2007

A former bar mitzvah lessons teacher in Baltimore's Orthodox Jewish community has been charged with sex offenses against two boys that are alleged to have occurred more than a decade ago, according to the city state's attorney's office.

The boys were learning to chant passages from the Torah at Israel Shapiro's home on Olympia Avenue on separate occasions in September 1988 and June 1994 when the offenses are said to have occurred, according to court documents.

Shapiro was charged Dec. 4 with felony child abuse, second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense in both cases. The boys, who are related, came forward in June, according to Baltimore police spokesman Sterling Clifford.

Prosecutors handling the case were not in their office yesterday, and the men making the accusations did not return phone calls yesterday.

Accusations against Shapiro were known in the Orthodox community as early as 2004, when alleged victims began circulating a flier with Shapiro's name and picture, according to Vicki Polin of the Awareness Center Inc., which is an advocate on behalf of Jewish victims of sexual abuse in Baltimore.

Polin has posted a copy of the flier on the center's Web site.

According to court documents, Shapiro put the boys, then age 12 and 13, on his lap while they practiced chanting the Torah. One of the victims reported that Shapiro would touch him inappropriately over his clothing, and the other said he was held on Shapiro's lap against his will and touched inappropriately.

Shapiro, 57, works in a kosher butcher shop, according to the Jewish Times, which reported extensively on the allegations in June.

A phone message left yesterday at Shapiro's house was not returned.

Arthur C. Abramson, director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said that the organization recently became aware of the allegations but had not been involved in the matter or Shapiro's removal from teaching.

"The Orthodox community - that end of the Orthodox community - tends to be very insular," Abramson said. "Information can circulate very rapidly within the framework of the Orthodox community, and it doesn't necessarily get out into more general circles unless reported by The Sun or the Jewish Times."

In April, amid discussions in the Orthodox community about the allegations, Vaad HaRabbonim of Baltimore, the city's Council of Orthodox rabbis, released a letter on "Abuse in Our Community."

"We feel it essential to discuss this matter directly with you, as the greatest allies of the abuser are ignorance and silence," according to the letter, which was signed by nearly two dozen rabbis.

Shapiro is out on a combined $175,000 bail in the two cases.a

City bar mitzvah teacher charged with sex offenses Incidents involving two boys allegedly occurred more than a decade ago

By Melissa Harris

Baltimore Sun - December 18, 2007

A former bar mitzvah lessons teacher in Baltimore's Orthodox Jewish community has been charged with sex offenses against two boys that are alleged to have occurred more than a decade ago, according to the city state's attorney's office.

The boys were learning to chant passages from the Torah at Israel Shapiro's home on Olympia Avenue on separate occasions in September 1988 and June 1994 when the offenses are said to have occurred, according to court documents.

Shapiro was charged Dec. 4 with felony child abuse, second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense in both cases. The boys, who are related, came forward in June, according to Baltimore police spokesman Sterling Clifford.

Prosecutors handling the case were not in their office Tuesday, and the men making the accusations did not return phone calls Tuesday.

Accusations against Shapiro were known in the Orthodox community as early as 2004, when alleged victims began circulating a flier with Shapiro's name and picture, according to Vicki Polin of the Awareness Center Inc., which is an advocate on behalf of Jewish victims of sexual abuse in Baltimore.

Polin has posted a copy of the flier on the center's Web site.

According to court documents, Shapiro put the boys, then age 12 and 13, on his lap while they practiced chanting the Torah. One of the victims reported that Shapiro would touch him inappropriately over his clothing, and the other said he was held on Shapiro's lap against his will and touched inappropriately.

Shapiro, 57, works in a kosher butcher shop, according to the

Jewish Times, which reported extensively on the allegations in June.

A phone message left Tuesday at Shapiro's house was not returned.

Arthur C. Abramson, director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said that the organization recently became aware of the allegations but had not been involved in the matter or Shapiro's removal from teaching.

"The Orthodox community -- that end of the Orthodox community -- tends to be very insular," Abramson said. "Information can circulate very rapidly within the framework of the Orthodox community, and it doesn't necessarily get out into more general circles unless reported by The Sun or the Jewish Times."

In April, amid discussions in the Orthodox community about the allegations, Vaad HaRabbonim of Baltimore, the city's Council of Orthodox rabbis, released a letter on "Abuse in Our Community."

"We feel it essential to discuss this matter directly with you, as the greatest allies of the abuser are ignorance and silence," according to the letter, which was signed by nearly two dozen rabbis.

Shapiro is out on a combined $175,000 bail in the two cases.

melissa.harris@baltsun.com