Did Rabbi Avi Shafran Lie?

Rabbi Paysach Krohn is advocating to excommunicate bloggers who question rabbis

Rabbi Paysach Krohn is advocating to excommunicate bloggers who question rabbis (which sounds like cult behavior). Please note that rabbi Paysach Krohn has been enabling alleged sex offender "rabbi Ephraim Bryks for years. Bryks is Krohn's brother-in-law.





THE STORY THAT CONTINUES TO HAUNT OUR COMMUNITY: RABBI BRYKS TO BE SUBJECT MATTER OF EPISODE OF NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES FOR VISION T.V.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER RABBI HENRY BALSER GOES ON THE RECORD RE: HIS ROLE IN THIS SAGA- READ IT HERE

By Rhonda J. Spivak, B.A., L.L.B.
Winnipeg Jewish Review - January 5, 2011
http://www.winnipegjewishreview.com/article_detail.cfm?id=667&sec=3

Rabbi Ephraim Bryks

The case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks who has been dogged by allegations of sexual abuse against children, but never charged with a crime will be the subject matter of part of an episode in a documentary series currently being produced by Apocryphal Productions for Vision Television.

According to the  Jewish Week, [New York] June 29, 2010, "Rabbi Bryks, who was investigated by police in Winnipeg, on suspicion of inappropriate contact with children at Winnipeg’s Torah Academy where he was principal, resigned from the Orthodox Union’s Rabbinical Council of America in 2003 without admitting any wrongdoing. Bryks, "reached a negotiated agreement to leave the Rabbinical Board of Queens in the fall of 2009," as indicated in the Jewish Week.

"Rabbi Bryks, as principal of the Torah Academy in Winnipeg was found in 1988 to have tickled and hugged some students, but denied more serious charges of sexual molestation, according to press reports. While the more serious charges were not substantiated by an investigation by Winnipeg social workers, the substantiated contact was deemed inappropriate and the Winnipeg Child and Family Services agency recommended that the school adopt guidelines against such behavior,"according th the Jewish Week.

Noah Erenberg, producer of Winnipeg produced CBC documentary re: Rabbi Bryks case.

The school closed in 1991, about a year after Rabbi Bryks left Winnipeg.
Allan Levine in  his recent book “Coming of Age,” on p.420, refers to "the agency issuing a report that concluded that Bryks' behavior of having children sit on his lap while he tickled them was "neither appropriate nor professional",  but not illegal."

Rabbi Henry Balser

Tanya Fleet of Apocryphal Productions, who is researching visual material for the documentary series, told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that the series will consider “the issue of sexual abuse or allegations thereof pertaining to children in religious communities… The themes to be examined are why it is prevalent, why is it kept quiet, and what is now being done to try and stop potential abuse. We will talk to experts in the fields, activists, survivors and their families.”

According to Fleet, the series which is being produced by Christopher Sumpton and Robin Benger, will deal with these issues in the Catholic community, the Evangelical Christian community, as well as in Judaism and Islam.

The painful saga relating to Rabbi Bryks in Winnipeg will be part of an episode that will focus on orthodoxy in Judaism, and will also deal with the orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn.

Torah Academy School Pre-Nursery, 1980 with Rabbi Bryks as principal.
Photo from Jewish Heritage Centre.

In 1993, after Rabbi Bryks moved to New York, a former student in Winnipeg accused him of having fondled him at the school when the student was 8, but prosecutors reportedly declined to file criminal charges, citing lack of corroboration. When the boy, Daniel Leven. at age 17, was asked to re-record a statement he had given earlier, he committed suicide.

Martin Levin [Daniel’s father] has been interviewed for the upcoming documentary series.

Levin, currently lives in Toronto and is the book editor of the Globe and Mail.

Former Winnipegger Alan Mendelsohn is the producer of the episode of the series relating to the Jewish community. Mendelsohn has previously worked at the CBC as a producer at The Journal.

Herzlia Adas Yeshurun Synagogue in Winnipeg, where Rabbi Bryks served, took down the plaques in his honour on the Tree of Life in the lobby of the synagogue in September, 2010. Herzlia's actions, close to 17 years after  Levin's suicide, occurred less than two months after members of the Jewish community in Winnipeg had a full opportunity to read the article by Adam Dickter, Assistant Managing Editor of the Jewish Week (New York), June 29, 2010 , which was posted in the latter part of July, 2010 on this website and elsewhere. To read this article click on Rabbi  Ephraim Bryks Leaves Rabbinical Board of Queens Under A  Cloud.

In the email sent to Herzlia membership days before Yom Kippur this past year, Dr. Earl Hershfield, President of the Board of Herzlia wrote:

 “In response to repeated requests, and after much deliberation, the Board of Directors of Herzlia – Adas Yeshurun has decided to remove all plaques on the Tree of Life in the Shul lobby dedicated in honour of [Rabbi] Ephraim Bryks”[emphasis added].

He also wrote “As a Shul, we have a responsibility to provide moral and ethical leadership for our community.”

In the same email, he wrote “In accordance with a recent resolution taken by the Rabbinical Council of America, Herzlia – Adas Yeshurun condemns all forms of abuse in the strongest terms. Policies and procedures are being developed by your Board to direct future action. Reporting suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities does not violate the Torah’s prohibition of mesirah (turning a fellow Jew over to a non-Jewish authority) or arka’ot (adjudicating cases in a secular court). We are obligated by Jewish law to do so as the concern for saving a life and respecting the law of land are paramount.”

Levine in  his recent book “ Coming of Age,” on p.420 writes that “Daniel Levin alleged that Bryks molested him." He further wrote "According to Sarah Levin, [Daniel’s mother] Bryks had given Daniel candy to keep him quiet and told him that God would punish him if he ever told anyone what had transpired. This threat of retribution was echoed by other children who came forward.”

A previous documentary was made on the case of Rabbi Bryks by CBC Television and produced by Noah Erenberg, a member of our Jewish community and a graduate of the Joseph Wolinsky class of 1982. The documentary was hosted by the late Danielle Keefler and aired nationally in February 1994.

Levine’s book says on page 421, “Attempts by Rabby Bryks to sue CBC and CNN, which also broadcast the documentary, were discontinued for lack of funds.”
Noah Erenberg's name is not mentioned in Levine's book on pages 419-421.

The Winnipeg Jewish Review has spoken to Rabbi Henry Balser who is now living in Florida.
Rabbi Balser told the Winnipeg Jewish Review “I almost broke into tears when I read [in the Winnipeg Jewish Review] that Herzlia Synagogue finally took down the plaques in honour of Rabbi Bryks.”

In his book, Levine writes on page 420 “Bryks was nearly hired to head a Jewish school in Montreal until parents there learned of the allegations in Winnipeg.”
Rabbi Balser told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that he was giving spiritual advice and comfort to a family who came to him, alleging their child had been molested by Rabbi Bryks.

Rabbi Balser told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that “the vice principal from the Montreal [school] contacted me on the advice of an orthodox Rabbi.”

Rabbi Balser said, “I relied not just on the word of the family that I spoke with. I also did some investigation of my own, and decided then that I was on solid ground in telling the Rabbi in Montreal that I would not  recommend Bryks.”

Rabbi Balser told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that he told the Montreal Rabbi this even though he feared potentially being sued by Bryks.

Balser also told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that he was thankful that Shaarey Zedek Synagogue backed him up and was willing to pay any related legal fees he may have had to incur in so doing.

The Winnipeg Jewish Review will report on further details of the upcoming documentary series to be aired on Vision Television in due course.

In his book on page 419, Levine writes that the "biggest controversy in the Herzlia's history-in fact, arguably the most controverisal matter in the annals of the Winnipeg Jewish community-involved Rabbi Bryk's..." [emphasis added].

 In his book on page 420  Levine refers to the Winnipeg-produced CBC television documentary about Bryks as "controversial."

Below is the article by  Adam Dickter in the Jewish Week.

See also: Rhonda Spivak's editorial of September 5, 2010.

RABBI EPHRAIM BRYKS LEAVES RABINICAL BOARD OF QUEENS UNDER A CLOUD
By Adam Dickter, Assistant Managing Editor The Jewish Week (New York)
June 29, 2010

[Reprinted with Permission]  A Queens rabbi who has been dogged by allegations of sexual abuse against children, but never charged with a crime, has reached a negotiated agreement to leave the Rabbinical Board of Queens in the fall, The Jewish Week has learned.

Rabbi Ephraim Bryks, who was investigated by police in Winnipeg, Canada, on suspicion of inappropriate contact with children at a yeshiva where he was principal, resigned from the Orthodox Union’s Rabbinical Council of America in 2003 without admitting any wrongdoing.

Sources told The Jewish Week that the Queens board, known as the Vaad Harabonim, had long sought to have Rabbi Bryks removed as allegations against him persisted but was advised by lawyers that doing so was complicated because there has been no formal legal or halachic proceeding against him. Rabbi Bryks has been a member of the Vaad since the early ‘90s.  Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, co-president of the Vaad, would tell The Jewish Week only that “we reached an agreement with an individual that will take full effect in October.”

The October date, coming at the start of the new Jewish year, appears to coincide with the time when membership renewals are considered.

The board’s other president, Rabbi Richard Weiss, declined to comment and would not confirm or deny that the person involved in the agreement was Rabbi Bryks.

Last June, the same Vaad ordered Queens Pita, a bakery that it certifies kosher, to terminate the ownership interest of a man, Isaac Ebstein, who had pled guilty to abuse charges involving a 10-year-old boy. The bakery’s co-owner reportedly complied in order to maintain the kosher certification.

Rabbi Bryks has held leadership positions at two Queens yeshivas, but left for unspecified reasons. He now makes his living as a mortgage broker, has a blog seeking to field questions on halachic issues and is said to involve himself in marriage counseling, advocacy for women seeking religious divorces and in a rabbinical court, the Queens Beth Din, which he convenes with other rabbis.
Asher Lipner, a clinical psychologist who counsels sex abuse victims and, in a Jewish Week op-ed last week accused the Vaad of Queens of “protecting one of their own,” without mentioning Rabbi Bryks by name, said the Vaad had a responsibility to publicize the circumstances of Rabbi Bryks’ departure from the Vaad if it has to do with the past allegations.

“If the agreement was due to some other reason that is personal and does not affect the community and they are not telling anyone, that is fine with me,” said Lipner. “But if the reason the agreement was reached is because they suspect him of being a danger to the community, it’s their responsibility to let people know why they reached that agreement in order that he doesn’t join another organization.

“They gave a heksher and made this rabbi kosher,” Lipner continued. “If they are removing their heksher, they have to tell people he is not kosher. If they don’t, it leads to more people getting hurt.”
Religious organizations generally have a free hand in expelling members as they see fit, but must be careful how they do it, said Marc Stern of the American Jewish Congress, an expert on matters of religion and law.

“The internal workings of clergy organizations are beyond the scrutiny of the court,” said Stern. But he added that leveling a specific charge of illegal conduct against an individual in the process of severing ties to him could open the organization to legal action.

“Clergy are not exempt from slander suits or defamation,” said Stern. “In general, one of the reasons for throwing people out or taking action against a member of the clergy is to alert members of the faith that X’s conduct is not acceptable and they need to be aware.”

Rabbi Bryks did not respond to two messages left at his home or to e-mails sent via his blog and Facebook.

Rabbi Schonfeld said Rabbi Bryks was never involved in any kashrut certification work, a key function of the Vaad, and never held any leadership positions in the organization. In 2008, he was reported in the Jewish Star of Long Island to be acting as an advocate on behalf of a woman trying to obtain a religious divorce, with a notation that he was a Vaad member.

Rabbi Bryks’ resignation from the RCA after 25 years of membership came at the same time the group, at its annual convention, adopted policies and procedures to deal with allegations of sexual misconduct, The Jewish Week reported at the time. But the rabbi told the council’s leadership then that the resignation should in no way be taken as admission of wrongdoing. Since he was no longer working in Jewish education, he did not need to belong to a national rabbinical council, Rabbi Hershel Billet, then the council’s immediate past president, quoted Rabbi Bryks as saying then.

A Denver native, Rabbi Bryks, as principal of the Torah Academy in Winnipeg was found in 1988 to have tickled and hugged some students but denied more serious charges of sexual molestation, according to press reports. While the more serious charges were not substantiated by an investigation by Winnipeg social workers, the substantiated contact was deemed inappropriate and the Winnipeg Child and Family Services agency recommended that the school adopt guidelines against such behavior. The school has since closed.

In 1993, after Rabbi Bryks had moved to New York, a former student in Winnipeg accused him of having fondled him at the school when the student was 8, but prosecutors reportedly declined to press charges, citing lack of corroboration. When the boy, Daniel Leven, at age 17, was asked to re-record a statement he had given earlier, he committed suicide.

Don't Politicize Child Abuse Case

Don't Politicize Child Abuse Case 
By Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC, NCC, ATR-BC
The Awareness Center's Daily News Letter - April 14, 2008

Rabbi Levi Brackman

It was embarrassing to read Rabbi Levi Brackman article that appeared in YNET news (Israeli paper), "Don't Politicize Child Abuse Case", in which he speaks out about alleged cult leader, Rabbi Elior Chen.

When reading the article it is extremely obvious Rabbi Brackman lacks the needed education, knowledge and understanding on the issues of child abuse and neglect. In the credits at the bottom of his article it states that Rabbi Brackman's experience is in the business world and does not state his expertise in the issue he is speaking out upon. I was embarrassed for him that a newspaper such as YNET would allow Rabbi Brackman to promote his ignorance on such an important topic.

Rabbi Brackman must be in a state of denial when making blanket statement that "violence is less common in the haredi society." Statistics of abuse are the same in all societies, haredi (ultra religious) or not. The only difference is that the rabbis in the haredi communities do their best to cover up the reality of what is actually happening. Over the years I've seen over and over again, they do their best shame and blame victims into silence, and promote those who offend. This practice is not just limited to the haredi community, it's also happened with in the Catholic church.

The haredi community has a tendency to say if someone in their community is abusing a children (or a spouse), then that person is really not haredi -- that they are just pretending to be haredi. Yet these same individuals daven (pray) in their synagogues, keep kosher and shabbat. They even are allowed to work and spend all their time in the haredi world.

Statistics will show that one out of every four adults were sexually abused before they reach the age of eighteen. The statistics of physical and emotional abuse is much higher. Until proven differently, we have to believe the same is true in all communities, including the community that Rabbi Levi Brackman resides.

The only way things will ever change, and the world will be safe for our children is by speaking out publicly and by the news media publishing the stories of those who have been abused and the way our society (including the haredi world) deal with such cases. Unfortunately, Rabbi Brackman wants the tradition of silence to continue, which in the past lead to more children becoming victimized.

I think the most important thing to remember is that Rabbi Levi Brackman does not have the expertise in the field of child abuse to be making a public statement on such an important issue. Perhaps the best thing we can do to help Rabbi Brackman, is by everyone sending him articles and books on the topic of child abuse and neglect. Perhaps that will inspire him to research a topic thoroughly prior to embarrassing himself again in such a public venue.

Contact Information:

Rabbi Levi Brackman

3959 Ponderosa Lane

Evergreen, Colorado 80439

303-679-0613

levi@levibrackman.com

Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Milikowsky supporter of Shlomo Carlebach

Amshinover Rebbe, enabler of  sexual predator - Shlomo Carlebach

Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Milikowsky who is also known as "The Amshinov Rebbe" has been quoted as believing that Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach was the "Pillar of Prayer", even though there was a rabbinic decree created by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein banning Carlebach's music as a way of disciplining him for his sexual assaults against women.  Milikowsky chose to ignore the ruling that it was believed that his friend, Shlomo Carlebach was a serial sexual predator.  

Yaakov Milikowsky was born in the United States. He is the present Amshinover Rebbe in the Bayit Vegan section of Jerusalem.  He is the grandson and successor of Rabbi Yerachmiel Yehudah Meir Kalish of Amshinov. 

Rabbi Milikowsky currently one of the Rabbinic Advisors of the Refuah Institute in Israel.  Other known enablers of sexual predators who serve as rabbinic advisors of this "life coaching and counselor certification program includes Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg.  

For more information on the case of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach: CLICK HERE 

Case of Yori Yanover

Case of Yori Yanover

THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

New York University - New York, NY

(1970s) IDF's Ba'Machaneh Nachal - Israel

(1980s) Producer, WBAI - New York
(1994) Founding Editor, Jewish Communications Network (JCN18.com) - New York, NY
(1999 - 2011) Not the New York Times - New York, NY
Arutz 7 Radio - Israel
Israel Shelanu Weekly - Israel
Yedioth Aharonoth, Israel
(1996) Lubavitch News Service - Crown Heights, NY
No'ar 71 Magazine - Israel
(1999) Former Editor, USAJewish.com - New York
(2001) Editor of Prayer Book, Central Conference of American Rabbis - New York, NY
(2004 - 2011) The Grand Street News - New York, NY
LoHo10002.com - New York, NY
Yanover Consulting - New York, New York

Ben Yehuda Press - Netanya, Israel

For years allegations have been made against Yori Yanover of enabling alleged sex offenders, cyber bullying and stalking, witness tampering and harassment.

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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:

2005

1. Exclusive: Yoram / Yori Yanover of USAJEWISH blog is alleged to have helped friend hide income and avoid child support, has 48 hours to come clean   (05/31/2005)
2. Newspaper publisher becomes the story before debate  (06/13/2005)

2006

1. JCN18: Yori Yanover, Rabbi Hershy Worch, Susan L. Rosenbluth, Rabbi Larry Yudelson and Rabbi David Lipman  (03/21/2006)
2. Yori Yanover Takes On Vicki Polin  (05/25/2006)

2010

1. Not The New York Times  (11/16/2010)

2011

1. Grand Street News Ceases Publication  (10/06/2011)
2. Yori Yanover’s Connection to Rabbi J. Hershy Worch’ Wife –– Salome Worch 
3.  (12/30/2011)

2013

1. The Appalling Jewish Press Smears 6-Year-Old Alleged Child Sex Abuse Victims  (05/13/2013)
2. Ben Yehuda Press (05/13/2013)

Also see:

1. Case of Rabbi Marc Gafni
2. Case of Harlan Kilstein
3. Case of Rabbi David E. Lipman
4. Case of Rabbi J. Hershy Worch

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Exclusive: Yoram / Yori Yanover of USAJEWISH blog is alleged to have helped friend hide income and avoid child support, has 48 hours to come clean

Jewish Whistleblower Blog - May 13, 2005

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Newspaper publisher becomes the story before debate Yori Yanover, publisher of the Grand Street News

By Ronda Kaysen

Volume 75, Number 8 | June 13- 20, 2005

NOTE: Besides Yori Yanover being friends with alleged sex offender, Rabbi Hershy Worch, he was also close friends with convicted sex offender Rabbi David Lipman, both worked for him when he ran JCN18 (Jewish Communication Network) along with his friend, Rabbi Larry Yudelson (Reb Yudel).  

Yori Yanover - enabler of sex offenders

Much thought isn't usually given to moderators. By definition, they are thought to be moderate, but Yori Yanover, who was tapped to facilitate Tuesday night's City Council District 2 debate, has some strong opinions about the feminist, gay rights and psychoanalytic movements and isn't afraid to blog them.

On Tuesday morning, hours before 12 of the candidates vying to fill Margarita Lopez's City Council seat gathered at the Henry Street Settlement for their first public debate, an anonymous e-mail circulated among the candidates, urging them to boycott the event, which was to include three panelists asking questions in addition to Yanover, who was to moderate. The writer, identifying himself only as Constitution Man of the Committee to Boycott LoHo Realty and their Grand Street News, pointed to a private Web blog penned by the debate's moderator as cause for a candidate-wide boycott.

The blog, www.usajewish.com, was written by Yanover, the publisher of Grand Street News, a booklet-size community newspaper sponsored by LoHo Realty. The entries in question address an ongoing dispute within the Jewish community about a handful of rabbis accused of sexual impropriety.

In one entry, Yanover responds to sexual allegations against the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach lodged by several women after Carlebach's death. The allegations were never brought to court. In response to the unsubstantiated allegations, Yanover, in his blog, blamed the "homosexual movement, the feminist movement and the psychoanalytical movement. All three movements have politicized the sexual, and with that, robbed us of the carefree availability of our sexual expression," he wrote.

"The gay rights, feminist and psychological movements have changed how society approached sex in worrisome ways," Yanover told The Villager. "Making a sexual mistake in this society is the most dangerous thing that can happen to you. The boss who 10 years ago may have said something cheeky to a secretary or a female underling, now he's going in the other direction. This is part of the anxiety of our culture."

One candidate, Brian Kavanagh, withdrew his name from the debate after learning about Yanover's statements. "The moderator of a debate is not merely a bystander, but controls the forum and has a public presence and I think that choosing this particular person under the present circumstances shows some insensitivity both to the gay and lesbian community and also to victims of rape," said Kavanagh, describing the blog entries as "reprehensible."

"Is she concerned? I'm sure she would be concerned with anything that's homophobic or anti-women," said Roberto Caballero, who is gay and is the campaign manager for Reverend Joan Brightharp, the only member of the clergy in the race. Brightharp, however, planned to attend the debate, which occurred as The Villager went to press.

Yori Yanover making online death threats to various Rape Victim Advocates

Yanover is a strong presence in the Lower East Side community. In fact, Grand Street News approached Henry Street Settlement several months ago to co-sponsor the debate along with LoHo Realty. Some local figures have jumped to his defense in the wake of the Tuesday morning e-mail. "I believe in supporting good people," said Susan Stetzer, district manager of Community Board 3. "He is not homophobic, he is not anti-feminist. He and his wife are feminists and they're raising their daughter to be a feminist." Stetzer and David McWater, C.B. 3 chairperson, were profiled by Grand Street News within the past year and their photo appeared on its cover.

Henry Street Settlement, which hosted the event, had no intentions of canceling or changing moderators on Tuesday afternoon. "At this point, we're not making any changes," said Kathleen Gupta, a chief administrator for the Henry Street Settlement, two hours before the event. "We're just moving forward and hoping it'll be a productive evening."

Rosie Mendez, the only openly gay candidate in the race, had not read the e-mail when she spoke to The Villager on Tuesday afternoon and was reluctant to take a position. "I have to ask myself, `Why today, a couple of hours before the debate, is this coming to light?' " she said. "This has been planned a long time ago. It's interesting that this has come out now." Mendez planned to attend the event.

The author of the e-mail that pointed candidates and The Villager to the blog did not return requests for comment, nor did he respond to requests to identify himself.

Bias is often subjective and, according to Yanover, the comments on his blog — all of which were removed on Tuesday afternoon — were part of a larger dialogue within the Jewish community. The blog entries in question were written last winter, he said, in response to comments made last October by an organization, the Awareness Center, about his close friend Rabbi Jeremy Hershy Worch.

The Awareness Center, a Maryland-based organization, is "dedicated to addressing sexual violence in Jewish communities around the world," according to its Web site. Among the alleged perpetrators of sexual violence accused on the Web site is Yanover's friend Worch.

"Every time you Google the guy's name, every time he applies for a job," the link to the Awareness Center Web site appears at the top of the search engine, said Yanover. "His name is destroyed. What can you do about this? All you can do is cower away or you can fight this."

And so Yanover printed the full name, address and telephone number of the woman who made the accusations against Worch, removing the "the shelter of anonymity" that protected her.

"This woman destroyed the life of a man, she accused him of despicable things and hid behind a veil of anonymity and she did not deserve it [anonymity]," said Yanover in a telephone interview, pointing out that no charges were ever brought against Worch.

Ironically, the Internet and the infinite memory of Google may now have turned on Yanover, thrusting his online ramblings into the political arena. "A friend of mine last October was destroyed by sinister people and it's been my business to defend his good name," he said.

 "And if I get skewered by that then that's the way it has to be."

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Grand Street News 

Grand Street News - March, 2011

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JCN18: Yori Yanover, Rabbi Hershy Worch, Susan L. Rosenbluth, Rabbi Larry Yudelson and Rabbi David Lipman 

Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse Speak Out - March 21, 2006

A friend sent the following note:I had not realized until I saw this listing at the Jewish Press Association website that the Jewish Voice used to be associated with JCN18 which is Yori Yanover andLarry Yudelson's former on-line publication that had convicted child molester Rabbi David Lipman working there. Rabbis Hershy Worch was also contributors.

The Jewish Voice & Opinion (A )
73 Dana Pl
Englewood, NJ 07631
Susan L. Rosenbluth - Pub/Ed
201-569-2845
FAX: 201-569-1739
WEB: www.jcnl8.com/jewish_voice/

Rabbi Larry Yudelson

The Jewish Voice & Opinion is an 11-year-old monthly news magazine reaching by mail approximately 15,000 observant-Jewish households throughout the Metropolitan area. Mailed on the Friday before the first Shabbos of each month. In New Jersey, we reach the Orthodox communities in Fort Lee, Englewood, Teaneck, Bergenfield, Paramus, Tenafly, Fair Lawn, Passaic, Clifton, the Oranges, Livingston, Springfield, Elizabeth, Hillside, North Bergen, Secaucus, Morristown, Aberdeen/Matawan, Highland Park, Edison, The Brunswicks and others. We reach families in neighboring Rockland County, NY, plus New York City. We accept advertisements from establishments wishing to reach our very special readers, providing they are kosher and meet Orthodox rabbinic kashruth standards.

***************
Here's another photograph of Yori Yanover. It was published on his blog some time ago as an "alleged" threat to an individual who advocates for the rights of survivors of sexual violence. He has since taken the threat down but the photo can also be found here.

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Yori Yanover Takes On Vicki Polin
By The Town Cryer
Jew School - May 25, 2006

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Not The New York Times
By Yori Yanover
November 16, 2010

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Grand Street News Ceases Publication
The Low Down - New York - October 6, 2011

After seven years in business, the Grand Street News is calling it quits.  The Lower East Side monthly magazine, distributed to 12,000 Lower East Side apartments, has already published its last issue.  The Grand Street News was run by husband and wife team Yori Yanover and Nancy Kramer.

They were in the “hyperlocal” game long before anyone had heard of the now fashionable phrase.  As relative newbies in independent community news, we have a huge amount of respect for what Yori and Nancy accomplished, and for their love of the Lower East Side.  Grand Street won’t be the same without them. 

Here’s what Yori told us earlier today:

The Grand Street News came to life in January, 2004, when the Lower East Side was in the midst of an economic boom. Our marketing strategy took advantage of the need of vendors and service providers to reach newcomers as well as the more established population, and the appetite of our readers for local public affairs and the arts.

A hyper-local publication, we offered our readers a printed depiction of things they could sometimes see from their own living room windows, and there was magic in that. We thought we would be among the last remaining print publications, because the value we offered our clients was tangible: You give us your message, we put it in the mailboxes of your very customers. In a sense, while advertisers in most publications attempt to hit 3 to 10 percent of their target audience, we could offer the full 100 percent to local vendors.

Over the years we learned to identify which products would do well with us and which would not, and we actually discouraged potential clients from using our services if we didn’t think they could get a return on their investment. It’s what you do when you live on the same block as your client. Our editorial policy was similar. We often emailed a fact check copy of our stories to interviewees, giving them an option to alter their recorded statements in light of how they appeared next to competing statements. Again, it’s what you do when you live on the same block as the subject of your story. It’s also a more decent approach to journalism. 

We started to feel the decline of the LES economy about two years ago, and we saw many of our clients closing down or curtailing their operations. We tried to be creative and inventive, and although we stayed in the black, we could project the continued drop in our income. Around November of last year we decided to put our apartment up for sale and move to Israel, which, God willing, will happen in late fall. 

The Lower East Side has been our home for 36 years and we are convinced it is the finest neighborhood in New York and, obviously, in America. Israel is, come to think of it, the only logical move for someone who has embraced the values, the colors, the fragrances and the intensity of the Lower East Side. We’re planning to rent an apartment with an extra bedroom, so that all our visiting friends can have a place to crash in the land of milk and honey. 

What a ride this has been.

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Yori Yanover’s Connection to Rabbi J. Hershy Worch’ Wife –– Salome Worch

Grand Street News - December 13, 2011

Several years ago Yori Yanover staged an attack against The Awareness Center while the organization was providing information regarding both Rabbi David Lipman and Rabbi Hershy Worch, who were close friends.  Rabbi Lipman is now a convicted sex offender, and Rabbi Hershy Worch has been accused multiple times of clergy sexual abuse.

A few years later Rabbi Worch's fifth wife, Salome Worch created a "comic strip" in her attempts to cyber-bully the founder and director of The Awareness Center. 

The web page that housed the comic strip was owned by Yori Yanover.  A few years later Salome Worch illustrated a few cover pages for Yori Yanover's newspaper - "Grand Street News".  

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The Appalling Jewish Press Smears 6-Year-Old Alleged Child Sex Abuse Victims

By Shmarya Rosenberg

Failed Messiah Blog - May 13, 2013

The Appalling Jewish Press Smears 6-Year-Old Alleged Child Sex Abuse Victims

The appalling Jewish Press has published a horrific news article by its online editor, Yori Yanover. Yanover has a long history of allegedly harassing and stalking online advocates for victims. He also infamously wrote a very biased, unethical article many years ago for the Forward about Chabad – without disclosing that he worked for Chabad. The Jewish Press knew about Yanover's "issues," but it hired him anyway. And this is the result…

Yori Yanover

The horrific 'news' piece posted below – which is unethical, openly biased, stupid and obscene – was published as a news report by the Jewish Press. (It would simply be horrific, stupid and obscene if it were an op-ed.)

Its author, Yori Yanover, has a long history of allegedly harassing and stalking online advocates for victims. He also infamously wrote a very biased, unethical article many years ago for the Forward about Chabad – without disclosing that he worked for Chabad.

Even with this history, the Jewish Press hired Yanover to be its senior Internet editor – something I told people close to the Jewish Press would be a tremendous error.

And an error it clearly is.

Here is a prime example of why Yori Yanover should never work in news ever again:

Jewish Teacher Charged with Molestation and Fired on Dubious GroundsThe arrest was made based on the testimony of a 12-year-old babysitter's hearsay from a 6- and a 7-year-old. 

By Yori Yanover

The Jewish Press - May 13th, 2013 

Jordan Eareckson Murray, 32, father of three, known by his students as Rabbi Yaakov, taught first and second grade at the Torah Day School, on South Ferdinand Street in Columbia City, Seattle, and, reportedly, groped two female students, ages 6 and 7, after putting them on his lap behind his desk, in front of other students.

He was arrested May 3 and spent close to 48 hours in the King County Jail before posting a $100,000 bond, according to jail and court records. 

Formal charges were filed last week, accusing Murray of touching the two girls under their clothes numerous times since the middle of the school year. Other students were unaware of the behavior because Murray’s desk blocked their view, according to the charges. 

Here’s how the evidence against Muray was collected: 

The two alleged victims were playing together at the younger girl’s house and told the girl’s 12-year-old sister, also a student at the Torah Day School, that “Rabbi Murray puts his hands in their pants,” according to the charges, which note that the two younger girls “were scared” and confused and didn’t know why it was happening. 

If it was happening. 

The 12-year-old sister brought the girls to her mother, and they disclosed the alleged abuse, according to the charges. 

The 12-year-old had baby-sat Murray’s children in the past, according to reports. 

In other words, the arrest was made based on the testimony of a 12-year-old babysitter’s hearsay from a 6- and a 7-year-old. 

The Seattle Police Department received two referrals from Child Protective Services on April 23 and launched an investigation, the papers say. 

Murray declined to speak with investigators, which means he’s getting good legal advice. 

Here’s what Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor had to say on the case: 

“The defendant is a clear danger to children given the circumstances of this crime where he abused his position of trust as a first- and second-grade teacher, secretly molesting these girls in class in front of others.” 

Based on the hearsay testimony of a 12-year old who heard it from her 6-year-old sister and her 7-year-old friend. 

I’m not saying the man is innocent—how could I possibly tell? But I’ve been in this business a few years, and when it smells, I can sense it. These cases always depend on the quality of police investigation, most importantly: how much of the information came voluntarily from the child witness, and how much did the interrogating detective feed her. 

Children do not have a developed sense of right and wrong, children have magical thinking, children are incapable of reasoning the way adults do. It’s extremely tough for experts in the field to get untainted information from children, because children are constantly on the lookout for cues as to what the adult wants them to say.

Here’s something about the quality of the detective work in this case:

Seattle Detective Michael Moore told the court that a 6-year-old girl had told him that after she approached Murray to show him her school work, Murray put her on his lap and shoved his hands down her pants while he was seated behind his desk. As he did so, Murray stared at the girl’s school work as though he was reading it, Moore continued. The detective added that the rest of the first-grade class was unaware Murray was groping the child. 

Having spent two years of my life in the first and the second grades (one year each), I’m trying to imagine a situation whereby a teacher manages to pull off that feat of depravity with no one noticing. 

Of course, as is common in these cases, which often turn out to be nothing more than mass hysteria, once the news spreads about the alleged molestation by a rabbi, local children suddenly remember having been abused by the same man. 

The chilling documentary, Capturing the Friedmans, shows one such case, where an entire family was destroyed by mass hysteria, spun by confused children, frightened parents, and shoddy work, even, possibly, lies, of the detectives of the Great Neck PD. In 1988, one of the family members, Jesse Friedman, was coerced into pleading guilty to some incredible and imaginary crimes of child sexual abuse, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. In July, 2010, the Federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals said there was “a reasonable likelihood” that Jesse Friedman was wrongfully convicted. 

In the Seattle case, another 6-year-old has already come up with a description of sitting on Murray’s lap or standing between his legs, and said other girls in her class also sat on his lap, according to the charges. The girl said Murray often hugged her from behind and touched her over her clothing, the papers say. 

So, after having been unaware of anything out of the ordinary happening in the original report, all of a sudden we hear of busy molestation schedules in Rabbi Yaakov’s classroom. 

By now there are at least four other students in Murray’s classes, in addition to the original two, all ages 6 and 7, who have “routinely complained of anxiety, headaches and stomach aches,” but the girls’ parents said the children were fine and acted normally after being sent home early, the papers say. 

In today’s U.S.A. you’ll catch a better break planting bombs than being a rabbi accused of henky penky. 

Murray was fired following the allegations. According to Dan Donohoe, spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, he does not have a criminal history. Originally, the police told the press that Murray had a criminal record in another state, but then they issued a retraction. 

Gives you an idea of the quality of their police work?

Here is the redacted charge sheet and other court documents. You can see what Murray allegedly did and how he was arrested.

Download Information Charge Sheet Yaakov Jordan E. Murray 5-2013 extra redactions

Here are two previous FailedMessiah.com posts accurately reporting what happened:

Seattle Day School Teacher Charged With Child Sexual Abuse.

Why Didn't The Haredi Torah Day School Of Seattle Do A Background Check?

The Jewish Press has as I see it no choice. It either fires Yanover or it loses any semblance of credibility it might have.

Yori Yanover is a sick, disgusting and dishonest man, and the time has long since past that he should be permanently removed from public Jewish life.

In Yanover's twisted mind, the children are all liars or all manipulated, and poor rabbi is wronged – this despite the fact that the girls' reactions to the alleged abuse and the manner in which they told their stories is entirely consistent with how abuse victims of that age behave.

The behavior of the other alleged victims (who may also press charges) is also utterly consistent with the behavior of abuse victims of that age.

I could go on, but what's the point?

There are complaining witnesses who say Murray sexually abused them and there are two complaining witnesses who can testify to the girls' behavior.

In the world of sick, evil little men like Yanover, the testimony of children does not count and a child telling an adult or older sibling that a rabbi "put his hands down my pants" is hearsay.

In the world of Yori Yanover, the only pedophiles who would ever be convicted are the ones caught as at the moment they abuse a child or, perhaps, if the abuse is caught on tape. But this would also be true of adult rape victims and of women who say they were sexually abused by their rabbi – a rabbi who happens to be a close friend of Yanover's.

Normal people understand that not all allegations are true, but they also know that the vast majority are – as the evidence clearly shows.

Yanover's calculus flips this upside down.

Despite the facts, despite the evidence, despite the fact that law enforcement (at least in major and mid-sized cities throughout the US and Canada) have not used the poor interview techniques that were used in some cities 25 years ago in more than two decades, despite the fact that law enforcement officers are now primarily college educated and those who investigate sex crimes against children get extensive detailed training in interview techniques meant to prevent leading the alleged victims to say what they think the detective wants to hear – despite all that,  Yanover sees a world where the alleged abusers are almost always innocent, and the alleged victims are almost always lying, manipulated or enticers.

He is sick, evil man.

The Jewish Press should be very ashamed.

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Ben Yehuda Press

May 13, 2013

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