Case of Rabbi Richard Marcovitz
(AKA: Richard M. Marcovitz, Richard Morris Marcovitz)
Tulsa, OK
Bridgeville, PA
Rabbi - Emanuel Synagogue, Oklahoma City, OK (1996 - 2002)
Teacher - Solomon Schecter Academy, Oklahoma City, OK
Former Rabbi - Congregation B'nai Israel, Pittsburg, PA (1976-1996)
Former Rabbi - Congregation B'nai Israel, Pittsburg, PA (1976-1996)
Palm Beach, FL
Delray Beach, FL
As of September 13, 2013 Rabbi Richard Marcovitz is Non-Compliant with the Pennsylvania Sex Offender Registry.
Plead guilty to inappropriately touching two students, a teacher and an after-care worker at an Oklahoma City Jewish school after a judge ruled evidence about the same kind of behavior over the last 40 years could be heard at his jury trial.
Marcovitz was then sentenced to prison for five years and ordered to attend a sex offender treatment program. He was later placed on the National Sex Offender's Registry.
Marcovitz was then sentenced to prison for five years and ordered to attend a sex offender treatment program. He was later placed on the National Sex Offender's Registry.
When allegations of alleged victims, witnesses, and school officials recently arose, the Synagogue responded by initiating an internal investigation and rearranging responsibilities. Once the Oklahoma City Police department got involved, the synagogue fully cooperated and discontinued their own investigation.
Back in 2002, Emanuel Synagogue continued to have Rabbi Marcovitz serve as its rabbi until the charges were substantiated. To reduce anxiety, the synagogue relieved Rabbi Marcovitz of his responsibilities educating children.
In 2003, Richard Marcovitz a several civil suits were filed by the four child victims and also by a woman who attended his conversion classes.
There are several people who go by the name of Richard Marcovitz. The individual discussed on this page was born on March 14, 1937.
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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:
1979
- Congregation B'nai Israel Confirmation Class (1979)
1980
- Organizations in the News (03/27/1980)
2002
- From The Executive Board of Emanuel Synagogue (02/21/2002)
- Accused Rabbi To Stay On At Synagogue - Marcovitz Facing Child Molestation Charges (02/21/2002)
- Rabbi freed on $80,000 bond (02/22/2002)
- Formal Charges Filed Against OKC Rabbim- Marcovitz Faces 11 Felony Counts (02/26/2002)
- An Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children (02/26/2002)
- Accused Rabbi Makes Court Appearance (03/14/2002)
- Oklahoma Rabbi Admits Groping Employees (03/25/2002)
- Rabbi's Arrest on Sex Abuse Charges Divides Oklahoma City (05/01/2002)
- Rabbi accused of groping girls divides Oklahoma community (05/02/2002)
- OKC community divided over case of accused rabbi (05/03/2002)
- Town riven by case of rabbi accused of abuse (05/03/2002)
- Teacher, student accuse rabbi of touching them inappropriately (06/08/2002)
- KRMG NEWS - Rabbi Accused (07/03/2002)
- OKC rabbi ordered to stand trial for 11 criminal sex charges (07/04/2002)
- Rabbi Will Stand Trial in Sexual Battery Case (07/04/2002)
- Rabbi charged in sex crimes (07/09/2002)
2003
- Rabbi Pleads Guilty To Touching Students (03/25/2003)
- Rabbi pleads guilty (03/25/2003)
- Rabbi admits inappropriate acts (03/26/2003)
- Rabbi Named In New Lawsuit (04/03/2003)
- Oklahoma Department of Corrections it (04/03/2003)
- Rabbis Gone Bad (04/07/2003)
2006
- National Sex Offender Registry (02/04/2006)
2013
- Florida Sex Offender Registry (03/14/2013)
2014
- National Sex Offender Registry (01/22/2014)
- Historic Pittsburg Image Collection (01/22/2014)
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Congregation B'nai Israel Confirmation Class
Philadelphia, PA - 1979
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Organizations in the News
The Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburg - March 27, 1980
Mincha services take place in the Deaktor Chapel at 5:40 p.m., followed by the Seudah Shelisheet, sponsored by the Chevra Thillim. Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will teach. Hazzan Mordecai G. Heiser leads the Zimirot. Maariv and Havdallah take \ place after sunset.
Daily services take place in the Deaktor Chapel Sundays, 8:15 a.m. weekdays, 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Rev. Mordechai Haalman leads services.
On Sunday, March 30, the model seder for the religious school will take place at 10 a.m. Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will conduct the seder in conjunction with the students and their parents.
Monday, the daily services begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by the Siyum for the first born. Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will conduct the Siyum having finished a tractate of the Talmud.
Monday evening, holiday services begin at 6:15, in the Deaktor Chapel. Tuesday, holiday services for Passover are held in the Great Sanctuary beginning at 9 a.m.
Rev. Mordechai Haalman chants Birchot Hashachar and the Pesuke D'Zimra and reads the Torah. Hazzan Mordecai G. Heiser will chant the Shacharit and the Musof service. Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will speak.
Services for the second evening are held in the Deaktor Chapel at 6:30, followed by the Congregational second Seder beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, the second day of Passover, services are held in the Great Sanctuary at 9 a.m., with Rev. Mordechai Haalman chanting the Birchot Hashachar and the Pesuke D'Zimra and reading the Torah.
Hazzan ' Mordecai G. Heiser will chant the Shacharit and the Musof service. Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will speak. Wednesday, services will be at 6:30 p.m.
Parkway Jewish Center:-Passover schedule of services are as follows: Monday, March 31, 7 to 8 a.m., there will be a special siyum service for the first born males. Tuesday, April 1 services are at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2 services are at 9:30 a.m.
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Accused Rabbi To Stay On At Synagogue - Marcovitz Facing Child Molestation Charges
KOCA News - February 21, 2002
Rabbi Facing Child Molestation Charges Rabbi Richard Marcovitz (pictured, right), 64, was arrested Thursday after police questioned him about complaints he might have improperly touched two children and had inappropriate contact with two teachers, a police report said.
In the first complaint, a girl said she was touched between Jan. 1 and May 25, 2000, AT the Solomon Schecter Academy. The school is at Emmanuel Synagogue where Marcovitz is rabbi.
The second complaint came from school officials who said Marcovitz had been touching a second girl at the school in an inappropriate manner between Jan. 2 and Feb. 8.
In a statement, the executive board of Emanuel Synagogue said Marcovitz would remain in his position as rabbi until the charges are proven.
"We refuse to be the purveyors of gossip, second-hand, hearsay or innuendo," the executive board said. "A person in our country and the state of Oklahoma is not supposed to be condemned by such words or determined to be guilty by the police or the press.
"The ultimate judgment regarding the allegations and charges against Rabbi Marcovitz must await his opportunity to have his day in court facing his accusers," the board said. (Click here to read board's full statement.)
Marcovitz will be relieved of his responsibilities educating children, the board said, during the investigation.
Meanwhile, Marcovitz's attorney said his client is "distraught" about the allegations and denies any wrongdoing.
"Allegations are allegations, and we are ready to defend them," Billy Bock said. "He certainly denies any wrongdoing, and we'll see what happens during the process."
Bob Weiss, a member of Marcovitz's congregation, said the complaints were unexpected.
"To the majority of the congregation, it came out of the blue," Weiss said.
Investigators are running checks on Marcovitz's background to determine if the rabbi has a criminal history.
Marcovitz is free on $80,000 bond.
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From the Executive Board of Emanuel Synagogue
KOCA News - February 22, 2002
Rabbi Marcovitz has served as the spiritual leader of Emanuel Synagogue since 1996. When allegations of alleged victims, witnesses, and school officials recently arose, the Synagogue responded by initiating an internal investigation and rearranging responsibilities.
At the request of the Oklahoma City police to not interfere with their investigation, the synagogue fully cooperated and discontinued its own investigation. Subsequently, we had no direct evidence or first-hand knowledge to pass onto police.
We refuse to be the purveyors of gossip, second-hand, hearsay or innuendo. A person in our country and the state of Oklahoma is not supposed to be condemned by such words or determined to be guilty by the police or the press. The ultimate judgment regarding the allegations and charges against Rabbi Marcovitz must await his opportunity to have his day in court facing his accusers.
The synagogue will continue to have Rabbi Marcovitz serve as its rabbi until the charges are substantiated. To reduce anxiety, we have relieved Rabbi Marcovitz of his responsibilities educating our children.
Those who may have been wronged, and certainly Rabbi Marcovitz, need our community's help and support.
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Rabbi freed on $80,000 bond
By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman - Feburary 22, 2002
An Oklahoma City rabbi is free on $80,000 bond after being arrested Thursday on complaints of sexual battery and committing lewd acts with a child, a police report said.
The report stated that Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 64, was arrested after police questioned him about complaints he might have molested two children attending the Solomon Schecter Academy. The school is at the Emanuel Synagogue, 900 NW 47, where Marcovitz is the rabbi.
In the first complaint, the victim said she was molested between Jan. 1 and May 25, 2000. The second complaint came from school officials who said they noticed Marcovitz had been touching a second girl at the school in an inappropriate manner.
Marcovitz was released on $80,000 bail.
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Formal Charges Filed Against OKC Rabbi - Marcovitz Faces 11 Felony Counts
KOCA News - February 26, 2002
Richard Marcovitz (pictured), 64, was arrested last week and was freed on $80,000 bond.
He has been placed on administrative leave from Emanuel Synagogue, where he has worked for the past six years.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred between August 2000 and May 2001 at the Solomon Schechter Academy, now called the Oklahoma City Jewish Day School. The school is based at the synagogue.
The girls involved in the complaint were 9 and 12. The allegations against the rabbi involve inappropriate sexual touching.
Marcovitz said he is innocent of the charges and plans an active defense in court, said his attorney, Billy Bock.
Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane said the statements made by the two women and two girls were reliable and were backed up by people who witnessed the incidents.
Marcovitz was charged with five counts of lewd acts with a child under 16. Each of these charges carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with six counts of sexual battery, which each carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.
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Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children
Jews Week - February 22, 2002
An Oklahoma City rabbi accused of lewd behavior with children was arraigned Thursday and freed on $80,000 bond. Richard Marcovitz is charged with a total of 11 counts -- six for alleged sexual battery and five for lewd behavior with a child. The incidents allegedly happened at a Jewish day school in Oklahoma City. Marcovitz is now on administrative leave from the Emanuel Synagogue. He will be back in court April 29.
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Accused Rabbi Makes Court Appearance - Marcovitz Arraigned On 11 Felony Counts
Eyewitness News - channel 5 - March 14, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A preliminary hearing date was set Thursday for a rabbi facing charges of lewd acts with two girls who attended a religious school and sexual battery involving two women who worked there.
An Oklahoma County District Court judge set an April 29 hearing for Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65.
Marcovitz made his first court appearance during a private hearing held in Special Judge Russell Hall's chambers. Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock, requested the private appearance.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred between August 2000 and May 2001 at the Solomon Schechter Academy, now called the Oklahoma City Jewish Day School. The school is based at the synagogue.
The girls involved in the complaint were 9 and 12. The allegations against the rabbi involve inappropriate sexual touching.
Marcovitz was arrested in February.
He was charged with five counts of lewd acts with a child under 16. Each of these charges carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with six counts of sexual battery, which each carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison.
Marcovitz has been placed on administrative leave from Emanuel Synagogue, where he has worked for the past six years.
Marcovitz said he is innocent of the charges and plans an active defense in court, Bock said.
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Oklahoma Rabbi Admits Groping Employees
Midland Daily News - March 25, 2003
Rabbi's Arrest on Sex Abuse Charges Divides Oklahoma City
Associated Press - May 1, 2002
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Midland Daily News - March 25, 2003
A rabbi pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that he groped two female employees of a religious school and two girls who attended classes.
Richard Marcovitz, 66, agreed to a 20-year sentence, five of which must be served in prison, said Oklahoma County prosecutor Steve Deutsch. Marcovitz's prison time can be reduced if he successfully completes a sex offender program.
The rabbi faced five counts of indecent or lewd acts with two girls, ages 12 and 9. Six counts of sexual battery were filed against Marcovitz in connection with allegations of inappropriately touching a teacher and a daycare worker who was 17 at the time.
Jury selection for the rabbi's trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday.
Marcovitz has been on paid leave from Emanuel Synagogue. The incidents occurred between August 2000 and May 2001 at the Solomon Schechter Academy, also called the Oklahoma City Jewish Day School. The school was based at the synagogue, but is no longer in operation.
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Rabbi's Arrest on Sex Abuse Charges Divides Oklahoma City
Associated Press - May 1, 2002
Oklahoma City -- The small, close knit Jewish community in this Bible Belt city was used to seeing Rabbi Richard Marcovitz presiding over weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
So they were shocked to see TV images of him with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school.
The case has divided a Jewish community that numbers less than 3,000 people in a metropolitan area of more than a million, a place where the Baptist religion predominates.
On Friday, Marcovitz was expected to be in court for a hearing to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges. He maintains his innocence.
Some congregants of Emanuel Synagogue have given up on the 65-year-old rabbi, while others hope he will be exonerated and resume his work as a religious leader, said Henryk Orlowski, a real estate agent who has been active in the local Jewish community for 20 years.
"I hate to see the rift in the whole community," he said. "We could have repercussions for years to come and unhappiness among individuals for the way everything was handled."
The criminal investigation began on Feb. 7, when police were told that Marcovitz had touched a child in an inappropriate way at the Oklahoma City Jewish Community Day School, which is located at the synagogue.
Police Sgt. Willie Edwards said in an affidavit that he spoke to 20 people who backed up the stories of two girls, ages 12 and 9, as well as a 26-year-old teacher and a 17-year-old daycare worker. All four said he touched them on their breasts or bottoms.
Edwards said the people he spoke to either saw the touching or heard the four people complain about it. "All the victims advised this happened several times over a period of at least a year," Edwards said.
Marcovitz was released on $80,000 bond. Within a few days, he was placed on administrative leave from the 200-family Conservative synagogue, where he has worked for six years.
The synagogue, founded in 1904, has continued to hold religious services without the rabbi, who has been holding services of his own in his home.
Marcovitz, known for his booming voice and outgoing manner, has been a local fixture. Every year he helps children light a large menorah outside the synagogue. He has explained Jewish traditions to newspapers and television stations and has expressed views about Israel.
Marcovitz faces five charges of lewd acts with a child under 16, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and six counts of sexual battery, which carry 5-year terms.
"I am looking forward to the truth coming out, and if the truth comes out, I think the right thing will happen," said Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock.
The case has gained notoriety because of his position as a rabbi in a city where many residents do not have a great knowledge of Judaism, Bock said.
"Because he's a rabbi, it's a bigger deal, and in Oklahoma, I don't know that we have a great understanding of what a rabbi is," the attorney said.
Oklahoma City's Jewish population is small compared to other major U.S. cities. Few Jews participated in the land rush that populated the Oklahoma territory in 1889. The city does not have the Jewish delicatessens, butchers or bakers seen in many other major urban areas.
Rabbi David Packman, who presides at the Reform Temple B'Nai Israel in Oklahoma City, said problems of molestation in the Roman Catholic Church also have drawn additional attention to the case.
"It's the hot issue of the day," he said.
Assistant District Attorney Jodie Casey said religion does not affect how she is handling the case.
"In our opinion, it's being handled similar to any other case," Case said. "Just like in any case, when anyone has authority, that's another piece of the evidence. But that doesn't change the way the case is prosecuted."
Synagogue President Robert Epstein said he hopes some good will eventually come out of a bad situation.
"I think there are people who feel this has created harm and I think at the same time, everyone is trying to reach out to create more harmony," he said.
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Rabbi accused of groping girls divides Oklahoma community
Jefferson City Tribune - May 2, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The small, close-knit Jewish community in this Bible Belt city was used to seeing Rabbi Richard Marcovitz presiding over weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
So they were shocked to see TV images of him with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school.
The case has divided a Jewish community that numbers less than 3,000 people in a metro area of more than a million, a place where the Baptist religion predominates.
On Friday, Marcovitz was expected to be in court for a hearing to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges. He maintains his innocence.
Some congregants of Emanuel Synagogue have given up on the 65-year-old rabbi, while others hope he will be exonerated and resume his work as a religious leader, said Henryk Orlowski, a real estate agent who has been active in the local Jewish community for 20 years.
"I hate to see the rift in the whole community," he said. "We could have repercussions for years to come and unhappiness among individuals for the way everything was handled."
The criminal investigation began on Feb. 7, when police were told that Marcovitz had touched a child in an inappropriate way at the Oklahoma City Jewish Community Day School, which is located at the synagogue.
Police Sgt. Willie Edwards said in an affidavit that he spoke to 20 people who backed up the stories of two girls, ages 12 and 9, as well as a 26-year-old teacher and a 17-year-old daycare worker. All four said he touched them on their breasts or bottoms.
Edwards said the people he spoke to either saw the touching or heard the four people complain about it. "All the victims advised this happened several times over a period of at least a year," Edwards said.
Marcovitz was released on $80,000 bond. Within a few days, he was placed on administrative leave from the 200-family Conservative synagogue, where he has worked for six years.
The synagogue, founded in 1904, has continued to hold religious services without the rabbi, who has been holding services of his own in his home.
Marcovitz, known for his booming voice and outgoing manner, has been a local fixture. Every year he helps children light a large menorah outside the synagogue. He has explained Jewish traditions to newspapers and television stations and has expressed views about Israel.
Marcovitz faces five charges of lewd acts with a child under 16, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and six counts of sexual battery, which carry 5-year terms.
"I am looking forward to the truth coming out, and if the truth comes out, I think the right thing will happen," said Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock.
The case has gained notoriety because of his position as a rabbi in a city where many residents do not have a great knowledge of Judaism, Bock said.
"Because he's a rabbi, it's a bigger deal, and in Oklahoma, I don't know that we have a great understanding of what a rabbi is," the attorney said.
Oklahoma City's Jewish population is small compared to other major U.S. cities. Few Jews participated in the land rush that populated the Oklahoma territory in 1889. The city does not have the Jewish delicatessens, butchers or bakers seen in many other major urban areas.
Rabbi David Packman, who presides at the Reform Temple B'Nai Israel in Oklahoma City, said problems of molestation in the Roman Catholic Church also have drawn additional attention to the case.
"It's the hot issue of the day," he said.
Assistant District Attorney Jodie Casey said religion does not affect how she is handling the case.
"In our opinion, it's being handled similar to any other case," Case said. "Just like in any case, when anyone has authority, that's another piece of the evidence. But that doesn't change the way the case is prosecuted."
Synagogue President Robert Epstein said he hopes some good will eventually come out of a bad situation.
"I think there are people who feel this has created harm and I think at the same time, everyone is trying to reach out to create more harmony," he said.
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OKC community divided over case of accused rabbi
News-Star (Oklahoma) - Friday, May 3, 2002
Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, center, leaves court after his arraignment March 14 in Oklahoma City. Marcovitz was arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school. Today, Marcovitz is expected to be in court for a hearing to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The small, close-knit Jewish community in this Bible Belt city was used to seeing Rabbi Richard Marcovitz presiding over weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
So they were shocked to see TV images of him with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school.
The case has divided a Jewish community that numbers less than 3,000 people in a metro area of more than a million, a place where the Baptist religion predominates.
A hearing scheduled for Friday to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges was postponed until June 7 because Marcovitz's attorney had a personal emergency.
Some congregants of Emanuel Synagogue have given up on the 65-year-old rabbi, while others hope he will be exonerated and resume his work as a religious leader, said Henryk Orlowski, a real estate agent who has been active in the local Jewish community for 20 years.
"I hate to see the rift in the whole community," he said. "We could have repercussions for years to come and unhappiness among individuals for the way everything was handled."
The criminal investigation began on Feb. 7, when police were told that Marcovitz had touched a child in an inappropriate way at the Oklahoma City Jewish Community Day School, which is located at the synagogue.
Police Sgt. Willie Edwards said in an affidavit that he spoke to 20 people who backed up the stories of two girls, ages 12 and 9, as well as a 26-year-old teacher and a 17-year-old daycare worker. All four said he touched them on their breasts or bottoms.
Edwards said the people he spoke to either saw the touching or heard the four people complain about it. "All the victims advised this happened several times over a period of at least a year," Edwards said.
Marcovitz was released on $80,000 bond. Within a few days, he was placed on administrative leave from the 200-family Conservative synagogue, where he has worked for six years.
The synagogue, founded in 1904, has continued to hold religious services without the rabbi, who has been holding services of his own in his home.
Marcovitz, known for his booming voice and outgoing manner, has been a local fixture. Every year he helps children light a large menorah outside the synagogue. He has explained Jewish traditions to newspapers and television stations and has expressed views about Israel.
Marcovitz faces five charges of lewd acts with a child under 16, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and six counts of sexual battery, which carry 5-year terms.
"I am looking forward to the truth coming out, and if the truth comes out, I think the right thing will happen," said Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock.
The case has gained notoriety because of his position as a rabbi in a city where many residents do not have a great knowledge of Judaism, Bock said.
"Because he's a rabbi, it's a bigger deal, and in Oklahoma, I don't know that we have a great understanding of what a rabbi is," the attorney said.
Oklahoma City's Jewish population is small compared to other major U.S. cities. Few Jews participated in the land run that populated the Oklahoma territory in 1889. The city does not have the Jewish delicatessens, butchers or bakers seen in many other major urban areas.
Rabbi David Packman, who presides at the Reform Temple B'Nai Israel in Oklahoma City, said problems of molestation in the Roman Catholic Church also have drawn additional attention to the case.
"It's the hot issue of the day," he said.
Assistant District Attorney Jodie Casey said religion does not affect how she is handling the case.
"In our opinion, it's being handled similar to any other case," Casey said. "Just like in any case, when anyone has authority, that's another piece of the evidence. But that doesn't change the way the case is prosecuted."
Synagogue President Robert Epstein said he hopes some good will eventually come out of a bad situation.
"I think there are people who feel this has created harm and I think at the same time, everyone is trying to reach out to create more harmony," he said.
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Town riven by case of rabbi accused of abuse
The Olympian, Olympia Washington - May 3, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The small, close-knit Jewish community in this Bible Belt city was used to seeing Rabbi Richard Marcovitz presiding over weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
So they were shocked to see TV images of him with his hands behind his back in handcuffs, arrested for allegedly groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school.
The case has divided a Jewish community that numbers less than 3,000 people in a metro area of more than a million, a place where the Baptist religion predominates.
A hearing scheduled for Friday to determine whether a trial is warranted on 11 criminal sex charges was postponed until June 7 because Marcovitz's attorney had a personal emergency. Marcovitz maintains his innocence.
Differing opinions
Some congregants of Emanuel Synagogue have given up on the 65-year-old rabbi, while others hope he will be exonerated and resume his work as a religious leader, said Henryk Orlowski, a real estate agent who has been active in the local Jewish community for 20 years.
"I hate to see the rift in the whole community," he said. "We could have repercussions for years to come and unhappiness among individuals for the way everything was handled."
The criminal investigation began on Feb. 7, when police were told that Marcovitz had touched a child in an inappropriate way at the Oklahoma City Jewish Community Day School, which is located at the synagogue.
Police Sgt. Willie Edwards said in an affidavit that he spoke to 20 people who backed up the stories of two girls, ages 12 and 9, as well as a 26-year-old teacher and a 17-year-old day care worker. All four said he touched them on their breasts or bottoms.
Edwards said the people he spoke to either saw the touching or heard the four people complain about it. "All the victims advised this happened several times over a period of at least a year," Edwards said.
Marcovitz was released on $80,000 bond. Within a few days, he was placed on administrative leave from the 200-family Conservative synagogue, where he has worked for six years.
The synagogue, founded in 1904, has continued to hold religious services without the rabbi, who has been holding services of his own in his home.
Marcovitz, known for his booming voice and outgoing manner, has been a local fixture. Every year he helps children light a large menorah outside the synagogue. He has explained Jewish traditions to newspapers and television stations and has expressed views about Israel.
Marcovitz faces five charges of lewd acts with a child under 16, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and six counts of sexual battery, which carry 5-year terms.
"I am looking forward to the truth coming out, and if the truth comes out, I think the right thing will happen," said Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock.
The case has gained notoriety because of his position as a rabbi in a city where many residents do not have a great knowledge of Judaism, Bock said.
"Because he's a rabbi, it's a bigger deal, and in Oklahoma, I don't know that we have a great understanding of what a rabbi is," the attorney said.
Oklahoma City's Jewish population is small compared to other major U.S. cities. Few Jews participated in the land rush that populated the Oklahoma territory in 1889. The city does not have the Jewish delicatessens, butchers or bakers seen in many other major urban areas.
Rabbi David Packman, who presides at the Reform Temple B'Nai Israel in Oklahoma City, said problems of molestation in the Roman Catholic Church also have drawn additional attention to the case.
"It's the hot issue of the day," he said.
Assistant District Attorney Jodie Casey said religion does not affect how she is handling the case.
"In our opinion, it's being handled similar to any other case," Case said. "Just like in any case, when anyone has authority, that's another piece of the evidence. But that doesn't change the way the case is prosecuted."
Synagogue President Robert Epstein said he hopes some good will eventually come out of a bad situation.
"I think there are people who feel this has created harm and I think at the same time, everyone is trying to reach out to create more harmony," he said.
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Teacher, student accuse rabbi of touching them inappropriately
By Jennifer L. Brown
Associated Press - June 8, 2002
A 13-year-old girl testified Friday that a rabbi touched her buttocks nearly every day as she walked the hallways of a Jewish day school and once thrust her head into his lap.
The girl, wearing a pink dress and sniffling on the witness stand, said she didn't tell an adult until after she had a sex education class two years later.
The girl and an Oklahoma City Jewish Community Day School teacher testified during a preliminary hearing to determine whether Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will go to trial on 11 criminal sex charges.
The teacher said Marcovitz, 65, groped her almost every day for two months.
The student, 11 at the time, said the rabbi touched her buttocks the first day she attended the school in fourth grade.
"It happened a lot - like more than once a day," she told Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Deason. "It was too much. I didn't keep track."
The girl said two of her girlfriends told her the rabbi had touched their buttocks, and the three students "pinky-swore" never to tell anyone.
She said she didn't tell anyone about the rabbi's actions until she heard in a sixth-grade sex education class that children should tell adults if someone touches them inappropriately. In tears, she told a woman who works at her father's office. Her family was the first to notify authorities.
"I was too frightened," she said. "I thought no one would believe me and they wouldn't do anything about it."
A 28-year-old teacher who testified at the hearing said she was too scared to tell anyone for two months. She didn't want to be known as a "troublemaker trying to take down the beloved rabbi," she said.
"You want to believe they're one step closer to God than you are."
The teacher said Marcovitz showed up nearly every day from August 2000 to October 2000 at the after-school daycare she ran. She said he grabbed her from behind, touched her breasts and rubbed against her.
The teacher told her roommate in October 2000 after she tried hiding from Marcovitz with two children in an office. The roommate told the president of Emanuel Synagogue, and the teacher said the rabbi later told her someone was accusing him of sexual harassment.
The teacher also said she saw Marcovitz stroke a 9-year-old girl's hair and rub her while she sat in her classroom.
Prosecutors plan to call two or three more witnesses when the preliminary hearing resumes July 3. The 9-year-old girl and a 17-year-old daycare worker may be among the witnesses.
Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock, said he has many witnesses who can testify about the rabbi's good moral character and his commitment to the synagogue and school.
"He's the rabbi and the children look up to him," Bock said. "The kids enjoy him. He grabs them, picks them up and loves them."
Bock said Marcovitz "has a good belief that the truth is going to come out."
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KRMG NEWS - Rabbi Accused
KRMG Talk Radio/Tulsa - July 3, 2002
(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A rabbi accused of inappropriately touching girls at a Jewish day school will face trial on eleven criminal sex charges. Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Deason said today that there is enough evidence to bind Rabbi Richard Marcovitz over for trial. Two elementary students and two young women say they were assaulted.
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OKC rabbi ordered to stand trial for 11 criminal sex charges
The Daily Ardmoreite - Thursday, July 4, 2002
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A rabbi accused of groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school will face trial on 11 criminal sex charges, a judge decided Wednesday.
Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Deason said there was enough evidence to warrant a trial for Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65, who faces six charges of sexual battery and five counts of lewd acts with a minor.
Deason refused a motion by Billy Bock, Marcovitz's attorney, to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
The judge's rulings came following a preliminary hearing in which an 18-year-old daycare worker at the school said the rabbi put his hand on her hip, thigh and buttocks on numerous occasions from August 2001 through January 2002.
She said the rabbi would approach her from behind, put his arms around her and clasp his hands together.
''I would try to walk away sometimes and he restrained me,'' she said.
A 10-year-old girl, who prosecutors allege had been touched by the rabbi from August 2000 to May 2002, also testified.
The preliminary hearing began June 7 and was postponed until Wednesday.
Last month, a 13-year-old girl and a 28-year-old teacher testified they too had been inappropriately touched by the rabbi.
Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Jodi Casey said the judge's decision to bring the rabbi to trial was exactly what the prosecution had expected.
''It's one step forward to getting this thing resolved,'' she said.
Casey said Marcovitz's case was similar to the sexual abuse scandal going on in the Catholic church.
''It's really not different,'' she said. ''The fact is he violated a trusting position.''
Bock said he feels confident going into trial.
''There are juries out there in Oklahoma County who are going to feel the same way we do,'' he said. ''Although this may have been from the girls' perspective an unwanted touching, there was nothing in a lewd or lascivious manner.''
He said the rabbi doesn't dispute that he touched the girls, but that it was not sexual in nature.
''Every man out there ought to be scared because it seems if you hug a person or you hug a girl, there's potential charges,'' Bock said.
A pre-trial hearing has been set for Aug. 7.
Each of the charges of lewd acts with a minor carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Each sexual battery charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.
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Rabbi Will Stand Trial in Sexual Battery Case
Los Angeles Times - July 4, 2002
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Rabbi Will Stand Trial in Sexual Battery Case
Los Angeles Times - July 4, 2002
A rabbi accused of groping two girls and two young women at a Jewish day school will stand trial on 11 criminal sex charges, a judge in Oklahoma City decided.
Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Deason said there was enough evidence to warrant a trial for Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65, who faces six charges of sexual battery and five counts of lewd acts with a minor.
Deason refused a motion by Marcovitz's attorney to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
An 18-year-old day-care worker testified that the rabbi put his hand on her thigh and buttocks numerous times from August 2001 to January 2002. A 10-year-old girl alleges the rabbi put his hands on her chest, above her breasts. A 13-year-old girl and a 28-year-old teacher testified they too had been inappropriately touched by the rabbi.
Marcovitz's lawyer said the rabbi doesn't dispute that he touched the girls but that it was not sexual in nature.
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Rabbi charged in sex crimes
By Michael A. Fuoco
Post-Gazette - July 9, 2002
A rabbi who presided over a Conservative congregation in East Liberty for 20 years will stand trial in Oklahoma City for sex crimes that prosecutors say occurred in his new synagogue's day-care facility.
Rabbi Richard Marcovitz, 65, who until 1996 headed the B'nai Israel congregation here, was held for court last week on six charges of sexual battery involving two adult women -- a teacher who was 26 and a day-care worker who was 17 at the time -- and five counts of indecent or lewd acts with two girls who were minors.
Marcovitz, who has been free on $80,000 bond since his arrest in February, has taken a paid leave from the Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City, where he served as rabbi. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between August 2000 and May 2001 at the Oklahoma City Jewish Day School, which is housed in the Emanuel Synagogue.
Marcovitz left Pittsburgh for Oklahoma after the 92-year-old Conservative congregation he headed for two decades completed its merger with the former Beth Jacob Congregation of New Kensington. The newly merged congregation, named Adat Shalom B'nai Israel Beth Jacob Congregation, is in Fox Chapel.
Linda Levine, former B'nai Israel president and a board member of the merged congregation, recalled that Marcovitz decided not to stay on because as a Conservative rabbi, he refused to drive on the Sabbath and would have to do so to get to the new synagogue from his East Liberty home.
That was the last she heard of him -- until she learned of the charges that had been lodged against him.
"I'm saddened by it," she said yesterday. "I had never known Rabbi Marcovitz to do anything inappropriate in all the years he served as our rabbi."
Marcovitz's attorney, Billy Bock, said yesterday that his client had done nothing inappropriate at all.
"We won't be able to overcome that there were hugs and that sort of thing, but there never was anything inappropriate, never anything sexual in nature," Bock said.
"It's been devastating to him. ... Although he feels better after confronting some of the witnesses in court and seeing their stories change, he's learning the criminal justice system from a side of the table where he never thought [he'd be].
"He's in a difficult position, but we believe the truth will come out and he will be vindicated."
Marcovitz was named to Pittsburgh's 15-member Human Relations Commission by former Mayor Sophie Masloff, but was replaced along with four other members by Mayor Murphy in April 1994, shortly after he took office. The commission looks into complaints of bias in housing, jobs and other matters.
In 1991, Marcovitz received a doctor of divinity degree from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Rabbi Pleads Guilty To Touching Students
KOCA News -
OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma City rabbi accused of inappropriately touching students and workers at a Jewish school pleaded guilty Tuesday, Eyewitness News 5 reported.
Under the terms of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Rabbi Richard Marcovitz will face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, plus 15 years probation.
If Marcovitz completes a sexual offender rehabilitation program behind bars, however, he could be released from state custody in 12 to 18 months. He can never again work in a synagogue or teach children.
"Anytime you have a settlement that both sides are upset about, then it's probably a pretty good resolution," Marcovitz attorney Billy Bock said. "I wouldn't say it's a great day for us and I wouldn't say it was a great day for the state, but it's probably a fair resolution."
Marcovitz's decision to plead guilty came one day after a judge ruled that jurors could hear evidence that he inappropriately touched his female students while working in Pennsylvania in the 1960s.
Prosecutors said they also have court documents that show Marcovitz fondled a 10-year-old girl visiting his home in Palm Beach, Fla., in 1994.
The rabbi faced five counts of indecent or lewd acts with two girls, ages 12 and 9. The teacher and a 17-year-old after-care worker are named in six counts of sexual battery filed against Marcovitz.
The students were attending the Jewish Community Day School in Oklahoma City when they say they were sexually assaulted.
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Rabbi pleads guilty
By The Associated Press - March 25, 2003
A rabbi pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges that he groped two female employees of a religious school and two girls who attended classes there. Richard Marcovitz, 66, agreed to a 20-year sentence, five of which must be served in prison, said Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Steve Deutsch. Marcovitz will be on probation for the balance of his sentence.
The length of Marcovitz's prison time can be reduced if he successfully completes a sex offender program, Deutsch said.
Marcovitz pleaded guilty to 11 counts before state District Judge Twyla Mason Gray. Jury selection for the rabbi's trial had been scheduled to begin Tuesday.
The rabbi faced five counts of indecent or lewd acts with two girls, ages 12 and 9. Six counts of sexual battery were filed against Marcovitz in connection with allegations involving a teacher and a 17-year-old aftercare worker.
Marcovitz has been on paid leave from Emanuel Synagogue.
The incidents occurred between August 2000 and May 2001 at the Solomon Schechter Academy, also called the Oklahoma City Jewish Day School. The school was based at the synagogue, but is no longer in operation.
On Monday, Gray ruled that Marcovitz's jurors could hear allegations that he has been inappropriately touching young girls for 40 years.
Gray ruled that jurors could hear evidence that Marcovitz inappropriately touched female students while working in Pennsylvania in the 1960s.
Prosecutors said they also have court documents that show Marcovitz fondled a 10-year-old girl visiting his home in Palm Beach, Fla., in 1994. No charges were ever filed over those incidents.
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Rabbi admits inappropriate acts
By Diana Baldwin
The Oklahoman - March 26, 2003
Rabbi Richard M. Marcovitz decided to plead guilty Tuesday to inappropriately touching two students, a teacher and an after-care worker at an Oklahoma City Jewish school after a judge ruled evidence about the same kind of behavior over the last 40 years could be heard at his jury trial. The Emanuel Synagogue rabbi was sentenced to prison for five years and ordered to attend a sex offender treatment program.
Oklahoma County District Judge Twyla Mason Gray said Marcovitz could be released earlier after he completes the sex offender program.
He was given five 20-year sentences with all but five years suspended for his convictions for indecent or lewd acts with a child under 16, and six five-year sentences for the sexual battery convictions. The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Marcovitz, 66, pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts of inappropriately touching two students and two employees of the Jewish Community Day School.
The judge ruled Marcovitz cannot take another rabbinic position at a synagogue or teach children in any capacity. He will have to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.
Marcovitz decided late Monday to plead guilty after the judge ruled prosecutors could call four girls and one of their mothers to testify about what they said the rabbi did to them.
Defense attorney Billy Bock said: "Based on the ruling yesterday, he had to reassess his situation. At some point, you have to take your money off the roulette table. He didn't want to die in prison. Now, he's in control of his future."
Assistant District Attorneys Joel-lyn McCormick and Steve Deutsch said they have evidence that in 1962, when Marcovitz was in Elkins Park, Penn., he put his hand down the shirt of a 12-year-old student studying with the rabbi for her bas mitzvah. The girl said the rabbi continued the conduct on a daily basis for about two months.
In Pottsville, Pa., between Jan. 1, 1966, and Dec. 31, 1967, Marcovitz fondled the private parts of a 10-year-old girl, according to court records.
During the summer of 1994 in Palm Beach, Fla., Marcovitz fondled another 10-year-old girl -- a friend of the defendant's daughter who was visiting in his home, according to court records. The girl said Marcovitz rubbed her private area underneath bedcovers on multiple occasions, documents show.
The girl called her parents and wanted to go home early, according to court records. Her mother said when she met her daughter at the airport, she started crying and explained what had happened in Florida, records state.
In Oklahoma County between Jan. 1, 1998, and Feb. 24, 2001, Marcovitz committed indecent and lewd acts with a child under the age of 16 by touching the student's buttocks and rubbing her back underneath her clothes while making comments that she was sexy, according to documents. She was attending classes with the defendant for bas mitzvah, according to court records.
During his sentencing, Marcovitz complained he was lightheaded and needed to sit down because it would be easier to answer the judge's questions.
"I'm sorry for any pain I caused any of those people," Marcovitz said. "There was no malice on my part on committing these things. In the future, I will attempt to be more sensitive. I feel very badly about what occurred."
The judge told the rabbi it was impossible for her to understand what he did.
"There is no doubt in my mind your attorneys did you a great service negotiating your plea," Gray said. "A jury would put you in prison for a long time."
Sharon Murphy, one of the rabbi's supporters, said the charges should have been thrown out.
"He doesn't have an evil bone in his body," said Murphy, who attended the synagogue for 18 years. "He spent his life trying to help people. They dug and dug and dug to get people to say things that some of them were lies. Even the lies were nothing."
Prosecutors said they were ready to go to trial, but were glad the victims wouldn't have to testify before a jury.
Deutsch said, "The office of district attorney takes an extremely dim view of anyone, especially anyone in a position of trust, who takes advantage of a child."
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Rabbi Named In New Lawsuit
Eyewitness News Oklahoma - April 3, 2003
OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma City rabbi is named in a civil lawsuit filed in Oklahoma County District Court. Rabbi Richard Marcovitz is listed in a lawsuit filed by a woman who attended his conversion classes. She says he made statements about his sexual fantasies.
The woman claims she suffered loss of self esteem, bodily injury, sexual molestation and humiliation.
Marcovitz was previously sentenced to prison for five years after pleading guilty on March 25th to inappropriately touching two students, a teacher and an after-care worker at an Oklahoma City Jewish school.
In February he was listed in civil lawsuits filed by the four victims.
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Rabbis Gone Bad
By Steven I. Weiss
JewsWeek - April 7, 2003
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Rabbis Gone Bad
By Steven I. Weiss
JewsWeek - April 7, 2003
Richard Marcovitz, Matis Weinberg, Baruch Lanner. The names of those rabbis recently accused or convicted of sexually abusing their students are, for some, an obsession, for others, barely worth noting. What rabbinic abuse means for the Jewish community is, at present, largely an open question. In recent years, the explosion of the Catholic clergy scandal alongside a number of well-reported instances of criminally abusive behavior by rabbis has focused a new attention on how the Jewish community should deal with its problem.
Exactly what is driving this period of discovery is hard to say. Whether abuse has actually increased in recent years, whether victims have become less wary of reporting violations, or whether a more concerted investigative effort is responsible, what is very clear is that the issue has become more prominent than at perhaps any other point in history. In a series of articles, this space will discuss all of these and many other possibilities and their consequences. It will introduce some specific cases, the major responses to abuse, a breakdown of how the various movements deal with abuse, and analysis of how the community -- and media in specific -- interact with the problem.
Cases of rabbinic abuse that have surfaced fall into three primary categories: those that have been dealt with exclusively by the community, those that have involved law enforcement in the matter, and those that have involved both. Each case is, in many ways, a test for each method of dealing with the problem, and each offers an understanding of how these situations may pan out in the future.
Jewsweek readers will be familiar with the case of Rabbi Baruch Lanner. Nearly three years ago, a local New York Jewish newspaper detailed accusations made against Baruch Lanner, declaring that he had abused teens throughout his three-decade involvement in the Orthodox youth group, NCSY. What followed was an intense investigation of the cover-ups and failures on the part of the Orthodox Union, NCSY's parent organization, as well as criminal charges that resulted in a seven-year sentence. The failure of the Orthodox Union, as well as the Jewish community generally, to respond to repeated allegations, was a primary focus of those involved with the case.
This summer, following Lanner's conviction, Jewsweek detailed several aspects of the case, including conflicts over how Lanner should be treated, as well as a revealing look at those who have continued to support Lanner even after his conviction. Lanner's case is unique because it involved efforts at enforcement both from the communal side and from law enforcement -- begging the question "Is the Lanner situation over?" This series of articles will find answers to that question.
Another recent case is that of Richard Marcovitz, who pleaded guilty last week to charges that he "groped two female employees of a religious school and two girls who attended classes," according to news reports. Marcovitz, 66, will be serving a twenty-year sentence. Marcovitz is one of a number of rabbis whose abusive behavior was dealt with directly and exclusively by law enforcement. What members of the community think of this approach and its effectiveness will be a part of upcoming articles.
Then there is Matis Weinberg, who is the most prominent case of communal self-enforcement. According to news reports, Weinberg was at Yeshivat Kerem in Santa Clara, California in the early 1980s when he was run out of town by Jewish authority Rabbi Elya Svei, following allegations of abuse. Also according to news reports, Svei ordered Weinberg to sign a letter guaranteeing that he would never again teach children.
Then this winter, a group of rabbis withdrew certification for an Israeli yeshiva where Weinberg had taught, following an investigation into his behavior. But the credibility of that investigation is already being challenged. Some stories about the case have served as little more than rebuttals from leaders at the yeshiva, or those representing Weinberg. Jewsweek has spoken with sources who have challenged outright the veracity of the investigation's findings, as well as some individuals involved with the actual investigation. The next article in this series will reveal the arguments and allegations on both sides, and examine how Weinberg's case affects the communal enforcement option.
At some level, of course, communal enforcement is the only option. Even when Megan's Law is applicable, the community is still responsible for deciding whether and how to let a convicted pedophile rejoin the community and possibly retain a clergy position. And what of rabbinic misconduct generally? Can a convicted embezzler return to a position of authority? What about someone convicted of possessing child pornography, as Rabbi Juda Mintz was last week in New Jersey? Or someone who contracts a murder, like Rabbi Fred Neulander, who was convicted this summer? What about someone against whom there have been serious allegations, but no conviction? All of these choices have to be made by the community, as American law is neutral on the matter.
Moving forward, the possibility that communal self-enforcement can go too far, excluding people for conduct that is not objectively criminal or harmful, but is judged to be so by those empowered to make the decision. This, allege Weinberg's defenders, is what happened to their friend and teacher when he utilized unorthodox methods of teaching. Can a policy of communal enforcement allow, rather ironically, those with the power to make such decision capable of abusing it? What kind of checks can be made to ensure that individuals are not blacklisted for the wrong reasons?
Beyond the questions of who, how, and why in dealing with abusive rabbis, is the question of how the laity can involve itself. Lanner's case, for example, would not even have seen daylight had it not been for the reporting of Gary Rosenblatt in New York's Jewish Week, and it is an absolute fact that almost all of the names of rabbis already mentioned, as well as those names to come, would simply not be part of this article if they hadn't been reported. Media ethics questions necessarily follow if media is going to serve not just to ring the alarm bells, but as enforcers as well. Just as important, though, is for the media to pursue stories aggressively. Later on in this series will come a presentation on how long it usually takes for allegations to surface in the media or elsewhere, and a discussion of whether the media can be more pro-active in these matters.
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Oklahoma Department of Corrections
Case of Rabbi Richard Marcovitz - update
Information as to convictions, release date (search by name):
Name: RICHARD M MARCOVITZ
ODOC#: 443608
FBI#: 156254AC4
OSBI#: 1306884
Birth Date: 03/14/1937
Appearance : White Male; age 66; 5 ft. 10 in. tall; 154 pounds; Brown hair; Hazel eyes
Body Marks EYE: DEF WEARS GLASSES LEG: SCAR R UPP
Sentence
CRF# County Offense Conviction Term Term Code Start End
2002-1066 OKLA Sexual Battery 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 09/20/2007
2002-1066 OKLA Sexual Battery 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 09/20/2007
2002-1066 OKLA Sexual Battery 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 09/20/2007
2002-1066 OKLA Sexual Battery 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 09/20/2007
2002-1066 OKLA Sexual Battery 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 09/20/2007
2002-1066 OKLA Sexual Battery 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 09/20/2007
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 15Y 0M 0D PROB 03/25/2003 03/24/2023
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 03/22/2008
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 15Y 0M 0D PROB 03/25/2003 03/24/2023
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 15Y 0M 0D PROB 03/25/2003 03/24/2023
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 15Y 0M 0D PROB 03/25/2003 03/24/2023
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 03/22/2008
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 03/22/2008
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 03/22/2008
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 15Y 0M 0D PROB 03/25/2003 03/24/2023
2002-1066 OKLA Indecent Or Lewd Acts With A Child Under 16 (Split) 03/25/2003 5Y 0M 0D INC 03/26/2003 03/22/2008
Facility
Current Facility Phone# Reception Date Discharge Date Parole Hearing Date
John Lilley Correctional Center, Boley (918) 667-3381 03/26/2003 05/2007
Address City State Zip Contact
P.O. Box 1908 Boley OK 74829-0308 Glynn Booher, Warden
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National Sex Offender Registry
Feb. 4, 2006
Registry: http://www.nsopr.gov
Sex Offender
Date of Photo:04-08-2005
Richard Marcovitz
Alias: Richard M Marcovitz
Status: Supervision
Department of Corrections #: D18560 Date of Birth: 03-14-1937
Race: White Sex: Male Height: 6' 00"
Hair: Grey Eyes: Hazel Weight: 180 lbs.
Scars, Mark, Tasttoos: Scar Groin:3 R. Side, Hernia;
Last Reported Address: 14879 Sunnyview Ln, Delray Beach, FL 33484-8422
County: Palm Beach
Date Address Entered: 04-12-2005
Qualifying Offense(s): Lewd,Lascivious Child U/16 (Principal). Sex Bat/Inj Not Likely (Principal)
Victim(s): Gender: Unknown ; Minor? Yes
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Florida Sex Offender Registry
March 14, 2013
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Pennsylvania Sex Offender Registry
September 30, 2013
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National Sex Offender Registry
January 22, 2014
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Historic Pittsburg Image Collection
About Congregation B'nai Israel
January 22, 2014When Jews moved into the neighborhoods of Highland Park and East Liberty in the East End area of Pittsburgh, groups began holding religious services in homes. In 1911, one such group was chartered as B'nai Israel Congregation.
As membership increased, the congregation moved into various rented facilities. In 1920, the congregation moved into a mansion on Highland Avenue, which held the offices, library, classrooms and meeting rooms. Sabbath services were held in a building on Collins Avenue, and larger events, such as High Holiday services and weddings, were held in the Pershing Theatre or in the Rittenhouse Ballroom on Highland Avenue. Throughout this early period, members of the congregation raised funds to acquire a permanent building.
In 1920, the congregation purchased land with two existing structures at 327 North Negley Avenue. Ground was broken for the construction of the sanctuary, in 1922. The building was designed by Henry Hornbostel, Alexander Sharove, and Philip Friedman in a Byzantine style. Prior to construction, the congregation used the two existing buildings on this land as gathering places and offices. A building, called "the barn," was used as a social hall; and a building behind the main sanctuary, referred to as "the mansion," housed a chapel, offices and classrooms. Although the construction was not yet complete, the sanctuary was first used for High Holiday services in 1924.
Initially, members followed Orthodox customs. Rabbi Benjamin Lichter was hired as the congregation's rabbi in 1920. Under his leadership the congregation affiliated with the Conservative movement. In 1922, the congregation joined the United Synagogues of America. Preferring to follow Orthodox traditions, some members withdrew from B'nai Israel and established Adath Jeshurun Congregation in the same neighborhood.
During the 1930s and 1940s, the congregation was affected by the scarcity of resources caused by the Great Depression and World War II. After the war ended, the neighborhoods in the East End area of Pittsburgh experienced a population boom. The resulting increase in membership enabled the congregation to build an attached community center, which was dedicated in 1953. The new center housed classrooms, a chapel, offices and a new social hall.
The congregation's growth in membership peaked in the early 1950s. By the 1970s growth in membership had all but ceased. After the installation of stained glass windows designed by Jean Jacques Duval, in 1964, the congregation did not undertake any large construction or improvement projects.
In the 1990s, the opportunity arose to merge with another congregation, Beth Jacob of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, to found Adat Shalom Congregation in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. On the weekend of June 30, 1995, the B'nai Israel congregation held a formal closing ceremony at the synagogue.
Five rabbis had served the congregation: Rabbi Benjamin Lichter, Rabbi Seymour Cohen, Rabbi Mordecai Chertoff, Rabbi Jack Shechter, and Rabbi Richard Marcovitz. Rabbi Lichter was hired as head rabbi in 1920, and, in 1956, he was elected to the position of Rabbi Emeritus, which he held until his sudden death in 1963. In 1956, Rabbi Cohen was installed as head rabbi, a position he held until 1961. Rabbi Chertoff replaced Rabbi Cohen and remained with the congregation until 1966. Rabbi Shechter was installed in 1967 and remained with the congregation until 1976. Rabbi Marcovitz was hired by the congregation in 1976 and remained until 1996.
Two cantors served the congregation: Julius Bloom and Mordecai Heiser. Hazan Bloom was hired by the congregation in 1924 and served until his death in 1942. Cantor Heiser was hired in 1942 and served until his death in 1989. Cantor Mordecai Haalman also served the congregation between 1961, when he was hired, and the 1980s.
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"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
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