By COLlive reporter
A rabbinical group called the Halachic Advisory Board has released a statement following a speech by Simi Yarmush, a California resident who accused rabbis for not aiding her when she came forward about being abused at a young age.
Members of this group include Rabbi Avrohom Union, Dayan and Menahel of the Beth Din of the Rabbinical Council of California (RCC); Rabbi Gershon Bess, Rov of Congregation Kehilas Yaakov in Los Angeles; Rabbi Yosef Shusterman, Rov of Chabad of Beverly Hills in California; and Rabbi Berish Goldenberg, Chairman of Family Commission at RCC and Principal at Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn Academy in Los Angeles.
Here is their statement in full:
We have reflected in recent days on the story of a brave and valiant young woman who has shared her story with the public.
What happened to her happens all too often. Sadly it will happen again. During the course of the dialogue surrounding her message, many questions have been raised. Because of legal restrictions and a code of conduct on disclosure practiced by the professionals involved in this area, we cannot discuss the particulars of this situation.
Nevertheless, as a community that cares deeply about taking action against sexual abuse and providing assistance and comfort to their victims, we believe it is useful to provide to the public an outline of our protocols and procedures that are now and have long been in place regarding this subject.
We are in constant contact with local authorities and experts in the field and upgrade our protocols when necessary. A review of the attached flowchart will enlighten the public to the model we’ve developed and hopefully promote a thoughtful dialogue to improve the public’s awareness and assistance in tragic matters such as these (COLlive note: The document was not provided for publication).
Who is the Halachic Advisory Board?
In 2001, in response to three horrific instances of sexual abuse in our community, the Halachic Advisory Board (HAB), a group consisting of Rabbinic leaders representing the broader Orthodox Jewish community, made a groundbreaking decision.
Since their inception, they have sensitively provided support, security and resources to victims of abuse. They have undergone numerous training sessions from experts in the field and have trained groups around the country. In situations where victims of abuse were unable to be protected by law enforcement, the Halachic Advisory Board continued its work to find ways to protect victims, families and communities.
The Halachic Advisory Board would quite literally go beyond the letter of the law, to protect victims, families and communities.
Why would a victim not be protected by law enforcement?
In many circumstances including where mandated by law, cases brought to the Halachic Advisory Board are directed to legal authorities as appropriate and/or required by law. In order for authorities to protect a victim or prosecute an offender – charges must be filed.
If a family chooses not to file a police report, there is nothing law enforcement can do to help them. If an act is not legally deemed criminal, there is nothing law enforcement can do to keep someone from causing more harm.
Is anything done to protect a victim who cannot or will not make a report?
The Halachic Advisory Board offers assistance and support in situations to people when law enforcement cannot. In these situations:
· The Offender must agree to engage in a comprehensive sex offender evaluation from a credentialed agency.
· The Offender must sign a release so sex offender evaluation and treatment recommendations of the experts are provided to the Halachic Advisory Board Team.
· Any recommendations provided by the experts involved are facilitated by the Halachic Advisory Board so that there is compliance and follow up with all treatment and other recommendations.
What are the legal issues involved?
In a nutshell, these cases involve various legal principles, some of which conflict:
Most States, and especially California, have detailed laws surrounding a privilege of confidentiality that arises out of the physician-patient, psychotherapist-patient, and rabbi-congregant relationship.
In some situations, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules apply. In addition, licensing Boards are very protective of patients. Interestingly, these protections not only obviously apply to abuse victims; they may also serve to protect abusers. Abusers may also insist on confidentiality as a condition to submitting to analysis and treatment.
In circumstances where the victim insists, for understandable reasons, on secrecy and identity protection, the Federal and State constitutions provide protection to Offenders (called the right of confrontation). This right effectively prevents the Police, Rabbonim and all others from accusing the alleged Offender. The Offender must have the right to face his/her accuser and the right to challenge the allegations.
· State slander and libel laws make an accuser liable for compensatory claims if they cannot prove the truth of the accusation. Such proof of truth becomes impossible where the identity of the abused must be protected and not be disclosed or where the accuser does not know the identity of the abused.
The Halachic Advisory Board has achieved extraordinary success over the decades in combating abuse. Those of us who are and have been involved everyday with these significant, heart wrenching issues have devoted our lives to helping people rebuild after abuse occurs. Working together with authorities and experts of all segments of the community, as well as using our contacts nationally and internationally, we can prevent abuse and create a safer environment for all of us.
Testimonial from Paul Bishop, Supervisor (currently retired) of the LAPD West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail:
“As the supervisor in charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operation West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail, I have interacted with the rabbinical council on a number of occasions regarding allegations of sexual abuse brought to their attention by those they serve.
“I always found them to be anxious to seek proper guidance and willing to follow through on a discussed and suggested course of action. They were always open and concerned with doing the right thing, never holding back information or shying away from difficult situations, even if moving beyond their comfort zone in order to provide the best resolution to a situation.
“It is rare to find this kind of ongoing relationship of mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and a religious hierarchy. I was both personally honored and professionally privileged to work with these fine individuals.”
This means, if you have been injured and have been in a state of Injury for twenty years or so and the “Son-on-a-gun(s)” are still alive and kicking….you could address these who have enriched upon the misery of young person in this manner. Colour of Law Violations and the Federal Mandate System that continues to be disregarded because of lower authority prejudice and poor training: this means court personnel and civil servants and officers of the law who violate a person or child’s civil and federal rights. By blocking human beings from the Justice System endangers all communities and the… Read more »
She is so brave to come out with this not only about the rabbis but most importantly about the community response. They seem more interested in keeping up appearances (and donations) than protecting other possible victims – disgusting.
That’s the same reason the victim and JCW didn’t mention his name…
He is not a official chabad rabbi, he opened his own organization.
It’s funny how people are still commenting and still not getting their facts straight.
The absuser was never given another community under chabad. he opened his own independent organization.
Why wasn’t the community notified? Because then he would sue the rabbis for defamation.
Still don’t get it??
If chabad is still allowing this “rabbi” who molested girls to run a shul and work in the community – this halachic advisory is meaningless! This dude is still running free and probably abusing other girls right now! First things first – fire him from his role as a chabad rabbi!
The Good O’l Boys have made their position loud and clear.
Vomit!
The parents were told by the Rabbi that “they had no moral, legal, ethical or Halachik reason to say anything about the abuse to anybody”
No one can say for sure what happened unless they were there. Those who know the parties involved can say for certain he was indeed sent to another community where there are children. His generous benefactors were not informed of his crimes until the very recently. When he did finally the leave that community for interpersonal issues he went to another community with children to start his own Mossad. This community closer to home he knew of his issues related to children but not of his specific crimes. The bottom line is that this response from that Los Angeles Rabbeim… Read more »
It doesnt matter if the rabbis told her to go to the police or not.
It all boils down to them not properly looking after him. He opened a shul with classes for children – easy access to many more children to abuse. The Rabbonim failed to notify communities of the child molestor in their midst. To all you defending the rabbis, think twice.
Police or not to go the police, that is the only question?
1. The rabbis told the family to go to the police, the family refused.
2. Several people accuse the rabbis of sending the perpetrator to another position, this was not the case. He did not get another job somewhere, he started his own mossad.
Anyone who can even think for a second that the Rabbis are to blame is definitely misinformed. How do you judge a Respected Rav who has put his heart and soul into helping anash worlswide? How do you believe these facts when you only hear one side? How do you respect what jcw says before a Rav who thousands to turn to and respect on every matter of life? Someone who can’t respect and trust a Rav, where is all of your yiddishkeit? How can you be a frum yid if you can’t trust one of our most respected Rabbonim.… Read more »
Don’t blame meyer or sima, they are both young and healing from unspeakable trauma. I’m the first to say that jcw has made many mistakes. Even as an avid supporter, they definitely have had cringe worthy moments that might put them a few steps back. But don’t forget meyer has been the one. The only ONE who has taken action. I don’t see any other rabbi stepping in and taking over jcw. Better yet, let someone make their own organization. Unfortunately there’s plenty of cases to go around. If you don’t like how jcw operate. Please do us all a… Read more »
JCW has a board made up of frum professionals who’ve been in this field for years. Who are YOU? Bashing JCW,doesn’t take away from the fact that a big name was protected and stop making it try to seem that Sima didn’t speak her OWN MIND.
Saddest part to me is that JCW is affecting change more than our own Rabonim. M. Seewald is not a leader, yet when needed he stepped into a role much bigger than he can possibly be.
Why weren’t our Rabonim ahead of this and could’ve prevented so much damage. In the long run people lose respect for leaders who only go after areas that are easy do well paid. One would think when it comes to child safety in our own communities, our leaders would lead instead of a bunch of lay people fighting this battle.
1. The reason the victim was sitting behind the mechitza was at HER request so as not to be seen. The way she told it over was a gross misrepresentation of the facts.;
2. The Rabbis actually introduced the family to the police. They were informed by the Rabbis and the police that without the police’s involvement there is little that can be done. They cannot name the accuser if the police are not involved.
Again a gross misrepresentation of facts,
From first hand experience
Back in the day, the Rabbonim were leaders that took responsibility for the community that were engaging them with Shalos and they would follow up with their pupils on how things were coming along. Today the majority of Chabad Rabbonim are Poskim; meaning they would provide the community with the Das Torah on the question set forth and that is it, not taking responability for the issue at hand. We need to start calling our Rabbonim Posek/Poskim vs Rov Rabbonim, thus the expectation set forth would be correct. In this situation, it gets a bit murky being that the Poskim… Read more »
I am ashamed and saddened that I live in LA and that these four rabbis have let down sima and squashed her pleas. Hashem is the ultimate Judge. He will allocate judgements as fit.
I actually spoke to one of the Rabbis. He told me:
1. The victim requested the mechitza so that she would not be recognized.
2. The Rabbis actually brought them to the police. However the family refused to press charges because of shiduchim. The Rabbis and police told them that it is difficult to help them without pressing charges.
They refused. So how does she say that the Rabbis told her not press charges when the opposite is true?
Call Simi or her parents and ask them! That was the way Rabbis operated in those days… Times have changed though. It’s time for them to simply apologize instead of digging in and emphatically defending their past behavior. If they don’t and nothing changes, then we are not progressing and learning and improving. Why don’t they just admit mistakes were made and things need to change?!?!
I am soo tired of this bashing of R Shusterman Chabad is so lucky that there is ONE and i repeat ONE Rabbi that is always willing to answer Halchos and cares every day about Lubavitch all over the world- that no one pays him for and I am sure he never gets the proper gratitude- SHAME ON YOU who passed judgement on this G-d fearing Rabbi – and are trying to continue to pull this on and shlep it forward.. Even if he was wrong ..which its clear he wasnt – why dont you incriminate every Dr who 15… Read more »
No one made Sima stand up and say the truth. Perhaps it’s obvious to you and other relatives that everything was done right back then but it wasn’t. Rabbi Levitansky senior was a very beloved man who was very ill at the time and so people were trying to protect him.
Please,I beg you,contact JCW regarding this abuser! We’ve got to protect our children!
You guys have no clue how amazing these Rabbis are, you are sitting in NY just writing disgusting things and you don’t know exactly what’s going on. I don’t either, but I doubt for a second that one of our rabbis would make any mistakes like you think.
Now #18, you should stick to a different Hobey because your comments are really not nice and you have no idea what’s flying, maybe go learn some Tanya and something about Ahvas yisroel which most of you don’t seem to have!
Could not agree more. Jcw definitely started with good intention but is now an organization run completely based on emotion. Just like the liberal leftist media it will use public platforms to attack people that they feel (not think) has wronged the people. Listen up the people are fine with leaders that the people chose and trust on matters of life and death. We don’t need people with their own agenda attacking and even manipulating victims to atack rabbis. Rabbis are what make the jewish people and it would be in your best interest to stand up for the right… Read more »
The Rabbis don’t have to DEFEND themselves. They did nothing wrong. They are not trying to defend themselves. The Rabbis DID tell her to go to the police. She said herself that she did not want to go because it would ruin her chances of a good shidduch. There was a mechitza there – she clearly said that – because she insisted in remaining anonymous. Then she goes and blames the Rabbis for not calling her once to see how she was doing… um… there’s something wrong with that…. The rabbis begged her to go to the police. No rabbi… Read more »
In this case the RABBIS helped the ABUSER and JCW helped the VICTIM. Everyone on this thread, Whos side are you on, Who do you choose to protect? The rabbis sending him to another community instead of ensuring he has no role as a rabbi shows who they chose to PROTECT MORE!
Friends….it is clwae that most of the posters here are very very insulated in the heimishe world (BH)…because many of you keeo defending their actions However, IN THE REAL WORLD, if any of these men on the Halachic Advisory Board worked for Los Angeles Unified School District or if they worked for the city or county or government or even law enforcement in some capacity THEY WOULD ALL BE TERMINATED OR FORCED TO RESIGN as a result of this mess…end of discussion…the goyish news media would pick it up and then run with the story and they would all be… Read more »
Now Rabbonim are issuing directives to go directly to police. Until now victims were pressured to keep away from goyish justice systems and not mosser the abusers.
I’m sure Sima and her family would handle things differently now. I hope the Rabbonim would too.
Finally, what unnerved me is that the abusers have rights to face their accusers. How scary for the victims to have to be forced to do that, panim to panim.
Continueing to abusethe victim. Sick!!
JCW has revictimized the victim. Shame on the JCW! Instead of advocating for victims and protecting our children they have an agenda to destroy communities who did everything right. It is now obvious that the LA rabbis did everything right at that time, continue to do so and follow the law. By making this poor woman get up there and say half truths and leave out key parts of the story the JCW has done a great disservice to victims and potential victims (R”L) and has set back their cause significantly. Mark my words… we will soon see the JCW… Read more »
Since when does a victim of one crime have the right to commit another crime.
she was bullied by the bullies to serve their own agenda. they are not completeley committed to protectecting our children at all. They first want to take down All their Rabbbis they are angry with. Thank You rabbi Shusterman for being the most amazing Rov.
In fact, the rabbis told her over and over again to go to the police. It was HER OWN CHOICE to not go to the police.
Listing protocols is a slight of hand. 1. We have no idea when they were established. 2. We have no idea if they are or were actually followed. (I have stated protocols in life that I rarely live up to). 3. Does not address this case at all…… Further, if the Protocals were real the committee should have been at the speach showing support, not trying to stop the event or at least pressuring rabbis not to attend (at least one of the members of the committee tried to do this).
From my first hand personal experience if you go to the Rabbonim They do not help, they just want you to go away and stop talking about it. Then if you go to the police the community and its Rabbonim come out against you and if and when the abuser is convicted and sent to prison the Rabbonim come out against the whole family of the victim and as I found that I have been put in an unofficial cherim. That is all fact, and while this is all going on the community and its Rabbonim do go full out… Read more »
The “rabbis” failed to notify the sherman oaks community about this preditor, covring up for the molester.
These rabbis should not stand on board and deal with any type of abuse.
clearly we need rabbis who follow the law, back up the victim, and encourage them to do what needs to be done to protect others. These rabbis didn’t do that, proof is in the pudding.
Siyug lchochma shticka.. seriously
Now you see why the victim suffers twice
god forbid anyone starts with my kids i go sstraight to the police! !!!very simple!nothing to do with rabbis! end of story!
The letter is really just another smack in the face too the victim
To begin with I don’t get how YICHUD and shalom levitanski didn’t raise eye brows.
Let’s move on to a different subject please . Honestly sick and tired of all this abuse talk ( and I was abused too)!
If all of the above is true then I do not understand how it was possible for three of my highschool friends between the years of 1988-1991 to have been abused and manipulated by Rabbis in the community. One if these two friends had been approached and groomed by her abuser at the age of ten. This relationship escalated until my friend was 18 and literally moved out if state. Two of these friends were pursued by their respective abusers post high-school. I had approached one of the Rabbi’s mentioned in the HALACHIC Council. In addition, the friend that had… Read more »
I’m not understanding the point of this article. Would love an explanation.
The Halachic Advisory Board worked in conjunction and under the auspices of Aleinu and Debbie Fox…Interestingly, neither are mentioned at all in the response. Why not? Hmmmm…it seems that there is much more to this story that is not being disclosed as we all know at this point that both Aleinu and Debbie Fox were directly involved.
I’d like to know more… What do they do to help victims?
What do they do to ensure that the predators don’t hurt others?
Why didn’t they warn the community that he moved to that they had a predator in their midst?
Don’t they have an obligation to ensure that others aren’t hurt by the predator that comes to their attention?
How can they say “Sadly it will happen again.” and not be doing something so that it shouldn’t?!
Do they think that what they did in Simi’s case is enough?
Are they justifying what they did/didn’t do?
Finally the truth is told. Belief in our Rabonim is reinforced. Thank you. Thank you.
RABBI SHUSTERMAN MUST MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT. THIS DOES NOT EXPLAIN IN ANYWAY WHY THE CHOICE TO TELL THIS FAMILY NO TO GO TO THE AUTHORITIES WAS DECIDED UPON.
Thank you for protecting our community.
I was somewhat disturbed when the survivor bashed the Rabbi’s, I appreciate shedding light on this issue!
But, unfortunately, this video set back the cause of protecting children from abuse. The survivor, as many have already said, deserves our sympathy – no one should ever have to suffer what she suffered. But her speech, although the truth, was not the whole truth. She misrepresented and maligned individuals who are, in fact, those who advocate strongly and passionately for protecting children. It’s too bad that the rabbis she refers to can’t refute some of her assertions. It’s too bad that she had an opportunity to let people know about the horrors of molestation, and used it instead to… Read more »
Just one correction, with deep respect to the esteemed Rabbonim sheyichyu:
Chas vesholom, it should never, ever happen again…
As the Rebbe said regarding the holocaust: לא תקום פעמיים צרה!
Only besuros tovos and true Refua for the victims beezras Hashem!
Talk talk talk. When is action???
How did the RCC allow the offender ti get another job as a rabbi in California?
Why did they not let it be known that that man had abused young girls?!
So they are defending themselves, without offering a word of apology to a victim who felt she was wronged by them after going to them for help. Before talking about their policies, which sound extremely vague and not reassuring at all, I think it’s important for them to first appologize for what happened. people want to hear, bottom line, will they make sure an offender does not have access to kids?! To me that’s what it boils down to. If an offender is know, all precautions need to be taken to ensure that he is not in a position to… Read more »
How to say a lot without saying anything!
Tachlus: Does the Halacha Advisory Board permit an abused person to go straight to the police, YES OR NO!
Rabbi Shusterman didn’t even want the name of the abuser to be named by the victim in front of his board.
Rabbi Shusterman told the victims parents that they have no moral, halachic, etc. claim against the Abuser.
This board should never have relocated Rabbi Abuser Levitansky to other Jewish Communities with children to be preyed upon. Maybe this board should have stood by and supported the victim and her family in their local community.
No support, just silence.
Its like they never heard Sima’s speach. It for sure deserves better than this canned response. That still blames the victim.
Sad!!
EXSACTLY!! If you want to protect urseof and not go to police ain’t nothing none can do about it… Dont complain later on….
What a bunch of nonsense they wrote.
All they had to do is apologize and say they were wrong, that they should have gone directly the police.
Although I feel terrible for what happened to her, asking the rabbis to notify the community would be illegal. The only real option was for Sima to press charges and she didn’t. I can’t fault her for that, but that was really the only legal option available at the time.
it would be nice to see some recognitation of the disgasting “mistakes” you made. Just go to the police people!
I support Rabbi Shusterman 100%!!
Thank you for clarifying
because I’m pretty sure they didnt do this with Simi: “Since their inception, they have sensitively provided support, security and resources to victims of abuse. ” She clearly expalins that non of them have even contacted her to see hwo she was doing, nor did they give her any resources to help herself, nor any updates aboutt heir case, or process, to make her feel secure in her decision.
“They have undergone numerous training sessions from experts in the field and have trained groups around the country.” clearly, may not have been enough….
Thank you for clarifying your honorable record. We commend you for all your difficult work and sensitivity. I am sorry that there was such dishonor, and disrespect to the rabonim. I hope that col will be more careful about providing a platform for lashon harsh and motza Shem ra . They have a responsibility to the public,and the community.
Only after a public confrontation between an alleged victim and the responsible authorities, do these authorities react? What is wrong with preemptive measures? I wager that if no victim ever spoke out, the responsible authorities would continue to keep silent out of concern for outwards appearances. I wish we had a Rebbe who would speak out against such anti-Torah arguments. To determine that publicly sharing a bad experience seems to be the only way to get a decent response is heartbreaking.
These protocols themselves are the problem. It says we know it, but it hasn’t been proven in court, so will not do anything about it. We will not warn people, we will not let the community know. You’re on your own. They’ll take the abuser, send him to “therapy.” So what purpose do they serve? Essential Judaism is: we protect our children. The HAB is not protecting our children. Their protocols themselves say that they shouldn’t exist because they’re useless. “We are protecting ourselves from a lawsuit; that is more important to us than the safety of your children.” It… Read more »
what a lame statement. dumb.
Literally, they released a load of hooey erev pesach, knowing a response will be limited. Secondly, they failed to apologize to Sima, to reach out to Sima or to acknowledge any wrongdoing. What a shame.
if only Sima would have filled charges. Sima said she was behind a Mechitza in her interactions with the rabbis. That means that had no clue who she was and couldn’t get a call from them to get more information, or find out how she was doing. Why she turned on the rabbis. …. turn to JCW fur answers.
The Rabbonim did everything in so many cases. A shame this case was blown out of proportion by JCW.
Sima is now a victim twice.
Rabbi Tauber and Rabbi Schochet know how to put abuse where it belongs rather than being bought off or being polticaly correct.We are in golus because of these Rabbis who follow the ways of what they call order. SAD INDEED!!!
That is no reason why the Rabbis shouldn’t show their support. One Rabbi helped Sima’s abuser and even told her parents not to tell the communtiy the real reason why her abuser left. The Rabbis didn’t warn anyone!!! Quite the opposite, they tried to keep it quiet. How do you explain that??? The reason for remaining quiet? You know how many dangerous situations can be prevented.
If this will help for the future then Mrs. Yarmush has already accomplished a lot. Chag Sameach
I am glad of the committee decided to come forward with the response to the issues raised. This statement is a little self-serving without addressing any of the key issues that were brought up.
A Chag Kosher v’samech
Concerned member of Anash in LA
Sima, you owe a public apology to Rabbi Shusterman,
Rabbi Union, Rabbi Bess, and Rabbi Goldenberg, who clearly sent you to the police (Bishop). When you refused to press charges, they begged you to.
To come 10 years later and blame them just shows on your lack of integrity. We all know the magnitude of lashon hara….
What you did was a total Chilul Hashem. Hashem does not remain a baal chov….
Shame on those that disrespected our rabbis, especially rabbis that took a position on this matter way before others that have positions today,
כבוד התורה
Kol hacovod,to the Rabbis in LA, I knew I can trust them. Thanks for clarifying.
Thank you for this insight and information.
We still don’t know how they handled or dealt with this situation.
I’m very happy the LA Rabbi’s didn’t stoop to the lowly and unprofessional level of JCW by responding (now) in public to a specific case but is informing the public about the complexities of what could and can’t be done when a alleged victim doesn’t go to the authorities. Hopefully this will initiate a dignified dialogue about policy and further encourage victims of abuse to make a police report!
It is all very easy to try to shift blame that the family should have gone to the police. The Rabbis should have encouraged the family to do that. I am sure that the same would have happened with any Rabbi in any city/country. It is time that Rabbis step up and do the right thing finally.
Using slander and libel laws, as well as rabbi/congregant relationships as a basis to protect the anonymity of the abuser is utter nonsense. Stop protecting the abusers.
I’m not understanding… This isn’t even the Royal commission trying to intentionally find wrongs in our Jewish nation. It’s our own doing everything they can to trash our own!!!!! To bring out bad…. It’s not like the went out intentionally and said… I Wanna do something. Im sure they did all they can in every way to do what they thought is the best!!!!
So people… We are lowering ourself to the level of goyim… If thy aren’t coming at us, why are we coming at us!!!!!????
Thanx for the statement. Clarifies things for us
All this addresses how the Rabbinical Council deals with the offender. Nothing here describes their protocols for dealing with the victim!!!
This is as incriminating a response as could be imagined!
I am now fully confident that this issue will be put to rest. The truth has been told! The rabbis were prevented by law from doing any more than they did.
Happy Pesach to all.