The Victims Write And Their Stories Are Verified!
When I was --- years old, I was a talmid of Ner Israel. At that time, the Mashgiach Ruchni was Rabbi Moshe Eisemann. I became close to him and trusted him totally like a father figure. He is a very sick man. He would tell me he loved me and would hug and kiss me inappropriately. In this day and age, what rebby does this? He tried to control me by telling me loshon harah against my friends and family, and by telling my best friend not to be friends with me, and other ways.
I was very uncomfortable, but thought I was crazy for thinking he was weird. One day, he felt up my rear end IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BEIS MEDRASH! I couldn't believe it. I was shocked, angry and dismayed. But I did not have the guts to even say excuse me, what the hell are you doing. I did have the guts to tell my parents that he was "bothering " me and my mom called him and told him to stay away. He did not listen at first, but had the nerve to approach me a couple more times and to write me a letter threatening that love can easily turn to hate. I may still have that letter.
I know that this story does not sound like much, but there is more. Shortly thereafter, a friend of mine had problems and was thrown out of the dorm. Rabbi Eisemann offered to take him into his house. One night in the middle of the night, thinking my friend was asleep, Rabbi Eisemann went in and put his hand under the cover, and groped my friend's privates. My friend was only ---. He was horrified. The next day he told ......., who went to the hanhalla. Rabbi Herman Neuberger, A"H, reacted by saying that the boy had to leave the yeshiva.
My friend was devastated. He came to me to ask me to come forward. Es Chatai Ani Mazkir Hayom, I wasn't ready completely. I told him if there was any other way to save his brother, he should do it, but if not I would come forward. He found another victim whose father was a huge gvir and who had also been touched inappropriately. So my friend was allowed to stay.
Reb Tzvi Berkowitz,the son-in-law of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky of Philadelphia, told my friend not to tell anyone what happened because it could be bad for the yeshiva.
I have suffered for years. Only years later was I able to tell my parents what truly happened. I have still not been able to confront the yeshiva satisfatorily on this issue.A few years ago, I DID tell Shragi Neuberger about it. He is a rebby, and Rabbi Neuberger's son and we were close once upon a time. He did not deny the problem. There had been a bochur who told Reb Dovid Cohen a similar story (a Russian bochur with no political clout) but that the story was "unsubstantiated".
I'm here to substantiate the fact that R. Eisemann has a real problem. What to do, the follow up phone calls have gotten us nowhere. I want to go further, but am afraid of being hurt personally by the yeshiva.
What I would like to know from you is, do you have a way to investigate and find others who have been affected? I'm sure there are. I found another person who said that he was also was felt up on three occassions, and although he was not traumatized he decided to stay away from Rabbi Eisemann. His story happened several years after mine. He also knows of one other person. By the way, I was traumatized mostly because of the relationship I had with Rabbi Eisemann, and also by the covering up and complete lack of caring on the part of the yeshiva. It is true that what happened to me from a sexual standpoint was "not as bad" as some other stories. After all there was no penetration, right??? There might not be a lawsuit, but is that really necessary even at this point? Wouldn't you think that the thought of a scandal now would get them to act? But Rabbi Eisemann is still sitting on the dais at the recent Rabbi Neuberger memory dinner, and what's worse, still talks in learning with unsuspecting yeshiva boys on a daily basis. What is wrong with these people???? Ignorance is only an excuse up to a point, no?!
If you have any ideas or advice for me, I would be so grateful.
One last thing. I thought of you this yomtov. Take a look at the Yalkut Meam Loez on Rus on Vayehi Bimay Shfot Hashoftim. He says that the judges / leaders of Klal Yisroel were judged by the people for their corruption. He writes pages and pages about this. He says that when Moshe Rabeinu "criticized" the Jews saying , a little more and they'll stone me", it was not a put down but praise that the Jewish people don't stand for phony, incompetent, self-interested leaders, but demand integrity from them, no matter who they are. I felt like he was writing about you. Really, take a look, and let me know what you think.
Yasher Koach, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Another victim writes....
I went to Gary Rosenblatt to ask advice. He's the editor of Jewish Week who did the expose on Baruch Lanner. He had been the head of the Jewish paper in Baltimore. He told me that Rabbi Neuberger had been involved in a case in the city (Eisgrau) where he insisted that it be kept quiet and nothing was done. It's as if there is some kind of Mesorah that he had that this is the correct thing to do in these situations. You know, chillul hashem, etc.
Shragi told people that Rabbi Eiseman has a heart condition, and this has to be considered in deciding to act or not. He also said that the Neubergers had been aware for years of Matis Weinberg's problems, but did nothing. He said "Everyone knows that the Neubergers and Weinbergs don't get along well, so they would not have believed us." Come again???
David Mandel from Brooklyn had started a Beis Din in Baltimore to investigate allegations of sexual abuse in the frum community.The Beis Din consisted of Shragi, Rav Heinneman, Rav Hopfer, Rabbi Hauer, and Rabbi Goldberger. Shragi said that when Rabbi Heinneman is at the meetings they can't really speak about it because he doesn't get it as well as the rest of them. How do you explain this? A rabbi on Beis Din who does NOT understand the sickness?
According to Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, "There are as many rabbis out there that will hurt you than will help you," and "There ARE no more Gedolim, veharaya, that people come to me with questions that they used to go to gedolim."
Another victim writes....
Did you hear about the two evenings that Ohel had entitled "let's talk about what never happened, but it really did"? The first one featured Rav Pam, Reb Shmuel and Reb Dovid Cohen and was emceed by Sruly Reisman. I gave them an A for effort, but their cluelessness caused, I believe, much pain to the victims/survivors in the audience. Reb Shmuel was asked by a lady what she should do about being molested 30 years ago and never telling anyone. She said that she was recently experienceing psychological symptoms. He told her to see a shrink, but to not tell her husband under any circumstances, because there is no way he would understand. This is in public and on tape. Rav Pam spoke about frum people with psychological issues like OCD, but didn't mention molestation, abuse of any sort, anything to do with sex or what the purpose of the evening was supposed to be. I wonder if someone told him, even? My favorite was of course, Rabbi Reisman, who after offering the caveat that he was not a psychologist, still felt that he had something intelligent to offer on the subject beacause of his experiences with victims. He then told two stories in which he went out of his way to point out that the molester was NOT Jewish. It did not take my years of leaning lamdus to make the diuk that apparently frum people of course don't molest, and that what had happened to many of the people in the room, really didn't happen at all according to the resident Navi expert. To "help" people even more, when asked by one survivor about the feelings of betrayal, he opined that this was not an issue at all, because like Don Rumsfeld said about the war in Iraq, "Stuff happens".
Basically, the message was to victims: we want to help you to get over it... so get over it, ok?
Another victim writes....
I hope you took no offense that I called you meshuga. I think that anyone who is not made meshuga by the horrible world of hypocrisy that is called the frum velt has something really wrong with them. Anyway, sorry for the choice of words. Again, you are my hero.
One thing that impressed me about your approach, is that with the Gerrer situation (the gerrorists) you got the job done and didn't feel the need to "take them down" or to necessarily go after the yeshiva, etc.
I'm mentioning this, because although sometimes the situation calls for drastic measures like multimillion dollar lawsuits and possibly razing a yeshiva to the ground, each situation is different and this whole problem does require sophistication as well as passion. In my case of Ner Yisroel, maybe something subtle like a letter writing campaign, or a few choice phone calls asking politely for Rabbi Eisemann to be taken care of, might do the trick especially now that they see what the problem could lead to.
Another victim writes...
I do not think it is enough to dismiss these people from their jobs. Look at the two guys who were fired. They go to Israel and will most likely end up like Mattis Weinberg molesting again at a later date. What needs to be done is:
Rabbi Eisemann should be told that the community, i.e. hanhalla of yeshiva, will monitor him and talk to his therapist to be sure he is complying. He will be given a job doing something with no child contact, but if he does not comply, he will be punished with fines or something else. His passport should probably be taken away.
His treatment should be comprehensive at a place that specializes in sex offenders and should include objective assessment for pedophilia (lie detector test, sexual deviancy measures, etc.) group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy.
The yeshiva, as part of the change that needs to be made, should have to track down as many victims as possible and apologize.
Am I asking too much?
Another victim writes.....
You have touched on many issues, and are right on target.
Firstly, Shlomo Gottesman at Torah Umesorah is a big part of the problem, he's known about these problems At Ner Israel for years and is deeply involved in covering up this issue.
The gedolim, at least the ones they call gedolim, are clueless outside their daled amos. As a general rule, the Europeans don't get it, and the great chachomim like R' Ruderman are gone.
The present rabbonim in America are either businessmen protecting their businesses, or shluchim from them. I can't think of one name today that can compare to the toes of a R' Ruderman.
What's worse is that they in their ignorance and self-interests are causing the destruction of authentic Orthodox Judaism. R' Moshe didn't know about N.Y. water? Romaine lettuce?
Chumras upon chumras...where's the beef??? kinderlach's lives and neshomas??????
The Neuberger's behavior come as a shock and will come back to haunt them. What about Tzvi Berkowitz?/ Is he out of his mind or just waiting for the rosh yeshiva's job? Eiseman is sick, he has molested me for years when I went for shabbes to his house. He said it is ok to feel good. How crazy is that???I'm at a loss to explain what's going on. Maybe this is the next dor hamabul...the rishaim seem to be everywhere. I need time to think of an aitza, right now, I'm shocked out of my mind.
Sincerely and all the very best,do not let the Neubergers fool you, they will do nothing.
Another victim writes....
I know five of us that Eiseman masturbated, but I'm not sure how many would agree to help or come forward. There is the Russian boy but only Dovid Cohen know who this bochur is. I'm shocked that Dovid Cohen did not do anything to get rid of Eiseman, he told people years ago that he spoke to the Neubergers and they agreed to fire him.
Another victim writes....
Oh, by the way, you know that Moshe Eisemann went for years and years to Russia to work with unsuspecting Jewish children there under Agudas Yisroel's plan for harbotzas torah.
I'm going to write Neuberger that he really needs to fire Eiseman, pronto. And if Eiseman takes the yeshiva to a din torah (sure) then I'm willing to back up the yeshiva. But I will not help them in any way until he's fired.
Another victim writes...
I have two more victims of Eiseman who might be willing to contact you anonymously. Maybe three. Reb Dovid Cohen was also approached by somebody about Eiseman a while ago. I'm sorry you are having health problems. I'm suffering a lot too. Will it be all over soon? Or will it take as long as YTT is taking? Have you gotten any response from Ner Israel?
Another victim writes.....
I have an insider in Torah Umesorah...they ( Ner Israel) have no interests in doing the right thing at all. They're more concerned about finding me. I went to Herman 12 years ago and told him that Eiseman is sick, so they know full well and decided to do nothing. They learned NOTHING from the Margulies fiasco. I will be going public. Hopfer has been covering for Eisgrau...Eisgrau raped his own daughter, I'm in contact with her.
They're going to learn the hard way. I'll testify if needed!
Another victim writes.....
Apparently someone calling himself UOJ told Reb Sheftel that they've got 10 days to act or else. I had been wondering if they would make the top 3. Suddenly, Shragi says to my friend they are ready to act. Not to botch it up like TT did. He wants to go to a beis din first with Rabbi Hopfer. Many people told him that that's a waste of time, totally unnecessary. All they need to do is retire Eiseman based on 2 credible complaints, period. My friend said what are you afraid of that Eiseman will sue?!! I told him not to worry about Eiseman's heart condition, the victims come first. I think he might have heard me, but we'll see. Either way, I think in 10 days it will all be done. I hope. Shragi asked my friend if you had other victims. You told me that you didn't want to name others to me about other victims. He was very puzzled about how the molestation had taken place in the beis medrash, and I clarified to him that for some very sick individuals, that is what gets their rocks off.
Yasher Koach and keep up the good work. Soon it will be done and you can take a real hiatus and recuperate, I hope.
I'm feeling better already, but it ain't over till its over.
Another victim writes......
On second thought, I don't trust Shragi at all to be looking out for my interests, I don't feel a need to confront Eiseman to his face, and I certainly don't want to have to speak to this guy Hopfer. So, I'm going to call off the charade and tell them to just do what you are calling for, which happens to also be the best thing for all people concerned. I truly hope they do what they need to.
A victim responds to a question that I pose about them calling for an immediate hearing:
No, they did not agree. In matter of fact my friend just got a call from Shragi from Eretz Yisroel, that when he gets back, he wants to have a meeting with me, my friend, any other victims, Rabbi Eiseman and Rabbi Hopfer. I'm not quite sure why they need his involvement. I'm not sure why they need anybody's involvement. It makes me nervous, but I'm willing to help do things their way for now. It's the bottom line that matters. I'm nervous about this too. Shragi now talked to my friend about making "restrictions" for Eiseman, it seems Eiseman is staying, and the talk of his dismissal is a charade.
Any victims of Moshe Eisemann please contact me. I am willing to assist you in legal action against Ner Israel and Eiseman.
The next yeshiva has one week to terminate their in-house sexual abuser!
UOJ
EVERY SIGNATURE MATTERS - THIS BILL MUST PASS!
CLICK - GOAL - 100,000 NEW SIGNATURES! 75,000 SIGNATURES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED TO GOVERNOR CUOMO!
EFF Urges Court to Block Dragnet Subpoenas Targeting Online Commenters
CLICK! For the full motion to quash: http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/hersh_v_cohen/UOJ-motiontoquashmemo.pdf
416 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 416 of 416anon;
Yes, a typo. Eidelkeit. Mea Culpa. If hoisting me on this petard is the best you can do, you are indeed putrid.
A cure for your Shafranitis(and your colleague ostriches) is fast approaching. It's called UOJ.
UOJ, the cure? UOJ may be preventing the spread of HIV, but crass and ordinary speech reflects poorly on your alma mater. Your gadol, J.B. would agree. Get with the program.
I had Rabbi Moshe Eisemann as a rebbe in my second year of high school in the Yeshiva of Philadelphia about 45 years ago. He was from England and spoke the King's English impeccably which made him sound very wise and learned to us at the time. He convinced me that my lack of hasmada and enthusiasm for learning Torah had everything to do with my auto-erotic behavior, in which he expressed great deal of interest; how did I do it?, how frequently?, which hand did I prefer?, etc. He never physically molested me but he made me feel that my normal adolescent attraction towards girls was something to be ashamed of. It took me a long time to finally realize that these urges were perfectly normal and given to us by G-d for a good reason. He seemed like a successful rebbe at the Yeshiva of Philadelphia and I always wondered why he left to go to Baltimore. At the time the Philadelphia yeshiva was run by Reb Elya Shvei and Rabbi Shmuel Kaminestsky. Is it possible that the cover-up of Rabbi Eisemann‚s behavior began even before he came to Ner Israel?
But, where's the beef, the proof, talking about masturbation isn't grounds for dismissal. What about eidim zomemin? If uoj has a thousand witnesses come forward and say he groped me, he touched me, he asked me, he told me... is that overwhelming evidence? UO should insist all eidim report to the police. Police reports about molesters bring results and convictions. Innuendo on the internet, what good does it do?
It. Talking about it. That's it.
Let the police into our moisdois. The presence of uniforms will help inspire yiras shomayim. Forget black hats and knee sox. Handcuffs, the image of someone being led away in handcuffs, will deter.
Our moment is now. I knew it would come.
Artscroll is the preferred vehicle for the creation of manuals on jewish, kosher sex.
In partnership with those who wish to subscribe to the Jewish Observor, everyone has NOT yet donated their vehicles to shmuely during rush hour, this is a once in a minute lifetime offer. For a modest donation of at least one hundred, I mean, two hundred thousand dollars (to our tax deductible finance company) the Mesorah Heritage Foundation, your name can be up in lights in every Jewish household for all future generations!
Mammish kosher sex will be a best seller. Mammish kosher sex will receive media attention. Mammish kosher sex will deter crime, hate, promote love and sparkling eyes in teireh yiddishe kinder, and you will learn which kinder to avoid.
Haskomois are pouring in. Get your name listed as a sponsor today. Send (mammish, soon) your tax deductible contribution to uoj.
uo, still no apology for the hanhola at nirc, no begging forgiveness?
If you beg now, they will never be moichel you anyway, but they might say they could be.
In their eyes, to the winning team at gaiva on the plain, you are hezbollah, a terrorist. They are at war.
If they could decree death upon their enemies, they would (although some dispensation might be available for a very large contribution. If you wish to do teshuva, send them a check, a large check).
Un-Orthodox Jew said...
Very bad news in Waterbury. There will be a major post Wednesday at midnight unless the guy is fired!
July 10, 2006
__________________________________
So, was the guy fired???
Where is gary rosenblatt, the champion of truth, the basher of lanner, the editor and publisher? Why is uoj the only rochil of merit in America?
Mi lashem, hey, lie (?)please don't bash us. have some pity. you were once a loyal Jew.
So, you've proven our point: you can only trust family to be the hanhola.
If we could, we would sue, and make of you blog stew.
We are soooo good.
You have bombed us, uoj, no white flag in sight. Will you surrender? Will you give up, admit that you are a rosho, evil, the worst, our enemy? We are the best. We are us. U are J. We are N. We are I (yes, that feels good. I'll say it again. I. me. we). We R C. See? We are big, bigger, better, not badder and only in private meaner. Er. we're not really mean, I mean, we don't want to be mean. We just want to get ahead, I mean, along, along with tuvyah, with everybody else. Please mail your contributions to our legal defense fund and your new calendar will be in the mail.
You have bombed us, uoj, taken out our airport, our communications systems, our video cameras are no longer working, our refinery is burning. You are threatening the very infrastructure of our state. On behalf of the President, would you consider enlisting and moving to iraq? Otherwise, some idiot may recommend that you appoint you to the committee which will decide the veracity of victims claims. That would be a disaster.
We must consult our allies, create a united front.
A front. That's what we need, that's what we are.
The rabbonim of flatbush, baltimore, boro park, monsey, and just about every other chareidi community would like to commend uoj for speaking frankly, something they've never been able to do.
When you are paid by the klal, tied to a moisad, you have to worry about your job. Not uoj. A shoichet, he cuts through bull, slaughters the lamb, his blog, not a shlomim, but for the korban tamid.
The OU had an independent board ask for an independent investigation. As a result, the ceo moved. But, Ner Israel is innocent, Rav Eiseman is a tzaddik. We won't ask him which hand he used.
Although it's a sad story about a troubled kid, this post was an irrelevant distraction and a big mistake, particularly with regards to the title. You lost a lot of credibility with your previous claims about Ner Israel.
he lost credibility only because he didn't publicize new claims with salacious details.
If the claims are bogus, the blog should stop defaming innocent people. If the claims are true, what should the hanhola do?
Send out a fund raising mailing?
i've only started reading this shocking blog, and i can't believe the development of this conversation. As far as I can see, no charges were ever filed and no complaints or lawsuits were ever introduced to the police or in a court of law. Is it that u believe your yeshiva system of justice and beis din to be so superior to the secular courts? if so, how is that so many people just take these anonymous people's accusations of sexual harrasment at face value without questioning their motives? its ridiculous how few skeptical comments i have found. is 'innocent until proven guilty' a concept completely foreign to Judaism? the allegations against R' Eismann could be true. it could also be true that he's an adulterer and a murderer. how the hell do i know? if you have a claim, and you have been hurt by an authority figure such as a rabbi, then bring the matter to the authorities. obviously , the beis din of baltimore with R' Heinnemen does not have the ability to handle a situation such as a sexual harassment charge, and it is just ridiculous for so many people to debate and consider these accusations without even an inkling of solid proof. who knows why a person might want to get back at a rabbi and spread accusations. this anonymous source might have his own reasons to slander a rabbi. I understand R' Eismann has passed away , but if any of you feel that you have been harmed in such a grievous fashion, it is a matter for the authourities. if proven guilty, there would be no more need for all this stupid discussion about what to do, ...because he'd be sitting his perverted little ass in jail. ! and i bet the 'moderator' doesn't have the balls to print this, because he just wants to continue this idiotic conversation.
what do you mean...' what should the hanhola do' if the claims are true??? the hanhola shouldn't do anything@! this is a matter for the police!!!!!!! ridiculous...
I heard that when shlomo carlebach, a ex-friend and lakewood student with Eismann, was performing in baltimore, Eismann threatened anyone who would go with expulsion. I bet Eismann was angry that he had to sneak a tuchiss here or there without being seen, while carlebach got all the hippy girls day and night, in his free love ideaology.
I was a student in the summer of 2017. Make no mistake- this place is a cult. Much of the leadership is verbally abusive, and many of them have serious allegations against them for sexual abuse, (last names like Neuberger, Eisemann, and Tendler)- and in one case, a conviction. Don't just blindly trust what I'm saying. Go and google these people and you will be horrified by what you find.
Post a Comment