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| Barry Freundel |
Prosecutors continue looking for more possible victims of an Orthodox rabbi accused of recording women in the ritual bath area next to Kesher Israel in Georgetown.
Rather than step forward themselves, some women are calling lawyers.
“I can tell you that the pain that our client is feeling is palpable, that just thinking about the invasion of her privacy, the breach of her trust, that evil lurked in the place you least expect it,” lawyer Ira Sherman said.
In a court hearing Wednesday, prosecutors said they need more time before making a plea offer to Rabbi Barry Freundel, who is charged with six counts of voyeurism. Detectives need until Thanksgiving to review all the video they seized as evidence from the rabbi's home and computers.
They have about 10 years of videos they have to review. Women who wonder if they are victims are told to submit a photograph so detectives go through the painstaking process of reviewing the video.
They have about 10 years of videos they have to review. Women who wonder if they are victims are told to submit a photograph so detectives go through the painstaking process of reviewing the video.
A woman formerly a member of the Kesher Israel congregation said she used to urge young women to use the mikvah when they converted to Judaism but now regrets it.
“It's very upsetting and distressing that I might have in some unintentional way helped him in his, really all you can call it is an evil scheme,” Lisette Garcia said. “It's disgusting.”
She believes there are more victims at the synagogue and the universities where the rabbi taught.
“I know for a fact,” she said. “Not just Towson, but Georgetown Law. Nobody is talking about those students. I saw students from Georgetown Law go in there. He drew students from University of Maryland, PhD candidates."
Emma Shulevitz reported her fears that she had been caught on camera and went public. As a result, she and her husband say, they were shunned and made to feel like snitches at their synagogue in Rockville.
“No one talks to us in that synagogue,” Jeffrey Shulevitz said.
“Well the president did speak to us and he said, Don't expect an apology,” Emma Shulevitz said.
Freundel will return to court for his next hearing Jan. 16.
Other possible victims can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office.