12/25/12

Yeshiva University Sex Scandal Widens

Sadly the child sex abuse scandal at Yeshiva University that has been in the news has widened with new abuse allegations and with a call for an independent investigation.

Rabbis' touch of 'evil': 11 more claim sexual abuse at Yeshiva University's high ...

New York Daily News
More victims of two creepy rabbis at Yeshiva University's high school have come forward with claims that the shocking sexual misconduct spanned more than two decades and affected at least a dozen students. The alleged abuse, by former principal Rabbi ...

Needed: Independent Investigation On YU High School Scandal

The Jewish Week
The media has reported serious accusations against two former employees of Yeshiva University's High School (known as MTA), Rabbi Macy Gordon, a Talmud teacher, and Rabbi George Finkelstein, the principal. According to reports in The Forward and ...
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10 comments:

Moshe Leibler said...

Frankly, all my friends and I are shocked. However, as a friend of mine has pointed out, neither of the accused can be tried, as the statute of limitations is 25 years and has been exceeded. Thus, neither of them will be able to truly defend their good name.
On the other hand, it is reasonably clear that no one would have listened to the plaintiffs years ago or taken them seriously. So the issue cannot be resolved beyond the level of slander, which makes it all the more problematic. As it is, sexual offenses are difficult to verify. Here in Israel as far as I know there is no statute of limitations on these, which alleviates some of these problems.

Anonymous said...






Having been both a student and teacher at Yeshiva University during these years, I pose one question: Why didn't the parents of these students call the police. If it was my child I would have confronted these instructors and gone to the police and administration immediately and hired a lawyer. Had any of these students approached me when I was a young teacher of speech at Yeshiva College and told me of this I would have acted with vigor. Yeshiva University is a great institution. Let's not forget that many of today's Jewish leaders are products of YU. It is good that this horrendous part of the history of Yeshiva University has gone public so the individuals can find some degree of justice and peace. We are all awaiting Yeshiva University's response. It is still a great institution with fantastic teachers and Rebbaim.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg

Anonymous said...

. I grew up in the Midwest and attended an elementary school where anti Semitism was rampant. There were only two Jewish children in the school; because we were poor we lived in that neighhborhood. Being beaten up because I was Jewish and fighting back was a common occurrence. I knew how to fight back and would have fought against anyone who molested me. Yeshiva students have to be taught to physically protect themselves against abuse.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg

Anonymous said...

So far there is an anonymous accusation against Rabbi Macy Gordon


MY SOURCE TELLS ME MR. ANONYMOUS GRADUATED EINSTEIN. MEDICAL SCHOOL OF YESHIA UNIVERSITY SEEMS LIKE HE OWES Y.U. HIS CAREER.. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG

Anonymous said...

CORRECTLY. IF ANYONE TRIED STICKING A TOOHBRUSH UP MY TUCHES I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM IN THE BALLS.

Anonymous said...

So far there is an anonymous accusation against Rabbi Macy Gordon


MY SOURCE TELLS ME MR. ANONYMOUS GRADUATED EINSTEIN. MEDICAL SCHOOL OF YESHIA UNIVERSITY SEEMS LIKE HE OWES Y.U. HIS CAREER. YESHIVA UNIVERSITY is the school where I spent most of of academic life. Do not lecture me on what I owe or do not. For your information, RIETS and .J.S.S. made be who I am. I will fight for the school that produced abbey that cared for me and nutured me. It is not my fault that parents who knew of these acts did nothing including showing up in mass to punish the individual who did malice to their child. Do not lecture me on sexual violence. Where were the parents who knew. ? Stop whining and trying to destroy Yeshiva University and have Rabbi Lamm resign. He did what was proper at the time. Prove that Rabbi GORDON molested anyone. The story about the toothbrush is ludicrous. I have had my own issues with the R..C.A. AND Y.U. , but I did not wake up 35 years later to realize I was molested. Go to ISRAEL AND CONFRONT these abusers , they are still alive. I call upon current students and alumni to speak up on behalf of their school. I FOR ONE HAVE HEARD ENOUGH UNPROVEN ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE RUINED TWO LIVES. DO NOR RESPOUND SHAME ON YOU OR I DO NOT UNDERSTAND SEX ABUSE. I understand if this happened to my child and I knew of it I WOULD HAVE CALLED FRIENDS and made sure the culprit never did this to any child again. Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg

Anonymous said...









Driving to teach Public Speaking at Yeshiva College this past wednesday I received a call stating that the speech department is closing at YU. I was the first speech major at Yeshiva College in 1969 and together with Dr. Abraham Tauber of Blessed memory created the first speech department at Yeshiva College. I have taught at Yeshiva College in the 70's, 80's and in the last 4 years. What is not working at Yeshiva College? Why is enrollment down? Why are students unhappy and leaving? According to my observations, shiurim are too large and Rebbes are unable to develop close relationships with students. How much do the administrators and officers make? You would be astonished. Why fire talented adjuncts while keeping full teachers who are not evaluated and cannot teach? Consider the YU nepotism which gives untalented people jobs. There seem to be a lot of people running around doing nothing and getting paid. The cafeteria food is terrible and costs too much. Students are overworked with religious requirements which make it impossible to devote enough time to secular work. This has to be reevaluated. Finally, where is the YU spirit of Torah Umada? Where is our pride?
We are not Harvard, Yale, or Columbia. Let us be YU. A college without art, music, speech, drama, is not even an advanced high school.
Rabbi DR. Bernhard Rosenberg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F8BZHn8De8

Anonymous said...





Over the past few weeks I received communications from those who were sexually abused . I have learned a lot regarding the suffering they have gone through. Each person handles trauma differently and no one including me can judge their reaction to this trauma. The outcry of these individuals must be heard and answered. However, I refuse to stop defending the institution which has produced great scholars and Jewish leaders. Attacking me for having an opinion or trying to discredit me as professor, says more about the writer than it does me. If they have proof by now the victims have hired an attorney. Now it comes down to follow the money. I do not work for Yeshiva University any more and hope that a reasonable settlement is reached for all concerned. This story is not about me.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg

Anonymous said...

Jewish Law and the Tragedy of Sexual Abuse of Children
– The Dilemma within the Orthodox Jewish Community
Steven H. Resnicoff* suggest everyone read this article RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG I want to thank all those who have contacted me that were abused. I have learned a lot sense their turmoiL and pain. This is an important issue that must be resolved.

Anonymous said...

I have come full circle regarding the students who were abused at YU. At first, I blamed the parents for not going to the school authorities when it occurred. Then I asked why no one went to the police.My initial reaction as a long time teacher at YU as well as a student for a good part of my life was to circle the wagons. I was wrong and admit this before the High Holidays. I have come to the conclusion that it is the YU administration which constantly protects themselves. There are a number of dinosaurs who have been at YU forever who are responsible for allowing some of these students to be abused when information was known regarding the abusers. They are still at YU and some serve on the board of directors. All the excuses regarding Rabbi Finkelstein are absurd. He should never have been allowed to obtain employment at other schools or in Israel after YU. I have proof that students with disabilities are not treated fairly and teachers do not appreciate nor make the effort to understand the severity of their disabilities. YU is supposed to be a private school where Jewish students are treated with Jewish moral laws and compassion. This is not happening. In addition there is favoritism towards children of the big "machers" who can get by with anything. This is cruel. This favoritism holds true throughout YU. As one who has always shown loyalty to YU, raised over 1.5 million dollars for YU, as well as taught there for at least ten years since 1972 I am appalled and I am speaking out on behalf of these students.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg