Comments
Ner Israel Rabbi Alleged Abuser
BS"D
This article is LOSHON HORA and MOTZEI SHEIM RA!! All these articles are OSSUR AL PI HALOCHOH!
Unverifiable
The Jewish Times and Phil Jacobs revealed low
journalistic integrity and reliability with their
publication of the article concerning Rabbi Moshe
Eisemann. From the opening sentence until the very
end, there was almost nothing more than unverifiable,
unsubstantiated and ergo non-credible allegations.
While having no factual knowledge of the
communications between Rabbi Hopfer and Rabbi
Eisemann, the Jewish Times publishes an anonymous
source saying “he thinks” Rabbi Eisemann admitted some
of the abuses. Of what credibility is a statement if
the source is not sure his information is accurate?
The Jewish Times writes that Rabbi Hopfer allegedly
was chosen by Ner Israel, Rabbi Eisemann was allegedly
told to work through issues with a therapist, and
Rabbi Eisemann was allegedly retired through Rabbi
Hopfer’s recommendations. It is all just alleged!
And I am supposed to believe that the alleged
therapist broke ethical and legal confidentiality and
shared his beliefs about a client with some anonymous
source and then I should trust this alleged unethical
therapist’s assessment?
The Jewish Times writes “One source said: ‘You have
Rabbi Eisemann denying all of this. You have Ner
Israel’s legal statement. You have Rabbi Hopfer’s
judgment call. Also, Rabbi Hopfer found Eisemann’s
accuser credible. Put it all together this is what you
have.’” Well, what exactly do you have? Nothing but
speculation.
And the accusations from Mr. Simms –– they are
complete supposition and subjective non-factual
statements. Just because he thinks Rabbi Eisemann was
looking somewhere does not make that true. He
‘believes’ Rabbi Eisemann touched him twice
inappropriately. What does that mean?
That the Jewish Times would print one individual’s
literally dubious and unverifiable accusations at the
expense of someone’s reputation is nothing short of
irresponsible and reckless.
A few months ago Mr. Jacobs solicited information on
the UOJ blog concerning Rabbi Eisemann. He personally
confirmed this to me in a phone call. I was shocked to
see a supposedly respectable journalist publicly name
someone as an alleged molester and then go fishing
publicly for information when someone’s name and
reputation were at stake without any facts to back him
up.
Instead he has chosen to print rumors at the cost of
someone’s reputation. Such behavior would be wrong
even if the alleged perpetrator was your average
citizen, let alone a beloved Rebbi of thousands.
Mr. Jacobs writes “His [Rabbi Hopfer’s] response could
have cleared up much of the speculation.” Mr. Jacobs
should blame himself for helping the speculation
continue with almost no facts at his disposal.
Zev Friedman
Calgary, Canada
Witness For The Defense
With a heavy heart, I read your recent story on Rav
Moshe Eisenmann (“When Whispers Get Louder,” Aug. 31).
It upset me greatly because having had him as my
teacher for over 10 years, and knowing him well over
50 years, I know beyond any doubt that your
accusations are false (and maybe malicious!).
I first met Rav Moshe when I was a 12-year-old in the
Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia in 1957. His wife
hadn’t joined him in America yet, so he lived in our
dormitory for one year. At no time was there even a
trace of wrong behavior or even a rumor, for word
would have spread like wildfire among us boys. For two
years he was my Rebbe and unlike most Rebbeim, he
counseled the boys individually on the “sins of the
night” and how harshly the Torah views them. Why did
he do this? Because he cared. For the same reason, he
trekked to Russia countless times in his later years
to encourage the Jews there to regain their Judaism. I
and many of his loyal students ask ourselves why these
terrible events have now befallen this good man –– and
the answer is clear. It is because he cares about
people more than most, and that always makes one
vulnerable to the destructive needs of people with an
agenda.
There is nothing wrong in demanding moral integrity in
our teachers and seeking safe environments for our
children, but your prurient approach to journalism
would make Sen. McCarthy proud.
Rabbi Harvey Gornish
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Loud Whisper
Regarding last week’s “When Whispers Get Louder,” I have been a close student of Rav Moshe Eisemann’s since I was 19 years old. I’ve traveled with him and had countless private sessions with him.
Before meeting Rav Eisemann, I attended a yeshiva in Israel where the Rosh HaYeshiva was later convicted of sexual abuse with numerous students. When word got out concerning those illicit activities, I was not surprised. What sounds like awhisper to one standing far away may indeed be a scream to one with proximity. My proximity to this Rosh HaYeshiva gave me clear audio reception to his wrongdoings.
With Rav Eisemann I find a similar predicament. In your article I found nothing that surprised me. Informing the community that no complaints or charges have ever been filed against the Rabbi, that no Din Torah had ever been called, that a therapist saw no signs of “terrible abuse,” that Rav Heinemann — who as your article mentions cares deeply about condemning child molesters — still regards Rav Eisemann with the highest of esteem. All this reinforce the whispers I have heard for 25 years concerning Rav Eisemann: He is as beyond reproach as is humanly possible.
I am, however, greatly despondent that in pursuit of a worthy cause (protecting children from any kind of abuse), we have become abusers ourselves. From bloggers to respected newspapers, abuse of power seems to be running rampant. When the likes of Rav Eisemann are rounded up and burned at the stake you know you are not in Baltimore anymore.
Stan Lebovic
Salem, Mass.
Don’t Judge
Last week’s article on Rabbi Eisemann seems to collect innuendo and present it as evidence.
For a 71-year-old teacher to retire is hardly incriminating. For a retired teacher to move off campus also is nothing out of the ordinary. As far as I am aware rubbing backs does not constitute a form of sexual abuse. Even kissing covers quite a wide range and depends on the context.
When I was mashgiach ruchani in Montefiore College [London], most of the North African students used to kiss me goodbye at the end of the school year. Does any of this involve abuse? At many frum weddings the men line up to kiss the groom and wish him Mazel Tov. Is this a form of abuse?
One former Philadelphia pupil says that Rabbi Eisemann stared at the pupil’s crotch. If this were a general habit I don’t suppose Rabbi Eisemann would have been such a success in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Russia and Germany. The same applies to the suggestion that he had a poor style of teaching and was overly authoritarian. I knew Rabbi Eisemann while he was in Philadelphia — he was a popular speaker with Orthodox university students. I knew Rabbi Eisemann in Baltimore, both inside Ner Israel and also his shiurim for Johns Hopkins and Goucher students in Yavneh, the Orthodox Students Association. He was a brilliant and inspiring speaker. His ArtScroll books are brilliant.
There are Jewish principles of judging a person in his merit and accepting that a person who has been known to do the right thing is unlikely to suddenly change — chazaka of kashruth. We should not rush into judgment.
Joe Feld
London, England
Bad Company
The Aug. 27 article on Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, “When Whispers Get Louder,” has degraded your paper to the likes of the National Enquirer and other gossip tabloids that are notorious for reporting erroneous and false stories of famous personalities. How can a quality paper such as the Baltimore Jewish Times print rumors and conjectures that can only harm an individual without substantially verifying such allegations? Where is the police report? Where are the court documents? Where is the plethora of supporting evidence? Where are the multiple witnesses that have come forward to corroborate your story?
Why are you not embarrassed to print a feature story based on allegations that a teacher looked at their student inappropriately more than 30 years ago? Even if the other allegation is correct that this individual 30-plus years ago once gave his student a pat on the back, but a bit lower, does this justify your time and effort with such innuendo?
Maybe the Jewish Times should feature an investigative report on the impact of American media on the spirituality of Jewish values.
David Kramer
Baltimore