Case of Rabbi Herschel
Taubenfeld
Teacher - New Square, NY
Playgroup at 31 Rita Ave. - Monsey, NY
Playgroup at 31 Rita Ave. - Monsey, NY
Convicted Sex Offender. In exchange for his confession he only received six years' probation on a misdemeanor charge handled in
New Square Justice Court. Originally Taubenfeld had been charged with with 10 counts of
forcible touching, 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and
10 counts of third-degree sex abuse, all misdemeanors.
Many people close to this case believe that people in New Square have pulled strings to get this confessed sex offender an extremely light sentence. They believe the District Attorney of Rockland County has the same issues as the District Attorney in Kings County (Brooklyn), where there are allegations of obstruction of justice when it comes to cases involving sex crimes.
Also beware that Rabbi Taubenfeld owns the playgroup at 31 Rita Ave. in Monsey.
___________________________________________________________________________________Many people close to this case believe that people in New Square have pulled strings to get this confessed sex offender an extremely light sentence. They believe the District Attorney of Rockland County has the same issues as the District Attorney in Kings County (Brooklyn), where there are allegations of obstruction of justice when it comes to cases involving sex crimes.
Also beware that Rabbi Taubenfeld owns the playgroup at 31 Rita Ave. in Monsey.
Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet their own personal needs.
Table of Contents:
2010
- Welcome to New Square (2010)
2011
- Editorial (11/23/2011)
- Threatening Twitter Message (11/27/2011)
- Who is a self hater? (12/07/2011)
- Crackdown on Sex Crimes Continues (12/14/2011)
- Herschel Taubenfeld received Smicha (rabbinical ordination) (12/15/2011)
- Sign Posted in New Square: Can you spare something for Herschel Taubenfeld (12/18/2011)
- New Square Schnorring for Herschel Taubenfeld's Defense(12/20/2011)
- (12/28/2011)
- Taubenfeld Case Adjourned for Now (11/26/2012)
2013
- Herschel Taubenfeld of the “Holy” town New Square plead guilty (01/17/2013)
- 2 convictions in Orthodox child sex cases (01/18/2013)
Also see:
___________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome to New Square (AKA: New Skvere)
By Vicki Polin
The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - March 22, 2010
(© 2000) Photographed by Vicki Polin
Early in 2000 I was visiting a friend in New York. At the time I was newly religious and so my friend wanted to take me on a tour of New Square, NY (AKA: New Skvere)
Just outside of the town line, my friend pointed out the following sign to me. I was in a state of shock. I understood that in Israel it was common place to have signs like this when entering ultra-orthodox communities, yet this sign was placed on a street in the United States of America. I had no idea it was legal for a community in New York to put these types of restrictions on women. Besides the dress code, it was also very much frowned upon for women to be driving a car. Because we were two women and here was no male in the car, it was "more" permissible.
Considering the signs below, may make it easier to understand how sexual predators can get away with their offending frenzy within this community. It's all a part of understand the mindset of this chasidic town.
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___________________________________________________________________________________
Editorial
By Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter
AMI Magazine - November 23, 2011
___________________________________________________________________________________
Threatening Twitter Message
Failed Messiah Blog - November 27, 2011
Translated by Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg
This flyer was posted on FailedMesiah, quoting from Twitter that it is a warning to those that are praying at Friedwald nursing home. I personally think that this is about a bachur who claims that Herschel Taubenfeld molested him, and this is the "Square" way of trying to quiet him down. This bachur was also offered a very large sum of money to keep quiet, but thank G-D he is smart enough to refuse - Unlike Simon Taub that wanted to extort from Lebovits.
די
סקווערער רשעים הערען נישט אויף, ווילאנג מע וועט דעם אבערצאָדיק אליינס
נישט אריינזעצן אין תפיסה וועט דארט קיין ארדענונג נישט זיין.
ווי
עס זעט מיר אויס איז דאס צעטל נישט וועגען דאווענען אין פריידוואלד, דא
האנדעלט זיך וועגען א בחור וואס זאגט אז הערשעל טויבענפעלד האט עהם
מאלעסטעט, און דאס איז דער סקווערער וועג צו פרובירען שטיל צו מאכען דעם
בחור. מען האט שוין צוגעזאגט פאר דעם בחור גרויס געלט, אבער דער בחור איז
קלוג און האט
 |
| הערשל טויבענפעלד - Herschel Taubenfeld |
___________________________________________________________________________________
Crackdown on Sex Crimes Continues
Rockland County Times - December 15, 2011
Alleged child molester Hershel Taubenfeld of New Square has turned
himself in to Ramapo Police as of 10:30 a.m. this morning. Previously he
had fled the area when his impending arrest was announced by police.
Recently a victim of Taubenfeld came forward willing to go through
with the prosecution of the case and sources said police may arrest
others in Taubenfeld's circle in the coming weeks. Sources said
Taubenfeld is a well-connected resident of the Hasidic village.
Police have taken a heightened interest and have been more successful in pursuing such cases within the Hasidic community, since certain activists like Brooklyn Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg have made light of the abuse. Others have also helped, though most would rather not have their names known.
These activists have been setting up support networks for victims of abuse, as the most difficult aspect of prosecuting abuse charges is finding a victim willing to go through the trauma of the legal process.
Ramapo Police reported that after receiving a complaint, in early November 2011, of a possible sex abuse incident in the Village of New Square the department began an investigation. On December 7, 2011 charges were filed against New Square resident Hershel Taubenfeld. On December 14 (today) at 10:30 a.m. Hershel Taubenfeld turned himself in to the Village of New Square Court. Taubenfeld, who was represented by counsel, Kenneth Gribetz, was arraigned on the following charges:
- 10 counts of Forcible Touching (Class A Misdemeanor)
- 10 counts of Endangering the welfare of a Child (Class A Misdemeanor)
- 10 counts of Sex Abuse in the 3rd degree (Class B Misdemeanor)
The charges against Taubenfeld resulted from his actions with a minor
male over a five month time period between March 2011 and July 2011,
police said. The alleged incidents of abuse, between Taubenfeld and his
victim all occurred at Taubenfeld’s residence at #92 North Garfield Dr.
in the Village of New Square.
Judge Salas of New Square Village Court set bail at $15,000 with a
return date of February 6 at 6 p.m. in the New Square Village Court.
Taubenfeld was transported to the Ramapo PD by RPD officers where he was
processed. Due to the nature of the offense and age of the victim
police said his name and age will not be released.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Who is a self hater?
By Vicki Polin
Examiner - December 7, 2010
Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter recently wrote an editorial in Ami magazine which he is the editor of and is geared towards the orthodox Jewish community, in which he attacked Dr, Michael J. Salamon, calling him a “self hating Jew”. Why you might ask? The answer is that Dr. Salamon wrote one of Amazon’s best selling books, “Abuse in the Jewish community.
Rabbi Frankfurter went on to insinuate that Dr. Salamon’s newest book “Abuse in the Jewish community”, was a blood libel against the Orthodox community perpetrated not by Catholics, but my our secular brethren”. To be honest, I along with so many others who have been advocating for the civil rights of survivors of sex crimes, feel that it is people like Rabbi Frankfurter whose ignorant comments and actions have been driving Jewish orthodox survivors away from Judaism are the ones who are creating the newest type of pogrom against our people. Not only are these folks giving out misinformation and covering up sex crimes -- they are also doing their best to pit Jew against Jew, creating an atmosphere of cult like behavior. A few weeks ago we learned that at the recent Agudath Israel convention, there was a private meeting in which they discussed how they best could use the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office to bypass making hotline reports and further promote various sexual predators offending behaviors. We all must be aware that according to studies, one sex offender will molest at least 117 times within their lifetime --- leaving possibly 117 new victims. Not only does this alter the lives of the survivors, yet it also changes the dynamics of their family members and their communities
It seems that the singular purpose of Rabbi Frankfurter’s appearance on the Zev Brenner radio show where he originally appeared with Dr. Salamon was apparently to negate what Dr Michael Salamon had to say. Frankfurter was loud and repeatedly interrupted the psychologist who has years of experience working with survivors of child abuse and other forms of abuse. He was generally rigid in his statements on the topic. Based on his comments it was clear that he was uninformed on the issues so Dr. Salamon asked him on air if he had even bothered to read the book. The Rabbi was forced to admit that he had not but had read only the back cover where there were several approbations, one of which he objected to. Nevertheless, he continued to attack the book and even attacked Dr. Salamon’s personhood on air. Based on what he wrote it would appear that he was on a different radio show entirely.
In Rabbi Frankfurter’s editorial which appeared the week after the radio show he stated “Abuse is a global problem”, while simultaneously rejecting the fact that it exists as it does in the Orthodox world. Resorting to character assassination he called Dr. Michael Salamon a self-hating Jew with an anti-charedi bias without knowing him or any of his beliefs. In response to a question from the show’s host regarding why some people are leaving the charedi world Dr Salamon quoted from a Jerusalem Post article written by a former member of that world who had left it because of the overwhelming need of members of that world to be controlling and rejecting of those who wish to approach issues realistically. In his article the Rabbi objected to that as well, also likely without first reading the article
___________________________________________________________________________________
Who is a self hater?
By Vicki Polin
Examiner - December 7, 2010
Often,
we hear accusations from members of a religious community that someone
within that community is a self-hating Catholic, Mormon or Jew. This has
become increasingly common in discussions about religions covering up
sex crimes and other forms of abuses within their own communities. We
all have to stop and wonder who the real self haters are. Is it those
who are fighting to protect the rights of children and adults who were
sexually abused, or is it those who appear to take a vow to protect the
sexual predators living within the religious community or the world
internationally? The term “self-hating Jew”, is a saying that seems to
be thrown around in the ultra-orthodox Jewish community all too often
towards other Jews whose views differ or does or says something they
disagree with.
 |
| Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter |
Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter recently wrote an editorial in Ami magazine which he is the editor of and is geared towards the orthodox Jewish community, in which he attacked Dr, Michael J. Salamon, calling him a “self hating Jew”. Why you might ask? The answer is that Dr. Salamon wrote one of Amazon’s best selling books, “Abuse in the Jewish community.
To
the best of my knowledge Rabbi Frankfurter has no education, training
or experience working within the anti-rape movement. He is not unlike
many other rabbis who have jumped on the bandwagon to attack anyone who
is an activist in educating the religious world of the issues and
ramifications sex crimes plays in our communities
Rabbi Frankfurter went on to insinuate that Dr. Salamon’s newest book “Abuse in the Jewish community”, was a blood libel against the Orthodox community perpetrated not by Catholics, but my our secular brethren”. To be honest, I along with so many others who have been advocating for the civil rights of survivors of sex crimes, feel that it is people like Rabbi Frankfurter whose ignorant comments and actions have been driving Jewish orthodox survivors away from Judaism are the ones who are creating the newest type of pogrom against our people. Not only are these folks giving out misinformation and covering up sex crimes -- they are also doing their best to pit Jew against Jew, creating an atmosphere of cult like behavior. A few weeks ago we learned that at the recent Agudath Israel convention, there was a private meeting in which they discussed how they best could use the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office to bypass making hotline reports and further promote various sexual predators offending behaviors. We all must be aware that according to studies, one sex offender will molest at least 117 times within their lifetime --- leaving possibly 117 new victims. Not only does this alter the lives of the survivors, yet it also changes the dynamics of their family members and their communities
It seems that the singular purpose of Rabbi Frankfurter’s appearance on the Zev Brenner radio show where he originally appeared with Dr. Salamon was apparently to negate what Dr Michael Salamon had to say. Frankfurter was loud and repeatedly interrupted the psychologist who has years of experience working with survivors of child abuse and other forms of abuse. He was generally rigid in his statements on the topic. Based on his comments it was clear that he was uninformed on the issues so Dr. Salamon asked him on air if he had even bothered to read the book. The Rabbi was forced to admit that he had not but had read only the back cover where there were several approbations, one of which he objected to. Nevertheless, he continued to attack the book and even attacked Dr. Salamon’s personhood on air. Based on what he wrote it would appear that he was on a different radio show entirely.
In Rabbi Frankfurter’s editorial which appeared the week after the radio show he stated “Abuse is a global problem”, while simultaneously rejecting the fact that it exists as it does in the Orthodox world. Resorting to character assassination he called Dr. Michael Salamon a self-hating Jew with an anti-charedi bias without knowing him or any of his beliefs. In response to a question from the show’s host regarding why some people are leaving the charedi world Dr Salamon quoted from a Jerusalem Post article written by a former member of that world who had left it because of the overwhelming need of members of that world to be controlling and rejecting of those who wish to approach issues realistically. In his article the Rabbi objected to that as well, also likely without first reading the article
The
question of self-hatred is not an open one. Individuals who use their
positions of power to deny reality and attack those who are trying to
help others are the true self haters.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Herschel Taubenfeld received Smicha (rabbinical ordination)
Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg's Hotline - December 15, 2011
(Translation by Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg)
מזל טוב
כשהן עולין עולין עד לרקיע, וכשהן יורדין יורדין עד העפר
When they are elevated, they are elevated up to the sky,
And when they descend, they descend down to the dust.
פון ווען איך האב געזאגט אז דער מנובל הערשעל טויבענפעלד איז א מורה הוראה, שיקט מען מיר כסדר emails אז
ער איז נישט קיין מורה הוראה, ער איז סתם א אינגערמאן, ווייל די סקווירער
ווייסען דאך זייער בראך און זיי שעמען זיך אז זייערס א שיינער איד איז אזוי
א נידעריגע בריאה. וויל איך מודיע זיין בשער בת רבים אז ער האט
ארויסגענימען התרת הוראה פון הרב וואזנער שליט"א'ס בי"ד, און ער איז שוין
100% בארעכטיגט צו זיין א נואף ווי אסאך אנדערע רבנים. אויך קען ער שוין
ווערען איינער פין די ל"ג ל"ג רבנים און אינטערשרייבען דעם חי"ת אויף מיר
שטאטץ דעם וואס איז שוין א שוכן "עפר".
Since I said that the menuval Herschel Taubenfeld is a dayan, I am bombarded with emails saying that he is not a dayan just a plain yungerman, because the Squerer know well their problem and are embarresed that one of their prominent people is such a lowlife. Therefore I want to announce publicly, that he recently was given Semicha by the Beth Din of Harav Wosner shlit”a, and he is already entitled to be an adulterer, like some other Rabbis. He can already become one of the la”g la”g Rabbis, and sign my ban instead of the one that hit the dust.
Also beware that he owns the playgroup at 31 Rita Ave. in Monsey.
Sign Posted in New Square: Can you spare something for Herschel Taubenfeld
Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg's Hotline - December 18, 20111
Translation by Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg:
The Squirrels Are embarking on a
Schnorr Campaign
For Herschel Taubenfeld
They distributed today Shabbos such handbills
In the Tzodik’s shul
That the Dayan is making a collection
To save a brother
Indeed he is a brother
He is not the only menuval in town
His uncle Avrum Moshe thinks he will rescue him
Just like he rescued Chaim Berger
Not even will Hillary be able help him
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Squirrels Schnorr Campaign For Herschel Taubenfeld Is getting more intense
Translation by Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg
Those
that signed to save a “brother” seem to really be his brothers, meaning
they are as bad as he is. I can understand them trying to help him, but
ro write that he is a G-D fearing person, whom are you kidding?
It also says a lot about the signatories: Aaro Lefkowitz, Pinchos Shpitzer, Shraga Ezra Taubenfeld (nephew), Sholom Elye Felberbaum and of course the Dayan Eisenberger
שרגא עזרא, לייג אוועק די געלט פאר דיין טאטע ווען ער וועט אי"ה בקרוב גיין זיצען.
Shraga Ezra, save the money for your daddy, for when he will be picked up
דער סקווירער שנאר קאמפיין
פאר [הרה"ג] הערשעל טויבענפעלד
איז מוסיף והולך
עס ווערט מעכטיגער ממש ווי די
מהדרין מן המהדרין
די
אלע וואס האבען אינטערגעשריבען אז מען זאל ראטעווען א "ברודער" זענען די
זעלבע מנובלים ווי ער אליינס, ממילא אז זיי שנארען פאר עהם, אבער צו
שרייבען אז ער איז א "יראת שמים". ווען ער וועט גיין זיצען, וועט ער
ברענגען אסאך מענטשען צו יראת שמים
עס זאגט אויך אסאך אויף די אינטערשרייבער: אהרן לעפקאוויטש, פינחס שפיטצער, שרגא עזרא טויבענפעלד (נעפיו) און שלו' אלי' פעלבערבוים, מיטען דיין אייזענבערגער.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Rabbi Yehuda Levin - December 28, 2011
PLEASE NOTE: Rabbi Yehuda's views do not always represent mainstream Orthodox Judaism's views. After reviewing this video, his remarks are totally on target, and represents the views of those close to this case.
Rabbi Levin takes a look at a child abuse situation in Skvere & allegations against Herschel Taubenfeld. Levin responds to an Ami interview with R' Hesrhel Schachter who excoriates the Beis Din & Toanim situation & asks why the same criticism can't be leveled against him for blindly supporting the anti Halacha mesira & harassment techniques of theY.U. student group Orah.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Taubenfeld Case Adjourned for Now
Rockland County Times - November 26, 2012
Herschel Taubenfeld, a New Square man charged with 30 misdemeanor
counts of molestations against a male youth in his village, appeared for
a hearing before Judge Salas of New Square Village Court on November
19.
Originally a plea deal was expected but the matter was adjourned.
Taubenfeld, charged last December with 10 counts of forcible
touching; 10 counts of sex abuse in the third degree; and 10 counts of
endangering the welfare of a child, was told to appear back in court in
January 2013, pending further information on his “probation report.”
Sources close to the case gave the following statement:
 |
| Viznitz Rebbe shaking hands with Herschel Taubenfed (08/2012 |
In the Taubenfeld case, advocates such as Brooklyn rabbi Nuchem
Rosenberg are concerned that a weak sentence will send the wrong message
that molesters can get away with their misdeeds with a relative slap on
the wrist. That could discourage future victims from coming forward.
Rosenberg is a leader in the effort to raise awareness and fight
sexual abuse in Hasidic and Orthodox communities. The topic has been
receiving more attention in recent months and years, following many
high profile cases.
Rockland County prosecutors have said it is challenging to pursue sex
abuse cases within Rockland’s religious communities, as typically
social pressure encourages such matters to be dealt with internally.
In a recent case against Monsey resident Schmuel Dym, Rockland County
District Attorney Thomas Zugibe told The Journal News that social
pressure created hurdles to justice. He said, ultimately the victims did
not wish to testify in the case due to the pressure, thus weakening the
DA Office’s position and leading to Dym receiving only probation.
However, some activists contest this characterization of the Dym case and others.
Shmarya Rosenberg, editor of the watchdog website
www.failedmessiah.com, said, ”If the DA protected the victims and their
families and worked closely with them, more would choose to testify. But
he doesn’t really do that, and then he offers Dym and other like him
plea deals that are really disgraceful, but which many haredi rabbis
love. And it is those rabbis who often control large blocs of votes.
That’s the real story with most of these cases.”
The issue of sex abuse has received attention around the country. Rav
Moshe Soloveichik of Chicago, Illinois is a prominent authority who has
been working to raise awareness of abuse. He offered a statement on the
topic in light of the charges against Taubenfeld.
“While I am not familiar with the details of this particular case
in New Square, being a resident of Chicago myself, a few basic
principles need to be emphasized. Child-molesters should be reported to
the police and brought to justice, primarily as a preventative and
protective measure…To grasp the enormity of the obligation incumbent on
us to root out child-molestation, we need to focus on its horrific
effects on children. Perhaps one of the most devastating effects of
child molestation is the repetition of the cycle of abuse. In some
cases, victims who do not receive the help they need, in turn, may
eventually victimize others in a similar manner. This results in a
child molestation crisis of epidemic proportions – as we have today.”
___________________________________________________________________________________
Herschel
Taubenfeld of the “Holy” town
New Square plead guilty
Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg's Hotline - January 17, 2013
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 convictions in Orthodox child sex cases
Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg's Hotline - January 17, 2013
Herschel
Taubenfeld of the “Holy” town
New Square plead guilty to forcible (forbidden) touching, will get 6 yrs
probation and SEX Offender's Registry. Sex Offender Level to be decided by judge on Jan. 28, 5PM. A Playgroup he will be forbidden to have. But he
is – a DAYAN (Religious Judge).
הערשל טויבענפעלד פון "העיליגע" שטעטל
"סקווירא", האט גענומען א "פלי בארגין", ער האט זיך דערקלערט
שולדיג אויף אנרירען (ווי מען טאר נישט) מיט געוואלד, און ער גייט באקומען 6 יאר
"פראבעשען" און וועט אויך זיין רעגיסטרירט אויף דער "Sex Offenders Registry", דער שטאפעל וועט דעצידירט ווערן ביים שופט, דעם 28טען
יאנואר, מאנטיג פ' יתרו. קיין פלעיגרופּ וועט ער שוין מער נישט טארן האבען. אבער
ער איז – א מורה הוראה.
___________________________________________________________________________________
2 convictions in Orthodox child sex cases
LoHud - January 18, 2013
NEW CITY — Two members of Rockland’s Orthodox Jewish community have pleaded guilty to charges of sexually abusing children, heartening children protection advocates who have been pushing for increased awareness and prosecutions of such cases. A third man is facing pre-trial hearings in County Court.
A 58-year-old Monsey man admitted in court Friday that he had anal sex with a 14-year-old boy.
The admission came after a judge promised the man a sentence of 10 years’ probation to spare the child from having to testify.
Moishe
Turner of 5 Dana Road, a heavy-set man with a long beard streaked with
gray, had been accused of having anal and oral sex with the boy on seven
occasions during July 2011.
Turner
was the second person who avoided incarceration this week by pleading
guilty to a sexual crime involving a child. He’s been free on $75,000
bail and awaits sentencing March 19.
 |
| Rabbi Herschel Taubenfeld |
Taubenfeld
originally had been charged in December 2011 with with 10 counts of
forcible touching, 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and
10 counts of third-degree sex abuse, all misdemeanors.
Another man, Dovid Kohn of Monsey, 59, faces 40 criminal counts of having oral sex with a girl when she was between 12 and 15.
Kohn
is currently challenging telephone conversations between him and the
girl taped by police as inaudible at pretrial hearings in Rockland
County Court. Prosecutors and Ramapo police said the girl, now in her
20s, remains a witness in the case.
Shmuel
Dym, 32, of Monsey is fighting his guilty plea to sexually molesting a
boy. Supreme Court Justice William Kelly has twice turned down Dym’s
request to withdraw his guilty plea.
The
increased prosecution of sex attacks on children within the Hasidic and
ultra-Orthodox community has been welcomed by advocates for children.
The advocates said police and prosecutors are just skimming the surface,
arguing there are unreported sexual attacks on children.
"The epidemic of child-molestation threatens an entire generation of
children,” said Monsey-based Rabbi Noson Leiter, founder of Help Rescue
Our Children. “Many of these molesters are arrogant, narcissistic,
deceptive, and downright evil. Even though some of them appear unable to
control themselves, that is because of choices they repeatedly and
intentionally made.”Leiter, a leader of
Torah Jews for Decency in Monsey, said Taubenfeld’s guilty plea “is a
trail-blazing case — the first in which a survivor from within New
Square prosecuted a molester within the community.”
He said he hopes other families will find the strength to come forward and fight off community pressure not to report sexual abuse. He praised the Ramapo police for their efforts when told about children being abused.
"Taubenfeld's own admission to molestation charges also confirms that current New Square leadership who clearly failed to stop this vile, manipulative ‘educator’ and is unqualified to deal with the molestation crisis,” Leiter said.
Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said the religious community has been more open with police and prosecutors. He said historically the major issue confronting law enforcement was the “insular community often protected the accused at the expense of the victims.”
Zugibe said he was encouraged by the Taubenfeld case. He said families in the religious community have “recognized finally that if you protect the victims all you are doing is creating a new generation of offenders and victims.”
“In the latest cases, particularly Taubenfeld, I have to credit the community for being more forthcoming,” Zugibe said. “We have a long way to go. I am hopeful this is a new trend.”
Families face being kicked out of the religious community and having their children denied schooling and services.
The family of the boy abused by Turner faced pressure from the community leaders to drop out of the case, authorities said.
Prosecutor Jennifer Parietti said Friday in court that Zugibe approved the no-prison sentence for Turner.
He said he hopes other families will find the strength to come forward and fight off community pressure not to report sexual abuse. He praised the Ramapo police for their efforts when told about children being abused.
"Taubenfeld's own admission to molestation charges also confirms that current New Square leadership who clearly failed to stop this vile, manipulative ‘educator’ and is unqualified to deal with the molestation crisis,” Leiter said.
Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said the religious community has been more open with police and prosecutors. He said historically the major issue confronting law enforcement was the “insular community often protected the accused at the expense of the victims.”
Zugibe said he was encouraged by the Taubenfeld case. He said families in the religious community have “recognized finally that if you protect the victims all you are doing is creating a new generation of offenders and victims.”
“In the latest cases, particularly Taubenfeld, I have to credit the community for being more forthcoming,” Zugibe said. “We have a long way to go. I am hopeful this is a new trend.”
Families face being kicked out of the religious community and having their children denied schooling and services.
The family of the boy abused by Turner faced pressure from the community leaders to drop out of the case, authorities said.
Prosecutor Jennifer Parietti said Friday in court that Zugibe approved the no-prison sentence for Turner.
Turner faced seven years in state prison under the felony charge. The
case was down for a pretrial hearing with Ramapo Detectives Peg
Braddock and Robert Fitzgerald ready to testify.
She told Kelly that she supported the sentence “to spare this victim the difficulties of the trial.”
“The victim is under tremendous pressure,” she said. “This plea will relieve that.”
Turner admitted he had anal sex with the boy under questioning from Parietti in July 2011. He admitted he knew the boy was 14, making him incapable of consent under the law.
Turner’s lawyer, former District Attorney Kenneth Gribetz, said after court that he’s not aware of any rabbi or religious community leader putting pressure of the boy or his family.
“Our hope is the victim can go on with his life,” Gribetz said. “There was no pressure from the community. I think justice will be served. Our client is very sorry and he’s happy to put this behind him.”
Turner, who prayed before court, doesn’t speak fluent English. He speaks Yiddish and needed a translator to tell him what was being discussed in court and for his responses.
Kelly and Gribetz made sure Turner agreed he was voluntarily pleading guilty to the charges and signed a waiver giving up his right to appeal.
“The victim is under tremendous pressure,” she said. “This plea will relieve that.”
Turner admitted he had anal sex with the boy under questioning from Parietti in July 2011. He admitted he knew the boy was 14, making him incapable of consent under the law.
Turner’s lawyer, former District Attorney Kenneth Gribetz, said after court that he’s not aware of any rabbi or religious community leader putting pressure of the boy or his family.
“Our hope is the victim can go on with his life,” Gribetz said. “There was no pressure from the community. I think justice will be served. Our client is very sorry and he’s happy to put this behind him.”
Turner, who prayed before court, doesn’t speak fluent English. He speaks Yiddish and needed a translator to tell him what was being discussed in court and for his responses.
Kelly and Gribetz made sure Turner agreed he was voluntarily pleading guilty to the charges and signed a waiver giving up his right to appeal.
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