PSA: Starting on Thursday, a one year window will open in New York allowing anyone sexually abused as an adult to sue their abuser or any institutions responsible for enabling it no matter how long ago it happened. The law allowing this is called the Adult Survivors Act.
In light of the challah bake that was supposed to be taking place today on behalf of now-convicted child rapist, Yanky Daskal, we're going to be hosting a virtual challah bake this Thursday 7/20 on behalf of his survivor and all survivors. It's about time we celebrate them.
We're here in the Monticello Village Justice Court to observe the criminal case against Yitzchak Eizik Krishevsky for felony solicitation of a minor in a school zone and misdemeanor child endangerment. Below is a pic of today's criminal court calendar.
After a few frank and honest meetings it became clear that we could not agree on a path forward that would satisfy both JFREJ's position and ZA'AKAH's position on best practices.
JFREJ reached out to begin discussions about how best to remedy the harm done, both to survivors - Powell's and any others who may have been hurt by seeing him on stage - and parents in the crowd who may not have known that a registered sex offender was present.
It's official. This is what happens when you give survivors access to justice. They take it. Congratulations to
@ejeancarroll
, and a huge round of applause to all the advocates who made the ASA happen.
One member of the contingent sent by VOCAL-NY was a man named Douglas Powell, an active member of VOCAL-NY, and a registered sex offender.
Following The Mazals ZAAKAH made a post in which it criticized JFREJ's decision to allow Powell to be honored as part of the group. .
This is sick. A hafrashas challah event next Tuesday in honor of Alleged rapist Yanky Daskal, former head of Shomrim whose trial for allegedly raping a minor who was living in his house begins on Monday.
As of yesterday morning, Dr. Robert Goodman, who has been sued in a class action for allegedly sexually assaulting numerous women at his practice in Boro Park, was still on rotation as an attending physician with admitting privileges at
@MaimoHealth
hospital.
We're glad to see Amudim sharing information about the Adult Survivors Act, especially given their reach in the chassidish community. Following the closure of the CVA window we were contacted by a number of people who hadn't known about it while it was open.
This Thanksgiving, NYS is finally giving Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse an opportunity for closure.
Read more, and learn about the Adult Survivors Act & Child Victims Act:
This year at their annual gala fundraiser, The Mazals, JFREJ honored VOCAL-NY, an advocacy group comprised of and fighting for the rights of the homeless and formerly incarcerated.
***Rabbi Mordechai Ben Haim, Former Rabbi of Shaarei Emunah, and Former Teacher at Shaarei Zion, and Yeshiva University, Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Abusing Children. Queens Beis Din Issues Warning to Boca Raton community.***
As we head into the Yamin Noraim of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, we want to remind everyone that if they need someone to talk to on shabbos or Yom Tov we are always available by phone or Whatsapp chat for mental health peer support at 888-492-2524.
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse in Maryland, and in particular from Baltimore, and the statute of limitations on your case had previously passed, you can now, indefinitely, file a lawsuit against your abuser and any people/institutions that covered it up or enabled it.
***Update on Shalom Yehudiel***
After the indictment in his criminal case was dismissed yesterday afternoon, Shalom Yehudiel was rearrested today at JFK Airport on charges that he allegedly sexually assaulted Elisheva Akselrod at Anshei Lubavitch in Fairlawn when she was 15.
While we strongly believe that people have a right to know about risks in their community, we also believe that the victims have a right to maintain their privacy as the case progresses. To publicly identify them exposes them to attention they haven't asked for.
Breaking: Jacob Daskal Pleads Guilty to Transporting Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. According to the plea deal, Daskal wil be accepting a sentence of between 14 and 17.5 years in prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
What's important in this case is that an arrest was made, the case is proceeding, and the victims will hopefully get justice.
We will happily share coverage written by reporters who understand the importance of discretion in protecting the identities of the victims in this case.
A number of people have been asking us why we haven't been posting any of the news coverage of the arrest of Hayim Nissim Cohen despite our obvious interest in the case. It's a fair question.
Avshalom Cohen of Our Unique Family who has been supporting Hayim Nissim Cohen through his criminal trial for sexually abusing his adopted children, has himself been arrested on child sexual abuse charges. He is facing two counts of Deviate Sexual Assault of a child.
***Rabbi Mordechai Sitorsky, Mechanech, Speaker, and Former principal of Boyan, Accused of Sexually Abusing Minor in GMVA Suit. Skverrer Rebbe Also Sued for Alleged Coverup***
As always, incredible work by
@luketress
for
@TimesofIsrael
. A thorough deep dive on Hayim Nissim Cohen, his background, and the long list of abuse allegations he now faces in court.
Following the sexual abuse charges filed against Hayim Nissim Cohen in early Feb and the prior charges in 2019 for allegedly sexually abusing a foreign exchange student, Cohen has been charged with a series of new offenses relating to the sexual and physical abuse of children.
***Maryland Child Victims Act Alert!!!***
The Maryland senate has passed their version of the Child Victims Act, and now it heads to the governor for signing.
The following letter was sent to JEC parents by the school guidance counselor about how to talk to kids about Noah Kalter's firing. Overall this letter contains some very good and helpful information, particularly how to deal with any guilt a child may be feeling over the firing.
Every day
@zaakahny
works to help survivors of sex abuse in the Jewish world seek justice. Survivors often feel like they don’t have a community to support them. Let’s change that.
#zaakahfundraiser2022
donate here:
***Lipa and Joseph Schlesinger Accused of Repeated Rape and Sexual Assault, and Inviting Other Men to Join in Sexual Assault of Minor over 10 years in GMVA Suit***
Impersonating a board member of a victims services organization to influence the decisions of another is a new low, and we are disgusted at the attempt. We are glad that
@AmudimOrg
set the record straight.
*** Gershon Selinger Pleads Guilty to Abusing Another Child***
Following the release of his interview with
@MendyTV
, another survivor came forward against Gershon Selinger with allegations of sexual abuse.
The remaining defamation claims by Shmuel Krawatsky against his victims' families and the third alleged victim's family, as well as Chaim Levin, have all been dismissed in summary judgment.
***Executive Vice President of The Rabbinical Council of America - RCA, founder of Kesher Families, Menachem Penner, Wrote Sentencing Recommendation Letter for Alleged Sexual Abuser Judah Karkowsky, Hires Rabbi Chaim Rapoport Who Testified for Convicted Rapist, Mendy Levy***
Often in the course of reporting on case relevant to the community, we receive calls from people asking us to take down our posts. Most of the time these calls are from friends or relatives of the alleged perp claiming for one reason or another to know the allegations are false.
We are so proud to be launching our new podcast, Outcry! Outcry is the English translation of our name, ZA'AKAH. This podcast is about the topic of sexual abuse in the Jewish community with a focus on the Orthodox Jewish community.
Notable about their version of the Child Victims Act is that it eliminates the statute of limitations backwards and forwards, fully and without any time restrictions.
Daskal Sentenced to 17.5 Years*
Former Shomrim head, Yanky Daskal, was sentenced today in the eastern district Court of New York to 17.5 years in prison. His lawyers requested placement at Ft Dix.
Important information for Boro Park residents: Fishel Sherman has been re-arrested for sexual abuse after being let go in 2015 through a diversion program after similar charges.
Boro Park resident Fishel Sherman, previously charged with sexual abuse and let free through a diversion program, has been re-arrested for child sexual abuse.
We post about these cases because we feel it's important for people to be aware of alleged abusers in their communities so they can make informed decisions about keeping their families safe, and because transparency in the process of justice is the only way it can be effective.
We sit down with Linda B. Rosenthal the New York State Assembly sponsor who championed both the Child Victims Act and the Adult Survivors Act in the Assembly. We get into the weeds about the new law, answer some questions from our audience, and discuss its background and history.
Spring Valley Therapist Daniel Dresdner who is currently being sued by two former clients for allegedly sexually abusing them during sessions is now facing 55 counts of sexual abuse in the third degree. Pic from Haverstraw Town Court this morning at his hearing. Next at 5/5 9 AM.
*Moshe "Moyo" Davidson Arrested for Allegedly Sexually Abusing a Young Girl*
Moshe "Moyo" Davidson age 28, originally from Scranton, PA and now living in the Monsey area, was arrested in November for the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl under the age of 11 in August of '13.
Rahel Bayar of
@TheBayarGroup
will be hosting an Instagram Live tonight at 8:30 PM to discuss what steps parents should be taking in the wake of the Zev Steen arrest, including concerns about their own children's safety and what to do with devices serviced by TAG Baltimore.
"For a school to claim, essentially, that being sexually abused is a regular function of a child's school experience is not only shocking but indicative of exactly the kind of culture that leads to those kids having been sexually abused."
This time around it will hopefully be different, and with Amudim promoting the Adult Survivors Act window we hope that every survivor in the frum community will have the opportunity to choose whether or to pursue justice.
According to the New York Post, this afternoon a 42 year old man named Yossi Mayer was arrested at the Hesed LeAvraham Synagogue on Avenue R and East 7th Street in Midwood for attempted abduction.
Knowing who the victims are is not important. Trying to ascertain the identity of the person who made the complaint is unnecessary and unhelpful. Asking us for documents we've already said we won't provide because they could identify the victims won't get us to provide them.
***Rabbi Ari Segal, Former Counselor at
@MoshavaIO
, Former Student Activities Director at
@RamazSchool
, Former Head of School at Robert M.
@BerenAcademy
, & Former Head of School at
@ShalhevetBP
High School, Found to be Credibly Accused of Sexual Misconduct at Beren.***
***Daniel Dresdner to be Sentenced on Tisha B'av***
Following his guilty plea in the cases of two clients who alleged they were repeatedly sexually assaulted, Daniel Dresdner is being sentenced tomorrow, Tisha B'av, in Haverstraw Village Justice Court.
***Zev Steen, Former Head of TAG Baltimore, and Bnos Yisroel Teacher, Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitations of a Child. Plea Recommends 28 Years in Federal Prison and Sex Offender Registry.***
The following letter was sent to parents of Bnos Yisroel in Baltimore concerning STEM teacher Zev Steen. Steen was charged with multiple counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. According to the letter the material was not hosted on any school devices.
We’re starting this podcast because the issue of sexual abuse is vast and complex, and when you factor in the specific difficulties faced by survivors in the Orthodox community, it deserves to be covered in a medium that can give it the space it needs to be fully explored.
According to the criminal complaint Davidson fondled and penetrated his victim's vagina with his fingers, and rubbed his penis on her vagina. Davidson was previously convicted for sexual abuse of another victim in Israel.
Davidson is currently out on $5000 bail.
Adult Survivors Act Case Filed Against Dr. Steven G. Wishner of Huntington Station
On 10/9/06, Plaintiff had an appointment with Dr. Steven Wishner at Huntington Medical Group on Pulaski Road in Huntington Station, Suffolk County, NY to get cleared for a minor eye procedure.
We love a stupid criminal. Former Woodmere Fire EMT Judah Karkowsky beat a child sex abuse charge on a technicality, but then forged a court transcript to try fooling Young Israel of Woodmere into letting him back. He was convicted of 8 charges.
***Gershon Kranczer Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison***
Rabbi Gershon Kranczer, former principal of Yeshiva Tehila L'Dovid, has been sentences to 9 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing 3 children.
Former SAR assistant principal Jonathan Skolnick pleads guilty to child enticement and possession of child pornography. Minimum sentence 10 years, max life. Sentencing to be held in September.
The guiding principle of ZA’AKAH is simple: The second an institution becomes more important than the people it serves it no longer deserves to exist, and that will hold true for this podcast as well. No one is too important to be held accountable, and no one is above reproach.
This is in addition to his arrest in early May for Human Smuggling charges. During that arrest he was found with a cache of weapons and a fake police badge.
***Boro Park Doctor, Robert Goodman, Accused of Sexual Assault by Two Former Patients; Complaint Alleges There Are Likely Dozens***
(click image to read)
Rabbi Mordechai Sitorsky is currently a resident of Jackson, NJ. He has previously lived in Boro Park and Bayswater. He has given shiurim in many shuls, and worked as a ba'al koreh in Rabbi Felder's Shul and Stretin in Boro Park, and Agudah of Bayswater.
This is not how a supposedly moral institution should be acting. Going forward, nothing is going to stop these brave survivors from exposing the truth. As discovery continues we will continue publicizing the details of Yeshiva University's crimes.
***Updates on Avshalom Cohen arrest and Hayim Nissim Cohen Case***
As we reported earlier today, Avshalom Cohen has been taken into custody on a warrant for two charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor.
Our response to such calls is to explain that when we post allegations of sexual abuse we aren't making statements of guilt or innocence, we're reporting on publicly available information so the public can be aware and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
Former chef/owner of The Humble Toast & La Cucina Di Nava, Shalom Yehudiel, was indicted yesterday on 2 charges each of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a victim < 16 (w/ supervisory power), and Sexual Assault by a Supervisor, and one charge of Endangering/Sexual Conduct w/ a Child.
.
@AmudimOrg
was horrified and disgusted that someone would claim to be a board member while trying to influence another victims services organization to take down a post about an alleged sexual harasser. They repudiate the claim and strongly denounced the person making it.
Moshe Zahler lives in Kiryas Joel and owns a vitamin and supplement company in Southfields, New York called Life's Fortune. According to a complaint filed in New York Civil Court in May of 2024 Zahler was approached by Plaintiff in January of 2018 when Plaintiff was 20 years old.
Jury verdict in part 1 of Krawatsky's trial. Questions are did the following happen:
Battery 1st alleged victim verdict: Yes
Assault 2nd alleged victim verdict: Yes
Battery 3rd alleged victim verdict: No
The complaint alleges that Sitorsky abused Plaintiff repeatedly, touching and grinding against her, and then escalating to fondling her breasts, digitally penetrating her, touching her vagina with his penis, performing oral sex on her, and forcing her to perform oral sex on him.
***Child Victims Act Lawsuit Against Yeshiva University Clears Motion to Dismiss, Will Proceed***
Yeshiva University's motion to dismiss in the Child Victims Act lawsuit filed against it by more than 50 plaintiffs was mostly denied by Judge Alexander Tisch.
@YUNews
@YUCommie
We're going to be recording our Outcry interview with Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal in a couple of hours. If you have any questions for her about the Adult Survivors Act or anything else, let me know!
These charges are in addition to the existing child sexual abuse charges against him from 2019 for Indecency with a child by contact, and a civil case against him filed by a former foreign exchange student who alleges that Cohen sexually assaulted him.
We will be protesting outside of Ohel this Sunday against their clear indifference toward sexual abuse & their retention of area coordinator Alex Mintz who was named in a CVA suit without them notifying parents and staff about it or investigating.
.
@MaimoHealth
is also named in the lawsuit as having allegedly been alerted to Goodman's alleged abuses years ago and doing nothing about it. Clearly that's true if he was working there as of yesterday.
***Special Children's Center of Lakewood Accused of Retaliating Against Employee for Reporting Horrific Sexual Abuse of Resident***
Special Children's Center is a facility for special needs individuals serving the Lakewood frum community that offers respite services, residential
New charges have been filed against Hayim Nissim Cohen, adoptive father of 9 children known as My Unique Family on social media.
Cohen has been charged with the following felonies:
***
@StanPolovets
Co-Founder and CEO of
@TheGenesisPrize
Foundation, and Co-Founder and CEO Emeritus of the Genesis Philanthropy Group, Accused of Drugging and Raping Woman in ASA Lawsuit***
Following the second set of charges against Zev Steen, his bail was revoked and he was rearrested. Earlier this week Steen filed a habeas corpus petition requesting a bail hearing to allow him to be released to a monitoring program while out on bail.
Due to the war happening in Israel and the magnitude of the tragedy over the last two days, ZAAKAH will be opening its peer support hotline tomorrow between 10 AM and 8 PM EDT for anyone who needs to talk on the phone or over WhatsApp chat. The number for both is 888-492-2524.