Accusations of Sexual Abuse: Jewish Ethical Guidance is Lacking

As rabbis we must do all that is in our power to reverse the deterioration of society and to elevate standards of moral behavior. We are expected, therefore, to behave at a level worthy of emulation. This includes behavior in family, social and financial affairs. CCAR Code of Ethics

"We are devastated that a member of our clergy could abuse our (or any) pulpit and position of power within our community the way that Rabbi Zimmerman did. According to all three women, Rabbi Zimmerman discussed Martin Buber’s “I and Thou” theology with them as a framework of relationship, and, with two of the women, as divine sanction for his behavior. This was a gross manipulation of his spiritual authority. The women shared the irreversible harm that his behavior caused in their lives, including, for one of them, leaving Judaism completely. And, to this day, each of these three women told us that he has not made Teshuvah with them." Statement of April 27, 2021 by Rabbi Angela Buchdal on behalf of Central Synagogue.

DECLARATION ON ETHICS IN JEWISH LEADERSHIP

"Unethical behavior among Jewish leaders has reached crisis levels in the American Jewish community. It seems hardly a week passes without news of yet another scandal involving rabbis, Jewish organizational professionals, or other individuals in leadership positions. These disturbing developments make a mockery of Jewish values, shatter the trust that we have placed in our community's leaders, and alienate young people from Judaism."

ויקרא י״ט:ב׳

(ב) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

Leviticus 19:2

(2) Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.

ויקרא י״ח:כ״ט-ל׳

(כט) כִּ֚י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה מִכֹּ֥ל הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְנִכְרְת֛וּ הַנְּפָשׁ֥וֹת הָעֹשֹׂ֖ת מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃ (ל) וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֗י לְבִלְתִּ֨י עֲשׂ֜וֹת מֵחֻקּ֤וֹת הַתּֽוֹעֵבֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשׂ֣וּ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִֽטַּמְּא֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (פ)

Leviticus 18:29-30

(29) All who do any of those abhorrent things—such persons shall be cut off from their people. (30) You shall keep My charge not to engage in any of the abhorrent practices that were carried on before you, and you shall not defile yourselves through them: I the LORD am your God.

The appearance of impropriety

בראשית רבה ע׳:י״ב

(יב) וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָה יַעֲקֹב וַיִּגַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב וַיָּגֶל אֶת הָאֶבֶן (בראשית כט, י), אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כָּזֶה שֶׁהוּא מַעֲבִיר פְּקַק מֵעַל פִּי צְלוֹחִית. (בראשית כט, יא): וַיִּשַּׁק יַעֲקֹב לְרָחֵל, כָּל נְשִׁיקָה לְתִפְלוּת בַּר מִן תְּלַת, נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל גְּדֻלָּה, נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל פְּרָקִים, נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל פְּרִישׁוּת. נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל גְּדֻלָּה (שמואל א י, א): וַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת פַּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶן וַיִּצֹּק עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וַיִּשָּׁקֵהוּ. נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל פְּרָקִים (שמות ד, כז): וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּפְגְּשֵׁהוּ בְּהַר הָאֱלֹהִים וַיִּשַּׁק לוֹ. נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל פְּרִישׁוּת (רות א, יד): וַתִּשַּׁק עָרְפָּה לַחֲמוֹתָהּ וְרוּת דָּבְקָה בָּהּ. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אָמַר אַף נְשִׁיקָה שֶׁל קְרֵיבוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּשַּׁק יַעֲקֹב לְרָחֵל, שֶׁהָיְתָה קְרוֹבָתוֹ. וַיִּשָֹּׂא אֶת קֹלוֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ, לָמָּה בָּכָה, אָמַר, אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָלַךְ לְהָבִיא אֶת רִבְקָה מַה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ (בראשית כד, י): וַיִּקַּח הָעֶבֶד עֲשָׂרָה גְמַלִּים וְגו', וַאֲנִי לֹא נֶזֶם אֶחָד וְלֹא צָמִיד אֶחָד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לָמָּה בָּכָה, שֶׁרָאָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ נִכְנֶסֶת עִמּוֹ לַקְּבוּרָה, הֲדָא הִיא דְּהִיא אָמְרָה לָהּ (בראשית ל, טו): לָכֵן יִשְׁכַּב עִמָּךְ הַלַּיְלָה, אָמְרָה לָהּ עִמָּךְ הוּא דָּמֵיךְ, עִמִּי לֵית הוּא דָּמֵיךְ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, לָמָּה בָּכָה, שֶׁרָאָה הָאֲנָשִׁים מְלַחֲשִׁים אֵלּוּ לְאֵלּוּ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנְּשָׁקָהּ, מַה בָּא זֶה לְחַדֵּשׁ לָנוּ דְּבַר עֶרְוָה. שֶׁמִּשָּׁעָה שֶׁלָּקָה הָעוֹלָם בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל עָמְדוּ אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם וְגָדְרוּ עַצְמָן מִן הָעֶרְוָה, הֲדָא אָמְרָת שֶׁאַנְשֵׁי מִזְרָח גְּדוּרִים מִן הָעֶרְוָה.

Bereshit Rabbah 70:12

(12) ...Why did he weep? He said, "At the time that Eliezer brought Rebecca, what is written about it? 'And the servant took ten camels, etc.' But I did not take a single nose-ring, nor a single bracelet." Another explanation: Why did he weep? As he saw that she would not be buried with him. This is [the meaning of] that which is written that she said [to Leah] (Genesis 30:15), "Hence he will lay with you tonight" - it is with you that he will die, it is not with me that he will die. Another explanation: Why did he weep? As he saw people whispering to one another because he kissed her, "Why is this one coming to introduce a new matter of licentiousness?" As from the time that the world was struck during the generation of the flood, the nations of the world took a stand to forbid themselves licentiousness.

משנה קידושין ד׳:י״ב

(יב) לֹא יִתְיַחֵד אָדָם עִם שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים, אֲבָל אִשָּׁה אַחַת מִתְיַחֶדֶת עִם שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, אַף אִישׁ אֶחָד מִתְיַחֵד עִם שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים בִּזְמַן שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ וְיָשֵׁן עִמָּהֶם בְּפֻנְדְּקִי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִשְׁתּוֹ מְשַׁמַּרְתּוֹ. מִתְיַחֵד אָדָם עִם אִמּוֹ וְעִם בִּתּוֹ, וְיָשֵׁן עִמָּהֶם בְּקֵרוּב בָּשָׂר. וְאִם הִגְדִּילוּ, זוֹ יְשֵׁנָה בִכְסוּתָהּ וְזֶה יָשֵׁן בִּכְסוּתוֹ:

Mishnah Kiddushin 4:12

(12) A man may not be secluded with two women lest he sin with them, but one woman may be secluded with two men. Rabbi Shimon says: Even one man may be secluded with two women when his wife is with him, and in that situation he may even sleep in the same inn with two women, because his wife guards him from sinning with them. They further said that a man may be secluded with his mother, and with his daughter, and sleep alongside them with bodily contact without clothes, since there is no concern that they will engage in sexual intercourse. And when they, the son or daughter, have grown up, this one sleeps in her garment and that one sleeps in his garment, but they may share a bed.

Inappropriate sexual behavior

עמוס ב׳:ז׳

(ז) הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים עַל־עֲפַר־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ דַּלִּ֔ים וְדֶ֥רֶךְ עֲנָוִ֖ים יַטּ֑וּ וְאִ֣ישׁ וְאָבִ֗יו יֵֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן חַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשִֽׁי׃

Amos 2:7

(7) [Ah,] you who trample the heads of the poor Into the dust of the ground, And make the humble walk a twisted course! Father and son go to the same girl, And thereby profane My holy name.

שמואל ב י״א:ב׳-ו׳

(ב) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ לְעֵ֣ת הָעֶ֗רֶב וַיָּ֨קָם דָּוִ֜ד מֵעַ֤ל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ עַל־גַּ֣ג בֵּית־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אִשָּׁ֛ה רֹחֶ֖צֶת מֵעַ֣ל הַגָּ֑ג וְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃ (ג) וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּדְרֹ֖שׁ לָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲלוֹא־זֹאת֙ בַּת־שֶׁ֣בַע בַּת־אֱלִיעָ֔ם אֵ֖שֶׁת אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַחִתִּֽי׃ (ד) וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ דָּוִ֨ד מַלְאָכִ֜ים וַיִּקָּחֶ֗הָ וַתָּב֤וֹא אֵלָיו֙ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עִמָּ֔הּ וְהִ֥יא מִתְקַדֶּ֖שֶׁת מִטֻּמְאָתָ֑הּ וַתָּ֖שָׁב אֶל־בֵּיתָֽהּ׃ (ה) וַתַּ֖הַר הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה וַתִּשְׁלַח֙ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֔ד וַתֹּ֖אמֶר הָרָ֥ה אָנֹֽכִי׃ (ו) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב שְׁלַ֣ח אֵלַ֔י אֶת־אֽוּרִיָּ֖ה הַחִתִּ֑י וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־אֽוּרִיָּ֖ה אֶל־דָּוִֽד׃

II Samuel 11:2-6

(2) Late one afternoon, David rose from his couch and strolled on the roof of the royal palace; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, (3) and the king sent someone to make inquiries about the woman. He reported, “She is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam [and] wife of Uriah the Hittite.” (4) David sent messengers to fetch her; she came to him and he lay with her—she had just purified herself after her period—and she went back home. (5) The woman conceived, and she sent word to David, “I am pregnant.” (6) Thereupon David sent a message to Joab, “Send Uriah the Hittite to me”; and Joab sent Uriah to David.

Shame and Reputation

קידושין פ״א א:י״א-י״ב

הנך שבוייתא דאתאי לנהרדעא אסקינהו לבי רב עמרם חסידא אשקולו דרגא מקמייהו בהדי דקא חלפה חדא מנייהו נפל נהורא באיפומא שקליה רב עמרם לדרגא דלא הוו יכלין בי עשרה למדלייא דלייא לחודיה סליק ואזיל כי מטא לפלגא דרגא איפשח רמא קלא נורא בי עמרם אתו רבנן אמרו ליה כסיפתינן אמר להו מוטב תיכספו בי עמרם בעלמא הדין ולא תיכספו מיניה לעלמא דאתי אשבעיה דינפק מיניה נפק מיניה כי עמודא דנורא אמר ליה חזי דאת נורא ואנא בישרא ואנא עדיפנא מינך

Kiddushin 81a:11-12

§ The Gemara relates: Those captive women who were brought to Neharde’a, where they were redeemed, were brought up to the house of Rav Amram the Pious. They removed the ladder from before them to prevent men from climbing up after them to the attic where they were to sleep. When one of them passed by the entrance to the upper chamber, it was as though a light shone in the aperture due to her great beauty. Out of his desire for her, Rav Amram grabbed a ladder that ten men together could not lift, lifted it on his own and began climbing. When he was halfway up the ladder, he strengthened his legs against the sides of the ladder to stop himself from climbing further, raised his voice, and cried out: There is a fire in the house of Amram. Upon hearing this, the Sages came and found him in that position. They said to him: You have embarrassed us, since everyone sees what you had intended to do. Rav Amram said to them: It is better that you be shamed in Amram’s house in this world, and not be ashamed of him in the World-to-Come. He took an oath that his evil inclination should emerge from him, and an apparition similar to a pillar of fire emerged from him. He said to his evil inclination: See, as you are fire and I am mere flesh, and yet, I am still superior to you, as I was able to overcome you.

מועד קטן י״ז א:ד׳-י״ב

הָהוּא צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן דַּהֲווֹ סְנוּ שׁוּמְעָנֵיהּ אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה הֵיכִי לֶיעְבֵּיד לְשַׁמְּתֵיהּ צְרִיכִי לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן לָא לְשַׁמְּתֵיהּ קָא מִיתְּחִיל שְׁמָא דִשְׁמַיָּא אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְרַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה מִידֵּי שְׁמִיעַ לָךְ בְּהָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ הָכִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מַאי דִּכְתִיב כִּי שִׂפְתֵי כֹהֵן יִשְׁמְרוּ דַעַת וְתוֹרָה יְבַקְשׁוּ מִפִּיהוּ כִּי מַלְאַךְ ה׳ צְבָאוֹת הוּא אִם דּוֹמֶה הָרַב לְמַלְאַךְ ה׳ יְבַקְּשׁוּ תּוֹרָה מִפִּיו וְאִם לָאו אַל יְבַקְּשׁוּ תּוֹרָה מִפִּיו שַׁמְּתֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה לְסוֹף אִיחֲלַשׁ רַב יְהוּדָה אֲתוֹ רַבָּנַן לְשַׁיּוֹלֵי בֵּיהּ וַאֲתָא אִיהוּ נָמֵי בַּהֲדַיְיהוּ כַּד חַזְיֵיהּ רַב יְהוּדָה חַיֵּיךְ אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָא מִסָּתְיֵיהּ דְּשַׁמְּתֵיהּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא אֶלָּא אַחוֹכֵי נָמֵי חַיֵּיךְ בִּי אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָאו בְּדִידָךְ מְחַיֵּיכְנָא אֶלָּא דְּכִי אָזֵילְנָא לְהָהוּא עָלְמָא בְּדִיחָא דַּעְתַּאי דַּאֲפִילּוּ לְגַבְרָא כְּווֹתָךְ לָא חַנֵּיפִי לֵיהּ נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה אֲתָא לְבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא אֲמַר לְהוּ שְׁרוֹ לִי אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן גַּבְרָא דַּחֲשִׁיב כְּרַב יְהוּדָה לֵיכָּא הָכָא דְּלִישְׁרֵי לָךְ אֶלָּא זִיל לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה נְשִׂיאָה דְּלִישְׁרֵי לָךְ אֲזַל לְקַמֵּיהּ אֲמַר לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אַמֵּי פּוֹק עַיֵּין בְּדִינֵיהּ אִי מִיבְּעֵי לְמִישְׁרֵא לֵיהּ שְׁרִי לֵיהּ עַיֵּין רַבִּי אַמֵּי בְּדִינֵיהּ סְבַר לְמִישְׁרֵא לֵיהּ עָמַד רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר וּמָה שִׁפְחָה שֶׁל בֵּית רַבִּי לֹא נָהֲגוּ חֲכָמִים קַלּוּת רֹאשׁ בְּנִידּוּיָהּ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים יְהוּדָה חֲבֵירֵינוּ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה אֲמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא מַאי דְּקַמַּן דַּאֲתָא הָאִידָּנָא הַאי סָבָא בְּבֵי מִדְרְשָׁא דְּהָא כַּמָּה שְׁנֵי לָא אֲתָא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לָא מִיבְּעֵי לְמִישְׁרֵא לֵיהּ לָא שְׁרָא לֵיהּ נְפַק כִּי קָא בָכֵי וְאָזֵיל אֲתָא זִיבּוּרָא וְטַרְקֵיהּ אַאַמְּתֵיהּ וּשְׁכֵיב עַיְּילוּהּ לִמְעָרְתָּא דַּחֲסִידֵי וְלָא קַיבְּלוּהּ עַיְּילוּהּ לִמְעָרְתָּא דְּדַיָּינֵי וְקַיבְּלוּהּ מַאי טַעְמָא דַּעֲבַד כְּרַבִּי אִילְעַאי דְּתַנְיָא רַבִּי אִילְעַאי אוֹמֵר אִם רוֹאֶה אָדָם שֶׁיִּצְרוֹ מִתְגַּבֵּר עָלָיו יֵלֵךְ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ וְיִלְבַּשׁ שְׁחוֹרִים וְיִתְעַטֵּף שְׁחוֹרִים וְיַעֲשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁלִּבּוֹ חָפֵץ וְאַל יְחַלֵּל שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא

Moed Katan 17a:4-12

There was a certain Torah scholar who gained a bad reputation due to rumors about his conduct. Rav Yehuda said: What should be done? To excommunicate him is not an option. The Sages need him, as he is a great Torah authority. Not to excommunicate him is also not an option, as then the name of Heaven would be desecrated. Rav Yehuda said to Rabba bar bar Ḥana: Have you heard anything with regard to this issue? He said to him: Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: What is the meaning of that which is written: “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek Torah at his mouth; for he is a messenger [malakh] of the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 2:7)? This verse teaches: If the teacher is similar to an angel [malakh] of the Lord, then seek Torah from his mouth, but if he is not pure and upright, then do not seek Torah from his mouth; even if he is knowledgeable about Torah, do not learn from him. Based on this statement, Rav Yehuda ostracized that Torah scholar. In the end, after some time had passed, Rav Yehuda took ill and was on the verge of death. The Sages came to inquire about his well-being, and the ostracized scholar came along with them as well. When Rav Yehuda saw him, that scholar, he laughed. The ostracized scholar said to him: Was it not enough that you excommunicated that man, i.e., me, but now you even laugh at me? Rav Yehuda said to him: I was not laughing at you; rather, I am happy as I go to that other world that I did not flatter even a great man like you, but instead I treated you fairly in accordance with the halakha. Rav Yehuda died. The ostracized scholar came to the study hall and said to the Sages: Release me from the decree of ostracism. The Sages said to him: There is no man here as eminent as Rav Yehuda who can release you from the ostracism. Rather, go to Rabbi Yehuda Nesia in Eretz Yisrael, as only he can release you. That scholar came before Rabbi Yehuda Nesia. Rabbi Yehuda Nesia said to Rabbi Ami: Go and examine his case. If it is necessary to release him from his decree of ostracism, release him on my behalf. Rabbi Ami examined his case and thought at first to release him from his ostracism. But Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani rose up on his feet and said: If the maidservant in the house of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi once ostracized another person, and the Sages did not relate frivolously to her decree of ostracism and did not revoke it until three years had passed, all the more so, with regard to a decree of ostracism placed by Yehuda our colleague, we must take it seriously and not release this scholar. Rabbi Zeira said: What caused this Elder, Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani, to come before us in the study hall today though for many years he did not come, and now he comes precisely during this discussion. Learn from this that it is not necessary to release him from his decree of ostracism, as this combination of events is certainly not a coincidence. Rather, it should be viewed as an instructive sign from Heaven. Consequently, Rabbi Ami did not release him from the ostracism, and the ostracized scholar left in tears. A wasp came and stung the ostracized scholar on his penis and he died. Because he was a great Torah scholar, they took him into the caves in which the pious are interred in order to bury him there, but the caves did not accept him. A snake stood at the entrance of the caves and did not let them pass. They then took him into the caves of the judges, and they accepted him. The Gemara asks: What is the reason that he was accepted there? The Gemara answers: Even though he sinned, he still acted in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ilai, as it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Ilai says: If a person sees that his evil inclination is gaining control over him and he cannot overcome it, then he should go to a place where he is not known. He should wear black, and he should wrap his head in black, as if he were a mourner. Perhaps these changes will influence him, so that he not sin. Even if these actions do not help, he should at least do as his heart desires in private and not desecrate the name of Heaven in public. Although this person had sinned, he did so in private and in a manner that did not publicly desecrate God’s name, and therefore it was fitting that he be given an honorable burial.

The findings – which were provided to the synagogue's leadership in February but never disclosed to the congregation – substantiated "specific incidents of inappropriate comments or behavior" by R towards C, concluding that his behavior was "inappropriate" and his defenses were "not credible."

Those included a reference to C as the "beautiful blond cantor" in remarks to the congregation from the altar – the bimah in a synagogue – during his interview weekend in February 2016. He also referred to "Fifty Shades of Cantor" after Myers returned from an overnight anniversary celebration with her husband at a winery, and later claimed to the CCAR team that she had displayed a pair of "play handcuffs" – which both she and a witness denied. And he referred to the first dinner out with the synagogue's new executive director as "popping his cherry," in front of the cantor and the Temple's sound engineer.

Buffalo News October 26, 2020

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC prosecute cases involving Rabbis and synagogues to the fullest extent of the law.

Are you or a loved one a victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by a Rabbi or staff member of a synagogue? If so, contact our law firm for a complimentary consultation.