An open letter to Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, Mashgiach, Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, New Jersey:
Dear Rabbi Salomon:
I heard your speech at the Agudah Convention and have a few comments and questions I would like to share with you. I am writing this letter in an open forum as I believe the issues herein are of vital importance to our people and warrant the same circulation as your much publicized speech.
I take no issue with your well reasoned argument calling for civility in expression of disagreement. Bnai Torah should be able to agree to disagree. While I join you in condemning the deplorable language used by the few, I respectfully suggest that dissenters need not be placed in the category of “rasha,” or “maskil” for you to make your point. Likewise, suggestions of “hakei es shinov” and proclamations that children of select members of our community whose views you may disagree with have no place in our schools; do little to further civilized discourse.
In your speech you made a point of declaring your lack of cowardice in dealing with the issue of sexual abuse by rabbeim in yeshiva and insisted that keeping your efforts discreet or as you put it to “sweep under the carpet,” is a choice you make to protect human dignity. Whose dignity are you referring to? The dignity of those few victims courageous enough to step forward and confront these powerful monsters or the dignity of these monsters and their poor families? I respectfully suggest that by concerning yourself with the dignity of the pedophile and sweeping his heinous acts under the carpet, you subject his victims to another round of abuse at the hands of the community while enabling the predator to continue his reign of terror on unsuspecting victims.
We are taught “chochmah b’goyim, taamin.” Medical statistics tell us that a treated pedophile has a sixty percent rate of recidivism. This places the pedophile squarely in the category of a rodeph and as such we have a duty to our community to expose him so that potential victims are aware of this clear and present danger. Sex Offender Registries exist for a reason. Namely, the law and medical science recognize that these people are incapable of controlling themselves. You may be impressed by a heartfelt and tearful confession coupled with a commitment to never again succumb to temptation, (“teshuva”). However, you will not be present when this pedophile succumbs to his overwhelming urges and destroys another poor innocent life. Respectfully, you do not have the right to ignore universally accepted medical knowledge and take innocent children’s lives into your hands for the sake of a pedophile’s “dignity.”
Indeed, your strategy of not acting until the pedophile has been proved 100 percent guilty and using the Torah as your guide to protect our mosdos is not new. As will be shown below this very same strategy was followed by many other rabbonim with disastrous results. Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv puts it best while writing about this very issue. Rabbi Elyashiv quotes the Rashba who writes in his Responsa, III no. 393, “…Because if you will adjudicate based only on the laws established by the Torah, society will be destroyed…” (emphasis added).
Yes, we do need to stop “the terrible assault” and “immunize against a plague” of “insidious poison seeping in.” It is our duty to teach our children to “rise in their defense” and of course we must “give them the ammunition to fight back when they are attacked.” You and I differ only in our opinion of where the threat lies. You maintain with an impressive fervor that the threat lies with disrespectful bloggers. I respectfully disagree and see the threat to be that deadly minority of rabbeim who are morally corrupt and are destroying our children.
In your speech you alluded to the case of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temimah for over thirty-eight years. You express indignation that this one example of a pedophile that “slips through the fingers” is being used as an illustration of how Klal Yisroel behaves. Rabbi Salomon; unfortunately one is as one does. As such, this is who we are as a community today. Tragically, the story as depicted by the secular media in all its gory detail is but the tip of the iceberg.
The below bullet point history is general and merely touches upon events of the past forty years. If you want more details, I suggest you confer with Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman, who was employed by Kolko in Camp Ma-Na-Vu and will surely share his knowledge of events with you. Remind Rabbi Wachsman of his expression of remorse to his friends for not having informed his uncle, Rabbi Shloime Klein, of Kolko’s predilection for young boys when Rabbi Klein was embroiled in a difficult din torah with Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Geldwirth in or around 1990.
Dear Rabbi Salomon:
I heard your speech at the Agudah Convention and have a few comments and questions I would like to share with you. I am writing this letter in an open forum as I believe the issues herein are of vital importance to our people and warrant the same circulation as your much publicized speech.
I take no issue with your well reasoned argument calling for civility in expression of disagreement. Bnai Torah should be able to agree to disagree. While I join you in condemning the deplorable language used by the few, I respectfully suggest that dissenters need not be placed in the category of “rasha,” or “maskil” for you to make your point. Likewise, suggestions of “hakei es shinov” and proclamations that children of select members of our community whose views you may disagree with have no place in our schools; do little to further civilized discourse.
In your speech you made a point of declaring your lack of cowardice in dealing with the issue of sexual abuse by rabbeim in yeshiva and insisted that keeping your efforts discreet or as you put it to “sweep under the carpet,” is a choice you make to protect human dignity. Whose dignity are you referring to? The dignity of those few victims courageous enough to step forward and confront these powerful monsters or the dignity of these monsters and their poor families? I respectfully suggest that by concerning yourself with the dignity of the pedophile and sweeping his heinous acts under the carpet, you subject his victims to another round of abuse at the hands of the community while enabling the predator to continue his reign of terror on unsuspecting victims.
We are taught “chochmah b’goyim, taamin.” Medical statistics tell us that a treated pedophile has a sixty percent rate of recidivism. This places the pedophile squarely in the category of a rodeph and as such we have a duty to our community to expose him so that potential victims are aware of this clear and present danger. Sex Offender Registries exist for a reason. Namely, the law and medical science recognize that these people are incapable of controlling themselves. You may be impressed by a heartfelt and tearful confession coupled with a commitment to never again succumb to temptation, (“teshuva”). However, you will not be present when this pedophile succumbs to his overwhelming urges and destroys another poor innocent life. Respectfully, you do not have the right to ignore universally accepted medical knowledge and take innocent children’s lives into your hands for the sake of a pedophile’s “dignity.”
Indeed, your strategy of not acting until the pedophile has been proved 100 percent guilty and using the Torah as your guide to protect our mosdos is not new. As will be shown below this very same strategy was followed by many other rabbonim with disastrous results. Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv puts it best while writing about this very issue. Rabbi Elyashiv quotes the Rashba who writes in his Responsa, III no. 393, “…Because if you will adjudicate based only on the laws established by the Torah, society will be destroyed…” (emphasis added).
Yes, we do need to stop “the terrible assault” and “immunize against a plague” of “insidious poison seeping in.” It is our duty to teach our children to “rise in their defense” and of course we must “give them the ammunition to fight back when they are attacked.” You and I differ only in our opinion of where the threat lies. You maintain with an impressive fervor that the threat lies with disrespectful bloggers. I respectfully disagree and see the threat to be that deadly minority of rabbeim who are morally corrupt and are destroying our children.
In your speech you alluded to the case of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temimah for over thirty-eight years. You express indignation that this one example of a pedophile that “slips through the fingers” is being used as an illustration of how Klal Yisroel behaves. Rabbi Salomon; unfortunately one is as one does. As such, this is who we are as a community today. Tragically, the story as depicted by the secular media in all its gory detail is but the tip of the iceberg.
The below bullet point history is general and merely touches upon events of the past forty years. If you want more details, I suggest you confer with Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman, who was employed by Kolko in Camp Ma-Na-Vu and will surely share his knowledge of events with you. Remind Rabbi Wachsman of his expression of remorse to his friends for not having informed his uncle, Rabbi Shloime Klein, of Kolko’s predilection for young boys when Rabbi Klein was embroiled in a difficult din torah with Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Geldwirth in or around 1990.
A Partial Biography of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko & Rabbi Lipa Margulies
· 1967 – While working as Dormitory Counselor at Yeshivas Mir, Rabbi Yehuda Kolko calls a student (name withheld) out of his dormitory room and begins discussing matters of a sexual nature with him while rubbing up against him in an aroused state. This abuse continues for the remainder of the school year and into the summer season at Camp Agudah. This student is now a distinguished Manhattan attorney living happily with his partner in New York City and insists that his lifestyle choice has absolutely nothing to do with his abuse by Kolko.
· 1969 thru 1971 - Rabbi Yehuda Kolko begins abusing Dovid Framowitz in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas of Flatbush (now known as Yeshiva Torah Temimah) and Camp Agudah, the details of which abuse are now public knowledge. Mr. Framowitz, a grandfather living in Eretz Yisroel, has not gone a day since being abused without reliving the unspeakable agony he suffered at Kolko’s hands.
· 1972 - Rabbi Yehuda Kolko sexually abuses two young campers (names withheld at the request of the victims) in Camp Agudah who complain to their counselor. Their counselor reports the complaint to Rabbi Simcha Kaufman. The abuse of these two boys cease for the remainder of that summer. Rabbi Simcha Kaufman is a co-worker of Kolko in Yeshiva Torah Temimah (more on Kaufman below) and was a co-worker of Kolko in Camp Agudah until 1976 when Kolko voluntarily left Camp Agudah after he co-founded Camp Ma-Na-Vu with Rabbi Lipa Geldwirth, another co-worker of his at Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
· 1977 – Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, employed as a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temimah in the morning, is employed in the afternoons by Yeshiva Karlin Stolin as Secular Studies Principal. During the course of his short tenure in Yeshiva Karlin Stolin numerous complaints are lodged by both students and parents (names withheld at the request of the victims) accusing Kolko of sexually abusing boys in the yeshiva. Rabbi Shmuel Dishon asks Kolko to leave the employ of the yeshiva.
· 1977 on – Eyewitness testimony and accusations of sexual abuse by Rabbi Yehuda Kolko of students at Yeshiva Torah Temimah and Camp Ma-Na-Vu reach a crescendo which culminates in several businessmen approaching Rabbi Lipa Margulies in 1984 and offering to fund a retirement package for Rabbi Yehuda Kolko provided he seeks employment away from children. Rabbi Lipa Margulies steadfastly refuses to accept the offer and suggests that those parents who disagree with his decision remove their children from his Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
· 1981 – Rabbi Yehuda Kolko sexually abuses a twelve year old student of Yeshiva Torah Temimah (name withheld at the request of the victim.) This victim publicizes the abuse and acts out, vandalizing Kolko’s home and car. Rabbi Lipa Margulies calls this victim's father and warns him that if this activity does not stop his other children would be expelled from yeshiva and the safety of his family could not be guaranteed. This victim is subsequently referred to Avrohom Mondrowitz for counseling.
· 1984 – As instructed by Rabbi Avigdor Miller, an askan calls for a meeting which takes place at the home of Rabbi Yakov Perlow (the Novominsker) and is attended by Rabbi Avrohom Pam, Rabbi Elya Svei, Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, Rabbi Aharon Schechter, Rabbi Moshe Scheinerman, Rabbi Shia Fishman and Rabbi Yankel Bender. At this meeting, chaired by Rabbi Perlow, the askan discusses what is transpiring to innocent boys at the hands of Rabbi pedophiles and requests that Torah Umesorah and the rabbonim issue a statement calling for their removal from chinuch. Rabbi Svei informs this askan that Torah Umesorah has consulted their attorneys who advised that for Torah Umesorah to admit knowledge of such abuse would subject Torah Umesorah, its staff, all its member schools and their staff to liability for not having reported their knowledge to the authorities earlier. Accordingly, Rabbi Elya Svei informs the askan, neither he nor Torah Umesorah will do anything about this problem.
· 1984 thru 1985 – At directed by Rabbi Avrohom Pam an askan approaches Rabbi Moshe Scheinerman and the two meet with Rabbi Shia (Joshua) Fishman in the office of Torah Umesorah. Both Scheinerman and Fishman neglect to inform this askan that Fishman had been instructed by Torah Umesorah’s lawyer to do nothing about this issue. Rabbi Fishman requests the names of Kolko’s victims and promises absolute confidentiality. Names are provided to Rabbi Fishman who begins his own investigation of the allegations. He meets with and speaks with several victims who pour their hearts out to him after he guarantees them confidentiality. Rabbi Shia Fishman promptly discloses all he has learned to Rabbi Lipa Margulies who in turn publicly disparages and discredits each and every one of those boys who were brave enough to step forward.
· 1985 – A follow up meeting takes place at the home of Rabbi Simcha Kaufman and includes Rabbi Kaufman, Rabbi Lipa Margulies, Rabbi Shia Fishman, an askan and an eyewitness. The eyewitness recounts his personal knowledge of Rabbi Kolko’s sexual abuse of boys and discusses the information he had gleaned from others. Rabbi Lipa Margulies insists that the charges are all fabrications and attacks the reputations of everyone involved in seeking the removal of Kolko from his Yeshiva Torah Temimah. Rabbi Shia Fishman subsequently informs anyone who asks that he can not deal with this issue as he is old (50 at the time) and will lose his job if he pursues this matter.
· 1985 – Rabbi Moshe Scheinerman is offered a lucrative and prestigious position as rav of a shul (a position he holds to this day) and is told that he must cease and desist from his actions against Yeshiva Torah Temimah rabbeim (his own words) which he promptly does. Scheinerman abandons ship explaining that it is not appropriate for a rabbi of his stature to deal with these matters. Rabbi Yehoshua Leiman takes over.
· 1985 - Rabbi Yehoshua Leiman and others continue their quest for a solution and convene a bais din for this purpose. This bais din, consisting of Rabbi Menashe Klein, Rabbi Yechezkel Roth, Rabbi Aharon Stein, Rabbi Moshe Stern and Rabbi Chaim Yankel Tauber, is scheduled to hear testimony for two days after which they will rule on how to proceed. This panel meets and hears testimony for one day. Shortly thereafter, Rabbi Moshe Stern states that he is unable to participate in any more sessions and this bais din is disbanded without further explanation. In a private conversation with one of the askanim, Rabbi Stern disclosed that he had been approached by Rabbi Lipa Margulies which resulted in the discontinuance of the din torah.
· 1985 – Upon the dissolution of the above bais din, Rabbi Lipa Margulies retains Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg to convene a second bais din for the purpose of clearing Rabbi Yehuda Kolko’s name. Rabbi Lipa Margulies then drafts Rabbi Friedman (the Tenka Rav) and Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Brown to serve on Rabbi Scheinberg’s bais din. Prior to convening the bais din, Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg speaks with several of Kolko’s victims and asks them to describe what Kolko has done to them. Upon hearing the allegations Rabbi Scheinberg informs the boys that in the eyes of halacha they had not been molested. Rabbi Scheinberg also calls the askanim and tells them to cease and desist in their attempts to remove Kolko from chinuch. Rabbi Avigdor Miller disagrees and instructs the askanim in no uncertain terms to do whatever must be done to protect children from Kolko. Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg convenes the bais din and takes the position that Rabbi Kolko has a chezkas kashrus absent any testimony by two adult witnesses to any single event. Rabbi Friedman takes the position that in light of the persistent rumors Rabbi Kolko must be kept away from children. Rabbi Brown ultimately concedes that there is no halachic evidence against Kolko and the din torah is concluded. Rabbi Lipa Margulies insists that he has a psak from this bais din but to this day has refused to produce it. Regardless, it is of note that no victims testified before this bais din.
· 1987 – Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, having groomed a former first grade student of his for years, begins systematically sexually abusing this boy (name withheld at the request of the victim) both in and out of the Yeshiva Torah Temimah building. When this boy complains to Rabbi Lipa Margulies that his grades are slipping because Kolko is removing him from class almost daily, Margulies responds by slapping the boy across the face and throwing him out of his office. This young man is now living down south where he is on leave of absence from the U.S. Army.
· 2001 – Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, takes a young Yeshiva Torah Temimah student under his wing (name withheld at the request of the victim) and begins removing him from class for “special projects.” These special projects include the boy being sexually molested by Kolko in the basement of the yeshiva, in Rabbi Kolko’s car and in Rabbi Kolko’s private office, which Rabbi Lipa Margulies has conveniently equipped with its own private bathroom. This young man is currently in therapy and hopes to be able to recover enough to be able to get married and start a family.
· 2005 – Dovid Framowitz, after years of searching on the internet, chances upon a post written by a blogger calling himself “Un-Orthodox Jew” which makes reference to Rabbi Lipa Margulies harboring Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, a known pedophile, in his Yeshiva Torah Temimah. Dovid begins communicating with this blogger via e-mail who in turn posts Dovid’s story on his blog. Over the course of several months other victims of Kolko begin to step forward with their stories.
· January 2006 – Several askonim decide that this four decade long chillul hashem must stop and approach both Rabbi Yehuda Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Margulies with a demand that Kolko be removed from Yeshiva Torah Temimah and Camp Silver Lake and further commit to spending the rest of his life in treatment and away from children. Both Kolko and Margulies refuse.
· February 2006 – A letter is drafted informing the public that Rabbi Yehuda Kolko is a dangerous pedophile and that Rabbi Lipa Margulies continues to employ him despite his knowledge of this fact. Copies of this draft letter are delivered to Kolko and Margulies. Both Kolko and Margulies are offered the opportunity to deal quietly with the issue and are informed that if they continue to refuse, the letter would be mass mailed to the entire community. Kolko responds by stating that “the matter has been taken care of” and Margulies responds by asking if anyone “thinks Kolko is still a threat” and declares “if anyone does not like the way I run my yeshiva let them not send their children to my yeshiva.” They refuse to comply and the letter is sent out in a mass mailing.
· February 2006 – Eli Greenwald, a graduate of Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah, son of one of the founders of the yeshiva and a parent in the yeshiva receives the letter and spends a few days investigating the matter. He calls Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad, the yeshiva’s Administrator, and requests a meeting of the Vaad Ha'horim in order to address this serious issue. Rabbi Applegrad informs him that there will be no meeting as the allegations are false and that he and Rabbi Margulies have the matter under control. Mr. Greenwald called Rabbi Lipa Margulies and makes the same request of him. Rabbi Margulies responds by shouting at him.
· February 17, 2006 – Eli Greenwald is served with a hazmana issued by Rabbi Yisroel Belsky calling him to a din torah to answer the charge of hotzoas shem rah allegedly committed against Rabbi Yehuda Kolko. Mr. Greenwald responds on February 21, 2006, that he will appear for a din torah before the Bais Din of America. To this day there has been no reply to Mr. Greenwald’s response by either Kolko or Rabbi Yisroel Belsky.
· February 2006 – An askan meets with Rabbi Yaakov Perlow and pleads with him to get involved in this matter. Rabbi Perlow refuses on the basis of his being a yuchid and this being a tzibur matter. After being pressed further Rabbi Perlow takes his final stand that this is a Flatbush matter and as he is a Boro Park rabbi it would be unseemly for him to get involved in this matter.
· March 2006 – Rabbi Lipa Margulies reaches a standstill agreement with the askonim by committing to appear before a panel consisting of two rabbonim and one frum lawyer, all three of whom had been chosen by him. Rabbi Lipa Margulies reneges on his promise to appear before this panel.
· March 23, 2006 – A hazmana to a din torah is sent to Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, Rabbi Lipa Margulies and Yeshiva Torah Temimah summoning them to a din torah before the Bais Din of Mechon L’Hoyroa or a bais din of ZBLA. The hazmana is ignored by all the defendants.
· March 30, 2006 – A second hazmana to a din torah is sent to Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, Rabbi Lipa Margulies and Yeshiva Torah Temimah summoning them to a din torah before the Bais Din of Mechon L’Hoyroa or a bais din of ZBLA. By fax sent on April 5, 2006, Rabbi Lipa Margulies responds to this hazmana stating he will not appear for a din torah “without a prior determination of the charges against Rabbi Kolko.” Rabbi Kolko continues to ignore the hazmanas.
· April 6, 2006 – A third hazmana to a din torah is sent to Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, Rabbi Lipa Margulies and Yeshiva Torah Temimah summoning them to a din torah before the Bais Din of Mechon L’Hoyroa or a bais din of ZBLA. By fax sent on April 10, 2006, Rabbi Lipa Margulies responds to this hazmana by stating “the Hazmonah that you sent to us was not a valid Hazmonah.” Rabbi Kolko does not respond at all. It is of note that Rabbi Yehuda Kolko is still teaching in Yeshiva Torah Temimah while these exchanges are taking place.
· May 4, 2006 – A lawsuit is filed in United States District Court: Eastern District of New York, naming Rabbi Yehuda Kolko; Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah, Inc. and Camp Agudah as defendants. Rabbi Yehuda Kolko remains in the classrooms of Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
· May 5, 2006 – Rabbi Simcha Kaufman approaches Dovid Framowitz and with tears in his eyes tells him that if only he had known what Rabbi Kolko was doing to him he would have put a stop to it. Of interest was Rabbi Simcha Kaufman’s complete denial of any prior knowledge of any accusation before Dovid Framowitz brought his lawsuit. Rabbi Simcha Kaufman pleads with Dovid to withdraw his lawsuit lest he hurt Rabbi Lipa Margulies and the Yeshiva.
· May 10, 2006 – After being approached for comment on several occasions by Robert Kolker, a reporter for New York Magazine, and with a 5:00 printing deadline looming, Rabbi Lipa Margulies issues a statement through his attorney at 4:30 PM. Beginning with a proclamation that Yeshiva Torah Temimah is the preeminent yeshiva in the world followed by an absolute denial of all the allegations, the statement concludes with an announcement that Rabbi Kolko has agreed to a “leave of absence” pending resolution of this matter. Despite this claim, Rabbi Yehuda Kolko remains in the classrooms of Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
· May 12, 2006 – A second lawsuit is filed in United States District Court: Eastern District of New York naming Rabbi Yehuda Kolko; Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah, Inc. as defendants. Still, Rabbi Yehuda Kolko remains in the classrooms of Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
· May 15, 2006 – “On the Rabbi’s Knees – Do the Orthodox Jews Have a Catholic Priest Problem” a feature article in New York Magazine, a publication with a circulation of three million, is published. Within days of the publication of the article and after thirty-eight years of committing unspeakable acts of perversion in Yeshiva Torah Temimah, Kolko leaves the classrooms of Yeshiva Torah Temimah. It was only after the magazine hit the newsstands that Margulies succumbed to pressure and removed Kolko from the classrooms of Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
· July 2006 – Over the vocal protest of many residents and with the help of his friend Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad, Rabbi Yehuda Kolko takes up summer residence at a home in Regency Estates in the Catskills. Despite the claim that Kolko was on a leave of absence from Yeshiva Torah Temimah, he continues working for Camp Silver Lake, Yeshiva Torah Temimah’s summer home. In addition, Kolko initiates and organizes a multi-camp excursion to Lake Compounce, a water park located in Connecticut, where he is seen frolicking with young boys in bathing suits. A secular media outcry ensues resulting in Kolko being banned from the park by its non-Jewish management. Astonishingly, in August Kolko organizes a second trip to Lake Compounce, which is attended by the same frum boy’s camps who participated in the July trip.
The above is but a sampling of the cases I am aware of. One need not be a great lamden to realize that I am aware of only a small percentage of Kolko’s abuse victims. As rachmonim bnai rachmonim, it is unbearable to grasp the stunning extent of this catastrophe.
To all who decry the “chillul hashem” the New York Magazine article resulted in, I say; embarrassing, yes. Chillul hashem, absolutely not! Indeed, it is ironic that this very article which has been condemned by many rabbonim is what got you and them to belatedly acknowledge Kolko’s guilt. Apparently a mere forty years of koila d’lo posuk was not enough. Were the lawsuits and the magazine article the chillul hashem? No! The decades long chillul hashem is that of Margulies's and Kolko’s actions coupled with the many decades of improper action and inaction by our rabbonim and organizations. Their chillul hashem was somewhat offset by the recent kiddush hashem of the action taken by a few askonim. They, who had the courage to do what had to be done to protect our children from the acts of monsters and the cowardice of our rabbonim. All this I say with the utmost respect and reverence.
I lay no blame at your doorstep for the above; you come from another part of the world, did not participate in and have no first hand knowledge of these events. I merely ask you to understand the world of pain and destruction that Rabbi Yehuda Kolko and his enablers; with a special note of distinction going to Rabbi Lipa Margulies; have left in their wake. I respectfully question your judgment in showing respect and support for Rabbi Lipa Margulies without having done a thorough investigation of his history. Surely, l'man yishmeu v’yirahu, a man such as Lipa Margulies must be publicly vilified; not cholila v’chas publicly honored by someone of your esteem.
I respectfully submit that despite the focus of your speech, this issue has nothing to do with an obnoxious blogger or kovod haTorah. No reasonable adult takes this blogger’s inane ravings as anything but. That he fell into this issue and “b’mokom she'ain ish” he chose to “hishtadail lehios ish” and participate in pushing it forward, is a sad commentary on the egregious failures of our leadership. Rather, the issue is the still unanswered question of where our leaders were all these decades while Rabbi Yehuda Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Margulies were savaging our children. I ask with the utmost respect and humility; how can you stand in front of us in good faith and turn this into an issue of kovod hatorah? I ask that you hear the constant cries of anguish laden souls destroyed by chronic inaction coupled with a misguided concern for the “dignity” of rabbeim who molest.
This is not a tale of something that somehow “slips through the fingers” but rather only one of many glaring examples of what occurs in a community whose leaders are unwilling to deal with an issue that sits under a spotlight for four decades and engulfs the souls of countless innocent children. Hashem yerachaim.
As parents we have every right to expect that accusations of sexual abuse by a rebbe be first verified post haste and then publicized so that we may protect our children from this predator and make informed decisions about where to send our children to yeshiva. In the face of pikuach nefesh; cries of kovod haTorah, chillul hashem and loshon harah have no relevance. To resort to such cries is simply am ha'haretzes and violates the precept not to be a merachaim al ha'achzoir. The issue all of us need to address, lay people and rabbonim alike, is why nothing was done for so many decades and what lessons we can learn from our past mistakes to prevent future catastrophes of this nature.
Respectfully yours,
771 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 771 Newer› Newest»Yiddy Kolko has just been arrested.
Baruch Hashem - Shehecheyanu v'Kiymanu v'Higi'anu Lazman Ha'zeh
שהחיינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה!
http://www.toriah.com/wiki/index.php?title=Open_Letter_to_Rabbi _Slifkin
to gil & company
UOJ IS REPORTING THE ARREST OF RABBI YEHUDA KOLKO!
RABOISIE were is the shnapps lets all sit down afew minutes to congradulate this major breakthrough.iwonder what the rabbonim will say now? but i can assure you that i will be saying
LECHAIM LECHAIM!!!!!!!!!
LEIZEROWITZ VICTIM FOREVER
Thank G-d, were have a chance to set a very important precedent here. Let it be known throughout our community that child molestation will not be tolerated. Our duty as parents teachers and Mechanchim is to protect our children especially since they are our future. Its very important for the public to stand behind the accusers not the accused. The evidence speaks for itself anyone reading the bog will know its the Emes, and for all of you who still doubt whether this is true, its time to wake up and smell the coffee, If it walks like a duck, and it looks like a duck.... ITS A DUCK!!!!!!!!
Is Kolko going to spill the beans on the rest of them now?
Margo is a very smart dude, what gain would he have to keep a molester on his staff, he obviously or tmimsdikly didn't beliieve, & doesn't believe,that Kolko did it. The rules of Ne'emonus may be on his side, he for sure felt he is right. [However wrong he may or may not be,]He like most other erlicher Yidden cannot imagine what molestation is, & how a choshuve Talmid Chochem could be Nechshad Al Kach, this comes from his Maalot not his Chesronos.
We must also remember that Kolko is also inisant until proven guilty, & guilty in court doesn't mean guilty al pi Torah, or in Bais din Shel Maaloh.
My gut feeling [unfortunatly due to what I saw in the chadorim I went to] isn't on Kolko's side, but I am not Bais Din shel mato, nor Bais Din Shel Mallo, & for sure not G-D.
Margo will sell all YTT inc's assets for a dollar to his sons ,& bow out. The new corperation will keep the same staff & building the old one will keep a bank account with $1.00 in it. Now go fight city hall.
Anon 3:14: And TT gave you a diploma?
To "Margo is a very smart dude"
Margo is not so smart, since he will be arrested next. So when Bubba is having fun with his new "ladies" Margo and Kolko he will wish he was in the Beis Din Shel Mailah.
Drop em Why will he be arrested?
To "Drop em Why will he be arrested?"
He will be arrested because he willingly kept a known preditor on his staff.
hope he gets everything he deserves.. his first night with bubba should be a memorable one.. at least we can rely on the goiyashe courts to see justice served
Was Kolko arrested by the NYPD or federal agents ?
Did anyone on East 22nd St see police activity ? They usually search the house of a pedophile & haul away computers & stuff.
watch the news cbs,fox,and of course the newspapers as well
the cops were there around 5 pm
http://www.wnbc.com/news/10486867/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news
it is on every news channel
I don't have a television. Can someone TIVO it and put it on youtube or something. Thanks,
Shmeryl
look at the news websites, or just read it in the paper tommorrow
NOW THAT KOLKO IS GONE I AM THE UNDISPUTED GODOL OF THE BLOGESPHERE.
let me be the first to down to your greatness
Sheinerman is an asshole!
Thank U, gr8 gedolim (read: feces) of our generation for doing the right thing all these years and assuring that our schools remain infested with perverts to screw our children. Just think a minute. WE HAVE BEEN PAYING THESE SCHOOLS THOUSANDS A YEAR TO HAVE THE LITTLE POOR ASSES STRECHED. I'm putting it this way so the shock effect might wake some of us to action and march on with UOJ's legacy. Perlow and all the rest of the Moetzes should be hung from the Brooklyn lamposts. I have been hearing that another chassidic moetzes member covered for Mondrowitz years ago and did the ole sweep under the carpet thing as so eloquently detailed by Mat Solomon at the Thanksgiving Massacre at the convention. Care anyone to guess who that was?
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4833413
Bobov too must come clean. 1 boy commited suicide. In another case a partialy deaf boy and his family was forced out of boro park. Where and when does this stop. Does this mean we have been taken for a ride by the rabbis and that our current form of religion is NOT the authentic one? It appears this is not something exclusive to chasidism. So what is the right path? I'm sooo confused. Where does one turn?
Sex Abuse and Agudah’s Response
There is an open letter to Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon at a blog located here. It contains a poignant step by step description of events concerning the sexual abuse case of a Rebbe at a famous Yeshiva and its apparent cover-up by the Rosh HaYeshiva. The letter castigates Rav Salomon for turning an abuse issue into a Kavod HaTorah and blogger issue.
In the comments section fellow blogger Rabbi Gil Student takes the blogger to task for not having enough courage of his convictions to identify himself. I totally agree and I think it takes away a bit from his credibility. That being said, I agree with the gist of what he says. Even though he gave no explanations as to how he came to know so many of the victims, or how he came upon so much detailed information about the involvement of rabbinic leaders with the case over the years, my gut reaction is to trust his account of events.
The real guilty party here is the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Lipa Margulies, who apparently covered this thing up for so many years. I don’t know if he just stubbornly refused to believe it or didn’t care. I suspect the former but that is no excuse.
As for alleged abuser, Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, the overwhelimg evidence of his guilt shows that he is a very sick man and morally bankrupt … a man with little or no conscience. And while he was abusing his young victims for four decades, he managed to put up a good front. And it is my understanding that he raised a decent family. This makes the tragedy that much greater because among his victims are those very same members of his family. The shame they must feel is beyond description. I feel sorry for them. They must be going through a living hell.
The truth is that I find less fault with the handling of the rabbinic leadership who were involved in examining this case over the year. But there is some fault to placed there too, in their apparent inability to recognize that a real problem existed… the extent of it… and its longevity. Clear knowledge of it now and indignation over how it was handled is the result of our 20/20 hindsight. And in the defense of these rabbinic leaders, they must be protective of all Rabbanim who have a Chezkas Kashrus until proven otherwise. But I agree that they were a bit over zealous in this regard and not zealous enough in the other. The results were devastating. And the reticence to pursue this case more zealously, unnecessarily prolonged the problem. I’m sure that as we speak all involved regret not being more “hands on”. The result of this reticence is tragic... tragic for Kavod HaTorah, tragic for Klal Yisroel, and most importantly tragic for the many victims and their families.
I posted my views about UOJ when he decided to stop posting and gave him credit for his accomplishments while blasting his methods and shotgun approach to all manner of hearsay about others, many of whom were innocent.
But the bottom line is that this blogger is basically correct. Furthermore, I believe that if this letter is not responded to, it should be put in an even more public forum because the questions raised about Agudah’s response to this issue are valid in my view and deserve a public response.
I end with a comment made to the blogger by Yeshiva University Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Yosef Blau:
"The pattern of failure of the rabbinic leadership to respond to the ongoing accusations over three decades is extremely disturbing. Your letter's credibility is enhanced by the specific chronology. When similar accusations surfaced about the OU, and how it dealt with allegations against Baruch Lanner, they created an independent commission to investigate."
"If Daas Torah is interpreted that the gedolim can not be questioned then no mechanism exists to evaluate the situation. Perhaps a group of rabbinic authorities who have not been involved and are respected for courage and integrity would be willing to examine the evidence and make suggestions for a future policy."
To this I say, Amen.
Brooklyn Rabbi Arrested On Sexual Assault Charges
By BRADLEY HOPE
Staff Reporter of the Sun
December 8, 2006
A Brooklyn rabbi was arrested on charges of sexual assault of a child yesterday, police officials said.
Rabbi Yehudi Kolko, 60, who taught at an all-boys school, in May was the target of a $20 million lawsuit by a former student. On Tuesday, another student filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million. Both students say Mr. Kolko sexually assaulted them.
Mr. Kolko was arrested yesterday at his home at 1249 E. 22nd St. following a long-term investigation, police said.
He was charged with four counts of sexual abuse, including two felony counts, and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
The most recent sexual abuse was allegedly against an 8-year-old boy, who says he was abused while he was in the first grade during the 2002-03 school year, police said.
Mr. Kolko has been on administrative leave since May from Torah Temimah, a school for Orthodox boys school in Brooklyn with 1,000 students. He was also active in the school's summer camp, Camp Silver Lake, according to an article in New York magazine.
According to the magazine article, he attracted suspicion among religious leaders in the mid-1980s for similar allegations. A dozen children reported to counselors that Mr. Kolko had abused them, but those accounts did not lead to a criminal investigation, the article said.
As of yesterday evening, Mr. Kolko had not been arraigned on the charges in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
#1-Why is everyone allowed to call themselves Rabbi?
#2: Rabbi Salomon did not sweep this far enough under the rug.
#3: Rabbi Salomon admited to "sweeping under the rug" sex abuse cases that he was aware of, is there a possibilty of him being arrested for aiding and abetting abusers?
#4: Our kehilla kedoisha is so messed up that almost noone is willing to go public because we will need the Witness Protection Act.Gil Student is very fortunate that he cannot understand this.
#5: Now is the time to go after the other abusers in other yeshivas.
#6: Now that Kolko has been arrested. What is the official response of the Agudah? How does the Agudah look now after that disgraceful turkey of a convention?
They took on the hard issues. Bloggers. Most people in the world have no clue what bloggers are. Bloggers are a danger not molesters. Shame on you all.Time to resign on mass. The Rosh, the troika and the Moetzes. We are waiting for your resignations. It will never happen. There is on shame.
#7: What does Prof. Twerski say now?
#8: Why is Leoppold Margulies allowed to calll himself Rosh Hayeshiva? A guy opens a business and he becomes a Rosh Yeshiva?
Allow me to throw my weight around as a big Boro Park macher & Dean of Hofstra Law School.
I have known Rabbi Lipa Margulies for many years.
He is an honorable man.
As "Blondie" sings:
One way or another we're gonna find you, we're gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha. We will drive by your house and when the lights are all out ....
You SCUM. There's a very special place in HELL for the Margos of this world.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12082006/news/regionalnews/brooklyn_rabbi_in_perv_bust_regionalnews_perry_chiaramonte.htm
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/478388p-402325c.html
BY NANCIE L. KATZ
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
A Brooklyn rabbi who is being sued for decades of alleged sexual abuse was busted yesterday.
Joel Yehuda Kolko, 60, likely will face felony charges in the most recent case - the alleged molestation of a 9-year-old boy - as well as the abuse of an adult man, a law enforcement source said.
"The streets of New York are safer tonight," said Jeffrey Herman, a Florida lawyer who is suing the rabbi for more than $40 million on behalf of three adult victims and the child. "If the allegations are true, he's been an active predator for 30 years. Finally, justice will be served, and the children of New York will be protected."
Special NYPD child abuse cops arrested Kolko at his Midwood home about 4 p.m. yesterday, just hours after the Daily News ran a story about the latest allegation against him.
"There was some concern he was going to flee," a law enforcement source said.
A $10 million lawsuit filed at Brooklyn Supreme Court on Wednesday accuses Yeshiva-Mesivta Torah Temimah on Ocean Parkway, where the rabbi taught, of harboring Kolko despite accusations that he has abused children in his care for years.
Kolko molested a boy of "early elementary age" at the school during the 2003-2004 academic year, the suit charged. Similar suits against Kolko and the Yeshiva that seek $30 million in damages were filed in May on behalf of men now 30, 40 and 50 years old who say the rabbi victimized them as children.
By the way, my name is not really Twerski, it's Auerbach. I'm not a ben acher ben Twerski. A bubba of yore was a Twersi and grandpa took grandma's maiden name. Check it out.
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_341233649.html
Play the video.
Who is the woman in the police car with Kolko ?
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/slideShow?section=news&id=4833511&slide=4
I am very pleased with the news of the arrest of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko and look forward to seeing the allegations against him investigated and pursued seriously. Certainly, everyone is entitled to his day in court; Kolko is as well. However, had the community leadership taken the allegations seriously years ago and had they acted in more responsible ways, I beleive that many innocents might have been spared trauma over the years and justice would not have been delayed.
I applaud those who came forward to make the reports and pursue their legal options. I know that this was not easy in the community in which they live and there are all sorts of pressures–social and religious–not to report. As I have said many times in the past, this reticence to
report is not supported by the Halacha.
I applaud those “anonymous bloggers” who brought this issue public and kept it in the public eye. Without them, this arrest would not have happened. They too have been subject to attack recently. I have already written about the problems of anonymous blogging (”Are Blogs Kosher? The Jewish Week 05/25/2006)–”Can these blogs be more responsible? Yes, and they need to exercise much greater care in upholding standards of decency, fairness and justice because they, too, can be responsible for harming innocents. And Web surfers should not necessarily believe what they read on them…But the blogs are here and, for now, supply a valuable service.
In a community that was responsive and accountable the excesses on the blogs would be unnecessary. At the moment, there are those who feel that they have no other choice. Innocents — victims and potential victims of abuse and the values and reputation of a compassionate and valuable community — are being hurt by a community that could and should do better.”) Nevertheless, they have performed an invaluable service and are to be applauded.
I applaud those who brought this issue to New York Magazine (5/22/06). Without that article, Kolko would have still been in his classroom and without that article the public pressure to pursue justice would have been significantly weakened.
As to the attacks by prominent rabbinic leadership on those that challenged the judgment and actions of those that criticized them, I say: I do not believe that many of the bloggers and accusers who they roundly condemn and label as “resha’im” (wicked) or “maskilim” (corruptly modern) were motivated by a disdain for rabbis, their authority or their opinions.
At least not originally. My experience with many victims/survivors of abuse is that they desperately want rabbinic leaders and the community and the Torah and the halachic system—which they were taught to revere and upon which they were raised to depend—to work for them. Many believe that the Torah’s system of laws were just. Many believe that rabbis and rabbinic judges are advocates for those that were hurt and injured. Many, whose physical and emotional welfare were torn apart, want, at the very least, their faith to sustain them and remain strong. But many of those who speak out in crude and insolent ways have felt betrayed by those very rabbis and communal mores in which they desperately wanted to believe.
Many felt revictimized by those who they believed should have been there to help them. So they lash out with feelings of betrayal, disillusionment, abandonment and resentment. Perhaps no excuse for crude behavior. But perhaps an explanation…and an indictment.
I hope that this is a watershed moment in our community’s history in dealing with issues of abuse. We’ll all be better off for it and the kevod ha-Torah, the honor and dignity of the Torah, its leaders and teachers, and its community will be restored.
MONDROWITZ IS NEXT!!! I urge everyone to call the DA's office today and have this monster extradited from his Ir Miklat in Israel. Strike when the iron is hot!!! May hashem bless the efforts of men like Michael Lesher who is working tirelessly on putting this predator behind bars, and of course, UOJ. EIN SHALOM LARSHAIIM!!! We will not stop until every one of these molesters are behind bars and away from our children. As Jeffrey Herman said "The streets of N.Y. are a lot safer today". Let's not stop at Kolko. And now is the time to push for a comprehensive no-nonsense, no tolerance policy regarding, c"v any future cases.
LONG LIVE UOJ!
Is there even ONE Rov or Rebbe or Gadol that is speaking up with courage against the Perps?????????Even ONE? Not even ONE? Chalushes!
Rabbi Blau of YU has been a friend of victims for some time now and Rabbi Drach from JSafe too. Sadly not 1 f---n faker from the Hareidi slums can claim the same.
Hynes, who won't do squat about Mondrowitz, is seemingly in collusion with the Iggud Harabbonim. Ben Barber, who is close to the Iggud and attends all their functions is raising money for the Hynes campaign, as reported in the press. The Iggud has already been in the public eye for valliantly defending Kolko & Tendler.
Here is a list of Iggud officials:
Rabbi Hershel Kurzrock, Young Israel of Kensington, is the Av beis din, but he's an old man who is losing his faculties and is just being used as a tool by the gangsters in charge.
Rabbi Yisroel Belsky of pro-Kolko & Margo fame.
Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, Young Israel of Queens Valley
Rabbi Gershon Tennenbaum, indicted felon, who writes the "Machberes" column for the Jewish Press
Rabbi Yaakov Klass, the figurehead stooge at the Jewish Press, who is used by big man in charge Jerry Greenwald
Rabbi Lipa Brenner, indicted pedophile from Boro Park
Rabbi Elbaz who runs a kosher supervision service of ill repute
Two people who run the Iggud from behind the scenes are thug-for-hire Rabbi Mendel Epstein & his son Yoni.
A member of the Moetzes of Agudah infamy was rabbi of the shul where Mondrowitz prayed in Boro Park and refused to get involved. He wouls laughingly account how Askonim approached him and he said it wasn't his problem because none of his congregants were affected. Sadly, those in the know are aware of countless boys of his community that wer RAPED by Mondrowitz, Why the DA is protecting the most prolific molester of modern jewish time is of great concern. It would take him very little effort to have him exdradited from Israel.
The newspaper that reported Ben Barber (of the Iggud / Elegant Linens / Boro Park custom shirts) is raising money for the Hynes campaign is the NY Observer.
http://thepoliticker.observer.com/2006/10/hynes-starts-early.html
Brooklyn District Attorney Charlie Hynes is girding for a nasty reelection fight after going after machine powerbroker Clarence Norman. Last night, he spoke at the Borough park residence of Ben Barber, a businessman and community liaison for Bill Thompson, and told an audience of roughly 125 people that he felt he needed to raise $1 million by June.
http://blogs.nydailynews.com/dailypolitics/archives/2006/11/annals_of_publi.php
And here's the Daily News.
http://www.jewishpress.com/page.do/19847/My_Machberes.html
The biggest joke of all is this Jewish Press puff piece by fellow Iggudian Gershon Tennenbaum
Scroll down to the bottom of the Jewish Press column to see Barber & Hynes
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/07/nyregion/08mbrfs-rabbi.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
The police said a 31-year-old man also claimed to have been abused by the rabbi, once as a child, and once earlier this year when the man confronted the rabbi.
--- The police said a 31-year-old man also claimed to have been abused by the rabbi, once as a child, and once earlier this year when the man confronted the rabbi. ---
No one else has commented on how odd and slightly implausible the above passage from the NY Times is.
What does it mean that Kolko abused the guy earlier this year? I assume that earlier this year, the alleged victim was too old for Kolko to be interested in sexually abusing him. It could just mean that Kolko assaulted the victim in a non-sexual way, just because Kolko was upset that the alleged victim confronted him. If that is the meaning, than the sentence should have been written differently, because the sentence implies that the two forms of abuse are the same. Besides, abuse is not a term commonly used for assault. Further, since Kolko is sixty, and the alleged victim 30, I assume he should have been able to kick Kolko’s ass.
R. Salomon you may be guilty of Kolko's arrest, you may have caused such anger & despair, by your unmeasured words. This may have given the parents of the kid no other choice. It is time for you to start learn & teach Chofetz Chaim, and to listen to people's cries, and to react in the same way as you do to protect your very own Kovod.
You goofed, and for once admit it.
Instead of running around to Droshos & shmoozen, and politics. Stop, go visit all those screaming on deaf ears that they were abused, listen to them, get justice for them, and save this Chillul Hashem.
If you are going to publicly support the accused without even listening to the accusers, you are going to get every accuser very angry they will revert to blogging & report to the authorities.
You have proven that your strategy has failed now admit it. If you are not fit for your position, please admit and quit before more damage is done, and who knows where you could land up.
Rabbi Steinman on his visits to Lakewood has demanded that a Beis Din Leinyoney Chinuch is set up.
How is it possible to complain about a Menahel or a Rebbe, when they turn round & tell you what a favor they did to accept your kid?
If the schools would have to beg the kids to join them, they would have much more respect, and value for the Talmidim. If there was a special Beis Din, when the Menahel & Rebbes don’t listen, there would be recourse, and they wouldn’t have the power to expel, or not accept siblings, because you didn’t let them get away with injustice.
I know that R. Salomon is on the right track with the Bais Din for Chinuch, but here he goofed & must get that Beis Din up before anything else gets in his way.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=64925
Why could we not of let Kolko escape to Israel and join Mondrowitz Leizerowitz and the likes? We could of spared our royal mamzerim (i.e. Solomon, Belsky etc) some heavy duty Chilul K'vod Atzmee! When Moshiach comes Hashem will slaughter Satan and his minions - the head table at the Aguda Convention.
Everyone should listen to this lecture (http://torahweb.org/torah/audio/2006/nobodytalks/rsch_120306.mp3) by Rabbi Hershel Schachter regarding the halachic approach for dealing sex abuse in our communities. It is classic RHS: he calls it as he sees it and minces no words doing so. The sum effect is a devestating critique of the ultra-orthodox world's, and less so, the modern orthodox world's, handling of the various sex abuse allegations of the recent past.
He also indirectly, but quite clearly, endorses the "self-help" approach taken by bloggers such as UOJ in exposing these cases through the internet given the recalcitrance of rabbinic authorities. Again, he calls it as he sees it.
I wonder which idiots will help Kolko post bail, which in his case as a pedophile & flight risk will be an astronomical amount. R' Zelig Epstein holds there's no pidyon shvuyim on people that are dangers to the community - even ganovim - and that it's better to leave them in jail because they can't harm anyone there and will probably learn more because there's nothing else to do.
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2006/12/kolko_in_custod.html#comments
Right now, he is probably in central booking waiting for arraignment, when bail will be set. The arraignment process can take up to 24 hours, depending on how clogged the court is. Normally bail for a first-time arrestee is nil or very low; since Kolko is a flight risk, he will be asked to surrender his passport. Also, he will be served with an order of protection ordering to keep away from the complainant. He violates that and they can put him in jail, bail or no.
Posted by: Lawrence M. Reisman | December 08, 2006 at 10:28 AM
Taken from the Canonist:
"Asked to provide comment, R’ Avi Shafran replies in an e-mail:
Why would we have comment about the arrest of an individual? Because he was an employee, more than 30 years ago, of one of the camps we run (that have had thousands of employees over the years)? I don’t think that requires comment on our part.
We are not even a party anymore to any lawsuit filed against the accused, as I understand it. The suit of the accuser who included Camp Agudah in his action (John Doe #1) has been dismissed (without prejudice, I believe, so it can still be refiled, but hasn’t been)."
___________________________________
WHAT CHUTZPAH!!!
How dare he claim "yadeinu lo shafchu" when the Agudah has been covering up for this guy for years? This is the same arrogant fool that replied to the NY Magazine article by saying that our abuse problem is "not as bad" as the Catholic problem (what a relief).
Hey Shafran, maybe you should organize some more anti-UOJ pow-wows. The last one seems to have been a big hit. It's obvious who's the real problem here, who's really the cause of this chillul hashem. It's certainly not the bloggers. It's people like you, in positions of authority that enable molesters and continue to look the other way.
Hey Rabbi Weinfeld,
What excuse do you have now to let Kolko back in shul if he makes bail ????????
I am most saddened to see how some of our G'Dolei Torah have responded very similarly to the way the catholic church has been reacting - protect the predator(s) and continue to victimize the injured innocent victims. The people who worked so tirelessly and in the face of terrible frustration have finally made the progress of getting one of the worst perpetrators (Kolko) brought (so far) to justice. They have done holy and good work and should be celebrated and thanked by all - not, to our collective shame, villified as if they were somehow doing the wrong thing. Kohle HaKavod and a y'yasher koach to each of them.
Many have criticized these tireless people for not identifying themselves. Given the terrible experiences at the hands of the predators and their defenders that those who did come forward had to go through, that in itself, in my opinion, is reason enough to protect their anonymity.
Perhaps more importantly, the second highest form of Tzdakah is when the ba'al tzedakah remains anonymous as does the recipient. Thus, those who have chosen to give up the glory and praise for their exemplary pursuit of Tzedek, should be recognized as following the paths of the truly righteous and it can only be called a perversion to fault them for not giving out their names. They deserve dinners in their honor and all kinds of thanks and recognition from the community that they have been working so hard to protect - and yet, the only benefit they have worked towards is to protect and heal the past and potentially future victims who have little or no one to stand up for them. Surely, a special place in Shamayim is set aside for such Mosrai Nefesh. I am humbled by their very holy and thankless work.
Not only have UOJ & Eli Greenwald been vindicated but there were figures early on who were the valiant yechidim opposing Kolko & Margo that everyone ignored.
Incredibly, 2 of them were gedolim who the Agudah didn't listen to, Rav Avigdor Miller and the alter Tenker rov who said to get Kolko the hell away from children.
But don't forget Rabbi Yehoshua Leiman from Jews for Morality and the alter bochur from the Lower East Side who put up a strong fight. I think the bochur's name was Rosenblatt.
The Rabbonim have much more important things to worry about. El Al is flying on Shabbos, There is an Eruv in Flatbush, A swastika was found in Flatbush, (what about a Pedophile found in flatbush ??!!??)... these are more important things.
Is there a Nobel prize for being a spinmeister?
Avi Shafran probably has anyone's vote that I know.
I am most saddened to see how some of our G'Dolei Torah have responded very similarly to the way the catholic church has been reacting - protect the predator(s) and continue to victimize the injured innocent victims. The people who worked so tirelessly and in the face of terrible frustration have finally made the progress of getting one of the worst perpetrators (Kolko) brought (so far) to justice. They have done holy and good work and should be celebrated and thanked by all - not, to our collective shame, villified as if they were somehow doing the wrong thing. Kohle HaKavod and a y'yasher koach to each of them.
Many have criticized these tireless people for not identifying themselves. Given the terrible experiences at the hands of the predators and their defenders that those who did come forward had to go through, that in itself, in my opinion, is reason enough to protect their anonymity.
Perhaps more importantly, the second highest form of Tzdakah is when the ba'al tzedakah remains anonymous as does the recipient. Thus, those who have chosen to give up the glory and praise for their exemplary pursuit of Tzedek, should be recognized as following the paths of the truly righteous and it can only be called a perversion to fault them for not giving out their names. They deserve dinners in their honor and all kinds of thanks and recognition from the community that they have been working so hard to protect - and yet, the only benefit they have worked towards is to protect and heal the past and potentially future victims who have little or no one to stand up for them. Surely, a special place in Shamayim is set aside for such Mosrai Nefesh. I am humbled by their very holy and thankless work.
I just got off the phone with Margo. He's appealing to the heimisher oylam to help him find the real molester.
He also informs me that he's been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury and ask me for some tips on how to bullshit his way through court.
They are not G'Dolei Torah, that's the whole point. The Midrash and the Shulchan Aruch say that you are not allowed to learn Torah from a person unless they have excellent character traits. Integrity and a sense of justice and compassion are primary amongst these. Rav Chaim Soloveitchik said that a rabbi's primary function is to protect the weak and vulnerable. Do you get even the slightest sense that these clowns care about that?
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."
I just got a frantic call from YTT. They want to make sure there's enough kosher food in prison when the rest of them, Appelgrad, Kaufman, Margulies, Neuhoff, etc, get picked up for criminal conspiracy.
Just like I told Shea Fishman, what the hell do they expect from me ? Call Labriute in Lakewood for self-heating TV dinner style meal packages.
The only help I can offer Margo is the address of a store in Boro Park that makes orange kapotas that meet jumpsuit regulations for the US Bureau of Prisons.
Endangering the welfare of child is a crime, a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison. Its one of the counts against Kolko, in addition to the sex abuse charges.
Margulies knowingly employed a pedophile in his yeshiva for decades. Why isn't the DA going after Margulies for Engdangering...?
Somebody should say something.
Where are you, you stupid, ignorant , sheep who call yourself parents. Why are you not demanding the immediate resignation of Lippy Margolis. Isn't this Chillul Hashem enough? I guess not. But one thing I'm sure of. If Chas Vesholem another Hitler comes again, the parent body of YTT, will be the first in the ovens, and go like little lost sheep. Just hope that Lippy and Applegrad go first so that they can stuff the Chimneys, like 2 fat Santa's.
To "Unsung Heroes said"
His name is Rosenbaum, and he is no longer an Alter Bochur. BH he is married with nine children.
To Insung Heroes said:
Thanks for mentioning those who toiled so hard. There were others as well who exhasuted themselves pursuing Kolko and running into brick walls. Shkoyach to you!
Youth & senior programs = Old men Kolko & Margo abusing little boys
Golden steered $370,000 to Agudath Israel for youth and senior programs. Over the years, the senator has received $2,500 in campaign contributions from the agency’s vice president Avrohom Schonberger and treasurer Leon Goldenberg, state records show.
http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol29/29_48/29_48payoff.html
By Paul Koepp
for The Brooklyn Papers
Carroll Gardens Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Bay Ridge state Sen. Marty Golden have repeatedly given state grant money to groups and organizations whose leaders have made contributions to their campaigns, a Brooklyn Papers investigation has revealed.
Like all of their legislative colleagues, Millman and Golden control thousands of dollars in grant money, often called “member items,” that they steer to local organizations with little oversight.
But as a result of a lawsuit by the Albany Times-Union, the state legislature was recently forced to reveal all of the recipients of such grants — and the name of the members who funneled the money.
While members often brag in press releases about their role in securing some grants, a complete list has, until now, been secret.
Critics have called the legislature’s $170-million member-item pool a “slush fund” because of the lack of oversight.
In the case of Millman and Golden, a review of the just-released state documents alongside their campaign finance records revealed many civic leaders whose personal campaign contributions were more than matched by the subsequent grant of state money to their organizations.
In Golden’s case, he has sent $140,000 in taxpayer grants to HeartShare Human Services, which is headed by Bensonhurst bigshot William Guarinello.
Guarinello, who is also chair of Community Board 11, and his family have given Golden more than $17,000 in campaign donations since February 2002.
“Obviously, we don’t think it’s quid pro quo,” said HeartShare spokeswoman Tricia Fleming.
Golden steered $370,000 to Agudath Israel for youth and senior programs. Over the years, the senator has received $2,500 in campaign contributions from the agency’s vice president Avrohom Schonberger and treasurer Leon Goldenberg, state records show.
While were discussing the pompous idiocy of Avi Shafran and his agudah buddies who hear no evil and see no evil unless it comes with a big check, lets not forget those pompous putzes at the Jewish Fress who never met an anonymous pashkivil they liked.
Maybe if Agudah and the Fress wouldn't be such self-righteous pompous do-nothings, some jewish children would have been saved. The agudah is busy investigating bloggers the Fress is busy investigating Tendler while jewish children are being destroyed before our eyes.
Hashem save us all if Kolko does a mea culpa and we find out the real scope of the treife chicken this man has been eating all these years.
If Kolko tells all, YTT is on the hook for a large sum of money.
I can't believe R Applegrad told such a lie. Everyone knew about the few different bais dins in the 80's. He'll probably resign after this b/c he is really a mensch and not used to lying. His kids will not respect him.
When it goes criminal they tell people they'll get jail time or criminal records if they don't talk.
Then they run into a malshinus problem. With the lure of plea bargains, it quickly becomes very ugly. Kolko is looking at the rest of his life behind bars so watch very carefully if he takes down Margo and the rest of them.
Also if it is criminal (and found guilty), I wonder if YTT's insurance covers civil lawsuits? Civil suits are usually pushed off until after the criminal phase.
How did the Agudah ever give Margo any kovod? Answer: Too many Hungarian fakers are machers at the Agudah and Lipa-botchie is one of their boys.
Did you notice how not one reporter from any TV / radio outlet or newspaper could get anyone standing around the yeshiva to talk ? They know Margo will have their heads if they say a word. The only kid that was interview was some suck up kid who is still in denial about Kolko's crimes.
Are the 2 look a likes Mattisyahu Solomon and lipa Margolis the same person?
As was evidenced from you clowns at the Agudah convention quoting freely from blogs like UOJ, we know that you lowlives are reading this.
I hope you get kayfel kiflayim for every child that was hurt & cries out into a silent vacuum. The silent vacuum is only in this velt. The Eybishter knows all of your swift moves to deny justice to the downtrodden and your day of reckoning is coming.
I dare Wachsmann to get up at the next Agudah convention and quote this post verbatim, instead of posts to use in a UOJ-bashing orgy.
Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz ZT"L said, "Where there is chillul Hashem, we do not impart honor to a rabbi......"
Achtung,
Listening to gedolim from previous generations is verboten unless we say it's ok. Of course, if any gadol said anything that doesn't bode well for us or Margulies, that would be classified as verboten.
We are the Sargeant Schultzes of the haymishe velt. When it comes to child abuse, vee know nutting, vee hear nutting, vee see nutting.
"At no time did the yeshiva have any knowledge of anything alleged against Rabbi Kolko, nor did any parent ever come to raise a complaint," said Yeshiva executive director Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad. "Rabbi Kolko is no longer employed at the school. If something did indeed happen, we sympathize with the child and are confident the judicial system will handle matters appropriately."
The rabbi’s lawyer, Scott Tulman, declined to comment on the charges after the hearing, but said, “My client will be fine when he’s able to celebrate Shabbat with his family.”
During the arraignment, an assistant district attorney, Marc Fliedner, said Rabbi Kolko placed his hand on a 6-year-old student’s penis during school hours in October 2003. In January 2005, Mr. Fliedner said, Rabbi Kolko forced an adult to place his hand on the rabbi’s penis, also inside the school. Neither of the complainants was named in court papers because of the nature of the allegations.
This past Thursday night, I had the pleasure of benching a Shechiyanu, for on this day a small miracle finally happened and the world became a safer place to live.
In addition, I had the tremendous z'chus and opportunity to speak to several of the other known Kolko victims where we all wished ourselves Mazal Tov on this wonderful occasion.
Several of us actually wept in happiness.
Kolko is a sick man. The problem is that so many (so-called) Rabbonim and community leaders have known about it for so many years, and for who knows how many reasons, just covered it up or swept it under the carpet.
On the other hand, the menahalim and senior staff at Yeshiva Torah Temimah and other organizations, such as Torah U'Mesorah, were told and knew about Kolko, or knew that there were allegations, and did absolutely nothing to protect the children.
They never called in specialists, they never reported these allegations to the authorities, etc. As an educational institution they had a legal and moral responsibility to protect their students from all harm, and they failed. They knowingly permitted a serial child molester to be in close contact with and molest innocent young boys and they did absolutely nothing to protect thir students. Instead they actively covered it up.
Who knows how many boys over nearly 4 decades were molested by Kolko in Yeshiva, in Camp or while tutoring in his home? How many times did Kolko tuck in the shirts of his first grade students...? How many boys did Kolko put on his lap? How many boys did Kolko take for drives in his car?
A drunk is kept away from Booze, an addict is kept away from drugs, a pedophile needs to be kept away from children.
And now Applegrad has the audacity and chutzpah to say: "At no time did the yeshiva have any knowledge of anything alleged against Rabbi Kolko, nor did any parent ever come to raise a complaint," said Yeshiva executive director Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad. "Rabbi Kolko is no longer employed at the school. If something did indeed happen, we sympathize with the child and are confident the judicial system will handle matters appropriately."
Shame on you Applegrad, shame on you Shia Fishman, shame on you Simcha Kaufman, shame on you Margolis, shame on you Nosson Sherman, shame on you Eli Teitelbaum, etc. etc.
You should not and cannot be trusted with the welfare and safety of children. You are all guilty of knowing and covering up these criminal allegations against Kolko. If at all possible, if someone had the capability, they should strip all of you of your semicha.
The only bright side of this - you'll all get your day in court, whether in bais din shel mata or in beis din shel ma'ala, or probably, in both.
Good Day. Bad Day.
Rabbi Yehuda Kolko, a rebbi at Yeshiva Torah Temima, and an alleged child molester, was arrested yesterday following charges that he sexually molested a nine-year-old student in 2003 and 2004. The arrest and charges against Rabbi Kolko were not connected to the much-publicized lawsuit filed last May by a former student of Kolko, who alleged that Kolko sexually assaulted him in the 1980s. This spring, New York Magazine gave extensive coverage to the story of abuse and the lawsuit that was filed.
According to a police statement in reference to today's arrest, Kolko has been under investigation since the first suit was filed. Apparently, this week's lawsuit is a break the police have been waiting for.
They're not alone. Thousands of mostly religious Orthodox Jews, too, have been waiting for this day. Many, including this blogger, expressed their frustration and outrage that an accused child molester would be allowed to remain free to molest, shielded from publicity and prosecution by Jewish communal leaders, and making a mockery of our Batei Din, Geolei Yisroel, and religious observance.
Last November, a blog called The Unorthodox Jew (UOJ) broke and championed an active campaign to stop Rabbi Kolko and shame his protectors. The blog precipitated the lawsuits now pummeling Rabbi Kolko and his employer, Rabbi Lipa Margolis. Rabbi Margolis is the founder, owner, and operator of Yeshiva Torah Temima, a Brooklyn yeshiva named in the suits as where much of the alleged abuse took place.
Anecdotal reports on UOJ claim that Rabbi Kolko’s proclivities have long been known to mainstream community leaders and the Jewish courts. And long ignored. The reports describe obfuscated justice and Halachic contortionism to excuse and dismiss his behavior. If these anecdotal reports are to be believed, some very powerful rabbonim, for reasons we may soon know, proactively enabled the Kolko cover-up.
Comments on UOJ indicate the profound anger of many Orthodox Jews about these events. Disturbingly, an equal number of commenters on UOJ and elsewhere assumed the roles of apologists and defenders for Rabbi Kolko and Rabbi Margolis.
Since December, UOJ has been targeted by hackers, was successfully muted by investigative 'outers', and recently resurrected, ironically, by overt reference to his blog at this year's Agudah convention. A seminar decrying the negative influence of blogs effectively declared that UOJ was Public Enemy # 1. The unexpected publicity sparked renewed interest in the site and motivated UOJ to emerge, if not partially, from his self-imposed retirement.
Since the convention, a blog mirroring UOJs long stated claims, albeit more delicately, was created and is now posting a well constructed open letter to the Agudah convention’s keynote speaker, Rabbi Matisyahu Solomon, and provides a detailed timeline of Kolko’s abuse and the grassroots efforts to stop him.
So it’s a good day for those thousands of Orthodox Jews who see that justice does ultimately get served. It's a good day for tens of sexual abuse victims, adults and children, who can feel vindication, despite the lifetimes of pain and disorder they have been forced to suffer. Perhaps some may now feel better able to approach the healing process, however difficult and ultimately incomplete that may prove to be.
It's also good day because, finally, the egomaniacs and charlatans who pose as religious leaders, but who in reality are whores and manipulators, have good reason to fear their positions and reputations. Now, a watchful eye is at long last focused on their self-interested activities, and moreso, their self-interested apathy.
But at the end of the day, it's really a bad day. It's a bad day because this sad episode brings us face-to-face with serious gaps in Jewish justice and a lack of personal responsibility in our community.
It's a bad day because this reminds us how weak and cowardly some of our leaders are.
It's a bad day because a Jewish person, putting aside the decades of suffering he caused, is proven to be seriously ill -- yet incomprehesibly permitted to act on the symptoms of his sickness to preserve a train wreck of religious inertia conveniently couched in debate-stopping terms such as mesirah, loshon horah, and psak halacha.
It’s a bad day because we now see, or should see, for ourselves that the reality exceeds the anecdotal reporting. And that people long regarded as gedolim and leaders are in many cases far sicker than Rabbi Kolko for allowing a serious sex offender to masquerade as an educator for over a generation.
It's a bad day because now we must face that we ourselves have been spiritually abused. We allow ourselves to be manipulated to believe that young adults, our children, despite myriad positive qualities, strong education, and favorable attributes are at risk of being deprived of a happy marriage in retaliation for their parents' public outcry against injustices committed by our leaders.
It’s a bad day because we are seeing the proof for ourselves that Daas Torah, despite the rosiest claims, is not nearly as absolute as our leaders would have us believe. We see that the infallibility of our gedolim is far from reality, rather a fantasy concept wrongly adopted from the Catholic Church.
It’s a bad day because the beginning is only beginning. The floodgates will open. This will be a national story. This will reflect terribly on Orthodox Jewry at a time when everything about Orthodox Jews is reflecting terribly. And Torah Temimah will collapse in the wake of its fleeing supporters and parent body.
It’s a bad day because these supporters and the parent body aren't running for the exits because they are bravely facing evil and fighting to destroy it. Really, they will run simply because that will be the fashion. Just as they stayed put because they were concerned how it would look if they bolted when the alegations first surfaced, now they will flee because they will be afraid of how it would look if they stayed.
So in truth, they, too, are just cowards who live in fear of the repurcussions that result from bucking the status quo. They only act on their misplaced fear of what people will think, while feeding false fears that their worthy children will remain unmarried if they were to dare speak unpopular truths.
Then and only then, out of fear and cowardice, will they will move to act. Sadly, their fear is what enabled the Kolko saga to occur in the first place.
Dear Parents:
For the past thirty five years I have been covering up the fact that Yidi Kolko has been molesting students in Yeshiva Torah Temimah. I do not understand what all the fuss is about. Yidi Kolko is a fine Rebbi and as we know no one is perfect. Why is everyone focused on the fact that he is a child molester? Focus on the good, not the bad. So, he ruined some lives, big deal. So, I covered it up, big deal.
We must stick together and continue the cover up. As parents in my Yeshiva, you know that your first obligation is to the health of my Yeshiva. Your children’s well being are a distant third, well after your obligation to pay me tuition (cash accepted, please deliver to Rabbi Applegrad.) If we work as one, we can overcome the truth and you my precious parent body can continue allowing me to spread my version of the torah for years to come.
I apologize for taking so long to send this letter, but Yaakov, Yidi and I have been hard at work trying to terrorize the victims of Kolko’s sickness. They expect no less from us. Please help us continue our cover-up and terror campaign by sending me a tax deductible donation in the enclosed envelope (cash accepted, please deliver to Rabbi Applegrad.)
I have a psak din from a gadol that we must continue to ignore Yidi’s use of your children for his recreation. It is his right as a Rebbi. The gadol explains that since he dedicates his life to your children, the least you can do is allow him to have his way with them. It is your duty to keep him calm and happy.
Thank you for your continued support of my important mossad. Please help us do more by sending me a tax deductible donation (cash accepted, please deliver to Rabbi Applegrad) in the enclosed envelope (your stamp helps us save on postage.)
Very Sincerely,
Moireinu Harav Hagoen Rosh HaYeshiva Lipa Margulies
When word of these allegations of sexual abuse first surfaced last May, Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad, the executive director of the Yeshiva, said Kolko, 60, was asked to leave.
"At no time did the Yeshiva have any knowledge of anything alleged against Rabbi Kolko," said Rabbi Applegrad. "Nor did any parent ever raise a complaint against Rabbi Kolko."
Applegrad refused to answer questions, on advice of his lawyer, because a $10 million lawsuit has also been filed against the school, claiming the Yeshiva protected Rabbi Kolko and failed to protect the first grader from sexual abuse and what the lawsuit claims were "lewd and lascivious acts," despite knowing the rabbi's "dangerous propensities."
"If something did happen, we sympathize with the child and are confident that the judicial system will handle the matter appropriately," Rabbi Applegrad said.
"At no time did the Yeshiva have any knowledge of anything alleged against Rabbi Kolko," said Rabbi Applegrad. "Nor did any parent ever raise a complaint against Rabbi Kolko."
------------
define "no time" rabbi applegrad. was 1976 no time? how about 1982-83-84-85 and 86? was that also no time? you are a shanda.
“He who saves one life is like saving the world. That’s what the Torah says.”
IS YESHIVA & MESIVTA TORAH TEMIMAH A MODERN DAY IR HANIDACHAS?
Background:
The institution currently known as Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah (“TT”) was founded by Lipa Margulies (“Margulies”) as Yeshiva Torah Vodaath of Flatbush. As an employee of the authentic Yeshiva Torah Vodaath (“YTV”), one of the oldest and most prestigious Torah institutions in America, Margulies had access to YTV’s proprietary donor information which he absconded with when he departed to start his own school.
Margulies commenced his fraud by misrepresenting himself to donors as an agent of YTV, and donations slated for YTV began fattening TT’s bank account. By the time YTV realized the extent of the brazen fraud being committed by Margulies, millions of dollars had been stolen from them by Margulies. It took several years for YTV to get Margulies into a Bais Din for a Din Torah. The Bais Din forced Margulies to change his business name. He was ordered to return the stolen money, but never did so. He began operating under the name Yeshiva Torah Temimah, F/K/A/ Yeshiva Torah Vodaath of Flatbush.
Kolko:
Margulies hired Yehuda (Joel or Yudi or Yidi) Kolko (“Kolko”) as a Rebbe in his new yeshiva. Margulies was immediately made aware of Kolko’s dangerous sexual deviance. Fearful of the potential impact the double whammy an ongoing financial scandal coupled with a child abuse scandal would have on his budding business, Margulies cynically chose to cover up the fact that he had hired a known pedophile and focused instead on building his business.
Kolko in turn focused on grooming and molesting his victims.
Complaints:
As TT grew both in size and prestige, the pedophile issue kept raising its ugly head. Parents and students, with frightening regularity, approached Margulies with complaints against Kolko. Margulies responded by discrediting any victims bold enough to go public and threatening their families with retaliation if they did not stop their victimized children from complaining.
In the mid 1980’s, when a few of the victims managed to convene a Bais Din to address the horrific accusations against Kolko, Margulies reacted by retaining Rabbi Chaim Pinchus Scheinberg, Rosh Hayeshiva of Torah Ohr (“Scheinberg”) to interfere with the bais din. Rabbi Simcha Kaufman (“Kaufman”), is a former student of Scheinberg and currently an employee of both Margulies/TT and Camp Agudah where Kolko worked and abused children for a decade. As a high level employee of Camp Agudah, Kaufman was informed of Kolko’s molestation of young campers as early as the late 1960’s, and together with others, chose to cover up the accusations. Kaufman contacted victims and their supporters to insist they cease and desist from their attempts to rid TT and their community of a dangerous pedophile.
Specifically, Scheinberg called the organizers of the Bais Din and insisted they stop the Din Torah proceedings. He falsely stated that under Halacha two witnesses are required for the testimony to be Halachically valid, and as there were not two witnesses for any single act of abuse perpetrated by Kolko, all of the accusations must be disregarded.
Scheinberg also contacted victims and asked them to tell him what had been done to them by Kolko. Upon hearing the details of Kolko’s acts of molestation, Scheinberg falsely informed the victims that under Halacha, absent penetration or proof of ejaculation, Kolko’s actions against them were not punishable, and that they were obligated to cease and desist in their pursuit of justice.
In doing what he did, Scheinberg knowingly violated clear Halacha to the contrary of his stated position, and allowed Margulies and Kolko to continue their perversity. Due to Scheinberg’s gross distortion of Halacha, to this day, there are victims of Kolko who believe that the horrific acts of abuse Kolko perpetrated upon them are not actionable under Halacha.
Not one to leave anything to chance, Margulies also enlisted the aid of Yehoshua (Shia) Fishman (“Fishman”) (Fishman is the Executive Director of Torah U’Mesorah, the National Society of Hebrew Day Schools in America.) Fishman used his position as representative of Torah U’Mesorah to have one-on-one conversations with victims of Kolko. Introducing himself as the head of Torah U’Mesorah, an organization held in great esteem by yeshiva students, he promised to keep anything told him in the strictest confidence. Reassured, the young victims poured their broken hearts out to Fishman who promised to help them. Fishman promptly reported all stories and victim's names to Margulies and Kaufman. Margulies and Kaufman proceeded to publicly name and discredit each and every victim, one by one. The astonished victims react to this day with fury at Fishman’s betrayal of their confidences. To his credit, Fishman now acknowledges that a horrible injustice was perpetrated upon Margulies and Kolko’s victims, and pleads old age, ill health, and his imminent retirement as the reason for his inaction at this time.
It is of note that Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt"l, instructed the organizers of the Bais Din to ignore Scheinberg’s perversion of Halacha and to persist in their quest. Nonetheless, for over twenty years after Scheinberg’s maniacal interference, Kolko continued molesting young boys.
Having survived the most serious assault against his yeshiva, Margulies assumed he had put the matter behind him and focused on building his businesses. Margulies expanded Kolko’s responsibilities to include administrative duties, one-on-one “tutoring” of select students in TT, and the running of TT’s summer camp in the Catskill Mountains, known as Camp Silver Lake.
Needless to say Kolko’s child molesting continued, resulting in newly shattered lives every year.
Ir Hanidachas:
According to most interpretations, Ir Hanidachas is in reality a practical impossibility and as such is taught as a lesson on how to deal with irredeemable evil. The purpose of this post is not to seriously suggest that TT must be burned down to the ground together with all its inhabitants. To the contrary, many of the rabbeim and students of TT are innocent victims of Margulies. These rabbeim and students will have to spend the rest of their lives distancing themselves from Margulies and TT, and clearing themselves of the horrible stigma of association with TT. This is more punishment than most of them deserve and we wish them no further pain.
However, as with the concept of Ir Hanidachas, Yeshiva & Mesivta Torah Temimah is infused with an evil beyond most of our comprehension. While boy after boy was being sexually assaulted by Kolko in his private office (complete with its own private bathroom) and in the basement of the yeshiva building; at the very same time and in the very same building, the rabbeim and students sat in their classrooms and bais midrash learning, while turning a blind eye to the horrors being committed. When a few of the victims summoned the courage to accuse Kolko, the rest of TT went along quietly with Margulies, and allowed their classmates and talmidim to be villified.
Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah cries out for treatment as an Ir Hanidachas. The Rambam’s requirement that the inhabitants of an Ir Hanidachas be warned has been met. The TT community have been on notice of the Midas Sedom being perpetrated by Margulies and Kolko for decades, and were warned publicly and repeatedly of the consequences its continued inaction and refusal to repent would result in.
According to the Ra’avad, the occupants of an Ir Hanidachas are so beyond the pale that even true repentance does not allow for a reprieve. A Tosefta Sanhedrin postulates that in the case of Ir Hanidachas the property of the righteous inhabitants are burned along with everyone else’s.
Allow me to expand upon that thought and suggest that the guilt of the “righteous” lies in their silence while they allowed the horrific behavior to continue under the roof they shared with the purveyors of evil. Their silence is interpreted as acquiescence.
What did someone such as Rabbi S.F. Shustal, by many accounts a very special man, do to deserve this indelible blemish on his reputation? Simply stated, he was and remains to this day, silent about the horrors perpetrated by Kolko and Margulies.
While Margulies countenanced and supported Kolko’s murder of our children’s innocent souls, Shustal and his co-workers sat, and continue to sit, silently. They did, and continue to do, nothing to stop Margulies and Kolko.
In response to the argument of “what about the zechusim of the tremendous amount of Torah emanating from the many thousand graduates of TT?”, I refer to the Rambam who in Yesodei Ha’Torah states that a Sefer Torah written by an Apikoros must be burned. The Rambam called for the burning of a Sefer Torah written by an Apikoros because of the lack of proper intention to be M’Kadaish Shaim Shomayim as the Sefer Torah was written. Thus, such a Sefer Torah, although on the surface identical with a kosher Sefer Torah, lacks Kedusha and as the living embodiment of Tumah and Sheker its very existence stands in contradiction to everything the Torah represents.
It takes no great leap of logic to apply the above to Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah, an institution built by a Koifer on a foundation of Sheker, theft, deception and the blood and souls of innocent children. While Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah might appear at first glance to be a yeshiva similar to other yeshivas, it is in fact the yeshiva equivalent of a Sefer Torah written by a Min (non-believer.)
Being a community of sorts, the atrocities committed within the four walls of Yeshiva and Mesivta Torah Temimah render it an Ir Hanidachas. As such it is an institution whose eradication from our midst will result in a true Kiddush Hashem and will hasten the Geulah, may it be G-d’s will.
http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/local_story_342135916.html
Video of Yaakov Applegrad LYING to CBS News.
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_342172634.html
Hi, Im Sender Herschkovitz, the Hungarian idiot who still insists in an interview with CBS TV that Kolko is a "nice man"
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/478624p-402645c.html
Not only does Yudi stink to the heavens for his ruchniyusdikke perversions, but Avi Kolko got his father home too late to take a shower lichvod Shabbes, unless Yudi was mechalel Shabbes.
Maybe Chaim Weinfeld gave him a "heter"
'PERV' RABBI IN SHUL SHOCKER
VICTIMS SAY YESHIVA HID KID 'ABUSE'
By HEIDI SINGER, ALEX GINSBERG, MURRAY WEISS and JOHN MAZOR
'SICK MAN' Rabbi Joel Kolko, who was sued earlier this year by alleged sex-abuse victim David Framowitz, is in custody yesterday after being charged with child molestation.
December 9, 2006 -- A Brooklyn yeshiva covered up a rabbi's long history of child molestation and threatened parents and children who tried to end the abuse, it was charged yesterday.
Officials of Yeshiva Mesivta Torah Temimah knew of Rabbi Joel Kolko's attacks on young boys but ignored them because he was cleared by a rabbinical court, said lawyer Jeffrey Herman, who represents some of the alleged victims.
Details of Kolko's lurid past rocked the close-knit Jewish community yesterday as the rabbi was arraigned on new sex abuse charges yesterday.
They involved a 6-year-old boy - and a 31-year-old man, who says he was abused as a boy and again when he went back to visit the school last year.
The yeshiva denied a coverup.
Head Rabbi Lipa Margulies "never received any hard evidence about anything about Rabbi Kolko," said Avi Moskowitz, the attorney for Margulies and the yeshiva.
But Herman told The Post that when one boy considered making a public accusation against Kolko, his father got a threatening phone call from the yeshiva's leader.
The victim said Margulies "told his father that if your son doesn't keep his mouth shut, I can't guarantee the safety of your other children," Herman said.
"It's very scary stuff," he said. "All of a sudden, kids were afraid to come forward."
Word of the scandal first broke in May when Kolko, who is 60 and has 18 grandchildren, was hit by a $20 million lawsuit. Two former students filed the suit, charging they were molested more than 25 years ago.
One of the accusers, David Framowitz, 48, said he had been abused by Kolko at least 15 times over two years, both at the yeshiva and in the front seat of a Plymouth driven by the rabbi.
Kolko was arrested Thursday on the new charges, including allegedly touching the 6-year-old at the yeshiva on Ocean Parkway in Midwood.
He was also charged with attacking the 31-year-old man, who was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in May.
When the former student attended a social event at the school in January 2005, Kolko held the man down and forced the victim's hand onto Kolko's genitals, authorities said.
Yesterday, the rabbi, wearing a navy blue suit and black yarmulke, said nothing at his arraignment as $10,000 bail was set.
His lawyer, Scott Tulman, said the charges were "unquestionably . . . serious, but the fact remains it is just an allegation."
Moscowitz said the claim that Margulies threatened victims who came forward was "absolute lies."
Asked whether the school knew of the previous accusations, he said, "There's ancient history that's being referred to, but there have been no credible complaints."
But Herman said there are claims that Margulies interfered with a rabbinical court to protect Kolko, whom his accusers called "a very sick man."
"But what's incredible to me is that you have a rabbi who runs this school and presumably doesn't have this sickness and is alleged to have been covering for a known pedophile for over 25 years," he said. "It's a breach of trust at the highest level."
Assistant District Attorney Marc Fliedner indicated more victims are being sought, saying the case was a "comprehensive, ongoing investigation."
heidi.singer@nypost.com
Dear Rabbi Margulies:
How dare you claim no parents ever complained to you? Do you not remember the offer I and several other well meaning parents presented to you in 1984? Have you forgotten how you rejected it and not only kept Kolko on staff but promoted him?
Shame on you.
Kolko's associates had better watch their backs. Anyone remember how David Schick told prosecutors whatever dirt he knew about gantz Boro Park & Flatbush to get a lighter sentence? It's amazing how history has a habit of repeating itself.
Shelby,
Tell it to the police and say it to the jury. I hope all of you testify. How dare R Applegrad get on national television and lie? Who does he think he's kidding? I have no respect for him or anyone else from 555 op anymore. He should be begging for a settlement. Whichever lawyer is telling them to go to trial is missing the facts or should be sued for legal malpractice. And if he is a jew, the chillul hashem that he is generating will never be cleared up.
Where is the yashrus? the temmimiskeit? the kedusha? the tahara? the emes? and everything else that learning torah and living a life of torah is supposed to bring?
A warning to all parents that have kids in YTT. Take them out now. Why? Well when it comes to Shidduchim people may ask "hmm he went to TT, was he a victim?" Run, Run Run
Emess has two raglayim, but your shkorim don't have a leg to stand on.
That's why YTT will come crumbling down to the ground.
And aren't you familiar with the elementary law of gravity? The fatter & scummier Margo is, the harder he'll tumble down with you and the rest of the cover up criminals.
Benny Hirsh I'm glad you were able to give the details of kolko ariving home, to the paper on shabbos, this is a mitzva rabba and is doche shabbos.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/478624p-40264.html
http://podcast.medianext.com/stations/wins/media/mpeg/Rabbi_Accused_of_Molestation-1165604321.mp3
Is Applegrad the son of the alter Slonimer Yid & meshulach from Torah Vodaas ?
Boruch tiheye.
Shabbos? who cares its more important that we publicly shamed kolko!
Hey idiot, it wasn't Ben Hirsch who nailed it. I was watching TV footage from in front of Kolko's house on the West Coast where there were still 3 hours until Shabbes and tipped off the Daily News.
You might be 39 but you act like you're 5.
Marvin Schick's son Joe writes about abuse he suffered at the hands of a hasidic teacher in grade school. Most interesting is Marvin Schick's knowledge of that abuse and his apparent public silence about it:
When I was in sixth grade [in Toras Emes], in 1984, we had a chasidic rebbe, probably in his mid-30's, for the 12-1 chumash session. One Friday toward the end of the school year, he demanded that a number of kids stay after school. I ignored him, and walked out the door, when, presumably infuriated by the affront to his honor, he grabbed me, slammed my head and body against the wall and punched me repeatedly. This went on for quite a while. When he was done, he warned me not to tell my parents, or he would have me thrown out of the yeshiva.
I did not tell my parents, however, on Saturday night, my mother noticed that my back was badly bruised. I reluctantly told her what happened.
The next morning, my parents went to the yeshiva principal, a man who was principal of the yeshiva for more than 40 years, to demand that the rebbi be fired. It is worth noting that my family had a fairly good relationship with the principal, and that my father was fairly well known in the community.
The principal finished his meeting with my parents, and asked me and the rebbi to come to his office. My parents quietly told me not to worry, to tell the principal exactly what happened and not be scared of the rebbi. I told the truth. The principal asked the rebbi to respond. The rebbi's response was that I was a liar, and had banged my own head against the wall when he demanded that I stayed late, and that he did not lay a hand on me except to restrain me from hurting myself further.
The principal's response was to berate me for making false accusations against a rebbi, and he actually forced me to apologize to the rebbi. The rebbi was not fired and I went back to his classroom.
This happened to Marvin "Mr. Day School - Yeshiva Expert" Schick. Imagine what happens to kids whose parents don't come from prominent families and don't have protectzia.
Here's the big question: Who asked for the low bail? Let's hope it wasn't the Brooklyn DA. Who botched and still ignores the Mondrowitz issue. And don't forget that at least one of the victims in this case was sent to Mondrowitz for counseling.
Also, watch the brief CBS News video (unless you are a YTT parent who swore not to own or watch tv). Pay careful attention to Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad's eyes and body language when he denies the yeshivia knew about Kolko's abuse. Then ask yourself a question: Do you want Yaakov Applegrad in any position of communal responibility? I don't think so.
ben hirsh is 39
>Here's the big question: Who asked for the low bail? Let's hope it wasn't the Brooklyn DA. Who botched and still ignores the Mondrowitz issue. And don't forget that at least one of the victims in this case was sent to Mondrowitz for counseling.
Maybe there isn't enough of a case, did you ever think of that? The arrest was only in response to the lawsuit.
He uses all the talking points from the Agudah cover up crew, no wonder he's a perfect fit to defend Kolko.
http://www.echonyc.com/~horn/restless/000290.html
A number of people believe there should be a statute of limitations for murder. Early in my research, I interviewed attorney Scott Tulman, who in 1988 defended someone named Raymond for the murder of someone else in 1977. "Their lives are disrupted and ruined," he said, speaking about the defendant. "We live our lives, and the person you are today is going to be something very different than the person you were ten years ago, or ten years before that. Assuming that Raymond did that which he was accused of doing, even though he wasn’t found guilty [he accepted a plea], that happened when he would have been seventeen or eighteen years old. When you have someone who is arrested twenty years later, who is now 38 years old, it’s a completely different person. What we do at 18 we don’t do when we’re 28, and things that we do at 28 we may not do when we’re 38. When you have a delayed case over twenty years, the person you are prosecuting is not the same who committed the crime. Raymond was married with two young children, leading a life, employed, and then all of a sudden he’s called to answer for something."
But not the victims
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:mjnCxTK6UUoJ:www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php%3FCat%3D%26Number%3D409046%26page%3D0%26view%3Dcollapsed%26sb%3D5%26o%3D%26vc%3D1+%22Scott+Tulman%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=22
Criminal Lawyer Believes NYC Prosecutions are Threat to Entire State
Scott Tulman, Manhattan attorney and past president of the New York Criminal Lawyers Association, told AKTI he believes the recent New York City Police Department initiative to arrest knife retailers could be used on a statewide basis to harass and arrest individual knife owners, prosecute retailers and ultimately attempt to shut down the entire knife industry in New York State.
"I represent a client charged in Queens Co. who has been effectively put out of the knife business," Tulman said. "And I have spoken to attorneys representing Manhattan defendants who have also been effectively shut down."
In raids dating back to October 2003, the NYPD has confiscated hundreds of knife models from at least five retailers under the state's gravity knife statute. The seizures have included a broad variety of one-hand openers, as well as high-end "gentleman's folders" and "multi-tools." The "test" of the statute used by arresting officers has been whether they can cause the blade to open by "centrifugal force" using very dramatic and repeated arm-swinging. In some cases, they have even resorted to grabbing the knife blade and then attempting to get the handle to flip open away from the blade and lock.
"If I were asked to advise retailers currently selling knives in New York, I would tell them that selling virtually any one-hand opening knife puts them at risk of arrest and prosecution under the present circumstances," Tulman said. "And if aggressive prosecutors and police departments wanted to pursue this statewide, they could put several major manufacturers and suppliers at risk."
The knife raids and the threat of future raids have made even "unraided" retailers unsure about which knives they can sell. AKTI has been attempting to schedule a meeting with the NYPD to at least get a list of prohibited knife models. But as of early May 2004, the meeting has not been scheduled, and no clarifications have been provided by NYPD.
"The arbitrary application of the current statute, the uncertainty about which models are legal, and the questionable 'testing' of seized knives will only be effectively dealt with if AKTI attempts to clarify the New York gravity knife definition through new legislation," Tulman concluded.
AKTI-sponsored legislation in California (2001) and in Florida (2003), saved one-handers and a broad variety of other knives in those states.
Isn't it funny that Kolko shells out big bucks for a hotshot lawyer who only cares about making money, but Margo cheaps out on some pisher ?
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E5DD153EF935A35757C0A9679C8B63&sec=&pagewanted=print
April 6, 2001
Better Pay for Lawyers
To the Editor:
Re ''A Destructive Court Protest'' (editorial, April 3):
You criticize court-assigned lawyers who are refusing new assignments. The low rate paid by New York State for court-assigned lawyers has resulted in many competent lawyers' refusing to participate in the assigned counsel plan. Those lawyers who remain are required to assume enormous caseloads, with some reportedly handling as many as 150 cases.
These caseloads are threatening the ability of court-assigned lawyers to fulfill their legal and ethical obligation to render effective assistance to their clients.
By refusing additional assignments, these dedicated lawyers are acting against their own economic self-interest for the sake of their clients.
SCOTT B. TULMAN
Pres., New York Criminal Bar Assn.
New York, April 4, 2001
MARC J. FLIEDNER
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
MFLIEDNER@KC-LAW.NET
Practice Focus
Primarily responsible for the defense of major crimes in New Jersey and as supervising trial co-counsel in Pennsylvania. Also works on Negligence cases and supervision and development of abuse and harassment claims in the jurisdiction of New Jersey and the Federal District Court.
Education And Degrees
The National Law Center
George Washington University, Washington, DC
Juris Doctor, May 1987
The American University, Washington, DC
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Communication, May 1984
Minors: Justice and Psychology,
Honors: Cum Laude, Dean's List, Outstanding Performance in Public Communication
Professional Statement
As an outstanding Litigator, Marc supervises development and trying of major criminal cases in New Jersey. His background as a Prosecutor and Director of the Criminal Child Abuse Unit of Monmouth County gives him the expertise to supervise the investigation and development of all abuse and harassment cases in the Kamensky · Cohen & Associates office. In addition, he handles family court matters involving matrimonial/domestic partnership law.
Admitted To Practice
New Jersey, 1987
New York ,1987
Experience
Kamensky · Cohen & Associates- Trenton, NJ 2002 to Present
Associate
Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office -Freehold, NJ, August 1992 -March 2002
Assistant Prosecutor, Director of the Special Victims Crimes/Child Abuse Unit, August 1997 -March 2002
Assistant Prosecutor, August 1992-July 1997
Office of the District Attorney of Kings County -Brooklyn, NY, 1987-1992
Assistant District Attorney, Assigned to Abuse Crimes & Special Victims Bureau
National Criminal Justice Association -Washington, DC, 1986-1987
Legal Researcher
Superior Court of the District of Columbia -Washington, DC, 1986-1987
Intern Clerk for Judge Noel Anketell Kramer
Public Defender Service Washington DC, 1984
Student Intern, Mental Health Division at St. Elizabeth's Hospital
Legal Membership & Certifications
Past Membership, New Jersey Assault Protocol Council;
Mercer County Bar Association
Community Membership, Activities & Honors
Life-long affiliate, Saint Luke's United Methodist Church, Long Branch; Sunday School Teacher, 1992-Present
Personal Interests
Politics; cinema; civic activities in the City of Trenton.
Representative Cases
M.A. VS. J.R. ( Personal Injury action, Mercer County Superior Court, $200,000 Jury Award for injuries sustained in motor vehicle accident).
State of New Jersey VS. D.W. ( Criminal Prosecution for alleged C.D.S. offences; Verdict of not guilty, all counts.)
S. B. VS. R.C.D.T. ( abuse of minor by clergyman )
J.P. vs. Poly Prep ( assault of minor by coach )
C.P. vs. Trenton Police Department ( violation of civil rights )
Articles & Presentations
Lecturer at training for Personal Assault Nurse Examiners, Rutgers University.
Lecturer at various multi-disciplinary conferences on a variety of topics, including investigation and prosecution of cases involving "date rape" drugs, shaken baby syndrome and child abuse, multi-disciplinary team coordination in child abuse investigations, and use of forensic interviewing protocols in child abuse investigations.
The police even said that they made the arrest right after the lawsuit only b/c they felt Kolko was a flight risk. They didn't have anything on him. Let's hope people step forward. At the very least we can thank the DA for confiscating his passport. I wonder why Kolko didn't just move into Arzei when he was there for Sukkos. (Or he could have moved in with Mondrowitz and Leizerowitz).
Be sure to read this:
We Need To Be Honoring The Survivors of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko As Heros!
http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2006/12/we-need-to-be-honoring-survivors-of.html
Agudah to UOJ: Welcome Back
It appears that the Agudah, with their pathetic grasping at straws of controvery to appear relevant, has ressurected UOJ -- the Patron Saint of Children Who are Sexually Abused by Religious Figures and Those Who Harbor Them. UOJ, after being 'outed' this spring by some self-appointed thugs who believe themselves to be defenders of Torah and Gedolim, slipped into the background with a farewell post just before Rosh Hashonah. Sadly, it appeared as though UOJ would relegated to asterisk status in Jewish history, despite his valient and timely attacks on a viciously apathetic status quo that preferred the spiritual murder of Jewish children over decisive action.
And all was quiet as Rosh Yehivas, executive directors, and some yeshivishe egomaniacs in the sleepy slum of Waterbury, CT rejoiced at the miraculous bullet dodging they had just witnessed. Evidentally, the 'humiliation' weapon -- a thin reference to ruined shidduchim and tainted yichus -- had succeeded in preserving the perversity of ultra-orthodox apathy.
But something was afoot. Deep within the bowels of 42 Broadway, across some shiny overpriced conference table, the Wizards of Was realized that their destiny lay in murdering the mandate bearer: blogs. Ironically, if they would actually read the blogs instead of dismissing them as the tools of satan, they would have been able to ressurect themselves and actively contribute to the betterment and solidificaiton of American Orthodoxy. Instead, they took the short way out.
"Let's bash blogs," the Daas Torahniks declared. "We must create a new enemy, now that the Nazis are gone, Jewish busdrivers can wear yarmulkas to work without fear, we've given up on "at-risk" kids (poorly trained mentors are the answer....right?), and we've selected our gueat of honor for this year's dinner..." The obvious answer was blogs.
The dispensers of Daas Torah, concerned with the impact blogs were having on their destructive hegemony and possible ramificaitons that would have on future fundraising seconded the motion. "Blogs are bad," they bellowed. "We must rid our homes and neighborhoods of blogs." Then they returned to worrying about why the frummest girls schools produce graduates who ignore tznius, despite 14 years of subversive inculcation, and how to close the pandoras box of frummer-than-though kashrus which has inexplicably led to America's most religious neighborhood to eat traif meat for half a decade.
Blogs are bad. Blogs are bad. Yeah, let's stick it to that UnOrthodox fellow. Who is he anyway to blame us for child molestation? We TOLD people that seperate seating weddings would solve everything. And as long as they don't listen in the Five Towns, we can't be held responsible for what happens to little boys in Brooklyn."
So the convention program, with a half dozen cutsie teaser ads were drafted and everyone was happy. "Blogs are bad!," said the Agudah bigshots. "When we're done with them, we'll be able to ridicule molestation victims with impunity in the Jewish Week." The Daas Torah dispensers cried, "Blogs are Bad. And now, we can get back to banning intangible objects, like books and sheitels, which we can burn, and actual people whom we can besmirch, excommunicate and threaten. It was so much easier ointhe old days."
But they didn't count on themselves making the same mistake as they have made time and time again: life moves fast. People forget. They are busy. If things go away, they are forgotten. It's the same reason why sexual molestation victims fade away. If people forget, their pain is buried, for they themselves to choke on, alone. But when old news gets dredged up. When books that appear objectionable are given attention, or banned, they take on a life of their own. When forgotten blogs are given mainstage forums at major fundraising events....they return to life.
And so, UOJ, in all his glory has been vindicated and ressurected, unlike the Audah, which is as pathetic and irrelevant as it has been for the past decade, UOJ has attracted a well-written, logical counterpart: http://rabbimatisyahusalomon.blogspot.com ,which features a several thousand word letter detailing the vast and grievous gaps in communal leadership and compassion by our so-called gedolim.
The progeny of UOJ also provides an lucid timeline of events that led up to UOJ and more importantly the serious lack of judgement, compasison, and leadership of the dispensers of Daas Torah. And, incidentally, offers a nod to the one straight shooter of our generation, Rabbi Avigdor Miller, who told certain askanim, to, so to speak -- damn the topedos and blow this mother sky high. (i paraphrased a bit).
So, to the chagrin of every frummie on the dark hatted side of the color spectrum, UOJ is back. Ironically, the very intention of the Agudah, to declare thei moral victory over bloggers and reclaim their relevance has instead tossed the moral imperative to bloggers such as UOJ. Blogs are more relevant and necessary than ever before.
As for UOJ, he sounds more mature, and as always -- is dead on correct about the travesty that has been perpetrated over 40 years of inaction, intimidation, and malicious ineptitude.
Welcome back UOJ. Klal Yisroel needs you!
what happened with the topic of Matisyahu Solomon? He has ruined countless peoples lives by only listening to half a story for years. Had he listened this time to both sides, perhaps the ending here would have been different years ago..as would have been the lives of many others he has messed up.
But, G-d doesn't forget anything, and what goes around comes around.
Ask Matisyahu if this is true!
Re Matisyahu Solomon:
what goes around comes around...he should know this well from what is happening with his own personal life.
add on re matty salomon. maybe this is finally a sign that these litvaks need to see that they cannot run all of us like a communist society. I for one, am sick of the Lakewood bullshit, namely "If you want to live in our community, you do as we say". No inviting other couples for meals, no internet, no chairs in the pizza shop, etc. And, last but not least, G-d forbid the man should work for a living.
You "Gedolim" should all take a lesson form the real Gedolim in the Gemorra who ALL WORKED FOR A LIVING!!!! They did not want to live on handouts.
You guys are a disgrace to Yiddishkeit. All you care about is yourselves and you hide behind the guise of Kovod Hateyre. Heck, you cant even pronounce it right. Its Torah or Toirah, NOT TAYRE.
I can't wait to finaly get the recognition I deserve.
Asked to provide comment, R’ Avi Shafran replies in an e-mail:
Why would we have comment about the arrest of an individual? Because he was an employee, more than 30 years ago, of one of the camps we run (that have had thousands of employees over the years)? I don’t think that requires comment on our part.
We are not even a party anymore to any lawsuit filed against the accused, as I understand it. The suit of the accuser who included Camp Agudah in his action (John Doe #1) has been dismissed (without prejudice, I believe, so it can still be refiled, but hasn’t been).
Anonymous said...
Re Matisyahu Solomon:
what goes around comes around...he should know this well from what is happening with his own personal life.
-------------------
You are a very sick person. Why do you spread falactious rumors.
“Certainly, things seem to have worked out so far in the Kolko situation, despite UOJ.”
Not for anything, I mean, it’s your blog, but, what planet are you on? As a bochur in yeshiva back in the late 70’s, we all new Kolko was molesting kids, including masturbating againt their bodies and fondling their genitalia. We had a joke in Camp Agudah, that if you weren’t in the Cocoa Club (waking up before shachris to learn mishnayos was rewarded with a cup of hot cocoa) you were in the “Kolko Club.” The guys nickname was Hot Kolko. So when you said things seem to have worked out, surely you meant “things seem to have worked out now that after more than thirty years and umteen victims someone finally decided to bring an end to the worst case of pederasty known to the Jewish world.”
I am of those that know that if not for UOJ, Kolko would be in a room right now destroting another life. Apparently for you, ignorance is bliss.
Even sicker than Kolko is Margo, the am haaretz. The gehennom that awaits him is simply unfathomable. He allowed Kolko unfettered access to any and every flavor of child that aroused the beast in kolko. Our chinuch system has never seen such a failure as the bastard Margo.
i feel this is crazy and what you are doing to rabbi kolko is outragous. i have known him for 22 years and counting all my life i was around him . he never did any off this garbage you are saying about him. he is one of the most respected people in our comunity.i personally no all his family and even went to his school and camp, he never once touched any body. who ever is putting this out about him knows the real truth and the day will come for you to stand up to g-d for what you are causing this rabbi.
What is going on here is crazy. First of all rabbi kolko is one of the greatest ,warmest people you will ever meeet .he has a heart of gold and he helps the jewish community out in ways that you would not even think about.I was and still am a student of rabbi kolko, he has tought me ,my freinds and family for years.what you are saying about him is outragous. Stop thinking about yourself for a minute and try to imagine all the pain you are putting this holy man who would not hurt a fly threw.Do you know what his entire family must be going threw?What you are doing is worse then what hitler did,and the price you will pay in the next world is un-imagineable.I hope you are getting help for this sickness you have, because a sickness like yours does not go away by itself .Please remember to take your meds, its very important.P.S HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I DID THIS TO YOU? DONT START SOMETHING YOU CANT FINISH. JUST REMEMBER WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
Dear All,
I had the zechus of learning with rabbi kolko as well sa manavu. In addition i live in the neigborhood and have the honors of bumping into him in a semi regular basis. As well i see his son Mendy around on a regular basis. They are AMAZING people, amazing family. Rabbi kolko is a special person who is getting put through hell for some1’s personnal agenda.
I would luv for my son to have rabbi kolko and i hope he opens a camp again sos my son can have the same zechus of hanging around such a special person.
Please ignore any garbage thats written about him as its all not true.. Every1 has an achrius to support him as he has done sosoosos much for us, wether ur kids were in manavu or temimah or not he has contributed to this community and has helped raise bnei torah for 20+ yrs
I was never sexually abused but did suffer phyiscal and mental abuse at the hands of Yidi Kolko. He was a bully - terrorizing children in his class, his school and his camp. While this is awful for his family, I must say the shame this is causing could not have happened to a more deserving person.
how could you [margolis and those other “rabbi’s” and “esteemded community leaders”] have knowingly placed me in harms way -i dont rmemebr being abused -but i could’ve been because of of your inaction. It is no wonder that i didnt really believe or feel real about any spirituality or religious matters until i left torah temimah - a school hiding such characters has inherent flaws that infects its very essence and certainly cannot have taught religion purely. While i may not have been damaged physically i certainly lost out.
Dear All,
i think anyone who has spent time with Rabbi Kolko, wether in Aguda, Manavu, Temima, Shul etc knows that he is a special person, Everyone who knows his wife and kids knows what a special family they are. Rabbi Kolko has dedicated his life to our community, whoever is creating this crap about him will have to answer to god one day. Every single one of these phony claims is 3) yrs old (or so i have read) does any1 else find it wierd that since that time nothing has happened? does that make any1 else doubt the initial claim?
when i heard about the BS press conference in front of temimah on friday i had tears in my eyes, i feel so bad for rabbi kolko. i think every1 should be davening to give rabbi kolko the strength to get through this and prob be davening more for the person who is going to be put through hell for putting an amazing person through hell on earth..”he who embarasses some1 in public looses their share of olam habah”
i think every1 has an achrius to be dan lkav zechus for a man who has been so good to us. Until something is proven as fact i think we need to stand behind him…
and i think every1 should call temimah in support of rabbi kolko
I was a student in both Torah Temimah and a camper in Camp Agudah. At no time was I a student of his or a camper in his bunk. That said, I think it is irresponsible of people to claim that they “know” the Rabbi Kolko would not have done anything that he is accused of because they “know” his family. For people who say this: what do you think a pedophile looks like? Do you think that they all wear a plaque that says “look I am a pedophile”? We knoe better, pedophiles are often “upright” members of their community.
What will the parents who have children in Torah Temimah do now? Is it enough that Rabbi Kolko is now relieved of his job? How confident are the parents that the next time this happens the school’s administration will once again not try to hush it up? Don’t we have an obligation to protect our children from such preditors? Will we continue to protect this man who, if the accusations are true, hurt our children? Do we not want for the truth to come out? His reputation may be at stake, but so is the well being of our children.
I dont know R Kolko personally. However, all this blatant lashon harah has been extremely disturbing to me. So I went around to over a dozen of his colleagues, as well as students, for over 20+ years - the people who have watched him in action and know his modus operand. Every single person who worked with him was shocked, and completely not mekabel any of these accusations. However, there is a clear consensus that his strictness, especially in his earlier years at torah temima, would place him at the top of many of his students’ hit-list. In addition, and this is an extremely important point (at least in my book), many of his colleagues have emphasized to me his integrity, particularly in the same areas he is being accused of violating. The feeling I had from speaking with his former students was that he was very strict, and while some did not wish him well, even the ones who didnt like him could not point to anything of an illicit nature in his conduct - either by first-hand experience or by word-of-mouth. Moreover, the majority of his former students said that in their minds, these accusations are in no way true.
Now lets look at the other side of the argument. You have R Margolis who has had a thriving Yeshiva for many years. He is a smart business man. He would have to be retarded to keep a pedophile in his midst. Its just bad business.
Furthermore, psychological disorders such as pedophilia are generally progressive; that is they would get worse over time, not better. Yet the only accusations come from very long ago. One of the known accusers came from a broken home. Is it not possible that he had or has psychological issues. It is not uncommon, especially in children, for people to project their fears onto others. Maybe he was molested by someone else, but as a defense mechanism projected it onto an innocent R Kolko. Maybe he had a vendetta against R Kolko back then, and he convinced himself that it was true. Further, his allegations seem almost too perfect, since they can neither be verified nor denied. The information mentioned in the allegations was and is known to all of his former students, and to the community at large. Have the accusers proven anything? Not yet, and maybe never.
What if R Kolko is innocent of the charges against him? What if all the lashon harah being spewed on forums like these are lies? His life and reputation will have been ruined for nothing. The arguments of where there is smoke there is fire are not valid from a Torah perspective, especially in this case which ultimately stems from the testimony of then non-bar-da’as (child), with potential negiyas (biases), no eidim (witnesses), no chazakas, not even circumstancial evidence, nothing to indicate that the ba’al taina (accuser) is truthful. Think of it this way - if someone can just accuse someone without any proof whatsoever, what would stop someone from randomly fabricating a story about you or I. It has probably all happened to us already where some lies were advanced about us - maybe in shidduchim, maybe in business. We all know how much it hurts, so why are we doing it to someone who by all proven accounts has devoted his life to the frum community. You know, according to the baalei mussar, the tzaras (pain) that R Kolko and his family are experiencing suggests his tzidkus (and not rishus), otherwise Hashem would leave a person alone to suffer in the next world.
Granted, everyone is afraid for their childrens’ safety; so am I. But everything about this is halachically wrong. There is no justification for aveira lishma (justifiable sin) in this case, and we all know where the road of good intentions leads to - g’hinom. Why dont we all stop with the lashon harah for a while. At least wait until the court case is over and see the results. And just remember, when you are mekatreig (prosecute) against someone else like this - machshava ra’ah chozer l’rosh she’chashvu (evil thought return to one who thought them). You just leyned v’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha (love your fellow jew as yourself). You would never want this done to you, in this way. So have faith in your fellow Jew, and move on.
If there is even the slightest possibility that this “Rabbi” committed even just one of these acts..this need to be thoroughly investigated. I, myself, am a victim of abuse, not by a Rebbe, but by a family member. Now in my late forties, I can tell you that such acts when I was a teenager, have ruined my life and caused me great pain. No one would know, because I have gone on to be a husband and father and active in ethe frum world, BUT I LIVE WITH THIS PAIN DAILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FRUM WORLD>>>>>>STOP CLOSING YOUR EYES!!!!! We have such monsters in our midst and for Rabbonim and “Gedolai Hador” to harbor such people, or excuse their actions, or to be afraid to look closely into such allegations, these “religious” people should do some real soul searching. In the Beis Din shel Maala they will pay a price. Its bad enough that sick people like Kolko exist, its worse to hide their actions and cover them over.
RABBONIM……..What if such a child were your son or grandson, would you send him into the hands of this sick pervert????????
WAKE UP…..we are not shletered from these problems. DEAL WITH IT!!!!
I too was molested as a child. Also by a family member. It has caused great harm, and tremendous pain to my husband and yes to my children too.
The sadness and suffering has followed through the generations. This abuse all but ruined my life. I have spent thousands of dollars on therapy just to heal from this terrible wound inflicted upon me.
I have no idea if Rabbi K is guilty or not, in the end it will be between him and the Ribbono Shel Olom. But I do say that we MUST realise that this a terrible problem in our community. Frum or not, pedophiles should NOT be allowed in our midst.
And it is wrong (especially in this day and age) for Rabbonim not to understand the long term consequences of a child who is molested.
i was in stolin in the late 70’s and i witnessed kolko molesting one of my classmates. i also testified at the kangaroo bais din. which was subsequently squashed by margolis and fishman from torah umersorah.
"I think it's 25 years later than it should have happened," the 39-year-old man said. "I know the wheels of justice are slow. I hope they crunch this guy."
The man said he personally knows of another 15 victims, and that he believes more than 100 other boys were molested by the rabbi.
Ben Hirsh, don't be ashmed to give your name.
Dear Rabbi Kaufman:
You forgot to mention that yoyu are a talmid muvhak of Rabbi Pinchus Scheinberg, (he of no sin if no penetration fame.) He taught you well.
As to your claim that you "dont know R Kolko personally," you've worked with him for forty years, both in Camp Agudah and in Torah Temimah. How is it that you don't know him?
The drivel you spew in the name of the Torah is freakish. There is no room for two witnesses when it comes to sex crimes crimes against children which by their very nature occur in privacy. Unlike your mentor, the Torah and Halacha allow for testimony by women and children in these cases.
You and your Rebbe are a disgrace to all true believing frum yidden.
I am not Rabbi Kaufman, although I do know him and respect him a lot. He taught me hilchos dayos at least 3 times.
Here he is preaching about negios.
What about his negios for being involved in a criminal conspiracy to cover up Kolko's assaults?
What about his negios for being on Margo's payroll?
Simcha Kaufman is a LIAR who perverts the Torah.
The halachos of "kol" indicate that someone like Kolko who is dogged by rumors from many sources over a span of years that do not die down may be suspected as guilty.
The rishonim clearly spell this out. See the teshuva from Rav Wosner in Monsey regarding another pervert named Tendler.
Simcha Kaufman makes decent people want to vomit.
YTT Alumnus said...
i feel this is crazy and what you are doing to rabbi kolko is outragous. i have known him for 22 years and counting all my life i was around him . he never did any off this garbage you are saying about him.
--------
Maybe you're just not his type.
So have faith in your fellow Jew, and move on.
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Absolutely! I have faith in the victim's testimonies who are also Jewish.
Have the accusers proven anything? Not yet, and maybe never.
--------
Please give an example of acceptable proof? I won't hold my breath waiting for a clear answer.
What if R Kolko is innocent of the charges against him?
--------
What if OJ is innocent?
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2006/11/for_marvin_schi_1.html
He sure would be at home in Israel with Mondrowitz & friends.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=4743966
I bet my buddy Hynes will try to get Kolko off the hook. The Iggud Harabbonim likes it that way.
Rabbi Twerski, a legal scholar who said he has been working on the issue of abuse for “a long time,” dismissed the allegations against Rabbi Margulies.
“I know Rabbi Margulies for many years and know him to be a man of great honor,” said Rabbi Twerski. He did not make any comments about Rabbi Kolko.
If Mago goes down, will Reb Lipa Geldwirth take the healm?
Geldworth is too busy with his new shul.
If Mago goes down, will Reb Lipa Geldwirth take the healm?
----------------
watch out for your boys if he does.
http://angrysoul.blogspot.com/index.html
There is still a lot of work to be done. Haym katzar vhamlacha merubeh. Keep it up people. Let's clean out the rot.
I don't think Lipa Geldwerth will be able to take any helm after he gets subpoenaed for his role in the cover up conspiracy.
The Jerk was still badmouthing Eli Greenwald & Ben Hirsch until recently in public and is just as stubborn as Margo.
I heard that geldworth also had trouble keeping the boys away from his 'boys',
"If Mago goes down"
Is Mago short for Margo or Maggot or both ?
Does he lack sechel? Seriously, how are his critical thinking skills? Truthfully, I heard a shiur from him and it was terrible.
http://www.boratmovie.com/
Jagshemash, I can't wait to see the next foolish letter that YTT sends to the parents to make beautiful the glorious yeshiva of Margulies cultural leanings of protecting kids from child abuse.
"Rumor is that the kid who is accusing the rebbi got thrown out of TT. Hmmmm.... Think the kid has any credibility? this is a joke and the case will get thrown out of court before it enters."
Never fails to amaze me - people with an IQ high enough to log on to the internet are stupid enough to go near a keyboard and advertise the facts that they A) never learned English and B) should not be allowed to reproduce and further populate Brooklyn with children suufering from congenital stupidity.
Please leave Rav Geldwerth out of this. He is a good man.
Please leave Rav Geldwerth out of this. He is a good man.
---------------------
He is an idiot who insisted on attacking the good men who were working on getting his good friend and partner Kolko away from boys. With his history as a bochur he should have kept his stupid mouth shut. Too late now.
The lawyers involved in this case are looking for more victims of Avrohom Mordechai Leizerowitz, the Mashgiach of the Ger Yeshiva for highschool age boys. Anyone with information should contact UOJ and the lawyer Herman. No limitations exist with regard to how many years have past. Statute of limitations are only on criminal charges. You can sue for monetary damages on cases 50 years old. They are particularly interested on more info as to how much David Olewski ant the other Ger Rabbis knew and for how long. A substantial amount has been gathered and they are working on attaining criticle mass for a possible massive legal action.
Any victims of Yehuda Kolko who wish to talk please call Jeffrey Herman. All discussions will be strictly confidential.
Herman & Mermelstein, P.A.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 2218
Miami, Florida 33160
Call Toll Free!!
1-800-686-9921
Miami / 305-931-2200
Fax / 305-931-0877
Email: lawyers@hermanlaw.com
Web: www.hermanlaw.com
Can you imagine the scene when the prosecution finds character witnesses to testify about Margo? Starting with his thievery from Tora Vodaas to the last decades of using mafia tactics to silence Kolko's victims. The book & movie rights are priceless.
http://nymag.com/news/features/17010/?imw=Y
Get ready for a follow up report from New York Magazine.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12102006/news/regionalnews/rabbi_perv_bust_justice_regionalnews_heidi_singer.htm
He just crawled out of his hole to deny to Sunday's NY Post that there was a cover up.
It's a good thing that most of the people who knew me in the heim, in Satmar, are no longer alive. I would hate to see old shmutz about me revealed during trial. I have enough skeletons in my American closet without having to dig back to ancient history.
Yaakov Applegrad maintains a "not for profit charity"
Is this bogus ? It calls for an investigation
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:MRflaiJPqI4J:www.taxexemptworld.com/organizations/kings-county-ny-new-york.asp%3Fspg%3D31+%22yaakov+applegrad%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=14
YESHIVA BEER SIMCHA
(c/o YAAKOV APPLEGRAD) 697 E 7TH ST
BROOKLYN, NY 11218-5903 Religious Organization
( Jewish)
Applegrad is a mechutan of Moishe Finkel, the Monsey treif-meister.
http://www.shaelsiegel.com/2006/10/vegetarian-chicken-soup-monsey-chicken-shechita-daf-yomi-kosher
Mr. Finkel had the need to support several children in Kollel. Indeed, the irony of his having having done a shidduch 6 months ago with Rabbi Yaakov Applegrad, the administrator of Yeshiva Torah Temimah (home of Rabbi Yudi Kolko) and Rabbi Lipa Margulies’ right hand, should not be ignored.
Yeshiva Beer Simcha looks like a fraud, following in the footsteps of you know who. The only place where the name comes up is where Applegrad places it on websites looking for people willing to donate vehicles for tax write offs.
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Tip of iceberg feared in rabbi child sex rap
BY NANCIE L. KATZ and BRENDAN BROSH
DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Saturday, December 9th, 2006
Prosecutors warned yesterday that a Brooklyn rabbi accused of sexually abusing two victims - including a young boy - may face more charges.
Joel Yehuda Kolko, 60, a former teacher and assistant principal at Yeshiva-Mesivta Torah Temimah on Ocean Parkway in Midwood, was released on $10,000 bail after he was arraigned yesterday on four counts of sexual abuse and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
He was required to surrender his passport before he was allowed to return to his Midwood home in time for Sabbath observations.
The charges against him involve the alleged molestation of a 6-year-old boy and a 31-year-old man.
"There may be other charges with other complainants, and there is an ongoing investigation regarding Kolko," Assistant Brooklyn District Attorney Marc Fliedner said in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
A $10-million suit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Wednesday accuses the yeshiva of harboring Kolko despite accusations that he abused children in his care there for years.
In May, three men filed suits seeking $30 million for alleged abuse the rabbi committed against them when they attended the yeshiva as children.
One of the three men was contacted by a Daily News reporter following yesterday's court action.
"I think it's 25 years later than it should have happened," the 39-year-old man said. "I know the wheels of justice are slow. I hope they crunch this guy."
The man said he personally knows of another 15 victims, and that he believes more than 100 other boys were molested by the rabbi.
Some of Kolko's former students were flabbergasted at the charges yesterday.
"I think a bunch of people are out to get him," said Aaron Tarnes, 30, a student at the yeshiva for 15 years. "I'm disturbed to hear such things against such a wonderful man."
Kolko arrived at his home on E. 22nd St. shortly after 4:15 p.m. in a silver Buick driven by his son, Avi. Kolko dashed inside without a word to waiting reporters.
Silver Lake applied for a permit this summer to add 15 new bungalows for "staff". Kolko, who the town of Fallsburg misspells as "Cocoa", is indentified as a camp official. If the Hungarians at Regency kick Kolko out, Applegrad has to find a new headquarters for Kolko.
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:28RoJt1-zNoJ:www.townoffallsburg.com/04-06-2006%2520Planning%2520Board%2520Meetings.htm+rabbi+applegrad&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=12
CAMP SILVER LAKE -SBL #: 41-1-18.1 - Requests an amendment to a previously approval site plan for 15 proposed duplexes for staff quarters (30 units total). Zone: Rec-1 Acreage: 89.25 acres. Location: Silver Lake Road, Woodridge
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:2DAMe0S-4X4J:www.townoffallsburg.com/08-17-06%2520ZB.htm+rabbi+applegrad&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=11
This is where Rabbi Cocoa and Rabbi Applegrad’s camp is and there is a home owner right in here that is kind of blocked through the trees.
To All My Former Campers & Staff,
I wish I would have known, and I'm deeply sorry for whatever hell you went through with this monster. I should have known better, especially since at our first meeting to open a camp together Kolko came dressed in a Pee Wee Herman costume. Please forgive me.
Rabbi Shlomie Klien
I am disgusted and nauseated by the filthy and low gutter language several commentators have used freely.
I thought you had set the standard by the measured and respectful tone of your letter to Rabbi Salomon and you should not have allowed all those letters with inappropriaate language. In addition, many of the comments are outright mean, vicious and spiteful, indicative more of sin'ath Torah than sin'ath rah.
.there is little of leshem shomayim to be found here.
Yiddy Kolko has been asked to be transferred to a juvenile correction facility.
Department of Corrections
Derech Eretz said: "I am disgusted and nauseated by the filthy and low gutter language several commentators have used freely."
Here we go again. Face reality. The foulmouthed few do not negate what has happened and is happening. The sooner you and your apologist cronies realize this, the faster we can strengthen our community and go on with what we're supposed to be doing.
HINT: it doesn't include hiding under rocks in fear of chillul hashem and reality.
If you agree with this letter please print and mail a copy to:
Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon
637 6th St
Lakewood, NJ 08701
No need to give a return address if you wish to remail anonymous.
Tisku L'Mitzvos
Heck, Kolko is a shining example of derech eretz when masturbating on little boys and Margo must be the epitome when he threatens victims to shut up.
Direct your twisted logic elsewhere you putz.
"Yiddy Kolko has been asked to be transferred to a juvenile correction facility."
Applegrad is making all the necessary arrangements.
One curious thing. We have neither seen nor heard from Margo himself. Anyone know why?
(Also, why has Geldwerth dissappeared into the woodwork? Is he finally convinced that his old friend is not as innocent as he thought?)
"Derech Eretz!" has a valid point. The few responses just confirm what he said.
All those who are justifiably outraged have no need or right to use gutter language if they claim
to be motivated by leshem shomayim.
Are they going to call all YTT pedophiles to testify or just Kolko ?
What is lippy geldworth's history as a bochur?
The tie-ins and connections over here are starting to make Baltimore and Ner Yisrole look like nothing. When we connect ocean parkway to mount wilson, now that will be the story of the century!
is eli teitelbaum still employed at ytt?
Attorneys
Prosecuting Attorney: COTTO, Wilfredo; KINGS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY's OFFICE, 350 JAY ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11201-2900; (718) 250-2001 (prosecuted cases)
Defense Attorney: Legal Aid, 111 LIVINGSTON STREET, BROOKLYN, NY, NY; 718-237-2000
Case Numbers
Court: KINGS Criminal Court
Criminal Justice Tracking Number: 58608619Y
Docket: 2006KN084956
NYSID Number: 981298P
Arrest Number: K06699923
CHARGES
PL 130.60 02 - A Misdemeanor, 1 count, Arrest charge, Arraignment charge
Description: Sexual abuse in the second degree / with person less than 14 years old / Class A misdemeanor
PL 130.55 00 - A Misdemeanor, 1 count, Arrest charge, Arraignment charge
Description: Sexual abuse in the third degree / with person less than 14 years old / Class B misdemeanor
PL 130.65 01 - D Felony, 1 count, Arrest charge, Arraignment charge
Description: Sexual abuse in the first degree / By forcible compulsion / Class D felony
PL 260.10 01 - A Misdemeanor, 1 count, Arrest charge, Arraignment charge
Description: Endangering the welfare of a child / class A misdemeanor
PL 130.65 03 - D Felony, 1 count, Arrest charge, Arraignment charge
Description: Sexual abuse in the first degree / with poerson less than 11 / Class D felony
Eli Teitelbaum left TT this year. Smart man.
Looks like they don't have much on Kolko.
if what they have sticks, he will sit for a while. Then he will have to register as an offender, unless he can bribe someone to take him off the list like Lipa Brenner did.
The problem is victim credibility and community pressure on the prosecutor, not to mention political pressure from Avi Shafran who claims not to care and Rabbi Perlow who claims it's a Flatbush issue (soon he will realize that Kensington is close to boro park and he will get involved).
I hope they stick to their guns and don't do a plea bargain.
To the author of this open letter,
Can you please post your email address. I need to contact you. Thank you.
I would like to commend the writer of the 'Open Letter to Rabbi Salomon' for an extretmely erudite and well written indictment of a whole slew of people that are completely deserving of our derision, disgust, and disrespect. The only person that comes through this letter with his reputation intact, and deservedly so since he was the lone voice pushing for action, is Rav Avigdor Miller.
This letter is a sad commentary on how we are a generation that is bereft of true ethical leadership. Instead, we are saddled with many who bask in their undeserving and sham-titles of Rabbi,Rosh Yeshiva, and Gadol Yisroel but have no true moral compass.
The vast and overwhelming majority of these Rabbonim that hide behind the cloak and title of 'Das Torah' are basically spineless cowards and worse. They are all eager and willing, and at the forefront, of valiantly speaking out on the 'issues' of today such as Bugs in the water supply, Indian hair wigs,and Eruvin. But not a one has the rectitude, fortitude, and courage to deal with the really crucial issues that affect our community at the core . There has only been a continuous deafening silence from our Rabbonim, for years and years, on burning issues that beg to be addressed, such as child molestation and the Agunah/Get crisis .
These children and women are people that are victimized over and over again each and every day that their situation is ignored by the Rabbonim and Gedolei Yisroel who should be doing everything in their power to address these dire issues.
In order to counter the above commentor's damnation of all Agudah Rabbis, I ask all people reading this to please post the name of a Rabbi that you know has stood up for the truth and faced down corruption. I will start with RAbbi Mitnick.
"I hope they stick to their guns and don't do a plea bargain."
It's worth it for Kolko to get a reduced sentence if he cooperates with prosecutors and takes down the bigger criminals who let this all happen, starting with Margo aka Chief Scumbag of Klal Yisroel.
"I will start with RAbbi Mitnick."
Rav Avigdor Miller
The old Tenka rov
Rav Shia Leiman
Rav Zelig Epstein
Rav Yosef Blau
Rav Mottel Orbach (first in Monsey to publicly condemn Tendler, before it was popular)
Rav Feivel Mendlowitz (even though some of his other ideas are off)
I get the impression that *currently* R Zelig is too old and considered irrelevant. People are machshiv him, of course, but they just ignore him and override him.
Rav Avigdor Miller
The old Tenka rov
Rav Shia Leiman
Rav Zelig Epstein
Rav Yosef Blau
Rav Mottel Orbach (first in Monsey to publicly condemn Tendler, before it was popular)
Rav Feivel Mendlowitz (even though some of his other ideas are off)
The names missing from this list is an indictment....
The author can probably be reached at (if he indeed is the author of the letter)
info@legrp.com
Here are some of the actions the Stockton Diocese has taken in the last two years to comply with the principles outlined in the Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People:
Hired a coordinator to provide safe environments for children.
Updated its written policy for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse of minors.
Established a Diocesan Review Board that includes lay professionals.
Produced "Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Lay Employees and Volunteers" and "A Safe Environment Protocol (Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting)."
Distributed to all parishes pamphlets in English and Spanish on how to report allegations.
Updated its screening and evaluation techniques in the selection of candidates for ordination to the priesthood and diaconate.
Participated in a research study commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to determine the "nature and scope" of the problem of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.
It wouldn't surprise me that they ignore R' Zelig Epstein. It's probably because he calls things the way they are and won't play the political games with the shmuck baal batim running the Agudah like Shafran. Even Zweibel who begs Margo in private to stop being an a-hole, doesn't have guts to do what's right and take a public stand. R' Zelig is bigger than those on the so called Moetzes as are some other gedolim.
The Agudah has a history of agendas driven by baal batim who won't even listen to their own rabbonim. Some macher baal batim decided to lynch R' Yonosson Sacks in Passaic because they think he's too modern. R' Yisroel Reisman convened an official Agudah beis din to look into it & concluded they should leave Rabbi Sacks alone because there's nothing wrong with him and he has done nothing wrong. The baal batim ignored the beis din and went after him anyway.
Anyone remember when R' Mottel Weinberg criticized the Agudah at their own convention? They never let his voice be heard again.
R' Shlomo Miller also went after Tendler in the early days and UOJ claims to have a letter from him blasting Rabbi Belsky that's posted on his website.
The modern orthodox RCA expelled both Tendler & Bryks from their ranks and made sure that Bryks closed down his yeshiva in Queens and stays away from chinuch.
There is a molester in Lakewood who has gotten away with grave crimes & is being protected by someone (a shrink, illegally practicing without a license, who is friends with the molester) who has convinced R' Matt Solomon & Schenkolewski that the molester is innocent.
Four rabbonim put up a huge fight to bring this monster to justice but didn't get anywhere:
R' Avremel Ausband (Riverdale)
R' Yisroel Plutchok (Boro Park)
R' Moshe Plutchok (Manhattan Beach)
R' Feivel Cohen (Ben Hirsch's uncle)
Rabbi Mark Dratch from West Hempstead was the first to start an organization to help victims. It's the only organization, unlike Ohel, that won't participate in kangaroo forums with Margo & Aaron Twerski.
Rabbi Mordechai Willig was once on the side of the cover up artists. He later made an about face and asked for mechila in public. He has since involved himself in taking down molesters.
The spineless "manhigim" out there should smarten up and follow his example.
those rabbonim took them to a din torah. reb matisyahu and schenky won the din torah on a technicality, that someone else who was achroy is responsible even if he didn't actually do the molesting. they destroyed the life of the other guy, who was guilty of being irresponsible but not deserving all the blame. the actual molester got away scott free and the fake psychologist keeps practicing. this part of the story is not widely known
What happened in the end with the big fire in August at Silver Lake? Was there any significant damage? Was it arson or an accident?
What's the bottom line with Applegrad? Is his primary function to go to jail on Margo's behalf if the house of cards ever collapses? Has Margo at least opened a huge escrow account in a Swiss bank to take care of his family if Applegrad takes the fall?
Every established mafia family has fall guys to cover for the don. I guess YTT & Margo shouldn't be any different. It doesn't matter if the guy's name is Salvatore or Yaakov.
Chao.
Are you kidding? When has Margo done anything besides for himself? The only secret accounts he has are to squirrel away the money he made selling free raisins that he hijacked from the US Education Department.
Have I mentioned again lately that Rabbi Margulies is an honorable man ?
You guys are something else. I have to delegate out my normal duties to keep up reading all these posts. It's a full time job by itself, damn it. Maybe I should hire a dedicated individual to give me an hourly briefing, kind of like how Torah Temimah hired Neuhoff.
to the above anon.
Sunday, December 10, 2006 6:19:00 AM IST
go on continue your life in denial, if it didnt happen to you then it probably did not happen shame on you to give support to this peice of scum dont you hear the pleas for help from these shattered victims that walk around town amongst us for there are many {loi alinei} were is the support that they are supposed to be getting or are you and that other denier of ytt the one that {thought} knows kolko for 22 years from the same group of people that say NAY it cant be true i know him personallyfor so many years as a prev comment said these guys dont walk around with a big sign around there necks. besides were you with him 24 7 365 that you can say he never did that kind of stuff of course he is not doing it on the bimah in front of everybody rather in the boiler room as ive heard mentioned or in his car when you were not around. anyhow get a life and stop living in denial for this kid deffinitlly needs our support not that peice of shit kolko or his enablers.
and may it be hashems will that we rid ourselves of these evil one by one.....amen
LEIZEROWITZ VICTIM FOREVER
Hey Shafran, you big mouth. Please stop reminding everyone of my job description as it's not good for my kids shidduchim. Some might think I have no morals, but the way I look at it is I got to pay off the fat mortgage for my new house on East 31st St.
There was a shul rabbi molesting adult women that were vulnerable in Manchester England. The British rabbonim threw him out. He went off the derech and took the helm of a reform or conservative temple in Florida.
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