In recent years, a great deal of attention has gone to the pervasive crime of clergy sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. Far less focus has been dedicated to the sexual abuse and torment suffered within the Jewish community – particularly Jewish youth attending schools and summer camps. Yet, there is an established pattern of sexual abuse and assault in the Jewish community and Jewish religious institutions.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse in the New York Jewish community, don’t hesitate to contact Manly, Stewart & Finaldi for high-quality legal representation. We are a premier sexual abuse and assault firm in America that has the personnel, experience and resources to help you with a lawsuit. Contact our dedicated sexual abuse lawyers today for a free and confidential case review.
Sexual Abuse Is an Ongoing Problem in the Jewish Community
No religious institution is safe from sexual abuse. Throughout history, religious institutions and churches have been involved in numerous sexual abuse and assault scandals, whether or not they were brought to the public’s attention. Judaism and the Jewish communities that currently exist in New York are no exceptions. The crime of sexual abuse can lead to significant psychological trauma, emotional distress and other serious issues for survivors.
The extent of sexual abuse in New York and around the nation in the Jewish faith has been underreported for years, kept hidden by leaders and administrators within these communities. There has also been a reluctance to come forward due to a deep-rooted averseness to reporting fellow Jews. Cases of sexual abuse among the New York Jewish community have only recently begun to come to light.
Criminal Case Against Orthodox Counselor in Brooklyn
In 2012, a well-known counselor in an orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York, Nechemya Weberman, was arrested and charged with 88 counts of sexual molestation with a child who was just 12 years old at the beginning of the abuse. He was convicted of these crimes in 2013 and sentenced to 103 years in prison. A year later, in 2014, his teenage victim filed a civil lawsuit against Weberman – as well as the United Talmudic Academy – for emotional distress.
Lawsuit Against New York’s Yeshiva University
In 2013, an investigation found that staff members at New York’s Yeshiva University committed multiple counts of sexual and physical abuse of its students. Multiple individuals in positions of authority at the school and who were affiliated with the university knew about the sex crimes but failed to report them to the proper authorities. The investigation uncovered multiple instances in which the university ignored the allegations entirely or didn’t take appropriate actions to protect its students.
Lawsuit Against United Jewish Appeal and Jewish Children’s Summer Camp
In 2019, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi filed a child sexual abuse lawsuit against Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum, Camp Mogen Avraham and the UJA Federation – New York (among others) under the New York Child Victims Act. This state law created a one-year window where all sexual abuse survivors could file claims, regardless of how long ago the abuse took place. This particular lawsuit was filed on behalf of a male plaintiff who alleged that he was physically and sexually assaulted by Rabbi Heshi Nussbaum at Camp Mogen Avraham, a camp for Jewish children, at approximately eight years old.
Do You Have a Case? Request a Confidential Consultation in New York Today to Find Out
You have legal rights as a survivor of sexual abuse in the New York Jewish community. While we understand the emotional toll that it takes to come forward, we hope that you can find the strength to do so – for yourself as well as others who may also be suffering in silence. We offer free and completely confidential case evaluations with knowledgeable and compassionate sexual abuse attorneys in New York. Our law firm can keep your information and identity confidential throughout your lawsuit, if desired. Contact our dedicated sexual abuse lawyers today or contact us online Request a meeting
