There have been attempts to hack our site! Please note the new address if that happens!!!!
UOJ
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
I Don't Agree With Everything UOJ says!
An Interested Observer Comments
I have been following the postings and comments on this blog for some
time and I am surprised by the almost laughable objections to what UOJ
is doing. These same objectors, who may be very well meaning, would
cringe at the silliness of their claims, had they been made by the
pope and some archbishops about the abusive priests. If you have been
reading or commenting for a while, I suggest you carefully evaluate my
points. If you disagree with them, please try to find fault with the
points I make, and not vilify me just for supporting such a rasha.
There have been several recurring themes in the objections to UOJ. I
will address them one by one. Perhaps the most prevalent is that
because UOJ has said nasty things about so many holy people, he has no
credibility and it is in fact a mitzvah to bring him down. Another
popular objection is that this is simply not the correct forum to
address these claims. Those who make this objection usually compare
this case to Lanners and claim that it would be alright to name him if
he was found guilty, like Lanner was, but he hasn't been found guilty.
They throw in some peons to Megan's law, so that they seem credible,
but then say that until anyone is found guilty, it is wrong to act in
public.
A third theme is that UOJ has some vendetta against Lipa, and since we
can prove that he hates him, it must be that this is his way of
bringing him down. Additionally, we have seen some people who claim
that UOJ has posted on Shabbos and has a potty mouth, thereby
nullifying any credibility that any of his claims might have. Another
objection is that since no victims have posted their names, how do we
know that he isn't just shooting now and asking later? Finally, there
have been some peripheral criticisms, that all the commenters are
really UOJ, or that the lawyer likes to sue people. If I have missed
any major points, please let me know and I will address those as well.
As far as the first claim goes, that he says bad things about
tzadikim, I have a hard time defending him. As anyone intelligent
knows, not every godol is perfect, but they aren't all bad either. He
has, in some cases, unfortunately made a one strike and they are out
rule, as far as his respect for gedolim goes. Nevertheless, that has
nothing whatsoever to do with the actual statements he is making. The
claims about abuse have nothing to do with his personal views. They
are about facts that may or may not have happened. His qualification
system for rabbonim may be half-assed, but those were opinions, as he
makes clear. However, the claims about Kolko are based on fact. You
may not have the same facts at your disposal, but that doesn't change
the fact that this objection mixes up two distinct types of claims
that he has made.
The second critique is perhaps the most insidious, since it seems so
logical on the face of it. Who could argue with someone who also hates
molesters, but just wants them to have their day in court? However,
people need to look at history. Do you know why Lanner, whom most of
you now agree is a bad man, has been convicted in a court of law? It
is NOT because beis din found him guilty and people made claims in the
appropriate forums and a criminal investigation was then launched. It
IS because the Jewish Week ran stories about it BEFORE he was ever
investigated and found guilty. I was one of the many who got very
angry with Gary Rosenblatt for speaking motzi shem rah and making the
frum world look bad. Well, he was convinced, even though many others,
like myself, who didn't know what he knew and felt that his was the
wrong way to go about it. In the end, we were proven wrong. These
claims against Lanner were circulating for over 20 years, and nothing
happened until it was made public.
You have no idea what UOJ knows. (Unless you are Lipa)You have no
right to judge him and say that he can only name names after someone
is found guilty. The only reason why there WILL be a criminal
investigation and why pretty soon, Kolko will no longer be around
children, is because UOJ let the victims know that they weren't alone
and that they could do something about this rasha.
The third objection, that UOJ just hates Lipa, again says nothing
about the actual issues at hand. Without having investigated his
claims yourself, how can you say that you know for certain that his
hatred impeded his investigation of the molestations? In fact, at
some point in the future, we should say Hallel to hashem for his
hatred of Lipa, because without it, many of the victims would not have
come forward. Does he hate Lipa? Yes. Is that a proof that Kolko is
innocent? Absolutely not.
With regard to the claim that UOJ blogged on shabbos, we are once
again faced with obfuscation from the issues. Did he in fact? No one
knows. He may have posted from Israel, and there may have been a time
stamp issue, or, he may indeed have posted on shabbos. Well,
regardless of what actually happened, this is not a defense. It simply
does not address the claims. If there was a court case about this, and
one of the victims who testify, is no longer shomer shabbos, would
that nullify their credibility? (That happened in the Lanner case) It
wouldn't even nullify their credibility in beis din, unless there was
hasrah!
While it would certainly help out his credibility if someone, maybe
someone who is no longer frum, came forward in public, it is not
essential, nor is the lack of one, suggestive that the claims are
fraudulent. The frum world is very close knit, and its history is
littered with victims who were trod upon after coming forward with
allegations. We have seen the smear machine working their magic
against UOJ, trying to out him and threatening violence, why would any
victim in their right mind, want to come forward into such a ruckus?
The other peripheral claims just cloud the issue further, once again
ignoring the issues.
At the end of the day, there are only two sorts of people who can
speak knowledgably on this subject. Those who know for certain that
the allegations are true and those who know for certain that they are
false. To know they are true, we only need to rely on the first hand
accounts. To know they are false, one must have been watching Kolko at
every minute of every single day for the last 35 years. It seems to me
that UOJ knows for certain. If you don't know either way, then I
recommend that you keep your eyes wide open in the next few months.
One way or another, someone will have a lot of apologizing to do. I
suggest that UOJ announce that he will flog himself publicly if he is
wrong, then those who demand his apology might quit whining.
Interested Observer
I have been following the postings and comments on this blog for some
time and I am surprised by the almost laughable objections to what UOJ
is doing. These same objectors, who may be very well meaning, would
cringe at the silliness of their claims, had they been made by the
pope and some archbishops about the abusive priests. If you have been
reading or commenting for a while, I suggest you carefully evaluate my
points. If you disagree with them, please try to find fault with the
points I make, and not vilify me just for supporting such a rasha.
There have been several recurring themes in the objections to UOJ. I
will address them one by one. Perhaps the most prevalent is that
because UOJ has said nasty things about so many holy people, he has no
credibility and it is in fact a mitzvah to bring him down. Another
popular objection is that this is simply not the correct forum to
address these claims. Those who make this objection usually compare
this case to Lanners and claim that it would be alright to name him if
he was found guilty, like Lanner was, but he hasn't been found guilty.
They throw in some peons to Megan's law, so that they seem credible,
but then say that until anyone is found guilty, it is wrong to act in
public.
A third theme is that UOJ has some vendetta against Lipa, and since we
can prove that he hates him, it must be that this is his way of
bringing him down. Additionally, we have seen some people who claim
that UOJ has posted on Shabbos and has a potty mouth, thereby
nullifying any credibility that any of his claims might have. Another
objection is that since no victims have posted their names, how do we
know that he isn't just shooting now and asking later? Finally, there
have been some peripheral criticisms, that all the commenters are
really UOJ, or that the lawyer likes to sue people. If I have missed
any major points, please let me know and I will address those as well.
As far as the first claim goes, that he says bad things about
tzadikim, I have a hard time defending him. As anyone intelligent
knows, not every godol is perfect, but they aren't all bad either. He
has, in some cases, unfortunately made a one strike and they are out
rule, as far as his respect for gedolim goes. Nevertheless, that has
nothing whatsoever to do with the actual statements he is making. The
claims about abuse have nothing to do with his personal views. They
are about facts that may or may not have happened. His qualification
system for rabbonim may be half-assed, but those were opinions, as he
makes clear. However, the claims about Kolko are based on fact. You
may not have the same facts at your disposal, but that doesn't change
the fact that this objection mixes up two distinct types of claims
that he has made.
The second critique is perhaps the most insidious, since it seems so
logical on the face of it. Who could argue with someone who also hates
molesters, but just wants them to have their day in court? However,
people need to look at history. Do you know why Lanner, whom most of
you now agree is a bad man, has been convicted in a court of law? It
is NOT because beis din found him guilty and people made claims in the
appropriate forums and a criminal investigation was then launched. It
IS because the Jewish Week ran stories about it BEFORE he was ever
investigated and found guilty. I was one of the many who got very
angry with Gary Rosenblatt for speaking motzi shem rah and making the
frum world look bad. Well, he was convinced, even though many others,
like myself, who didn't know what he knew and felt that his was the
wrong way to go about it. In the end, we were proven wrong. These
claims against Lanner were circulating for over 20 years, and nothing
happened until it was made public.
You have no idea what UOJ knows. (Unless you are Lipa)You have no
right to judge him and say that he can only name names after someone
is found guilty. The only reason why there WILL be a criminal
investigation and why pretty soon, Kolko will no longer be around
children, is because UOJ let the victims know that they weren't alone
and that they could do something about this rasha.
The third objection, that UOJ just hates Lipa, again says nothing
about the actual issues at hand. Without having investigated his
claims yourself, how can you say that you know for certain that his
hatred impeded his investigation of the molestations? In fact, at
some point in the future, we should say Hallel to hashem for his
hatred of Lipa, because without it, many of the victims would not have
come forward. Does he hate Lipa? Yes. Is that a proof that Kolko is
innocent? Absolutely not.
With regard to the claim that UOJ blogged on shabbos, we are once
again faced with obfuscation from the issues. Did he in fact? No one
knows. He may have posted from Israel, and there may have been a time
stamp issue, or, he may indeed have posted on shabbos. Well,
regardless of what actually happened, this is not a defense. It simply
does not address the claims. If there was a court case about this, and
one of the victims who testify, is no longer shomer shabbos, would
that nullify their credibility? (That happened in the Lanner case) It
wouldn't even nullify their credibility in beis din, unless there was
hasrah!
While it would certainly help out his credibility if someone, maybe
someone who is no longer frum, came forward in public, it is not
essential, nor is the lack of one, suggestive that the claims are
fraudulent. The frum world is very close knit, and its history is
littered with victims who were trod upon after coming forward with
allegations. We have seen the smear machine working their magic
against UOJ, trying to out him and threatening violence, why would any
victim in their right mind, want to come forward into such a ruckus?
The other peripheral claims just cloud the issue further, once again
ignoring the issues.
At the end of the day, there are only two sorts of people who can
speak knowledgably on this subject. Those who know for certain that
the allegations are true and those who know for certain that they are
false. To know they are true, we only need to rely on the first hand
accounts. To know they are false, one must have been watching Kolko at
every minute of every single day for the last 35 years. It seems to me
that UOJ knows for certain. If you don't know either way, then I
recommend that you keep your eyes wide open in the next few months.
One way or another, someone will have a lot of apologizing to do. I
suggest that UOJ announce that he will flog himself publicly if he is
wrong, then those who demand his apology might quit whining.
Interested Observer
Saturday, February 18, 2006
My name is Jeffrey Herman and I am an attorney who represents victims of sexual abuse who were abused by Yudi Kolko
My name is Jeffrey Herman and I am an attorney who represents victims of sexual abuse. I am representing victims who claim they were abused by Yidi Kolko. I am currently investigating these claims. If anyone has information about this case, please contact me via email at jherman@hermanlaw.com or via telephone at (305) 931-2200.
Posted by Attorney Jeff Herman to Un-Orthodox Jews at 2/17/2006 11:28:55 AM
By Daniel Lyons
Child sexual abuse litigation will probably not generate anything like the settlements for, say, asbestos claims ($54 billion to date). But, like asbestos litigation, it has the potential to snowball, with profits from early settlements financing the recruiting of an ever-widening ring of plaintiffs. Among the cases in this gold rush:
* In Florida, a lawyer who has filed numerous suits against Miami's Catholic archdiocese filed a class suit on behalf of up to 100,000 Native Americans who allegedly were mentally, physically and sexually abused in government-run boarding schools. Attorney Jeffrey M. Herman says the suit, filed in April in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., asserts that damages could run as high as $25 billion. Canada faces a similar claim from up to 18,000 Native Americans and estimates it will spend $1.2 billion (U.S.) to settle it.
More than 500 cases are pending against the Boston archdiocese, with at least a thousand more claims against Catholic dioceses nationwide. Some lawyers estimate as many as 20,000 people were molested by Catholic clergy in the U.S. in recent decades. And for every Catholic victim, Schiltz estimates even more may have been harmed by clergy of other faiths. These cases, moreover, MacLeish says, will prompt more victims of nonclergy abuse to come forward as people feel less stigmatized.
The lawyers help make that possible. In Los Angeles Raymond Boucher has 220 clients and is trying to form a class action. His Web site boasts a list of priests who have been convicted or accused of sexual abuse and a "secure victim form" that lets visitors click their way to a confidential complaint. Boucher's office also provides space to a "victim advocate," who has been contacting hundreds of possible victims, though Boucher insists this is for outreach, not for recruiting.
In Minnesota, attorney Jeffrey Anderson, with more than 700 past clergy cases and 250 pending, aims to use the Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), arguing bishops conspired in a coverup. He also is trying to sue the Vatican, complete with a complaint he had translated into Latin.
Some of these cases are likely to bankrupt some Catholic dioceses, but this legal assault seeks even deeper pockets: big insurers. Put aside the pious talk about protecting kids, and the racket boils down to this: Plaintiff lawyers are going after old insurance policies written decades ago under entirely different circumstances. Boucher says he has found two insurers with big exposure in Los Angeles. Pacific Indemnity, a subsidiary of Chubb Group, wrote policies from the early 1950s to 1967 and could be on the hook for several hundred million, Boucher says. Chubb says any effect won't be material. Allianz Insurance Co., a U.S. subsidiary of Munich-based Allianz Group, wrote policies from 1979 to 1986 and could be responsible for more than $20 billion, Boucher insists. Allianz calls this estimate "grossly off-base."
The Non-Announcement-Announcement
The deadline has passed, Yudi Kolko has not been put on leave.
Out of deference and respect to my friends who asked me to wait twenty four hours, because "they were certain that Margulies was in agreement to have a full hearing in front of prominent attorneys and rabbonim," I waited until 11 a.m. on Friday.
I was hell-bent certain that this was a trick; I tried to explain to my friends that Margulies was stalling for time, to regroup, and figure out a way to strike back and impede our efforts to rid Yudi Kolko from the presence of children. Ultimately, Margulies is more concerned about himself and his liability of harboring a vicious child molester willingly and knowingly for more than thirty years. He could care less about the safety of your children; for this he will lose his so called yeshiva. Nevertheless they pleaded with me to wait until Friday, I did.
I was right again, it was a trick!
I pulled the trigger; I did everything I said I would, and much, much more.
Jeffrey Herman Esq. is representing the victims. To the hundreds of victims of Margulies/Tora Temima/Kolko....you are invited to contact Mr. Herman and participate in the litigation. Mr. Herman's credentials speaks for themselves...he is an expert in this field, and has successfully battled and collected huge awards for his clients. He is afraid of nobody; no one is out of the reach of the law no matter what the color or style of clothing they cloak themselves in. He is a trailblazer in clergy sexual abuse matters.
As for myself, I choose to make no additional statements at this time, "yamim yagidu"!
A Concerned Parent Comments
UOJ,
I wanted to share a few of my feelings with you. I know you are very
determined, but the road is long, lonely and fraught with bumps, so it
is nice to have some support.
For a long time, I have been worried about the state of Orthodox
Judaism as it is currently constituted. I grew up with strong emunah,
and knowing that the Ari might have been dreaming, or that Rabbi
Shimon Bar Yochi didn't write the Zohar or that Besht stories are made
up, does not interfere with my willingness to live as a frum Jew.
After all, I still have a lot of meaning in my life and I would like
nothing more than to raise my children in the same system.
It isn't the history of the frum velt that makes such a path
difficult, but the current direction of its adherents. Whenever there
is a public story about a frum guy stealing or going to jail, you
always hear people say that you shouldn't judge a religion by its
adherents, but by what it preaches. This is possible when there is a
minute minority who disregards its ethos and shame the religion.
However, once there is a disturbing proportion who do so, and even
scarier proportion that stand idly by while it happens, it is no
longer possible not to judge.
Frankly, I am scared. I am scared for my children that I won't have
the heart to instill in them the love of yidishkeit that I grew up
with. How can I instill a love when I must warn them and watch them at
every turn to make sure they are safe? How can I sing Hamalach Hagoel
to them as they fall asleep knowing the state of the frum society they
will grow up in? How can I send them to the best yeshivos that they
can get into or my money can buy when I know that they might not be
safe from deviant predators?
None of this however, is the worst part. The worst part is that I
don't have the guts to do anything. How can I stand up and make a
scene when I see what happens to those that do? You have done so and
look what it has brought you. People curse you out and call you every
name imaginable. They threaten your wife and children. They try to out
you and publicly report your name and phone number. They advocate
violence against you. These sick misguided souls compare you to the
Nazis yemach shemam.
Is this the frumkeit that I will bring my children into? Is this the
beautiful religion that my grandparents lived defiantly through
concentration camps for? Is this what we have cherished and protected
all these years? No. Absolutely not. This is a sick twisted upside
down world where the victims are considered the bad ones while the
agressors are protected.
I don't hate the frum velt. I don't hate all the gedolim. I don't
believe there was ever an intentional decision that determined this
direction of the frum world. I understand that we are in a new
generation and face challenges for which there is no historical
guidance. I understand that very well and as a result, I do not cast
blame. However, I hate those who refuse to see what is going on around
them. Intelligent people, who bury their heads so deep in the sand
that they can revile someone for shaming their religion by exposing
the dirty secrets yet have nothing but compassion for those who
perpetrate them.
We are in a crisis and the small glimmer of hope on the horizon is
that there will be more courageous people, like UOJ, who will stand up
and say, enough. Until then, my head will also be buried deep in the
sand. Buried to hide my embarrassment and shame that I am frum and
remain quiet in the face of this crisis.
UOJ-Chazak Ubaruck. I daven for you three times a day.
Sincerely,
Frum and Worried
You can publish this but please leave out the email address
Posted by Attorney Jeff Herman to Un-Orthodox Jews at 2/17/2006 11:28:55 AM
By Daniel Lyons
Child sexual abuse litigation will probably not generate anything like the settlements for, say, asbestos claims ($54 billion to date). But, like asbestos litigation, it has the potential to snowball, with profits from early settlements financing the recruiting of an ever-widening ring of plaintiffs. Among the cases in this gold rush:
* In Florida, a lawyer who has filed numerous suits against Miami's Catholic archdiocese filed a class suit on behalf of up to 100,000 Native Americans who allegedly were mentally, physically and sexually abused in government-run boarding schools. Attorney Jeffrey M. Herman says the suit, filed in April in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., asserts that damages could run as high as $25 billion. Canada faces a similar claim from up to 18,000 Native Americans and estimates it will spend $1.2 billion (U.S.) to settle it.
More than 500 cases are pending against the Boston archdiocese, with at least a thousand more claims against Catholic dioceses nationwide. Some lawyers estimate as many as 20,000 people were molested by Catholic clergy in the U.S. in recent decades. And for every Catholic victim, Schiltz estimates even more may have been harmed by clergy of other faiths. These cases, moreover, MacLeish says, will prompt more victims of nonclergy abuse to come forward as people feel less stigmatized.
The lawyers help make that possible. In Los Angeles Raymond Boucher has 220 clients and is trying to form a class action. His Web site boasts a list of priests who have been convicted or accused of sexual abuse and a "secure victim form" that lets visitors click their way to a confidential complaint. Boucher's office also provides space to a "victim advocate," who has been contacting hundreds of possible victims, though Boucher insists this is for outreach, not for recruiting.
In Minnesota, attorney Jeffrey Anderson, with more than 700 past clergy cases and 250 pending, aims to use the Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), arguing bishops conspired in a coverup. He also is trying to sue the Vatican, complete with a complaint he had translated into Latin.
Some of these cases are likely to bankrupt some Catholic dioceses, but this legal assault seeks even deeper pockets: big insurers. Put aside the pious talk about protecting kids, and the racket boils down to this: Plaintiff lawyers are going after old insurance policies written decades ago under entirely different circumstances. Boucher says he has found two insurers with big exposure in Los Angeles. Pacific Indemnity, a subsidiary of Chubb Group, wrote policies from the early 1950s to 1967 and could be on the hook for several hundred million, Boucher says. Chubb says any effect won't be material. Allianz Insurance Co., a U.S. subsidiary of Munich-based Allianz Group, wrote policies from 1979 to 1986 and could be responsible for more than $20 billion, Boucher insists. Allianz calls this estimate "grossly off-base."
The Non-Announcement-Announcement
The deadline has passed, Yudi Kolko has not been put on leave.
Out of deference and respect to my friends who asked me to wait twenty four hours, because "they were certain that Margulies was in agreement to have a full hearing in front of prominent attorneys and rabbonim," I waited until 11 a.m. on Friday.
I was hell-bent certain that this was a trick; I tried to explain to my friends that Margulies was stalling for time, to regroup, and figure out a way to strike back and impede our efforts to rid Yudi Kolko from the presence of children. Ultimately, Margulies is more concerned about himself and his liability of harboring a vicious child molester willingly and knowingly for more than thirty years. He could care less about the safety of your children; for this he will lose his so called yeshiva. Nevertheless they pleaded with me to wait until Friday, I did.
I was right again, it was a trick!
I pulled the trigger; I did everything I said I would, and much, much more.
Jeffrey Herman Esq. is representing the victims. To the hundreds of victims of Margulies/Tora Temima/Kolko....you are invited to contact Mr. Herman and participate in the litigation. Mr. Herman's credentials speaks for themselves...he is an expert in this field, and has successfully battled and collected huge awards for his clients. He is afraid of nobody; no one is out of the reach of the law no matter what the color or style of clothing they cloak themselves in. He is a trailblazer in clergy sexual abuse matters.
As for myself, I choose to make no additional statements at this time, "yamim yagidu"!
A Concerned Parent Comments
UOJ,
I wanted to share a few of my feelings with you. I know you are very
determined, but the road is long, lonely and fraught with bumps, so it
is nice to have some support.
For a long time, I have been worried about the state of Orthodox
Judaism as it is currently constituted. I grew up with strong emunah,
and knowing that the Ari might have been dreaming, or that Rabbi
Shimon Bar Yochi didn't write the Zohar or that Besht stories are made
up, does not interfere with my willingness to live as a frum Jew.
After all, I still have a lot of meaning in my life and I would like
nothing more than to raise my children in the same system.
It isn't the history of the frum velt that makes such a path
difficult, but the current direction of its adherents. Whenever there
is a public story about a frum guy stealing or going to jail, you
always hear people say that you shouldn't judge a religion by its
adherents, but by what it preaches. This is possible when there is a
minute minority who disregards its ethos and shame the religion.
However, once there is a disturbing proportion who do so, and even
scarier proportion that stand idly by while it happens, it is no
longer possible not to judge.
Frankly, I am scared. I am scared for my children that I won't have
the heart to instill in them the love of yidishkeit that I grew up
with. How can I instill a love when I must warn them and watch them at
every turn to make sure they are safe? How can I sing Hamalach Hagoel
to them as they fall asleep knowing the state of the frum society they
will grow up in? How can I send them to the best yeshivos that they
can get into or my money can buy when I know that they might not be
safe from deviant predators?
None of this however, is the worst part. The worst part is that I
don't have the guts to do anything. How can I stand up and make a
scene when I see what happens to those that do? You have done so and
look what it has brought you. People curse you out and call you every
name imaginable. They threaten your wife and children. They try to out
you and publicly report your name and phone number. They advocate
violence against you. These sick misguided souls compare you to the
Nazis yemach shemam.
Is this the frumkeit that I will bring my children into? Is this the
beautiful religion that my grandparents lived defiantly through
concentration camps for? Is this what we have cherished and protected
all these years? No. Absolutely not. This is a sick twisted upside
down world where the victims are considered the bad ones while the
agressors are protected.
I don't hate the frum velt. I don't hate all the gedolim. I don't
believe there was ever an intentional decision that determined this
direction of the frum world. I understand that we are in a new
generation and face challenges for which there is no historical
guidance. I understand that very well and as a result, I do not cast
blame. However, I hate those who refuse to see what is going on around
them. Intelligent people, who bury their heads so deep in the sand
that they can revile someone for shaming their religion by exposing
the dirty secrets yet have nothing but compassion for those who
perpetrate them.
We are in a crisis and the small glimmer of hope on the horizon is
that there will be more courageous people, like UOJ, who will stand up
and say, enough. Until then, my head will also be buried deep in the
sand. Buried to hide my embarrassment and shame that I am frum and
remain quiet in the face of this crisis.
UOJ-Chazak Ubaruck. I daven for you three times a day.
Sincerely,
Frum and Worried
You can publish this but please leave out the email address
Elliot B. Pasik Esq. Speaks To The Jewish Community
February 16, 2006
Dear Chaverim,
Because I am an attorney who has long been involved in advocating a program for protecting our children from sex abuse, I feel the need to publicly comment in the forum of this blog (unorthodoxjews.blogspot.com/) on the allegations being made against a rebbe at Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
Over the past several weeks, I have read various posts of alleged victim accounts which have given dates, places, type of sex abuse, and other factual detail.
In addition, the blog administrator ("UOJ"), a frum Jew and a musmach, has mailed thousands of letters to frum Jews in Flatbush and Borough Park. He has demanded that this rebbe's employment at the yeshiva be terminated.
I have also spoken to several adult individuals who confided in me their stories of childhood sex abuse committed against them by this man.
The allegations are serious, but there are solutions, and I will present them in this letter. In addition, concerned community members have been in contact with the yeshiva, and I hope and pray, b'ezras Hashem, that a resolution will be reached, along the lines to be outlined here.
For a fair amount of time, I have been advocating a two-part approach for eradicating the problem of child sex abuse in our yeshivas, day schools, camps, and other youth settings.
First, we need to perform fingerprint-based criminal background checks on all of our employees and volunteers, and in this way, we will avoid hiring convicted sex offenders, drug offenders, violent criminals, and other dangerous predators.
I have previously written in my letters to Torah U'Mesorah, Agudath Israel, the Rabbinic Council of America, the Orthodox Union, and the National Council of Young Israel that 42 out of 50 states now require their public schools to perform fingerprint based criminal background checks on their employees (including New York State); 10 states require their nonpublic schools to perform such checks (not New York). In addition, after too-numerous child sex abuse incidents, every major youth group in the U.S. is performing background checks: the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Little League of America, the American Youth Soccer Organization, Pop Warner Football, the Civil Air Patrol.
In the wake of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has required employee and volunteer background checks for all Catholic schools and youth groups since April 2003, whether required by law or not.
Even private corporations whose employees do not have regular access to children are voluntarily performing criminal background checks. An August 26, 2004 Wall Street Journal article reported that 80% of America's 400 largest corporations are performing background checks on their employees. Wal Mart, the nation's largest employer, joined this group after two convicted sex offenders working in their South Carolina stores were alleged to have molested children on store premises.
All of these background checks have weeded out thousands of convicted sex offenders and other dangerous criminals who would otherwise constitute a grave danger to children.
How great is the danger? The U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Education most recently addressed the school sexual abuse problem in a lengthy June 2004 report entitled, "Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature", authored by Hofstra University Prof. Charole Shakeshaft, a leading expert. This report informs us that nearly 10% of U.S. students are targets of contact and noncontact sexual misconduct during their K-12 years. Among the security recommendations are that all public and private schools perform fingerprint based criminal background checks. This report is available on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Another good resource for people who want to educate themselves about the problem is a book called, "Predators" (2004), authored by Dr. Anna Salter, a Harvard College, Harvard Medical School-educated psychiatrist, who presents a mountain of evidence that establishes the great danger that child sex abuse presents. Dr. Salter has also written the two leading textbooks in use in our country on the treatment of sex offenders. Dr. Salter proves through her evidence that sex offenders should never work near children. Pedophiles are actually never cured, and they are in need of lifetime therapy.
In addition, there is also a mounting body of medical evidence which proves what we already intuitively know: that childhood sex abuse has long-term consequences. Medical studies have established that people who have suffered childhood sex abuse are at a greater risk for depression, substance abuse, and suicide.
Our own community has not ignored the child sex abuse problem. In May 2003, for example, both Torah U'Mesorah and the RCA, at their respective conventions, addressed the issue. I have listened to the audiotapes. A psychologist prominent in our community for specializing in this problem spoke at each convention, and described an incident in a yeshiva where a janitor with a criminal record for sex abuse attacked our children. In addition, the psychologist stated that we have suffered an unconscionable number of suicides of children who have been sex abuse victims.
Hashem yerachim.
I have made some progress on achieving my goal of having every yeshiva and Hebrew day school in New York State perform fingerprint-based employee background checks. The New York State Senate is drafting a bill, which I hope to have in my hands shortly. State Assembly sponsors will then be needed, and hopefully the Governor will support the bill, and it will pass.
But background checks are only one part of the overall solution. What do we do about the vast majority of sex offenders who never see the inside of a courtroom? Most child sex abuse victims never report the crimes done to their bodies, and unfortunately, even when they do, they are often not believed. More unfortunate, even when they are believed, successful criminal prosecutions are difficult, particularly where there is an absence of physical evidence.
Clearly, our yeshivas and day schools need to unite to form our own internal disciplinary system and registry, which will record the names of those individuals, who after a hearing conducted under careful rabbinic auspices, are found guilty of either violence or sex abuse, and will then be forever barred from employment in our mosdos.
Such a disciplinary system and registry would be neither novel, nor difficult to establish. Every public educational system in our country has such a program in place, as does the Catholic Church. We Jews therefore have numerous models to follow, and we should quickly establish our own disciplinary system and registry. In fact, the registry concept was specifically discussed and spoken of very approvingly at the May 2003 Torah U'Mesorah Convention.
In addition, I approaced the Rabbinical Council of America, an organization of approximately 1,000 rabbis, and proposed and drafted for them a Resolution endorsing background checks, and a disciplinary system and registry for all of our 700 yeshivas and Hebrew day schools that teach 200,00 Jewish children in the United States, including 100,000 in New York State. The Resolution passed at their May 2005 Convention, you can read it on rabbis.org, and I credit this Resolution for the great progress I am making in the New York State Senate for achieving a law that will allow fingerprint based criminal background checks to be conducted in our schools.
Our yeshivas and day schools do need to be concerned about laws that protect our children, and performing background checks, and having an internal disciplinary system and registry, will accomplish that goal.
Some New York laws that come into play are: Education Law section 3204, which provides that a nonpublic school teacher must be "competent". It is highly questionable, to say the least, as to whether a teacher who is a child sex abuser is "competent".
New York State Education Law section 549(1) provides that "the state has a primary responsibility to ensure the health, welfare and safety of children attending both public and nonpublic schools."
New York State Penal Law section 2601.10 is entitled, "Endangering the Welfare of a Child", and provides that it is a misdemeanor for a person legally charged with the custody of a child to fail to exercise reasonable diligence in preventing such child from becoming "abused". Statutes like these have been used in prosecutions of cases against the Catholic Church.
New York State Social Service Law section 413 makes it a misdemeanor for a school official not to report sex abuse to the New York central registry of childhood sex abuse.
In addition, New York courts have, on multiple occasions, declared the duty that a school owes to a child, sometimes referred to by the ancient Latin phrase, "in loco parentis", in place of the parent. When a parent transfers physical custody of his child to a school, the school stands in place of the parent, and assumes the same duty. Thus, just as parent would never hire a sex offender as a babysitter, so too should a school never employ a sex offender as teacher. See, e.g., Pratt v. Robinson, 39 NY2d 554 (1976).
The Torah has much to say about this situation, which time and space do not allow here, but suffice it to say that the Torah commands, Lo sa'amod al dam ra'echa, Do not stand upon the blood of your brother. This is a positive mitzvah that requires one Jew to save the life of another. In addition, the Torah tells us, V'shmartem nafshosachem me'od, You will guard your lives exceedingly. The Torah also tells us, Tsedek, tsedek tirdof, l'maan tichyeh. Justice justice shall you pursue, in order that you may live.
Certainly, if the individual accused of sex abuse at Torah Temima declines to resign, or if the yeshiva declines to terminate his employment, an evidentiary-type hearing, in my opinion, should be held. The alleged victims should testify, the accused abuser can also testify, and a decision should then be rendered by the professional panel of judges - unbiased rabbis and lawyers from our community.
Barring resignation or termination, the hearing may be the solution to our current
problem. This hearing can be the first step taken towards establishing our own internal disciplinary system and registry. Gam zu l'tovah.
This process and verdict can also be a refuah for the alleged victims who have suffered in silence for so long, at cost to their physical and mental health. They are entitled to some small measure of justice.
The establishment of our own disciplinary system and registry can also be a first step in teshuvah and recovery for the accused individual.
In the future, cases like these need not be addressed through anonymous mass mailings, blogs, and public letters from a lawyer such as myself. Our own genuine justice system, which will itself act as a deterrent, can properly handle such problems.
Together with our own hishtadlus, may the ribono shel olam endow all of us with the kochus and chochma that we will need to resolve our current situation.
Very truly yours,
Elliot B. Pasik
Attorney at Law
145 West Olive Street
Long Beach, New York 11561
efpasik@aol.com
Dear Chaverim,
Because I am an attorney who has long been involved in advocating a program for protecting our children from sex abuse, I feel the need to publicly comment in the forum of this blog (unorthodoxjews.blogspot.com/) on the allegations being made against a rebbe at Yeshiva Torah Temimah.
Over the past several weeks, I have read various posts of alleged victim accounts which have given dates, places, type of sex abuse, and other factual detail.
In addition, the blog administrator ("UOJ"), a frum Jew and a musmach, has mailed thousands of letters to frum Jews in Flatbush and Borough Park. He has demanded that this rebbe's employment at the yeshiva be terminated.
I have also spoken to several adult individuals who confided in me their stories of childhood sex abuse committed against them by this man.
The allegations are serious, but there are solutions, and I will present them in this letter. In addition, concerned community members have been in contact with the yeshiva, and I hope and pray, b'ezras Hashem, that a resolution will be reached, along the lines to be outlined here.
For a fair amount of time, I have been advocating a two-part approach for eradicating the problem of child sex abuse in our yeshivas, day schools, camps, and other youth settings.
First, we need to perform fingerprint-based criminal background checks on all of our employees and volunteers, and in this way, we will avoid hiring convicted sex offenders, drug offenders, violent criminals, and other dangerous predators.
I have previously written in my letters to Torah U'Mesorah, Agudath Israel, the Rabbinic Council of America, the Orthodox Union, and the National Council of Young Israel that 42 out of 50 states now require their public schools to perform fingerprint based criminal background checks on their employees (including New York State); 10 states require their nonpublic schools to perform such checks (not New York). In addition, after too-numerous child sex abuse incidents, every major youth group in the U.S. is performing background checks: the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Little League of America, the American Youth Soccer Organization, Pop Warner Football, the Civil Air Patrol.
In the wake of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has required employee and volunteer background checks for all Catholic schools and youth groups since April 2003, whether required by law or not.
Even private corporations whose employees do not have regular access to children are voluntarily performing criminal background checks. An August 26, 2004 Wall Street Journal article reported that 80% of America's 400 largest corporations are performing background checks on their employees. Wal Mart, the nation's largest employer, joined this group after two convicted sex offenders working in their South Carolina stores were alleged to have molested children on store premises.
All of these background checks have weeded out thousands of convicted sex offenders and other dangerous criminals who would otherwise constitute a grave danger to children.
How great is the danger? The U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Education most recently addressed the school sexual abuse problem in a lengthy June 2004 report entitled, "Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Synthesis of Existing Literature", authored by Hofstra University Prof. Charole Shakeshaft, a leading expert. This report informs us that nearly 10% of U.S. students are targets of contact and noncontact sexual misconduct during their K-12 years. Among the security recommendations are that all public and private schools perform fingerprint based criminal background checks. This report is available on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Another good resource for people who want to educate themselves about the problem is a book called, "Predators" (2004), authored by Dr. Anna Salter, a Harvard College, Harvard Medical School-educated psychiatrist, who presents a mountain of evidence that establishes the great danger that child sex abuse presents. Dr. Salter has also written the two leading textbooks in use in our country on the treatment of sex offenders. Dr. Salter proves through her evidence that sex offenders should never work near children. Pedophiles are actually never cured, and they are in need of lifetime therapy.
In addition, there is also a mounting body of medical evidence which proves what we already intuitively know: that childhood sex abuse has long-term consequences. Medical studies have established that people who have suffered childhood sex abuse are at a greater risk for depression, substance abuse, and suicide.
Our own community has not ignored the child sex abuse problem. In May 2003, for example, both Torah U'Mesorah and the RCA, at their respective conventions, addressed the issue. I have listened to the audiotapes. A psychologist prominent in our community for specializing in this problem spoke at each convention, and described an incident in a yeshiva where a janitor with a criminal record for sex abuse attacked our children. In addition, the psychologist stated that we have suffered an unconscionable number of suicides of children who have been sex abuse victims.
Hashem yerachim.
I have made some progress on achieving my goal of having every yeshiva and Hebrew day school in New York State perform fingerprint-based employee background checks. The New York State Senate is drafting a bill, which I hope to have in my hands shortly. State Assembly sponsors will then be needed, and hopefully the Governor will support the bill, and it will pass.
But background checks are only one part of the overall solution. What do we do about the vast majority of sex offenders who never see the inside of a courtroom? Most child sex abuse victims never report the crimes done to their bodies, and unfortunately, even when they do, they are often not believed. More unfortunate, even when they are believed, successful criminal prosecutions are difficult, particularly where there is an absence of physical evidence.
Clearly, our yeshivas and day schools need to unite to form our own internal disciplinary system and registry, which will record the names of those individuals, who after a hearing conducted under careful rabbinic auspices, are found guilty of either violence or sex abuse, and will then be forever barred from employment in our mosdos.
Such a disciplinary system and registry would be neither novel, nor difficult to establish. Every public educational system in our country has such a program in place, as does the Catholic Church. We Jews therefore have numerous models to follow, and we should quickly establish our own disciplinary system and registry. In fact, the registry concept was specifically discussed and spoken of very approvingly at the May 2003 Torah U'Mesorah Convention.
In addition, I approaced the Rabbinical Council of America, an organization of approximately 1,000 rabbis, and proposed and drafted for them a Resolution endorsing background checks, and a disciplinary system and registry for all of our 700 yeshivas and Hebrew day schools that teach 200,00 Jewish children in the United States, including 100,000 in New York State. The Resolution passed at their May 2005 Convention, you can read it on rabbis.org, and I credit this Resolution for the great progress I am making in the New York State Senate for achieving a law that will allow fingerprint based criminal background checks to be conducted in our schools.
Our yeshivas and day schools do need to be concerned about laws that protect our children, and performing background checks, and having an internal disciplinary system and registry, will accomplish that goal.
Some New York laws that come into play are: Education Law section 3204, which provides that a nonpublic school teacher must be "competent". It is highly questionable, to say the least, as to whether a teacher who is a child sex abuser is "competent".
New York State Education Law section 549(1) provides that "the state has a primary responsibility to ensure the health, welfare and safety of children attending both public and nonpublic schools."
New York State Penal Law section 2601.10 is entitled, "Endangering the Welfare of a Child", and provides that it is a misdemeanor for a person legally charged with the custody of a child to fail to exercise reasonable diligence in preventing such child from becoming "abused". Statutes like these have been used in prosecutions of cases against the Catholic Church.
New York State Social Service Law section 413 makes it a misdemeanor for a school official not to report sex abuse to the New York central registry of childhood sex abuse.
In addition, New York courts have, on multiple occasions, declared the duty that a school owes to a child, sometimes referred to by the ancient Latin phrase, "in loco parentis", in place of the parent. When a parent transfers physical custody of his child to a school, the school stands in place of the parent, and assumes the same duty. Thus, just as parent would never hire a sex offender as a babysitter, so too should a school never employ a sex offender as teacher. See, e.g., Pratt v. Robinson, 39 NY2d 554 (1976).
The Torah has much to say about this situation, which time and space do not allow here, but suffice it to say that the Torah commands, Lo sa'amod al dam ra'echa, Do not stand upon the blood of your brother. This is a positive mitzvah that requires one Jew to save the life of another. In addition, the Torah tells us, V'shmartem nafshosachem me'od, You will guard your lives exceedingly. The Torah also tells us, Tsedek, tsedek tirdof, l'maan tichyeh. Justice justice shall you pursue, in order that you may live.
Certainly, if the individual accused of sex abuse at Torah Temima declines to resign, or if the yeshiva declines to terminate his employment, an evidentiary-type hearing, in my opinion, should be held. The alleged victims should testify, the accused abuser can also testify, and a decision should then be rendered by the professional panel of judges - unbiased rabbis and lawyers from our community.
Barring resignation or termination, the hearing may be the solution to our current
problem. This hearing can be the first step taken towards establishing our own internal disciplinary system and registry. Gam zu l'tovah.
This process and verdict can also be a refuah for the alleged victims who have suffered in silence for so long, at cost to their physical and mental health. They are entitled to some small measure of justice.
The establishment of our own disciplinary system and registry can also be a first step in teshuvah and recovery for the accused individual.
In the future, cases like these need not be addressed through anonymous mass mailings, blogs, and public letters from a lawyer such as myself. Our own genuine justice system, which will itself act as a deterrent, can properly handle such problems.
Together with our own hishtadlus, may the ribono shel olam endow all of us with the kochus and chochma that we will need to resolve our current situation.
Very truly yours,
Elliot B. Pasik
Attorney at Law
145 West Olive Street
Long Beach, New York 11561
efpasik@aol.com
Thursday, February 16, 2006
"It is time for Yidi Kolko to pay the price for what he did to me and to others".
I Am David
I have spent the past few days reading all of the comments that have been posted to this blog and would like to comment.
It was not easy for me to finally open up and put in writing and post on this blog some of the things that Yidi Kolko did to me so many years ago at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas of Flatbush and at camp Agudah.
Yes, I've been carrying it for all of these years and no matter how hard I tried to forget about it, it always seems to be there. Always there. And with every case of child abuse or molestation that gets publicized, it's always there. Even today, even when I'm happily married with 4 wonderful children.
I recommend that each one of you look at your sons, or brothers and ask: can they possibly be a victim of sexual molestation by a rebbe, a teacher, a camp counselor, etc?
And if he/they were, would he be strong enough to tell you about it?
And then the question I ask is: Would you at all believe him?
For you would ask: how could it be that such an outstanding rebbe, teacher, counselor, etc., who everyone loves and raves about, how could he do something like this?
And your immediate response would automatically be: No, my son, for some reason, isn't telling the truth, he must be lying...
As I said before, I've lived with this for a very long time and it is time for Yidi Kolko to pay the price for what he did to me and to others.
What this price is I'll let others decide.
They say that time has a way of healing - from my own experience, it doesn't ever go away.
In order to survive and remain normal, one must be strong... and always and continuously believe in Hashem.
Another TT Alumnus writes.............
I also learned in TT many years ago when it was on Church Ave and called Torah Vadas. I remember Kolko pulling down kids pants in front of the whole class and smacking their tush among other things. Come on this is a mechanach, the man is a monster. If your son came home and told you the rebbi pulled down his pants in front of the whole class what would you do?! Thinking back when I was in Bais Hamedresh there was a bocher who used to start up with other boys by fondling them, now he is a rebbi in some yeshiva does anyone think that monster was cured? Everyone who went through the yeshiva system should think back wasn't there always some boys who couldn't keep their hands to themselves? Why is it so unbelivable that Kolko is a molester, did anyone ever stop those kids? OUJ I for one am saying tehlimm for your hatzloche, personally I don't care why you are doing this just "alay vahatzliach"
Posted by another angry alunnus to Un-Orthodox Jews at 2/16/2006 07:07:35 PM
Posted By "I Know UOJ"
Torah Temimah parents, listen very carefully to me.
I am on the inside, and I know what I'm talking about it. Yidi Kolko is a serious child molestor, many times over. He has multiple victims. He victimized them over lengthy periods of time. The yeshiva, and the rabbis, did nothing.
But one does not even have to be "on the inside" to understand this. If you have a brain, which you all do, you would read all of the posts on this blog, and simply understand that the allegations are all true. Factual details have been given. There are multiple reports. The victims are frum Jews not likely to make up a preposterous story.
I have read the professional literature. A child molestor should never work near children. This is nothing to argue about. Pedophilia is incurable. The urge is always there. Therapy is always required, and the pedophile should never be allowed to work near children. This is nothing to argue about, no debate, no discussion, that's all there is to say. Any person who tells you otherwise, be that person a rosh yeshiva, rabbi, menahel, or otherwise, is either a fool, or has another agenda.
Do not listen to them.
You must demand over and over and over again that Yidi Kolko be removed from Torah Temimah, now and forever. Do not quibble whether he gets paid or not. Just get him out, and get him out now.
UOJ is not joking around. He has already made media contacts and is meeting with the FBI tomorrow. He can, just maybe, stop the story now, if you get Kolko out of the school. Or, at a minimum, you will make the school and yourselves look a little better in the media if Kolko is taken out of the school, now, immediately, and forever.
He swears that if Kolko is not removed immediately, he will expose Margulies for massive financial fraud, harboring a molester for thirty years, and defrauding the IRS out of millions, all criminal offenses. The board of directors have liabilty as well. Ignorance is no excuse.
UOJ has megabucks, he is out to make an example of these two criminals, HE WILL!!
He swears that Lipa Margulies will be removed from the school by you, the FBI, and the state board of education and the child protective services.
And if Kolko is not taken out of the school, there are other avenues. There are all kinds of government agencies that have a legitimate concern that child molesters should not be working in a school, and don't think that it matters that Yeshiva Torah Temimah is a private school, because the government regulates private schools too.
I implore all parents in the strongest terms possible. ACT NOW! TAKE CHARGE OF THIS SITUATION! GET KOLKO OUT NOW!
I am telling you, as one frum Jew to another, as G-d is watching over every word I write on this blog, that every word I've said is emes. This is pikuach nefesh for our children's bodies and souls, and this is not a matter that can be ignored. Lo sa'amod al dam ra'echa, Do not stand upon the blood of your brothers, is a positive commandment, and we are all required to obey this mitzvah to the fullest degree. Just stop whatever you're doing, organize yourselves, and demand from the yeshiva board that Kolko be terminated, now and forever.
Hashem yerachim.
I have spent the past few days reading all of the comments that have been posted to this blog and would like to comment.
It was not easy for me to finally open up and put in writing and post on this blog some of the things that Yidi Kolko did to me so many years ago at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas of Flatbush and at camp Agudah.
Yes, I've been carrying it for all of these years and no matter how hard I tried to forget about it, it always seems to be there. Always there. And with every case of child abuse or molestation that gets publicized, it's always there. Even today, even when I'm happily married with 4 wonderful children.
I recommend that each one of you look at your sons, or brothers and ask: can they possibly be a victim of sexual molestation by a rebbe, a teacher, a camp counselor, etc?
And if he/they were, would he be strong enough to tell you about it?
And then the question I ask is: Would you at all believe him?
For you would ask: how could it be that such an outstanding rebbe, teacher, counselor, etc., who everyone loves and raves about, how could he do something like this?
And your immediate response would automatically be: No, my son, for some reason, isn't telling the truth, he must be lying...
As I said before, I've lived with this for a very long time and it is time for Yidi Kolko to pay the price for what he did to me and to others.
What this price is I'll let others decide.
They say that time has a way of healing - from my own experience, it doesn't ever go away.
In order to survive and remain normal, one must be strong... and always and continuously believe in Hashem.
Another TT Alumnus writes.............
I also learned in TT many years ago when it was on Church Ave and called Torah Vadas. I remember Kolko pulling down kids pants in front of the whole class and smacking their tush among other things. Come on this is a mechanach, the man is a monster. If your son came home and told you the rebbi pulled down his pants in front of the whole class what would you do?! Thinking back when I was in Bais Hamedresh there was a bocher who used to start up with other boys by fondling them, now he is a rebbi in some yeshiva does anyone think that monster was cured? Everyone who went through the yeshiva system should think back wasn't there always some boys who couldn't keep their hands to themselves? Why is it so unbelivable that Kolko is a molester, did anyone ever stop those kids? OUJ I for one am saying tehlimm for your hatzloche, personally I don't care why you are doing this just "alay vahatzliach"
Posted by another angry alunnus to Un-Orthodox Jews at 2/16/2006 07:07:35 PM
Posted By "I Know UOJ"
Torah Temimah parents, listen very carefully to me.
I am on the inside, and I know what I'm talking about it. Yidi Kolko is a serious child molestor, many times over. He has multiple victims. He victimized them over lengthy periods of time. The yeshiva, and the rabbis, did nothing.
But one does not even have to be "on the inside" to understand this. If you have a brain, which you all do, you would read all of the posts on this blog, and simply understand that the allegations are all true. Factual details have been given. There are multiple reports. The victims are frum Jews not likely to make up a preposterous story.
I have read the professional literature. A child molestor should never work near children. This is nothing to argue about. Pedophilia is incurable. The urge is always there. Therapy is always required, and the pedophile should never be allowed to work near children. This is nothing to argue about, no debate, no discussion, that's all there is to say. Any person who tells you otherwise, be that person a rosh yeshiva, rabbi, menahel, or otherwise, is either a fool, or has another agenda.
Do not listen to them.
You must demand over and over and over again that Yidi Kolko be removed from Torah Temimah, now and forever. Do not quibble whether he gets paid or not. Just get him out, and get him out now.
UOJ is not joking around. He has already made media contacts and is meeting with the FBI tomorrow. He can, just maybe, stop the story now, if you get Kolko out of the school. Or, at a minimum, you will make the school and yourselves look a little better in the media if Kolko is taken out of the school, now, immediately, and forever.
He swears that if Kolko is not removed immediately, he will expose Margulies for massive financial fraud, harboring a molester for thirty years, and defrauding the IRS out of millions, all criminal offenses. The board of directors have liabilty as well. Ignorance is no excuse.
UOJ has megabucks, he is out to make an example of these two criminals, HE WILL!!
He swears that Lipa Margulies will be removed from the school by you, the FBI, and the state board of education and the child protective services.
And if Kolko is not taken out of the school, there are other avenues. There are all kinds of government agencies that have a legitimate concern that child molesters should not be working in a school, and don't think that it matters that Yeshiva Torah Temimah is a private school, because the government regulates private schools too.
I implore all parents in the strongest terms possible. ACT NOW! TAKE CHARGE OF THIS SITUATION! GET KOLKO OUT NOW!
I am telling you, as one frum Jew to another, as G-d is watching over every word I write on this blog, that every word I've said is emes. This is pikuach nefesh for our children's bodies and souls, and this is not a matter that can be ignored. Lo sa'amod al dam ra'echa, Do not stand upon the blood of your brothers, is a positive commandment, and we are all required to obey this mitzvah to the fullest degree. Just stop whatever you're doing, organize yourselves, and demand from the yeshiva board that Kolko be terminated, now and forever.
Hashem yerachim.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Dear parents of Yeshiva Torah Temimah students
I bring my readers a copy of a letter sent to Lipa Margulies by the group I’m working with to rid Yeshiva Torah Temimah of Yidi Kolko the child molester. If Margulies refuses the offer we move to the second step in our campaign to protect children from Yidi Kolko the molester.
Dear parents of Yeshiva Torah Temimah students, if Margulies does not remove Yidi Kolko the molester, Yeshiva Torah Temimah is finished. Either convince this evil old man to change his ways or enroll your children elsewhere. You will want your children to be very far away from Yeshiva Torah Temima when our second step hits (no, we are NOT threatening violence.) Your children do not deserve the stigma that will attach to them if Margulies doesn’t do the right thing very soon.
The Letter:
Rabbi Leopold Margulies
609 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Rabbi Margulies:
This is to follow up on our earlier letters and telephone conversations.
To knowingly harbor a child molester is a crime. Despite your complicity in Yidi Kolko’s heinous atrocities and your continued refusal to remove this chronic child molester from our children’s classroom, we believe the greater good of our community is served by this matter being resolved without need for further action.
Accordingly, we are making the following offer. Our group and you will each deposit $100,000.00 [We suggest you fund your $100,000.00 contribution from the $1,900,000.00 you took from Yeshiva & Mesifta Torah Temimah on December 23, 2005.] with a mutually agreed upon major law firm. The law firm will have sole authority to spend the $200,000.00 investigating the charges of child molestation against Yidi Kolko and the charges against you of sheltering and covering up the child molesting. You will cooperate fully in this investigation. In the event Kolko and you are exonerated, we will reimburse your $100,000.00 and issue a public retraction and apology. In the event Kolko and you are found guilty, the report will be released to the public. For your causing countless families' lives destroyed, you must compensate them by setting up a five million dollar fund to be administered by Torah Umesorah.
As a condition of this offer, Yidi Kolko must be placed on immediate leave of absence.
You may announce your acceptance of our offer by contacting Rabbi Joshua Fishman of Torah Umesorah on or before February 16, 2006, 12:00 PM.
Please take heed and consider this proposal carefully for your business will not survive our next move. The progression of this campaign remains entirely up to you. We do not want to escalate this unfortunate situation to the next level. We are proud of our heritage and suffer greatly when scandal hits our community. Nonetheless, we will not sit idly by and allow you to devastate our children.
To paraphrase, it is not our purpose to destroy you or Yeshiva Torah Temimah, but only when child molesters have been extirpated from our schools and camps will there be hope for a decent life for our children.
CC: Rabbi Joshua Fishman
Rabbi Shmuel Bloom
Dear parents of Yeshiva Torah Temimah students, if Margulies does not remove Yidi Kolko the molester, Yeshiva Torah Temimah is finished. Either convince this evil old man to change his ways or enroll your children elsewhere. You will want your children to be very far away from Yeshiva Torah Temima when our second step hits (no, we are NOT threatening violence.) Your children do not deserve the stigma that will attach to them if Margulies doesn’t do the right thing very soon.
The Letter:
Rabbi Leopold Margulies
609 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Rabbi Margulies:
This is to follow up on our earlier letters and telephone conversations.
To knowingly harbor a child molester is a crime. Despite your complicity in Yidi Kolko’s heinous atrocities and your continued refusal to remove this chronic child molester from our children’s classroom, we believe the greater good of our community is served by this matter being resolved without need for further action.
Accordingly, we are making the following offer. Our group and you will each deposit $100,000.00 [We suggest you fund your $100,000.00 contribution from the $1,900,000.00 you took from Yeshiva & Mesifta Torah Temimah on December 23, 2005.] with a mutually agreed upon major law firm. The law firm will have sole authority to spend the $200,000.00 investigating the charges of child molestation against Yidi Kolko and the charges against you of sheltering and covering up the child molesting. You will cooperate fully in this investigation. In the event Kolko and you are exonerated, we will reimburse your $100,000.00 and issue a public retraction and apology. In the event Kolko and you are found guilty, the report will be released to the public. For your causing countless families' lives destroyed, you must compensate them by setting up a five million dollar fund to be administered by Torah Umesorah.
As a condition of this offer, Yidi Kolko must be placed on immediate leave of absence.
You may announce your acceptance of our offer by contacting Rabbi Joshua Fishman of Torah Umesorah on or before February 16, 2006, 12:00 PM.
Please take heed and consider this proposal carefully for your business will not survive our next move. The progression of this campaign remains entirely up to you. We do not want to escalate this unfortunate situation to the next level. We are proud of our heritage and suffer greatly when scandal hits our community. Nonetheless, we will not sit idly by and allow you to devastate our children.
To paraphrase, it is not our purpose to destroy you or Yeshiva Torah Temimah, but only when child molesters have been extirpated from our schools and camps will there be hope for a decent life for our children.
CC: Rabbi Joshua Fishman
Rabbi Shmuel Bloom
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Why Is This Child Molester Being Kept At Rasha Gamur - Lipa Margulies's Personal Piggy Bank - Torah Temima ?
I urge everyone to read the comments posted on the original address "Unorthodoxjew.blogspot.com"-Friday, September 23, 2005 .
Why Is This Child Molester Being Kept At Rasha Gamur-Margulies's personal Piggy Bank - Tora Temima?
I want you to ask yourself one honest question; do you really think David is making this experience up?
Posted By David
"I too was molested by Rabbi Yidi Kolko, both while a student in 7th and 8th grades in Yeshiva Torah V'daas and during those same summers whilst a camper in Camp Agudah.
I used to get rides to school in the mornings with Yidi whether in his old blue car or in his brand new brown car. At that time he lived on 56th Street between 14th & 15th Avenue, whilst I lived on 57th Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues. He was newly married at that time and his first child, a daughter, was also just born then.
Once we got to the Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway, which then was just off of Caton Road, he would park the car (either down the block from the Yeshiva, on the Ocean Parkway service road, or around the corner, I think it was East 5th Street, and ask me to come over and either sit beside him or sit on his lap. Sometimes he would move over to the passenger seat and would then sit me on his lap.
That's when he went fishing. He would insert his hands down the front of my pants and would begin to "search around" to say the least. At the same time he would pull me closer to himself, or would push himself forward againt myself, sometimes even pushing me into the stearing wheel, to the point that it hurt.
Unfortunately I didn't react or complain. The winters were cold and these rides saved on not having to walk all the way to 13th Avenue to wait for the bus (especially on Sunday mornings), you were able to leave your house later since you could always make the ride, and you saved a couple of cents, which was a lot in those days.
During one of those Sunday mornings whilst we were driving on Caton Avenue, whilst I was sitting in the front passenger seat - I almost always sat in the front passenger seat - we were involved in a terrible traffic accident where a car went through a red light and slammed into Yidi's car. B"H we all got out without a scratch.
In Camp Aguda it was the same, whether if he took me into the trees, or into his cabin, or even would take me out for a drive. FYI, during the summer of 1970 I had my bar mitzva in the camp.
I of course told my parents and tried on several times
to explain to them what I was going through, but they didn't want to believe me and my "stories", etc. My father at that time was a very well known and respected person in the Boro Park & Midwood communities and within the Yeshiva world. So I just shut up and let the molestation and perversion continue.
I also think that Yidi Kolko is a danger to the students, past and present in Yeshiva Tora Temimah and I feel that it is about time that the wall of silence be torn down.
Did I suffer as a result, probably. But I have made a life for myself and today am very happily married with 4 wonderful children".
--
Posted by David to UN-ORTHODOX JEW at 9/23/2005 01:49:51 AM
UOJ Comments
Everyone in the community is complicit with this criminal Margulies!
Lipa Margulies is an example of how a BIG crook gets away with murder (yes, murder of the soul of G-d knows how many children.) Margulies is the number one low-life in the Orthodox community and all of you know it.
He began his school with a major fraud and massive theft. His God is the almighty dollar.
He continues to harbor a child molester.
Every board member of this school or person of influence should hide themselves in shame! There is no wonder why the community is plagued with tragedies. You bring it on yourselves. Generations of Jewish people suffer because you really don't give a damn about anything that you feel doesn't effect you directly. I hope your kids and grandkids suffer the same fate as the above David, at the hands of a vicious child molester. You are all no better than the KING SCUMBAG of the Jewish community!
The above David's story is easily verifiable:
1-What was the name of Torah Temima around 1970?
2-Did Kolko have an "old blue car and a "new brown car" at that time?
3-Did Kolko live on 56th st, between 14th & 15th av. at that time?
4-Did he give any kids rides to school at that time?
5-Check the DMV records; was Kolko in a car accident on a Sunday and was the accident on Caton Av?
6-Did Kolko recently marry and have a baby girl around that time?
Check out these claims of David for yourself?
I am NOT going away until this DANGER is never in a position to hurt children again!
UOJ
Why Is This Child Molester Being Kept At Rasha Gamur-Margulies's personal Piggy Bank - Tora Temima?
I want you to ask yourself one honest question; do you really think David is making this experience up?
Posted By David
"I too was molested by Rabbi Yidi Kolko, both while a student in 7th and 8th grades in Yeshiva Torah V'daas and during those same summers whilst a camper in Camp Agudah.
I used to get rides to school in the mornings with Yidi whether in his old blue car or in his brand new brown car. At that time he lived on 56th Street between 14th & 15th Avenue, whilst I lived on 57th Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues. He was newly married at that time and his first child, a daughter, was also just born then.
Once we got to the Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway, which then was just off of Caton Road, he would park the car (either down the block from the Yeshiva, on the Ocean Parkway service road, or around the corner, I think it was East 5th Street, and ask me to come over and either sit beside him or sit on his lap. Sometimes he would move over to the passenger seat and would then sit me on his lap.
That's when he went fishing. He would insert his hands down the front of my pants and would begin to "search around" to say the least. At the same time he would pull me closer to himself, or would push himself forward againt myself, sometimes even pushing me into the stearing wheel, to the point that it hurt.
Unfortunately I didn't react or complain. The winters were cold and these rides saved on not having to walk all the way to 13th Avenue to wait for the bus (especially on Sunday mornings), you were able to leave your house later since you could always make the ride, and you saved a couple of cents, which was a lot in those days.
During one of those Sunday mornings whilst we were driving on Caton Avenue, whilst I was sitting in the front passenger seat - I almost always sat in the front passenger seat - we were involved in a terrible traffic accident where a car went through a red light and slammed into Yidi's car. B"H we all got out without a scratch.
In Camp Aguda it was the same, whether if he took me into the trees, or into his cabin, or even would take me out for a drive. FYI, during the summer of 1970 I had my bar mitzva in the camp.
I of course told my parents and tried on several times
to explain to them what I was going through, but they didn't want to believe me and my "stories", etc. My father at that time was a very well known and respected person in the Boro Park & Midwood communities and within the Yeshiva world. So I just shut up and let the molestation and perversion continue.
I also think that Yidi Kolko is a danger to the students, past and present in Yeshiva Tora Temimah and I feel that it is about time that the wall of silence be torn down.
Did I suffer as a result, probably. But I have made a life for myself and today am very happily married with 4 wonderful children".
--
Posted by David to UN-ORTHODOX JEW at 9/23/2005 01:49:51 AM
UOJ Comments
Everyone in the community is complicit with this criminal Margulies!
Lipa Margulies is an example of how a BIG crook gets away with murder (yes, murder of the soul of G-d knows how many children.) Margulies is the number one low-life in the Orthodox community and all of you know it.
He began his school with a major fraud and massive theft. His God is the almighty dollar.
He continues to harbor a child molester.
Every board member of this school or person of influence should hide themselves in shame! There is no wonder why the community is plagued with tragedies. You bring it on yourselves. Generations of Jewish people suffer because you really don't give a damn about anything that you feel doesn't effect you directly. I hope your kids and grandkids suffer the same fate as the above David, at the hands of a vicious child molester. You are all no better than the KING SCUMBAG of the Jewish community!
The above David's story is easily verifiable:
1-What was the name of Torah Temima around 1970?
2-Did Kolko have an "old blue car and a "new brown car" at that time?
3-Did Kolko live on 56th st, between 14th & 15th av. at that time?
4-Did he give any kids rides to school at that time?
5-Check the DMV records; was Kolko in a car accident on a Sunday and was the accident on Caton Av?
6-Did Kolko recently marry and have a baby girl around that time?
Check out these claims of David for yourself?
I am NOT going away until this DANGER is never in a position to hurt children again!
UOJ
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS -THIS IS THE LAW FIRM THAT WAS INTERVIEWED ON FOX NEWS LAST NIGHT
Dear Brothers,
Mr. Jeffrey Herman was interviewed on Fox News last night.
I did NOT speak with him, why don't you call him and form your own opinion about your ability to prevail against Kolko/Margulies.
Go directly to an attorney who can help you.
Herman & Mermelstein, P.A.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 2218
Miami, Florida 33160
Call Toll Free!!
1-800-686-9921
Tel / 305-931-2200
Fax / 305-931-0877
Email lawyers@hermanlaw.com
Web
www.hermanlaw.com
Herman & Mermelstein – Verdicts & Settlements
VICTIMS OF CLERGY ABUSE RECEIVE OVER $5,000,000. Attorney Jeff Herman obtained settlement for plaintiffs who were sexually abused as children by priests of the Archdiocese of Miami. Although the abuse took place decades ago, Mr. Herman was able to successfully avoid the statute of limitations and bring justice to his clients.
THREE VICTIMS RECEIVE $1,500,000 FROM DIOCESE OF ORLANDO AND DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN SEXUAL ABUSE CASE. The three victims were abused by priests in Orlando, Florida during the 1960s. Attorney Jeff Herman settled the case for $1.5 million before filing suit. The case was settled in 2005.
ATTORNEY JEFF HERMAN WON A $530,000 VERDICT FOR A MENTALLY DISABLED MAN WHO WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT VICTORY VILLAS/VICTORY LIVING PROGRAM. The plaintiff was sexually assaulted by his roommates in the Victory Living Program. Attorney Jeff Herman argued that Victory Villas was liable because they had knowledge of the dangerous propensities of the roommate who assaulted the plaintiff. After a two-week trial, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff.
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN SEXUALLY ABUSED AT SCHOOL RECEIVE CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT. The children attended a school that provides education services to special needs children. The school hired a pedophile to work at the school. Attorney Jeff Herman represented multiple children. The cases were settled for a confidential amount.
BOY SEXUALLY ABUSED BY NURSING HOME CHAPLAIN RECEIVES $500,000. The boy was visiting his grandmother at the Villa Maria Nursing Center, which is operated by Catholic Health Services. On a visit, the chaplain of the nursing home took the boy into his room and sexually assaulted him. After filing suit, the case was settled.
THREE SISTERS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY CARPENTER AT CHURCH RECEIVE $540,000 IN DAMAGES. The family of the three girls volunteered to clean the church on the weekends when the girls were 7, 8, and 9 years old. A carpenter volunteering at the church, who was previously arrested for sexual assault, sexually abused the girls while they were working at the church. The little girls did not disclose the abuse at the church until they became adults. Attorney Jeff Herman filed suit and alleged that the pastor at the church knew or should have known that the girls were being abused, in as much as he witnessed the carpenter taking one of the girls into the church bathroom. After filing suit, the case was settled.
Jeff Herman and his legal team have reached many successful verdicts and settlements. This page lists some of our firm's greatest accomplishments.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard | Suite 2218 | Miami, Florida 33160
Posted By David
I too was molested by Rabbi Yidi Kolko, both while a student in 7th and 8th grades in Yeshiva Torah V'daas and during those same summers whilst a camper in Camp Agudah.
I used to get rides to school in the mornings with Yidi whether in his old blue car or in his brand new brown car. At that time he lived on 56th Street between 14th & 15th Avenue, whilst I lived on 57th Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues. He was newly married at that time and his first child, a daughter, was also just born then.
Once we got to the Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway, which then was just off of Caton Road, he would park the car (either down the block from the Yeshiva, on the Ocean Parkway service road, or around the corner, I think it was East 5th Street, and ask me to come over and either sit beside him or sit on his lap. Sometimes he would move over to the passenger seat and would then sit me on his lap.
That's when he went fishing. He would insert his hands down the front of my pants and would begin to "search around" to say the least. At the same time he would pull me closer to himself, or would push himself forward againt myself, sometimes even pushing me into the stearing wheel, to the point that it hurt.
Unfortunately I didn't react or complain. The winters were cold and these rides saved on not having to walk all the way to 13th Avenue to wait for the bus (especially on Sunday mornings), you were able to leave your house later since you could always make the ride, and you saved a couple of cents, which was a lot in those days.
During one of those Sunday mornings whilst we were driving on Caton Avenue, whilst I was sitting in the front passenger seat - I almost always sat in the front passenger seat - we were involved in a terrible traffic accident where a car went through a red light and slammed into Yidi's car. B"H we all got out without a scratch.
In Camp Aguda it was the same, whether if he took me into the trees, or into his cabin, or even would take me out for a drive. FYI, during the summer of 1970 I had my bar mitzva in the camp.
I of course told my parents and tried on several times
to explain to them what I was going through, but they didn't want to believe me and my "stories", etc. My father at that time was a very well known and respected person in the Boro Park & Midwood communities and within the Yeshiva world. So I just shut up and let the molestation and perversion continue.
I also think that Yidi Kolko is a danger to the students, past and present in Yeshiva Tora Temimah and I feel that it is about time that the wall of silence be torn down.
Did I suffer as a result, probably. But I have made a life for myself and today am very happily married with 4 wonderful children.
--
Posted by David to UN-ORTHODOX JEW at 9/23/2005 01:49:51 AM
Mr. Jeffrey Herman was interviewed on Fox News last night.
I did NOT speak with him, why don't you call him and form your own opinion about your ability to prevail against Kolko/Margulies.
Go directly to an attorney who can help you.
Herman & Mermelstein, P.A.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 2218
Miami, Florida 33160
Call Toll Free!!
1-800-686-9921
Tel / 305-931-2200
Fax / 305-931-0877
Email lawyers@hermanlaw.com
Web
www.hermanlaw.com
Herman & Mermelstein – Verdicts & Settlements
VICTIMS OF CLERGY ABUSE RECEIVE OVER $5,000,000. Attorney Jeff Herman obtained settlement for plaintiffs who were sexually abused as children by priests of the Archdiocese of Miami. Although the abuse took place decades ago, Mr. Herman was able to successfully avoid the statute of limitations and bring justice to his clients.
THREE VICTIMS RECEIVE $1,500,000 FROM DIOCESE OF ORLANDO AND DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE IN SEXUAL ABUSE CASE. The three victims were abused by priests in Orlando, Florida during the 1960s. Attorney Jeff Herman settled the case for $1.5 million before filing suit. The case was settled in 2005.
ATTORNEY JEFF HERMAN WON A $530,000 VERDICT FOR A MENTALLY DISABLED MAN WHO WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT VICTORY VILLAS/VICTORY LIVING PROGRAM. The plaintiff was sexually assaulted by his roommates in the Victory Living Program. Attorney Jeff Herman argued that Victory Villas was liable because they had knowledge of the dangerous propensities of the roommate who assaulted the plaintiff. After a two-week trial, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff.
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN SEXUALLY ABUSED AT SCHOOL RECEIVE CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT. The children attended a school that provides education services to special needs children. The school hired a pedophile to work at the school. Attorney Jeff Herman represented multiple children. The cases were settled for a confidential amount.
BOY SEXUALLY ABUSED BY NURSING HOME CHAPLAIN RECEIVES $500,000. The boy was visiting his grandmother at the Villa Maria Nursing Center, which is operated by Catholic Health Services. On a visit, the chaplain of the nursing home took the boy into his room and sexually assaulted him. After filing suit, the case was settled.
THREE SISTERS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY CARPENTER AT CHURCH RECEIVE $540,000 IN DAMAGES. The family of the three girls volunteered to clean the church on the weekends when the girls were 7, 8, and 9 years old. A carpenter volunteering at the church, who was previously arrested for sexual assault, sexually abused the girls while they were working at the church. The little girls did not disclose the abuse at the church until they became adults. Attorney Jeff Herman filed suit and alleged that the pastor at the church knew or should have known that the girls were being abused, in as much as he witnessed the carpenter taking one of the girls into the church bathroom. After filing suit, the case was settled.
Jeff Herman and his legal team have reached many successful verdicts and settlements. This page lists some of our firm's greatest accomplishments.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard | Suite 2218 | Miami, Florida 33160
Posted By David
I too was molested by Rabbi Yidi Kolko, both while a student in 7th and 8th grades in Yeshiva Torah V'daas and during those same summers whilst a camper in Camp Agudah.
I used to get rides to school in the mornings with Yidi whether in his old blue car or in his brand new brown car. At that time he lived on 56th Street between 14th & 15th Avenue, whilst I lived on 57th Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues. He was newly married at that time and his first child, a daughter, was also just born then.
Once we got to the Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway, which then was just off of Caton Road, he would park the car (either down the block from the Yeshiva, on the Ocean Parkway service road, or around the corner, I think it was East 5th Street, and ask me to come over and either sit beside him or sit on his lap. Sometimes he would move over to the passenger seat and would then sit me on his lap.
That's when he went fishing. He would insert his hands down the front of my pants and would begin to "search around" to say the least. At the same time he would pull me closer to himself, or would push himself forward againt myself, sometimes even pushing me into the stearing wheel, to the point that it hurt.
Unfortunately I didn't react or complain. The winters were cold and these rides saved on not having to walk all the way to 13th Avenue to wait for the bus (especially on Sunday mornings), you were able to leave your house later since you could always make the ride, and you saved a couple of cents, which was a lot in those days.
During one of those Sunday mornings whilst we were driving on Caton Avenue, whilst I was sitting in the front passenger seat - I almost always sat in the front passenger seat - we were involved in a terrible traffic accident where a car went through a red light and slammed into Yidi's car. B"H we all got out without a scratch.
In Camp Aguda it was the same, whether if he took me into the trees, or into his cabin, or even would take me out for a drive. FYI, during the summer of 1970 I had my bar mitzva in the camp.
I of course told my parents and tried on several times
to explain to them what I was going through, but they didn't want to believe me and my "stories", etc. My father at that time was a very well known and respected person in the Boro Park & Midwood communities and within the Yeshiva world. So I just shut up and let the molestation and perversion continue.
I also think that Yidi Kolko is a danger to the students, past and present in Yeshiva Tora Temimah and I feel that it is about time that the wall of silence be torn down.
Did I suffer as a result, probably. But I have made a life for myself and today am very happily married with 4 wonderful children.
--
Posted by David to UN-ORTHODOX JEW at 9/23/2005 01:49:51 AM
Saturday, February 04, 2006
A Heartfelt Letter To The Abuse Victims Of Kolko/Margulies/Tora Temima
Dearest Brothers,
I am not going to assume that I understand the life-long pain you are suffering being victims of sexual abuse. If the hurt you are presently feeling is because I have brought this issue to the front and center of the Orthodox world, kindly understand that I did it with the sole purpose of creating a new climate in our world; that of accountability.
The religious organizations as well as the yeshivas have failed miserably in protecting our youth from the merciless hands of abusers, be it sexual abuse or emotional. In matter of fact the Agudah for example, has ACTIVELY pursued a policy of protecting the molesters and their cohorts, by blocking every single piece of legislation that would have permitted the authorities to protect our children from the predators.They say "let the principals handle it," when the principals in many cases are involved in covering up the scandals to protect the "reputations" of their highly profitable fiefdoms.
There is nothing in it for me. I will remain anonymous; no fame, no glory, no plaques, no maftir, no money other than the money I intend to spend to publicize the issues that should be addressed by the organizations but are not. The mailing on Thursday is working it's way to your mailboxes; the post office and the mailing service are nice and friendly, but they insist on getting paid for their services. Bummer.
I would understand your hesitancy to come forward in a civil lawsuit against the above named people and entities; this is what I can offer to you as miniscule compensation for the suffering you have experienced.
I am in contact with the law firm who has collected in excess of two hundred million dollars from the various Catholic churches and archdioceses that were found guilty of harboring molesters.This is what they uncovered so far.
1- The combined assets of Kolko, Margulies, Tora Temima and it's entities have a net worth in excess of fifty million dollars.
2- "Leopold" Margulies started moving millions of dollars of assets around at the end of last year.
3- The law firm is VERY CERTAIN that if there are twenty bona fide witnesses,they can obtain a judgment against the above named entities, and wrestle away ALL the assets of the above named people and entities.
4- The juries have awarded damages, depending on the circumstances, from $500,000-$5,000,000, read five million dollars per victim.
5- In order for this firm to take this case the following has to happen:
a- I must give them a $100,000 retainer, which will be reimbursed to me after they collect on the judgment. This reimbursement would come from the "law firm's" proceeds, not from the victims'.
b- I am willing to do that out of my personal funds. I DO NOT want money from anyone!
c- The law firm's share would be one third of whatever they collect, the rest is going to be distributed in it's entirety to the victims.
d- They will NOT take the case until they have interviewed at the very least TWENTY victims, and are convinced of the credibility of the individuals.
e- I'm sure you are aware that everything you divulge to the attorneys would be protected under the attorney-client privilege.
The following must now happen in order for me to proceed. I must be contacted by e-mail by at the very least twenty five people that are willing to testify in court. ALL REPLIES WILL BE HELD IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.
The way I see it, each victim potentially would be able to collect anywhere from one to two million dollars, realistically. That is not to say that the judgment could not be greater than fifty million dollars; anything above fifty million, in my opinion, would not be collectible.
The alternative to actually taking money; you may wind up owning Yeshiva Tora Temima and it's entities, Margulies's house and Kolko's house, and you would now be in control of the yeshiva, to run it as you deem fit.
Please let me know. I am prepared to move quickly!
Hatzlacha v'kol tuv.
UOJ
This is the letter. On yellow paper with a postmark dated February 2, 2006. UOJ, a man of his word!
CHILD MOLESTER ALERT
ATTENTION ALL PARENTS
There is a chronic child molester in our midst. He is not in hiding nor is he being kept away from our children. Shockingly, he is a Rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima located at 507 & 555 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, New York.
Rabbi Lipa Margulies knows of this Rebbe’s history of sexually molesting children. Rabbi Lipa Margulies refuses to remove this predator from his yeshiva. Specifically, Rabbi Lipa Margulies has been informed; repeatedly and from sources independent of each other; that Rabbi Yidi Kolko has sexually molested countless children during his long career around children.
Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp Agudah. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Yeshiva Karlin Stolin. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp MaNaVu. Rabbi Yidi Kolko spends his life around our children. It bears repeating that Rabbi Yidi Kolko is currently a Rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima.
We have a problem. This is not to say that our wonderful community has more child molesters than other communities. We may even have substantially fewer. The problem is in our propensity to ignore the covering up of these horrendous incidents. Child molesters must be exposed and removed from our midst. Our children must not be subjected to molesters while in school. Rabbi Lipa Margulies must stop his unconscionable employment of this molester and his covering up of this threat. Rabbi Yidi Kolko must resign his position immediately. We can not rest until our children are safe from this scourge.
This mailing should not have been necessary. Both Rabbi Yidi Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Margulies were given advance copies of this letter and advised if Rabbi Yidi Kolko left Yeshiva Torah Temima immediately, this mailing would be stopped. Rabbi Yidi Kolko responded: “the matter has been taken care of†coupled with an offer to meet with his victims in person, one at a time. Rabbi Lipa Margulies responded: “I don’t think he is still a threat and I am responsible for the children†followed by “Anyone who doesn’t like it, doesn’t have to send their children to my yeshiva.†In short, neither of these Mechanchim deny the facts; they simply refuse to do the right thing.
We are writing to ask you to speak out and help bring an end to this nightmare. Please call Rabbi Yidi Kolko at 1-718-252-6642 and ask him to resign his position immediately. Please call Rabbi Lipa Margulies at 1-718-438-1900 and ask him to dismiss Rabbi Yidi Kolko immediately. Child molesters must be kept away from our children. Our children deserve no less.
Publish this comment.
Reject this comment.
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Un-Orthodox Jews at 2/06/2006 07:21:57 PM
I am not going to assume that I understand the life-long pain you are suffering being victims of sexual abuse. If the hurt you are presently feeling is because I have brought this issue to the front and center of the Orthodox world, kindly understand that I did it with the sole purpose of creating a new climate in our world; that of accountability.
The religious organizations as well as the yeshivas have failed miserably in protecting our youth from the merciless hands of abusers, be it sexual abuse or emotional. In matter of fact the Agudah for example, has ACTIVELY pursued a policy of protecting the molesters and their cohorts, by blocking every single piece of legislation that would have permitted the authorities to protect our children from the predators.They say "let the principals handle it," when the principals in many cases are involved in covering up the scandals to protect the "reputations" of their highly profitable fiefdoms.
There is nothing in it for me. I will remain anonymous; no fame, no glory, no plaques, no maftir, no money other than the money I intend to spend to publicize the issues that should be addressed by the organizations but are not. The mailing on Thursday is working it's way to your mailboxes; the post office and the mailing service are nice and friendly, but they insist on getting paid for their services. Bummer.
I would understand your hesitancy to come forward in a civil lawsuit against the above named people and entities; this is what I can offer to you as miniscule compensation for the suffering you have experienced.
I am in contact with the law firm who has collected in excess of two hundred million dollars from the various Catholic churches and archdioceses that were found guilty of harboring molesters.This is what they uncovered so far.
1- The combined assets of Kolko, Margulies, Tora Temima and it's entities have a net worth in excess of fifty million dollars.
2- "Leopold" Margulies started moving millions of dollars of assets around at the end of last year.
3- The law firm is VERY CERTAIN that if there are twenty bona fide witnesses,they can obtain a judgment against the above named entities, and wrestle away ALL the assets of the above named people and entities.
4- The juries have awarded damages, depending on the circumstances, from $500,000-$5,000,000, read five million dollars per victim.
5- In order for this firm to take this case the following has to happen:
a- I must give them a $100,000 retainer, which will be reimbursed to me after they collect on the judgment. This reimbursement would come from the "law firm's" proceeds, not from the victims'.
b- I am willing to do that out of my personal funds. I DO NOT want money from anyone!
c- The law firm's share would be one third of whatever they collect, the rest is going to be distributed in it's entirety to the victims.
d- They will NOT take the case until they have interviewed at the very least TWENTY victims, and are convinced of the credibility of the individuals.
e- I'm sure you are aware that everything you divulge to the attorneys would be protected under the attorney-client privilege.
The following must now happen in order for me to proceed. I must be contacted by e-mail by at the very least twenty five people that are willing to testify in court. ALL REPLIES WILL BE HELD IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.
The way I see it, each victim potentially would be able to collect anywhere from one to two million dollars, realistically. That is not to say that the judgment could not be greater than fifty million dollars; anything above fifty million, in my opinion, would not be collectible.
The alternative to actually taking money; you may wind up owning Yeshiva Tora Temima and it's entities, Margulies's house and Kolko's house, and you would now be in control of the yeshiva, to run it as you deem fit.
Please let me know. I am prepared to move quickly!
Hatzlacha v'kol tuv.
UOJ
This is the letter. On yellow paper with a postmark dated February 2, 2006. UOJ, a man of his word!
CHILD MOLESTER ALERT
ATTENTION ALL PARENTS
There is a chronic child molester in our midst. He is not in hiding nor is he being kept away from our children. Shockingly, he is a Rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima located at 507 & 555 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, New York.
Rabbi Lipa Margulies knows of this Rebbe’s history of sexually molesting children. Rabbi Lipa Margulies refuses to remove this predator from his yeshiva. Specifically, Rabbi Lipa Margulies has been informed; repeatedly and from sources independent of each other; that Rabbi Yidi Kolko has sexually molested countless children during his long career around children.
Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp Agudah. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Yeshiva Karlin Stolin. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp MaNaVu. Rabbi Yidi Kolko spends his life around our children. It bears repeating that Rabbi Yidi Kolko is currently a Rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima.
We have a problem. This is not to say that our wonderful community has more child molesters than other communities. We may even have substantially fewer. The problem is in our propensity to ignore the covering up of these horrendous incidents. Child molesters must be exposed and removed from our midst. Our children must not be subjected to molesters while in school. Rabbi Lipa Margulies must stop his unconscionable employment of this molester and his covering up of this threat. Rabbi Yidi Kolko must resign his position immediately. We can not rest until our children are safe from this scourge.
This mailing should not have been necessary. Both Rabbi Yidi Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Margulies were given advance copies of this letter and advised if Rabbi Yidi Kolko left Yeshiva Torah Temima immediately, this mailing would be stopped. Rabbi Yidi Kolko responded: “the matter has been taken care of†coupled with an offer to meet with his victims in person, one at a time. Rabbi Lipa Margulies responded: “I don’t think he is still a threat and I am responsible for the children†followed by “Anyone who doesn’t like it, doesn’t have to send their children to my yeshiva.†In short, neither of these Mechanchim deny the facts; they simply refuse to do the right thing.
We are writing to ask you to speak out and help bring an end to this nightmare. Please call Rabbi Yidi Kolko at 1-718-252-6642 and ask him to resign his position immediately. Please call Rabbi Lipa Margulies at 1-718-438-1900 and ask him to dismiss Rabbi Yidi Kolko immediately. Child molesters must be kept away from our children. Our children deserve no less.
Publish this comment.
Reject this comment.
Moderate comments for this blog.
Posted by Anonymous to Un-Orthodox Jews at 2/06/2006 07:21:57 PM
Thursday, February 02, 2006
The First Of The TEN Makos Is Going To Strike Your Mailbox In A Few Days
Makah # 2-If this letter doesn't get Kolko away from our children, we are going to cooperate with the secular print media.
Makah # 3-If that doesn't get Kolko away from our children, we will cooperate with the local TV stations.
Makah # 4-If that doesn't get Kolko away from our children we will cooperate with national TV.
Makah # 5-If that doesn't get Kolko away from our children we are going to the Brooklyn DA.
Makah # 6- the NYS Attorney General.
Makah # 7-the Feds.
Makah # 8, 9, 10............TBD!
Makah # 3-If that doesn't get Kolko away from our children, we will cooperate with the local TV stations.
Makah # 4-If that doesn't get Kolko away from our children we will cooperate with national TV.
Makah # 5-If that doesn't get Kolko away from our children we are going to the Brooklyn DA.
Makah # 6- the NYS Attorney General.
Makah # 7-the Feds.
Makah # 8, 9, 10............TBD!
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
WARNING-ATTENTION ALL FRUM JEWS!
Mr. Margulies:
As I see it you have 24 hours to make a decision which may determine the fate of your life's work.
Door number 1: fire the chronic child molester Kolko and you get to die with your business somewhat intact.
Door number 2: assume you can threaten and buy your way out of this looming disaster and you leave this world in absolute and utter disgrace.
I'm here to inform you that if Kolko is not out of Torah Temima today, you will be facing your Waterloo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki all rolled into one nice neat package. No more dinners, no more $50,000.00 club members and no more board members to take advantage of.
Don't be stupid, you have too much to lose. We have allowed you to build up a big business in our community.We should have ousted you years ago; you are HUMAN TINAF!
All we ask is that you not subject our children to a molester. Do the right thing. Get rid of this child molester today.
You never had to deal with a force as powerful as this; WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS UNTIL OUR GOAL IS MET, NO BUYING YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS SCANDAL!
The letter below is being mailed TONIGHT to thousands of Orthodox Jewish households in Boro Park, Kensington and Flatbush. I am asking my readers to please copy the letter from this post and e-mail it to as many people as possible. Together, we can put a stop to this depravity.
WARNING-ATTENTION ALL OF JUDAISM
There is a chronic child molester in our midst. He is not in hiding nor is he being kept away from our children. Shockingly, he is a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima located at 507 & 555 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, New York.
Rabbi Lipa Margulies knows of this rebbe’s history of sexually molesting children. Rabbi Lipa Margulies refuses to remove this predator from his yeshiva. Specifically, Rabbi Lipa Margulies has been informed, repeatedly and from sources independent of each other, that Rabbi Yidi Kolko has sexually molested countless children during his long career around children.
Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp Agudah. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Yeshiva Karlin Stolin. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp MaNaVu. Rabbi Yidi Kolko spends his life around our children. It bears repeating that Rabbi Yidi Kolko is currently a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima.
We have a problem. This is not to say that our wonderful community has more child molesters than other communities. We may even have substantially fewer. The problem is in our propensity to ignore the covering up of these horrendous incidents. Child molesters must be exposed and removed from our midst. Our children must not be subjected to molesters while in school. Rabbi Lipa Margulies must stop his unconscionable employment of this molester and his covering up of this threat. Rabbi Yidi Kolko must resign his position immediately. We can not rest until our children are safe from this scourge.
This mailing should not have been necessary. Both Rabbi Yidi Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Margulies were given advance copies of this letter and advised if Rabbi Yidi Kolko left Yeshiva Torah Temima immediately, this mailing would be stopped. Rabbi Yidi Kolko responded: “the matter has been taken care of” coupled with an offer to meet with his victims in person, one at a time. Rabbi Lipa Margulies responded: “I don’t think he is still a threat and I am responsible for the children” followed by “Anyone who doesn’t like it, doesn’t have to send their children to my yeshiva.” In short, neither of these mechanchim deny the facts, they simply refuse to do the right thing.
We are writing to ask you to speak out and help bring an end to this nightmare. Please call Rabbi Yidi Kolko at 1-718-252-6642 and ask him to resign his position immediately. Please call Rabbi Lipa Margulies at 1-718-438-1900 and ask him to dismiss Rabbi Yidi Kolko immediately. Child molesters must be kept away from our children. Our children deserve no less.
Mr. Margulies, read this news flash very seriously.
Attorney: Spokane Church Offers Settlement
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS-Associated Press/AP Online02/01/2006 5:43 PM
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, which filed for bankruptcy after being barraged with sex-abuse lawsuits, has offered a $45.7 million settlement to 75 people who say they were molested by priests.
Bishop William Skylstad publicly apologized Wednesday to the victims "for the terrible wrongs inflicted on you in the past." He urged Catholics to accept the proposed settlement, which will require money from individual parishes.
"To those of you who say this settlement will be a burden, I would say that this scandal is a burden we can no longer afford not to resolve," said Skylstad, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Plaintiffs' lawyer James Stang said a committee representing alleged victims voted Tuesday night to recommend that the offer be accepted.
Under the proposed settlement, the diocese agreed not to describe the plaintiffs as "alleged victims" anymore and to give them the opportunity to address parishes and write about their experiences in the diocesan newspaper. Skylstad also would go to each parish where abuse occurred to identify the offending clergymen, Stang said.
Skylstad also agreed to support the abolition of statutes of limitations on sex crimes, write letters to abused individuals and their families and add two members of a victims group to a board that reviews clergy sex abuse complaints, Stang said.
Some of those who would benefit financially from the offer said the diocese's other concessions were more important.
"Civil litigation was the only way to hold them accountable," abuse victim Mike Corrigan said at a news conference Wednesday. "Most of us would rather they went to jail than get money out of them."
Stang said the offer must be approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and by the victims individually within 120 days.
The settlement would cover all those who have already sued the diocese. There is no provision for anyone who might bring a claim in the future.
The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004, citing claims by abuse victims totaling about $77 million against assets of about $11 million.
Two other U.S. dioceses - Tucson, Ariz., and Portland, Ore. - have filed for bankruptcy because of sex abuse claims. A $22.2 million settlement was reached last summer in Tucson, while a federal judge in Portland ruled last month that trials involving as many as 100 plaintiffs could move forward.
As I see it you have 24 hours to make a decision which may determine the fate of your life's work.
Door number 1: fire the chronic child molester Kolko and you get to die with your business somewhat intact.
Door number 2: assume you can threaten and buy your way out of this looming disaster and you leave this world in absolute and utter disgrace.
I'm here to inform you that if Kolko is not out of Torah Temima today, you will be facing your Waterloo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki all rolled into one nice neat package. No more dinners, no more $50,000.00 club members and no more board members to take advantage of.
Don't be stupid, you have too much to lose. We have allowed you to build up a big business in our community.We should have ousted you years ago; you are HUMAN TINAF!
All we ask is that you not subject our children to a molester. Do the right thing. Get rid of this child molester today.
You never had to deal with a force as powerful as this; WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS UNTIL OUR GOAL IS MET, NO BUYING YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS SCANDAL!
The letter below is being mailed TONIGHT to thousands of Orthodox Jewish households in Boro Park, Kensington and Flatbush. I am asking my readers to please copy the letter from this post and e-mail it to as many people as possible. Together, we can put a stop to this depravity.
WARNING-ATTENTION ALL OF JUDAISM
There is a chronic child molester in our midst. He is not in hiding nor is he being kept away from our children. Shockingly, he is a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima located at 507 & 555 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, New York.
Rabbi Lipa Margulies knows of this rebbe’s history of sexually molesting children. Rabbi Lipa Margulies refuses to remove this predator from his yeshiva. Specifically, Rabbi Lipa Margulies has been informed, repeatedly and from sources independent of each other, that Rabbi Yidi Kolko has sexually molested countless children during his long career around children.
Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp Agudah. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Yeshiva Karlin Stolin. Rabbi Yidi Kolko sexually molested children in Camp MaNaVu. Rabbi Yidi Kolko spends his life around our children. It bears repeating that Rabbi Yidi Kolko is currently a rebbe in Yeshiva Torah Temima.
We have a problem. This is not to say that our wonderful community has more child molesters than other communities. We may even have substantially fewer. The problem is in our propensity to ignore the covering up of these horrendous incidents. Child molesters must be exposed and removed from our midst. Our children must not be subjected to molesters while in school. Rabbi Lipa Margulies must stop his unconscionable employment of this molester and his covering up of this threat. Rabbi Yidi Kolko must resign his position immediately. We can not rest until our children are safe from this scourge.
This mailing should not have been necessary. Both Rabbi Yidi Kolko and Rabbi Lipa Margulies were given advance copies of this letter and advised if Rabbi Yidi Kolko left Yeshiva Torah Temima immediately, this mailing would be stopped. Rabbi Yidi Kolko responded: “the matter has been taken care of” coupled with an offer to meet with his victims in person, one at a time. Rabbi Lipa Margulies responded: “I don’t think he is still a threat and I am responsible for the children” followed by “Anyone who doesn’t like it, doesn’t have to send their children to my yeshiva.” In short, neither of these mechanchim deny the facts, they simply refuse to do the right thing.
We are writing to ask you to speak out and help bring an end to this nightmare. Please call Rabbi Yidi Kolko at 1-718-252-6642 and ask him to resign his position immediately. Please call Rabbi Lipa Margulies at 1-718-438-1900 and ask him to dismiss Rabbi Yidi Kolko immediately. Child molesters must be kept away from our children. Our children deserve no less.
Mr. Margulies, read this news flash very seriously.
Attorney: Spokane Church Offers Settlement
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS-Associated Press/AP Online02/01/2006 5:43 PM
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, which filed for bankruptcy after being barraged with sex-abuse lawsuits, has offered a $45.7 million settlement to 75 people who say they were molested by priests.
Bishop William Skylstad publicly apologized Wednesday to the victims "for the terrible wrongs inflicted on you in the past." He urged Catholics to accept the proposed settlement, which will require money from individual parishes.
"To those of you who say this settlement will be a burden, I would say that this scandal is a burden we can no longer afford not to resolve," said Skylstad, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Plaintiffs' lawyer James Stang said a committee representing alleged victims voted Tuesday night to recommend that the offer be accepted.
Under the proposed settlement, the diocese agreed not to describe the plaintiffs as "alleged victims" anymore and to give them the opportunity to address parishes and write about their experiences in the diocesan newspaper. Skylstad also would go to each parish where abuse occurred to identify the offending clergymen, Stang said.
Skylstad also agreed to support the abolition of statutes of limitations on sex crimes, write letters to abused individuals and their families and add two members of a victims group to a board that reviews clergy sex abuse complaints, Stang said.
Some of those who would benefit financially from the offer said the diocese's other concessions were more important.
"Civil litigation was the only way to hold them accountable," abuse victim Mike Corrigan said at a news conference Wednesday. "Most of us would rather they went to jail than get money out of them."
Stang said the offer must be approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and by the victims individually within 120 days.
The settlement would cover all those who have already sued the diocese. There is no provision for anyone who might bring a claim in the future.
The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004, citing claims by abuse victims totaling about $77 million against assets of about $11 million.
Two other U.S. dioceses - Tucson, Ariz., and Portland, Ore. - have filed for bankruptcy because of sex abuse claims. A $22.2 million settlement was reached last summer in Tucson, while a federal judge in Portland ruled last month that trials involving as many as 100 plaintiffs could move forward.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)