Denial, Rationalizations and the Case of Rabbi Alan Horowitz, by Jewish Survivors, Jewish Survivors of Sexual Violence Speak out [United States], June 13, 2007

Denial, Rationalizations and the Case of Rabbi Alan Horowitz

By Jewish Survivors
Jewish Survivors of Sexual Violence Speak out [United States]
June 13, 2007

http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2007/06/denial-rationalizations-and-case-of.html

There's some days it's difficult to be proud that I'm Jewish. The reasoning has to do with the way our rabbinic leaders have been handling sex crimes through the ages. Their rationalizations, ignorance and denial is enough to make anyone atheist.

Today is one of those dark days. I received an e-mail from a friend which contained part of a letter from a rabbi who some consider being an advocate for survivors. The comments are regarding The Awareness Center's call to action regarding "defrocking"rabbi Alan Horowitz.

Why don't you just "decide" that he is not really a rabbi – no rabbi will ever admitted to giving him ordination – assume that it is bogus – YOU remove his ordination – and challenge him and whoever supposedly gave him smicha to stand up and "take credit". This will force his hand to say who his supposed smicha is from.

My friend responds:

Does it really matter what I "decide"? According to the FBI, Interpol and the television show "America's Most Wanted", Alan Horowitz is an ordained orthodox rabbi.

Call to Action:

"Defrock" Rabbi Alan J. Horowitz - Convicted Sex Offender

The Awareness Center, Inc. is demanding that the Orthodox Union (OU), the Rabbinic Council of America (RCA) and Agudath Israel of America make a public statements denouncing the actions and behavior of Rabbi Alan J. Horowitz. By not doing so is condoning this serial child molesters criminal behavior.

The Awareness Center, Inc. is also demanding that rabbis around the world find a way to remove Alan Horowitz's rabbinical ordination and that of other known sexual predators (who are ordained rabbis).

After Rabbi Alan Horwitz's 1983 conviction for child molestation he was placed on probation. Arrangements were made for him to live on the Ohr Somayach campus in Monsey, NY. Ohr Somayach is a Yeshiva serving young male students. Horowitz was treated by Dr. Joseph F. Chambers MD (Maryland) and Dr. Yitzhak Twersky (Monsey, NY).

In the past both the RCA (Rabbinical Council of America), Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel of America have stated that there is nothing they could do regarding Rabbi Horowitz since was he not a member of their organization.

Rabbi Horowitz is a convicted sex offender. Be aware that it takes a village to raise a sex offender and to enable them to continue molesting children or raping adults. Rabbi Horowitz is everyone's responsibility, including all rabbinical organizations, rabbis and Jewish communities.

It is time for all of us to stop passing the buck. Do the right thing, publicly denounce this man and remove his rabbinic ordination!

Contact Information:

Rabbinical Council of America (RCA)

Rabbi Marc Dratch - Chairman of the RCA's Task Force on Rabbinic Improprieties

Phone: 203-858-9691

info@jsafe.org

Rabbi Basil Herring, Executive Vice President

Phone: 212-807-7888 x 5

bherring@rabbis.org

Orthodox Union

Rabbi Hershy (Tzvi) Weinreb

execthw@ou.org

Agudath Israel of America

Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, Executive Vice President

Rabbi Avi Shafran,

(212) 797-9000

shafran@agudathisrael.org