Gothamist
December 21, 2009
http://gothamist.com/2009/12/20/prominent_orthodox_rabbi_accused_of.php
New York -- An Orthodox rabbi is accused of telling a woman he would help her convert to Judaism if she had sex with him and his friends. According to the blog Failed Messiah, Rabbi Leib Tropper of Rockland County told Shannon Orand, a 32-year-old gentile who was interested in becoming a Jew: "If you fulfill my needs, I'll fulfill yours — and you need a conversion."
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The Post reports that Orand recorded a conversation in which the rabbi urged her to have sex and participate in phone sex with his friends including an individual called "the Satmar guy." He purportedly told the woman, who he called "darling" and "cutie pie," that he "could role-play a rape...but I couldn't actually rape you — you know what I'm saying, darling — does that make sense?"
On the recordings, the rabbi talks paying the woman money for a lawyer and a stipend of $1,300 per month, and discusses putting that agreement in writing. Orand told the Post she didn't mean for the recordings to become public. "It was only supposed to go to a few leading rabbis." She added in a written statement:
While an individual 'rabbi' acted in an inappropriate manner, my desire to become a bona fide Jew is undeterred. I remain inspired by the beauty and wholesomeness of authentic Judaism. One unhealthy person cannot and will not interfere with my quest to become a fully committed observant Jew. I want nothing more than to focus on my family at this time.
Orand's conversion was supposed to be finalized last week, but a religious court apparently canceled it at the last minute. Tropper wouldn't comment for the Post, but he resigned on Dec. 12 from Eternal Jewish Family, a Monsey-based organization he founded that tries to convert gentiles in interfaith marriages to Judaism.
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