Rabbi Captured Video of 6 Women Changing

CBS - Crimesider
October 16, 2014

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-rabbi-captured-video-of-6-women-changing/

[with vidoe]

Police say a rabbi set up a recording device disguised as a digital clock radio to secretly videotape at least six women changing clothes at a ritual cleansing bath affiliated with his District of Columbia synagogue.

The rabbi, 62-year-old Barry Freundel, is charged with voyeurism. He appeared in court Wednesday and was released from custody but ordered to stay away from his alleged victims and his synagogue.

Charging documents filed in D.C. Superior Court allege Freundel set up the recording device in the changing and showering area of the National Capital Mikvah, which is affiliated with the Kesher Israel Congregation.

Police say he recorded women on June 2 and Sept. 13, and that he appears on tape setting up the device.

The congregation's website says Freundel, who has been the rabbi there for over 25 years, has been suspended without pay. Freundel also held a teaching position at Towson University. The school has since suspended him, reports CBS Baltimore.

Emma Sulevitz and her husband Jeffrey PERSONAL PHOTO/CBS NEWS

Emma Sulevitz, a 27-year-old Maryland woman, told 48 Hours' Crimesider she believes she may be a victim of the rabbi. She says she went for a "practice dunk" at his ritual cleansing bath, or mikvah, in 2012 when she was in the midst of converting to Judaism.

"I remember the clock. He said, 'Don't put anything there. No, you can't do that,'" Sulevitz said. "I always thought that was suspicious."

Sulevitz said she went through with the submersion that day and that afterwards, Freundel was sure to advise her that she still hadn't officially been converted and told her she could come back to practice "as many times as you want."

Sulevitz said she ultimately decided not to pursue her conversion with Freundel and instead went to a different synagogue.

"My first impression was that he wasn't interested in converting me," Sulevitz said. "He was very arrogant, intimidating and difficult to look straight in the eyes."

Sulevitz says she is coming forward in hopes that it will give other potential victims the courage to speak up.

She and her husband attended Freundel's court appearance Wednesday and spoke with a prosecutor and detectives working the case.

According to the Washington Post, Assistant U.S. District Attorney Sharon Marcus Kurn stressed in court Wednesday that authorities are only "at the beginning" of their investigation.

"There could be children on these tapes," she reportedly told the judge. "There could be men. ...He violated the laws up in the heavens and down."