Connecticut rabbi accused of sexually abusing former student 'hundreds of times' in lawsuit

By Feliks Garcia
Independent (UK)
May 3, 2016

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/rabbi-sexual-abuse-daniel-greer-new-haven-connecticut-a7012166.html

Rabbi Daniel Greer giving a talk at Yeshiva New Haven in 2007

This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse of a minor.

A former student of a Connecticut Jewish boarding school has filed a lawsuit accusing a rabbi of sexually abusing him hundreds of times between 2001 and 2005. 

The lawsuit filed by 28-year-old Eliyahu Mirlis seeks damages from the all-boys high school Yeshiva New Haven school, The Gan School, and Rabbi Daniel Greer, 75, who served as principal of both. According to the Associated Press, the suit alleges that the schools enabled the sexual abuse to continue for years. 

Mr Mirlis - who expressed his wish to be named by AP and come forward - seeks unspecified damages. He is not pursuing criminal charges, but said he will cooperate with any ensuing criminal investigations, should they arise. 

“Rabbi Greer was in his sixties when he forced minor Eli to engage in acts of sex with him,” the lawsuit reads. “Rabbi Greer frequently gave Eli alcohol at the time he raped and assaulted his child victim. Rabbi Greet showed Eli pornographic films.”

Mr Greer is also accused in the lawsuit of abusing Mr Mirlis on school grounds, at the rabbi’s home, at properties managed by the school, and in various motels in Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

The victim’s lawyer, Antonio Ponvert, said that the lawsuit will finally force Mr Greer to “answer for his crimes”. 

The lawsuit also alleges at least one other person was abused by Mr Greer.

Mr Greer’s lawyer, William Ward, told the AP that the rabbi denies the allegations, and asked that the public not rush to judgment before evidence is presented. He then questioned the motives of the accuser.

“Ask yourself why the plaintiff would wait 14 years,” Mr Ward said. “Ask yourself why Mr Mirlis, well into his adulthood, repeatedly honoured the man he now accuses. Ask yourself why Mr Mirlis, an Orthodox Jew, would not seek redress from a rabbinical arbitration court. Ask yourself why Mr Mirlis' first stop was his lawyer's office to seek money.”

“It only takes a moment to make allegations with despicable indifference to the consequences to the damage they would cause to my client and his family and his reputation that he spent a lifetime building in his community,” he added. “This is a difficult time for my client and his family.”