Mr. & Mrs. Mordechai Jungreis 54 Middl@ton St. Brooklyn, NY 11206 The Honorabl~ Charles J Hynes Kings County District Attorney 350 Jay St. Brooklyn, NY 11201 December 5, 2010 Dear Mr. Hynes, We are writing you about the case involving the s@xual abuse of our son by Meir Dasca lowitz. We appreciated the work by the Brooklyn Police Sex Crimes Unit in investigating and arresting this evil man for hurting our son . We respect your important job in prosecuting this case. We are writing you because we are upset from when we spoke with Ms Louise Cohen of your office around December 1, 2010 . Sh e told us your office is thi nking about allowing Meir Dascalowitl to plead guilty to much lesser charges in return for being place on probation WITHOUT ANY JAIL TIME . It was not even clear if he would be put on the sex offender's registry. This possibility is extremely different from what we were told much by Mrs. Henna White from the 1<01 Tzedek initiative at the Office of the DA. She told us that Dascalowitz would be getting at least 5-6 years of jail time. This would be bad for our son who suffers so much and would be dangerous for other children in Williamsburg. We do not understand why your office would even think of a plea bargain without jail time . He confessed, our son identified him and answered grand jury question, there is the doctor's report about the abuse and we have cooperated with your office and suffered a lot from the pressures others are placing on us. We worked with YOLI because we believed your office would put this evil man in jail. Mr. Hynes, please put our minds at rest and let us know in writin g that you will not allow any w eak plea bargain. Sincerely, - - . . .xL$:67 II-. I I .117 -- - {irIg"? - I I 1giI ..5 gxIEvUt"'t":UK liNt.:; Ul::t-'U~IIIUN (CHL S 100.20) Page 1 of 3 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK VS DEFENDANT(S) LOCA TlON OF INCIDENT: STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF TOWN OF LOCAL CRIMINAL ORANGE MONROE COURT COUNTY OF TOWN LOCA TlON OF DEPOSITION: STATE OF NEW YORK ORANGE OF MONROE On IDAT~4/24/12 I at ~;_I~_;~_~_R_TE_D:___ ~_~~~~ I, ~L_~_M_E~:____________________________________~ STATE THE FOLLOWING: ON 04/15/11 I BROUGHT MY SON THE THE STATE POLICE BARRACKS TO REPORT THAT HE WAS MOLESTEp. MY SON PROVIDED A DEPOSITION AND THE SUSPECT, JOSEPH.GELBMANWAS ARRESTED. APPROXIMATELY 1 OR 2 WEEKS LATER I STARTED RECEIVING PHONE CALLS FROM RABBI ISRAEL HAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT HE WAS CALLING ON BEHALF OF! JOSEPH GELBMAN AND WANTED TO KNOW THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED. HE SPOKE TO ME AND I TOLD HIM EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. HE THEN SPOKE TO MY SON, _AND,QUESTIONED HIM. D.URING ONE OF OUR PHONE CALLS RAE3BI HAGER TOLD ME THAT JOSEPH GELBMAN WAS A COOK IN THE SCHOOL WHERE HE LIVES IN GIBBERS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT GELBMAN ~~~~~X~~ATE~~ 2F~~ t~E~K~A~G;E~~~~~~G~~A6A~~~ J~;G~~V!~i:~I~~ ~~IS ~~E.B~~KS;:TEE~ COURT IS COMING UP AND ASKED ME TO DROP THE CHARGES. I SAID WHY, HE MIGHT DO THIS AGAIN TO OTHER CHILDREN. HE SAID SAID WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM THIS IF HE GOES TO JAIL. I SAID THE MAIN 'fHING IS THAT HE SHOULD NOT DO THIS TO OTHER CHILDREN AND HE SHOULD APOLOGIZE. I SAID I AM WILLING TO GO TO RABBINCAL COURT IF HE IS WILLING TO COOPERATE. HE SUGGESTED A NAME OF ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS AND ~ED SOMEONE HERE IN KJ. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY SON, _ . . _ _ W H O SAID THAT HIS FATHER IN LAW HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE RABBINCAL JUDGE RABBI ED HIM TO PERSUADE ME NOT TO GO TO SECULAR COURT, RATHER TO GO TO COURT. I TO(D MY SON TO TELL YOUR FATHER IN LAW THAT I HAD NO PROBLEM GOING TO INCAl COURT HERE IN KJ. RABBI HAGER THEN CAllED AGAIN AND I SAID OK TO RABBINCAl COURT BUT OT IN HIS JURISDICTION. I SAID I WANTED 3 RABBI'S FROM KJ, 1 FROM EACH sECTOR. RABBI WENT HAYWIRE AND ABRUPTLY REFUSED AND WAS VERY ANGRY. THEN? NOTICE (Penal Law Sec. 210.45) In a written instrument, any person who knowingly makes a false statement which such person does not believe crime under the laws of the state of New York punishable as a A Misdemeanor. r-nmlmitt?ed a Affirmed under penalty of perjury this 24th day of APRIL - or'Subscribed and Sworn to before me this day of o This form need be s'NQrn to only when specifically required by the court. ~ 201&, TIME ENDED 0 4:43 AM ~PM 'New YOrK ::itate Police SUPPORTING DEPOSITION (Ci?L ? 100.20) THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK , Page 2 of3 VS. ______________~~====--------~~---DEFENDANT(S) , A LITTLE LESS THAN A WEEK AGO ~BBI HAGER CALLED AGAIN AND ASKED WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GAIN FROM THIS, SECULAR COURT AND I SAID HE WONT MOLEST OTHER CHILDREN. THEN HE ASKED WHAT DO . YOU WANT FROM RABBINCAL COURT AND I SAID I WANT TO MAKE S,URE MY SON GETS COUNSELING AND' THAT HE HIMSELF GOES FOR COUNSELING. BECAUSE OTHERWISE HE IS A THREAT TO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. RABBI HAGER ASKED WHAT DO I THINK IT WOULD COST. I SAID I DON'T KNOW, IT COULD BE 000. RABBI HAGER ' ED WHERE DO I DROP OFF THE MONEY. I TOLD HIMA PERSON, RABBI T I KNOW GIVES PRIVATE TUTORING LESSONS TO BOYS. RABBI HAGER ING TO THE CHARGES IF I, DROP OFF THE $20,000 TO HIM. SO I SAID FIRST I HAVE TO FIND OUT IF IT IS LEGAL., HE SAID OK. THEN I CALLED RABBI NATHAN ROSENBERG BECAUSE HIS SPECIALTY IS HELPING SEXUAL ABUSED CHILDREN .. I ASKED HIM WHAT I SHOULD DO, THAT RABBI HAGER IS OFFERING $20,000. HE SAID DON'T ACCEPT IT, IT IS NOT LEGAL, IT IS CALLED EXTORTION. THEN I CALLED RABBI HAGER BACKAND TOLD HIM ~IT WAS NOT LEGAL AND THAT I WAS NOT ACCEPTING ANY MONEY. I TOLD HIM THE ONLY WAY I WOULD ACCEPT MONEYWASIFTHE RABBINCAL COURT WOULD RULE IT. AND THE MONEY WOULDN'T BE COMING;TO ME IT WOULD BE GOING TO THE PEOPLE DOING THE COUNSELING. THEN THE LAST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH RABBI HAGER WAS 2 DAYS AGO ON SUNDAY. I TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE, I AM .oFfERING HIM TO GO TO RABBINCAL COURT, HE 'SAID YEAH THE RABBI'S IN KJ, FORGET IT. AND THAT WAS IT. I ' , ' " . ' " IN CONNECTION wln-i WHAT HAPPSNED TIL NOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO COME WITH MY SON, _ A N D MEET WITH THE DA.. 1TOLD MY SOt{ YE-STE~DAYEVENING AND HE CONTACTED HIS TEACHER SAYING HE WAS GOING TOBE LAT~ FO~ SCHOOL TODAY. WHEN ASKED WHY,_TOLD THE TEACHER THE STORY. THE TEACHER ASKED DID YOUR MOTHER ASK PERMISSION FROM A RABBI TOGO TO SECULAR COURT AND _TOLD HIM YES, $INCE HE WAS NOT COOPERATING TO COME TO RABBINCAL COURT I W.AIIS.G.IV.EN PERMISSION TO GO TO!SECl)LAR COURT. TODAY, IN THE MORNING THETEACHER,_ o CALLED MEAND SAID MY SON NEEDS TO COME TO SCHOOL AND NEEDS PERMISSION FROM THE PRINCIPAL E THEY WERE STARING A NEW SEMESTER. I SAID HAVE THE PRINCIPAL. CALL ME. THE PRINCIPAL, 0 ANJD SAID MY SON WOULD HAVE TO BE ON TIME. I SAID HE HAS A COURT APPOINTMENT WITH THE DA AND H(: SAID THREATENED ME SAYING-THAT IF HE ATTENDS THE, APPOINTMENT IN COURT HE ~CC;EP,T HIM BACK TO SCHO, OL. I SAID THAT I WILL I:1AVE TO TELLTHE DA THAT I WONT BE BRINING_BECAUSE HE IS TREATENING THAT WONT BE LET BACK IN SCHOOL. THEN HE ADMITTED THAll 'HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH RABBI HAGER AND THAT IF I DJD THAT THEN HE WOULD PUT IN A CHILD ABUSE CASe AGAINST. ME. I ASKED HIM WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG AND HE SAID THERE ARE TIMES YOR SON FORGSTS TO TAKE HIS MEDICINE AND THAT THERE ARE TIMESYOU PURPOSLY DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM, THEREFORE ,HE CAN BECOME VIOLENT. HE SAID HE WOULD CHILD ABUSE AND REPORT IT. THEN I ASKED HIM WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING JOSEPH GELBAN WHO IS A MOLESTER AND NOT RABBINCAL COURT,NOT MY SON WHO IS YOUR STUDENT. HE SAID WELL YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GO SECULAR COURT. I TOLD HIM I WAS WILLING BUT NOT UNDER RABBI HAGER'S JURISDICTION~ I THEN SAID . , ALRIGHT I WILL DECII)E WHAT lAM GOING TO DO. to MY FIRST CONCERN IS THAT MY SON WILL BE THROWN OUT OF SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE NEXT CONCERN IS THAT HE WILL CALL AND REPORT A CHILD ABUSE CASE. THE OTHER CONCERN IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SLANDER MY NAME IN THE COMMUNITY. I FEEL 100% THREATENED AND VERY ~' .. NOTICE , (Penal Law Sec. 210.45) In a written instrument, any person who kno~ingly makes a false statement which such person does not believe crime under. the la~softhe state of New York punishable as a Class A Misdemeanoro . Affirmed under penalty of perjury this 24TH ,day of APRIL - or?Subscribed and Sworn to before me this day of o This rann need bo sw:>m to only when spocificaKy required by tho court. committed a ,2010. TIME ENDED 0 AM DPM \.:Jt:.I"lL..q. \Uq/UO} . SUR-PORTING DEPOSITION (GPL ? 100.20) THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK DEFENDANT(S) New York State Police . \ Pag~ 3 of 3 VS. ________________~~~------------~-- SCARRED OF RABBtHAGER AND I FEEL INTIMIDATED AND WORRIED ABOUT CONSEQUENSES ARE GOING T.o BEt. BUT I HAVE TO PROTECT MY SON ANDDO WHAT IS RIGHT. P~INCIPAL_ NOTICE , (Penal Lavv Sec. 210.45) In a written instrument, any person who kn0v.rlngly makes a false statement which crime under the laws of the state of New York punisha o Affirmed under penalty of perjury this 24TH day of APRIL - or'Subscribed and Sworn to before me this day of .. This form need be S'NOlttto only vmel1 specifically required bll the court. ~ - -' .. ... , mmltted a .o o o .:. II o ~ II : . ,2010. -- - - - TIME Et;lDED 0 AM 4:40 181 pM ILII `It. IA-:1-gtk E-II IIFY nf-'--I- -II.1- -I-I. 1 I I I I--I-I-I.--.;pl I I . -.5-5 I r- . ..-I, . J-55.* II-Ill aIII--.- II-I-I I .. . . --|oIIISZID I JU O\'~l:1 nul'O);' ' 7) ,1J1l7' O n lJIlJ)p m1l1 mnl1 ,Ol' 71'\ 01' 0 K7W 1 K~;' "'l1~ C17tU 7i.l nno,nnn 101:1 nl~'p ,'U-:O ;,t!ii' ;'PlpnJ 111'\ o"n 1";'1)1J l1'''W:1, 10\~ '1'~tll n'''~ 'W K'~~'K~ I'j~Vt'l:11 0"01X:'I 1'O'X'), ':'WP:'I? OtlU'"i' ' ':i:'tI) C'1W):'I 'l': t:l1D.:, ,'X1W') 0'1'1) :'!~1:1~ \.ItlWl "i':1 'Ill)~:':"\ ,KtI~tI\ :':I't:' mnnil 1~':' .e'i":':)\ o'mNl :11'11' ", ,,"1 :1"D:1 o'"n :"I!l1:-t 1":1W' , 0"\.I1.l0:1, O\'K lC\:':' 111\jil n:.: "lJ1;'" rl'ni:'i'i' ",tI, 'tlllJ 1l':"I1 ,l1,J;WtI mK O~1Nl ,:-t,~) ~" '''0 011'10' :131111 ~1'W :l1W'W C"lM01 .1'CON1i'KJ 0'l':1;' '11 0"1-:' t'l1n 'W1 ,N1m Q~\PI' li'N'~~ii ~, '~i~~n;;~;;!~WO~'~~llN.,?o'n'lV'~\~MI;"1'n;~\'N 'l\'~ c~ l'i-="\ 1t'17~10 t'll":11'l'( 1WK :17~1 '1'11 i'K') '1" lKDl1'l1~:1 '''11 o','n O')lnP;'l 0",;';' J71 ,O'J1'0 O' otU 'On.,7 i'li't U'I'\~K~ 1U' nl ,:1'lP m J m 1J O'P~1W1 O'l~1 v'n:.: \11'\:11 o'mM' n'',!.'p~, "'N :1';"'~ 'n'\!Ill~' \!I'~;' ll" '~ ;"'IlIlV' 'l'IlV' ll")' C'~' ll~ 'V\!I~ m~ 'l~: '''V ,0'''''1''' O'tl'X ", ,~, '~n N~l ,~, N~ l'~~i1 '~1~~~1 1'111n'~~ ~'~Pi1~ i1'111 ,~ ~p ":"it:"'l" M'''W;'' O")M~:"i' 0':1';';' '" N'~' N~"M' .pn1W1 111"'" '1:': 1nx '''''1 '''' 01:"1'1 " l'P'ti110 "C.MX '''0:'1 ,K' :'1 0'-'01, " J)" ,'n\)" 1111 '11 K,:"'I ?"J"l1 11t1m i:'l\P l1'I'" .'", ,":'iJO 101K' ll'J1' :.:n1"rl 1""', n', nN~':'I ~t:ll:-n :1'" ~" '~n 1:'1 ,O'lt:lp' o','m " ,OW 1W '10K1 . '~' o'n!} 'K1:1' 'Nl'", '1,n:11 n1""nntl 1"U' 1'1,,1 n-ro :"'ID n';~ll1l1J J" nJ", 'Otl,: "~1Jt:l' :'i0 '~'l '1on '1C'N ,~ "l' ,'np? IOn,,' "m" :1J)'tliZI" "'ON :"I,',n ''':'!P~'' nC:l , 'C'" 'W,i1, x, O'l~i'i1 '",0"") N'W Q'"V,," 0"" ,",,," ","'" C'~'i1 I1N t\'~n/j1 N~1n~ 1l"1 ,~N'W' 11'~~ pN 1l'i1 mi1 I1n~1/jn ,~ 'I'll ,:l,,:':, ,1)'m" ,'n~ li"n1;'~1 ll~tI pn1n", 0.M1W~):l 1i1m, 1~'~:"'I 'J)' ,:"I"wn ":'1~ '''D CI"~O~ 1N1:ltl' :"I"wni1 nN lJll lNCl1'l1~:"I n1M'W p'oe', 0'111i1 1"1'" "W'W '11 '''~;''~ OW)~ riP'" " .n"~m:"l CI''.U ',:l 101'" n"" :.:, I'jK '1"1' ?l' lrl'? N" ,1 ptm 1N ,,~,~ ," W" ' ) Oi l1'nV0:11o:00l1l1 1I)t) ?) o ,) " m ,t\/j~)1~ ~1"~~ 1~'~t\ ~t\,~,~ i1'i1~ 111N1p/j ~p 111l~l C1~ 1~ l'tI ,l "V' O DlV',;J :i-~101 ;'iWl1 p;J U'K~K~ .ION O,W i l1l iI1190 :ipl;S:l ;'1~ lln" ,,), ;'l) 1 U'?li o n 1' 'N1:O' l Oll 10Wl ;'1 ]1!I ~'O':;I"~ 'n!n~ or.:~ lilJOD~''''\-itt~ ~~O ~"'iJ ~ il:~:" :ll'H ,xm.., :17:1 ru1)i'"'i:l ~ "l1::. :wom :"1111 -"-' ~'t'iO'i;;"ttO P"; K r?~ :;"1.:' 'Oll!lJ'i;U'l!l't"'i c~~:)'u,:; :;IJ1:l ' lZlt('l1'Vy" J X P l1-"c~'~~:m 0"-'::0 Ni\,- ' im p"':N Ol.l!IICiX;' i Ii ,Xi:r O'll:llil\ 'NiW' P": N i X ~')."'O :i'.:n~ ~?J ?'N>;::; NO i~'j"!l "\l.':''' '..",ornD o"J:' oru'~ 'l:~X:'I ~"C X li., J1CNi'D i"'ll.Y1N ~~ l1Xi'1lI:: ")t~'l 'Nt' r"C', .,.v Y"l:ll1 ow 'Clt:'o-jl;'l1 y"ol'i n;C!''C-':: " 10 'N'n""J+t-:i'l\VO Y"lJl1 N'!:I"~ },'ll'llD ~";1.~ "'~'D i ),l:ln o.'~N o"n enlO 'i/O )";un 'lilN' :lXl i'O 'l: !)"J-VilW:l )"'011 i).'~N:"I 'Xi..,' N"I:)":,:.o )"11'\10 ~ . :"I"~ 1''t3'.:llJ''X eNC P'l"X p.~' N::m6l'OD 'YID'i t-: ;NlVl.,(C :!pll' .",..'t" />:"1:)';" JlI;,poo ~"il.1J 'pO-n,.11~ i1',,'il' " , x~ !91l'lC0'll.'iX'UJ:$"iI.-.J l.:r ; '''D:rI':"I'J~ IN'~N~ v"i:!N i"~"lll\:!:ll " :l l;' ;X;~~ 'OlND-m'~'J }"Oli "lQ X~''.:l l'J" IItn, J1J KJ P"' :! N 'Kp:n' '11:'-1 O" "~ i'NC 1\l:;ltt-:1'K' P";lt-:+ " lill::!l" n "':"I ~1::i"l y"tll"il "w:uml1C j)"1JK 01 o"n 'W"N ': 'l~Kp r't:)::Ol~!!N "ll1 l'tllZliUO i"lD'it-: ViJ N f" :;) ~11 "QtUttI ':!~ N 'POl'Wl' P'i:lK ,on" ,1110 p"'JN 1~'~i),l:!11"N ~Ol' />:'i'11pO1 '10 }'"P1i 0 :,x,..". ONi.l :"I~'l' ,,"J-t-:t?vJ }"Ol' ~~!!'ll'I(C 'Nl' IO N O'iNlZl i"" JN ---' Congo Yetev Lev D'Satmar =, =~., 'l"1ii 'b(~~b(e', Cent ral Office: 150 Rodney Street o Mailing Address. P.o. Il . 506 o Brooklyn, NY 11211 o Tel. (718) 384-7449 o Fa x: (718) 384-7455 .,NY.)\?N01 :1, :1\?' ,np ))''lJ'11y') n':1:1 O'N:l~nl):1:>' 'i:Jm'~ ,'"1).:1' .:1 )\?n )y')'I!J.:1 NII~.N:J \?'.,"O ""'Y.l'~?P:l )KY.J )Kil )))JnY.J'O il.:mJ K, rl)))Y.JY) ))) )tK' ))))il ilm ,\J"il'01nK .'//)il )))'Oi1Y.J?n).:1.:1 "~nil' N).:l' //::n)J:l))1tNi 01n)" )il1 )i.:11 0'0 OOi.oY.J'O )'0 )n, . \J//Kilil nr.:ljJil.:1 il~Y.J'O' '//)i1 C))K)) )))1) ,O))Y.J)'O' )1)i1)' i)OK) D)Y.JJn )1)r.:l'm O),n)? )))t.:1.:1 mm \J"Kili1 ')) il.:1)))n ),.:11 D))Y.J)'O.:1 ?K,'O) ),m.:1) )1?) mKY.J nt.:1 ')'OJY.J) )i.:1n O)) ) K~il D)).:liil )//)) n:u N')jJ ')jJ iOK) ,.:1)) ,'")il )n, .N//\J)?'O 0) ).:1iil nnnKnil ,"m ~')).:1)))tK' om) i1ON'O JII))Y.J';.! 0))))1)Y.J )))il nKt, )K N~)) 0)'0 )'::J. )))'Oi1Y.J )n::J..:1 ),), C)) On1? \J"Nilil i)~O)'O 1)) ,?')Y.) .D).:1)\J N'il ))'O))Y.J?)) \Jinnl) il.:1)'On il'O)))) ., ').I~.:1 ,"m )n, O)r.:lmnil i1 :'i1Pi1 n?i1)i1 1 . me uf _o `1'uuth Iirr--msn-.4 num, 1. we I - -wgBeing with big kids and grownups is always loads of fun. I've learned to fly a kite. and even hit a home run! But even someone we know and like very much shouldn't touch us in ways we don't want them to touch. " p"p"l Beth Din uf Crown Heights wm mw bw mm 1?=v uw: mu mum mw 'n'uJ?r?on vm 'wmh but num -rm'1hn'h? D: wm 1:15 umu um: ,:41 111:: vb *1:1 nvum ?1?n.?nn Emu mw hw 1??1u? HM: 1*-want vn nw num nam umn ub: wu: Brun z??t??1tm:a??b UTTIZUJD wu t1 wm mm mu ann rrunw umn wwu ww *1-*111*1 upw mum nw:1 *3 wm 111* rm hmo?1 bv mm prun 3111 such dull dxwmiqgaf CC";"!lU1,i' ;''!)';IT;n tmi';"! i~' VAA O l-lA KOHOI.. 0 1' CMO\\fN IlEUa rrS il :l1 J il n K " il '~ l ~:l 390,0. Kinpton A" enu~ Sroo/r;.lyn. NY 11 225 (718) 77 1-9000 2 A". 577 1 Au!'uSl 2, 201 1 o"ar Fellow Community ~I~ mbe,.,;; The te,t of II community is how jt reacu to 010mtnlS of crisis and di l1kully. We find oursch'e, uook r such ci rcum>lancrs today. A member of OUr community ha, httn accused of certain a bhorrent <\CIS. We "Tlt~ thii len~r 10 express" hat we (in cunsullation wilh foe"ernl Rabonni01 and ~ l a.~hpee ? im) Ihi n~ is an appropriate ~S pon~. To be gin .... ith . " 'e all obviously agree that chi ld abur.e . in any foon. should nOl. be tolerated. and child allose,.,; .\hould he punis hed. The re t. no need to upound on this, ll.~ it ob ,?ious. This is a gi,?en. and .. e' re all 011 the "same ~am" on thi s one. We .... ould li ~ e, ho"'e"er, to draw <<[(enlion 10 OIher - perhaps less ob"iou~ poi nts . ~ l lIny of us, in OU r righteous and justi fied pursui t of justice, forget about II few basic hillachic princ iples. principles " 'hieh also make an ahundancr of co mmon sen..e. We primarily ~fer to: ( I) presumption nf innocence; anti (2) the consequences (0 the accu ~ ~rson's famil y. -Innoce nl un til pro" en guilty" is one of the most fundame nUlltenels of Je "i;;h law (Sa\"a Kama.J.6h .- as wel l as many pla l"es). When we hear s(Ories a bout an all eged crime. ;t is easy and nalural to sIan imagining the worsl, and fully belie'e it . In the end. the alleged crime may Ium out (0 be trut'. S ut, "e!ill' told (0 suspend judgment untH II full im?estigalio n and fai r process is conducted. becau se ,,'ilhoo( a fair proc ess ..... do 001. ~no ... .. hat really h~ppened. Before the condulion of a fair process, " 'e can be ~lyinH on rumOl"1i. hal f?memori .. s. miscommunil;al ion~. and (sometinJeS) "" en intentional d~iL bu t he also may he innocent. l1le ' 11. still) v.. ry real. If he is guilly _ he is 001. g ui lty. does an)'<>n.. want to be man? will be punished. respon~ible for ruini ng In ac.Id ilion. a good deal of speculation and challer has begun to cin:ulate about membel1 of the community that are based on specu lalion thaI may not be backed up by octua l .. vidence. W .. remind """.,.?one thlll it i? against th.. Toruh to mal ign an yone with"u t ",?ide oce. Whe~ there are valid concem?. the Be is Din has en couraged in"01\"in8 the ~Ie"anl aUlhorities ,,'110 can determine the lrulh of any claims. Seco ndly. and perhaps more imponant ly. ""ganl less of " 'hether the accused indeed commiued Iheu (W; t.~. his family is ahsol ute ly innocent. They are wonderful members of our community, as many of )'011 kno". This IICcusation hu cuu>ed ue~ndous pain and suff~ring to them. h will likdy coolinue to cause them e,?,"" ~ pain uoo sufferin,. if "" do not become more considerale, Each of uS can ima&ine ho'" 0 painful it ....ould be if our parenl ,,-as accus.ed of the~. It is 100% wrong 1 be .",,~" ":-::: ~ 1"= 'Ill". and spn'ading the rumors and increasing the chauer on this maUer does only thai. Before ",e SO any funher. leI uS make clear " 'h al ",e an' NOT saying. We are not !>lIying that a thorough iM'est;ption should not be conducted ;nHl any possible child abu...,. Nor are we saying that iflhe legal process finds such child abus.e . Ihe l"''l'''lrator should be nOi punished to the full ex lent of Ihe law. W.. are NOT saying eilher of tOOse thing.i. Whal n AR E saying is that the maner is nuw in the hands of lhe legal authorities. 'They are in"eStigating the accusations and "ill prosecute the ca~ if they R'e fit. Ob,?ioosly. we ha"e the greal.-51 conc"" for the alleged "icrims - and they are indeed having their ca..e heard fu lly and faid)' in fronl of a court of law. Ho,,?e"'~r. we must remember that the alleged perpetrator's fumi ly members an' aiM! "ictims, We add nothing positi"e by adding fud 10 Ihe fi re and SCream and shout and post all O\-er lhe internet about Ihis. Alitliat achie,es is to hurt inooce nt fami ly ~mbers of the attu>ed. Justice ",ill be Sl'r.,ed. in due ti~. Howe"er, in Iix' interim. we mu~t show restrJ illl in our actions and juda:ment. leI the "ery compeknt detecti,?es. " 'ilh the uperience and kno"ledge in the~ matl~, in"esligme "'hal happened. M~ imponantly. leI uS allow the justice system (1 which the Bes Din conSl'nted the alleged 0 victims SO 10) apply a fair and riSOfOUS process through which the truth will come OU\. Until then . leI's be pal~nl and show sympath y for the family. Being part of the rumor? mill that generales and p3SSI'S half? trulhs. will do very real. Iasling and deep damage 10 innocent people here. Let' s pre,'.,nt that. Practically speaking. \\'e as\; our fellow community memt..,rs: I. Please ~U5pend_ 'IIIIl1,l~t has been reached. 2. Plea~ do not fu , rl.~ l!!.1S1ories about any IlittU'a!;on. 3. Please ~althe ' e'~nq and respe<:lthey desel'\'e. ~tay these da)'1< be tu"""'-.l frum Uidn ..ss into joy. Zaki Tamir Fishel Brownstein Yossi Hack""r