Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg sexual Abuse of converts Former conversion student sues rabbi FOR sexual Abuse ,sexual exploitation, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, sexual battery and 12 other charges

rjhgins

http://obamaprez.blogspot.com/

www.rabbireflects.blogspot.com www.ehnt.org www.jonathanginsburg.net www.convertjudaism.org Rabbi of the Ezra-Habonim, Niles Township Jewish Congregation of Skokie, is a native of Chicago.

COURTS: Former student sues rabbi

By Phillip Pina

Pioneer Press - Thu, Jan. 22, 2004

A former member of the Temple of Aaron accused the St. Paul congregation's senior rabbi of sexual exploitation, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, sexual battery and 12 other charges in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court.

(NAME WITHHELD), who lives in Maplewood, claimed Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg had inappropriate sexual contact with her for three years. The contact took place while Ginsburg was counseling (NAME WITHHELD) and serving as a mentor for her rabbinical studies.

(NAME WITHHELD) has complained of her treatment in the past and now says she is being shunned by the Jewish community, her lawyer said. She has given up her plans of becoming a rabbi.

"When he is a member of the clergy, he can't do this," attorney Philip G. Villaume said Wednesday. Those seeking guidance and counseling are vulnerable to clergy members and those who are helping them, Villaume said.

Neither Rabbi Ginsberg nor (NAME WITHHELD) could be reached for comment on the lawsuit, which seeks damages in excess of $50,000.

According to the lawsuit, (NAME WITHHELD) met Ginsburg in 1996 when she took classes to convert to Judaism, her husband's faith. Ginsburg officiated at her conversion service in 1997, counseled her through the break-up of her marriage that same year and helped her as she earned a bachelor's degree in Jewish Studies in August 1999 from Metropolitan State University.

The lawsuit claims their first sexual encounter took place on Dec. 13, 1999. As she studied to become a rabbi and continued to go to him for counseling, the sexual relationship continued through April 15, 2002, the lawsuit claims.

About a month after their last sexual encounter, (NAME WITHHELD) filed complaints with local and national Jewish leaders. On June 26, 2002, Ginsburg and Temple of Aaron leaders wrote letters to the congregation. Ginsburg apologized "for an admittedly regrettable incident." The synagogue's board of directors said the rabbi "frankly acknowledged his errors in judgment and expressed his profound and deeply felt apologies."

Woman sues St. Paul rabbi, temple alleging sexual exploitation

Woman Sues Rabbi and St. Paul Temple for Sexual Misconduct

Associated Press - January 22, 2004

http://www.kare11.com/news/news-article.asp?NEWS_ID=58471

http://wcco.com/localnews/local_story_022084010.html

A Maplewood woman has sued a rabbi and a St. Paul temple, accusing the rabbi of sexually exploiting her during counseling for more than two years.

The woman alleges that Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg knew that she was an emotionally vulnerable person because he learned while counseling her that she was recently divorced, and had been sexually and emotionally abused in the past.

The woman's attorney says she has been 'extremely traumatized' by Ginsburg's conduct, and feels that officials at the Temple of Aaron 'did virtually nothing' when she complained to them.

The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000 for sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and sexual exploitation by a member of the clergy.

A temple spokeswoman says an investigation of Ginsburg was done after the woman complained about him that 'did reveal an error in judgment' by the rabbi. She says the temple took the charge seriously and has taken appropriate remedial steps.

The lawsuit alleges that the temple failed to supervise Ginsburg, the temple's senior rabbi, properly or take appropriate actions against him.

Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg does not disclose his past. This can be very harmful to his students. There have been several complaints to The Rabbinic Assembly that could lead to him being kicked out of the Rabbinic Assembly. Here are some of the articles that describe Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg's sexual abuse case:

Woman sues St. Paul rabbi, temple alleging sexual exploitation

By Paul Gustafson

Star Tribune (St. Paul, MN) - January 22, 2004

www.startribune.com/stories/462/4332508.html

A former female member of the Temple of Aaron in St. Paul charged Wednesday in a lawsuit that Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg sexually exploited her while counseling her for more than two years.

The Maplewood woman alleges that Ginsburg knew that she was an emotionally vulnerable person because he learned while counseling her that she was recently divorced, and had been sexually and emotionally abused in the past.

Philip Villaume, her attorney, said she has been 'extremely traumatized' by Ginsburg's conduct, and feels that temple officials 'did virtually nothing' when she complained to them.

Betty Sue Lipschultz, the temple's board president, said an investigation of Ginsburg was done after the woman complained about him that 'did reveal an error in judgment' by the rabbi.

'We have not stood idly by. . . . We investigated the charges fully, and we took and are continuing to take appropriate remedial steps. The Temple of Aaron is a wonderful, caring congregation, and it cares deeply both about its congregants and its staff,' she said.

Ginsburg, who is the temple's senior rabbi, could not be reached for comment.

The suit, filed in Ramsey County District Court, seeks damages in excess of $50,000 for sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and sexual exploitation by a member of the clergy.

Temple of Aaron is also named as a defendant in the suit, which alleges that it failed to supervise Ginsburg properly or take appropriate actions against him.

The woman said she complained to temple officials in May 2002. In June 2002 the congregation received letters from Ginsburg and the temple's board informing it that he had had an inappropriate relationship with a female former congregant. Ginsburg apologized for what he called 'an admittedly regrettable incident,' according to the suit.

The woman alleged, however, that the letters did not disclose the full scope of Ginsburg's sexual misconduct toward her.

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Rabbi Ginsberg is A Pig and the Congregation isn't Kosher. Anyone supporting this scumbag Rabbi is an Idiot or acting like an idiot.

How many acts of sexual misconduct should a Rabbi be allowed before he can no longer be a congregational Rabbi? A Rabbi must uphold the values of Torah and lead by example!

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No Loshen Hora here! We are commanded to not stand idly by. Idiots in the Jewish Community shout Loshen Hora and Loshen Hora as they attempt to protect the guilty and silence the victims. The torah demands that we stand up and take action. This Rabbi is absolutely deplorable. The synagogue and it's leaders are a disgrace to the Jewish Community and devoid of all Torah ethics. I applaud this woman for standing up and serving as a warning to future victims. I assure you that this scum bag of a Rabbi has sexually abused other women. The question is, was the board aware of this fact? Did the board cover this up.

Having a Pig For A Rabbi Just Isn't Kosher.

If the Rabbi had gone out and picked up some woman at a bar that is one thing, but when one has sex with a congregant or someone under counseling it is abuse. This is why it's sexual offence for doctors, psychiatrist, lawyers and other professionals to have sexual relationships with their clients. Rabbi's should be held to the same level, but due to all the sexual misconduct and abuse they perpetrate they simply don't have an equal status.

To bad this Rabbi and Congregation can't keep their dirty little secret. When they lose all their members and money they can fire the bum.

Rabbi Ginsberg won't get a job at any other synagogue so the idiots at his synagogue might as well keep him, at least he won't destroy another synagogue.

As for the woman, I feel sorry that she had to deal with the scum bag Rabbi, but feel worse that she had to deal with the scum bags that protect and support him. I guess the scum bags just have to stick together.

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I don't know who this woman is, but I do know Rabbi Ginsburg. This woman seems to be the definition of Lashon HaRa. Rabbi Ginsburg is kind, dedicated to Torah and Ahavas Yisroel, and like others in authority there is always the risk of running into someone who will try to take advantage. Again - I do not know the person who lodged such complaints, but knowing Rabbi Ginsburg I would be very very very surprised if they were true. Also, how is it that this woman could call out Rabbi Ginsburg with such heinous accusations without even being brave enough to list her own name. What might she be hiding? Rabbi Ginsburg is a respectable Rabbi and a man of G-d who dedicated his life to the service of Hashem, His Torah, and Am Yisroel.

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This is false. She wanted more than friendship when Rabbi Ginsburg counseled her and he wasn't interested. He then told her to see another counselor. She was angry and told everyone in the synagogue that she would ruin Ginsburg, his wife and the synagogue. I was a member there. This woman had done this at other synagogues as well nd been kicked out so Ginsburg was just another one of her victims.