By Philip Weiss March 29, 2017 48. Goldberg filed a motion July 5 to amend his bond to terminate the GPS monitoring detention. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio (WOIO) - The 60-year-old rabbi facing three felony charges for allegedly engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old boy has resigned from his position at Bnai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. The groups praised the Bnai Jeshurun Congregation, the Conservative synagogue in Pepper Pike, Ohio, where Weiss had served as a senior rabbi since 2001, for immediately suspending Weiss this week following his arrest. No Room for Hate When Were #BrookhavenStrong. The congregation had determined in its own investigation that Weiss had not engaged in any illegal or illicit activity at the congregation itself. If convicted, the maximum sentence would be 3.5 years in prison. All rights reserved. These deeply disturbing accusations betray the sacred trust our communities put in their clergy and must be fully and immediately investigated and dealt with appropriately, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Rabbinical Assembly said in a joint statement Wednesday,as reported by the Cleveland Jewish News. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Among those who testified on Stephen Weiss behalf in a bid for leniency was a prominent rabbi in the Conservative movement. The Temple & Breman Museum Host theatre dybbuk. The Rabbinical Assembly began publicizing a list of suspended and expelled rabbis in 2021, amid a widespread reckoning over whether Jewish organizations had inappropriately obscured misconduct by rabbis and other leaders. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Get The AJT Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Regardless of the evidence or whether Rabbi Weiss is guilty of anything, his remaining in his position would cause further disruption and pain to his community, Goldberg said. Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly There's a land that I heard of. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Havinagala is a fixture in Jewish Atlanta with many stories of attendees meeting their future spouses and best friends at past events. Our synagogue has been strong and vibrant for 156 years and faced many challenges along the way. Bickart said he was unfamiliar with the Savannah case but had a theory about why Lebeau spoke on behalf of the rabbis in both cases. Adrienne Clark Usadi and Moshe Usadi went to Ukraine to work in the field in Dnipro. Instead of the boy he was . He is an author and speaker on Israel as a "start-up nation", with his first book "Israel: Repairing the . Court records showed he posted a $50,000 bond April 19. Real Estate Moguls Unite to House Homeless. He teaches at Temple Isaiah and also at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University. As somebody whos a parent of a boy precisely the same age as the fictitious victim in this case, its hard for me to see an important rabbinic mentor seemingly take more seriously the concerns of a convicted sex offender than of the community, Bickart said. Closing night film wins audience award and Tara Theatre gets a reprieve. Rabbi Stephen Wise is the spiritual leader of Shaarei-Beth El Congregation of Oakville, Ontario, Canada. WEISS (nee Frankel) beloved wife of Benjamin P. Weiss. These deeply disturbing accusations betray the sacred trust our communities put in their clergy and must be fully and immediately investigated and dealt with appropriately, the group said in a joint statement with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism at the time. Rabbi Stephen Weiss submitted his letter of resignation to B'nai Jeshurun on Thursday morning, his attorney Michael Goldberg told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. He served on many Cleveland-area and national Jewish boards, including Camp Ramah and the Greater Cleveland Board of Rabbis. Weiss was arrested in April 2022 after engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old boy. Weiss was previously indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on June 16. The longtime rabbi is accused of sending explicit messages to a police officer he thought was a 15-year-old boy. By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Do you rely on The Times of Israel for accurate and insightful news on Israel and the Jewish world? Former Atlanta Rabbis in Israel Speak Out About Government. The statement was issued two days after Rabbi Stephen Weiss was arrested and charged with attempting to solicit unlawful sexual contact with a minor online. Rabbi William Lebeau (right) provides a character witness testimony on behalf of Rabbi Stephen Weiss (left) at Weiss' sentencing hearing for crimes of soliciting underage sex, Cleveland, Ohio . Two groups associated with Conservative Judaism called the allegations against a Cleveland-area rabbi arrested for soliciting underaged sex "horrible and disgusting," as the rabbi resigned from his synagogue. Task force members arrested Weiss when he showed up to the undisclosed meeting spot. In 2014, according to the Forward, he had supported a rabbi in Savannah, Georgia, who had given a lesson to a class of 9-year-olds about child sex trafficking filled with explicit language, alarming many parents. The judge has asked the prosecutor to respond to the request, Goldberg said. We look forward to receiving the evidence and moving forward appropriately.. The groups praised the Bnai Jeshurun Congregation, the Conservative synagogue in Pepper Pike, Ohio, where Weiss had served as senior rabbi since 2001, for immediately suspending Weiss this week following his arrest. Jerusalem Press Club hosts program for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. While Wise demonstrated a commitment to social justice before, during, and after his Portland years, it is during his ministry at congregation Beth Israel that he developed a full-fledged social program that was unique and remarkable by . Additionally, Goldberg wrote, Prior to this incident, Mr. Weiss was the leader of a Cleveland area synagogue. Goldberg said the case is set for court in a week or two.. These deeply disturbing accusations betray the sacred trust our communities put in their clergy and must be fully and immediately investigated and dealt with appropriately.. It added that the Rabbinical Assembly had begun its own process of adjudicating Weiss case through its ethics committee, Vaad Hakavod. Copyright 2022 WOIO. By Anthony Weiss January 23, 2008. Regardless of the evidence or whether Rabbi Weiss is guilty of anything, his remaining in his position would cause further disruption and pain to his community. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Weiss had already pleaded guilty to the crimes; Lebeau and Weiss daughter appeared as character witnesses as part of his attorneys effort to secure a more lenient sentence. Weiss, 61, will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. Regardless of the evidence or whether Rabbi Weiss is guilty of anything, his remaining in his position would cause further disruption and pain to his community, Goldberg said. Court records say the agent posed as a 15-year-old boy, and the two discussed engaging in oral sex. The outpouring of support that I, along with other synagogue leaders, have received from our members is truly heartwarming and demonstrates the strength and commitment of our synagogue community that will see us through to a brighter future., An April 19 letter to Bnai Jeshurun members from Dorman and Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria, who has assumed the responsibilities of senior rabbi, included: We are unaware of any other alleged criminal incidents involving Rabbi Weiss. Stephen . Some in the community questioned the decision of Lebeau, a widely admired mentor in the Conservative movement, to testify on Weiss behalf. Reader discretion is advised. In addition the Cleveland Court Records include the person's arrests, addresses, phone numbers, current and past locations, tickets/citations, liens, foreclosures, felonies, misdemeanors, judgments, date of birth, aliases, email addresses, work history, hidden phone numbers and social media accounts. Stephen Weiss, who for two . Grand jury indicts Pepper Pike rabbi accused of exchanging sexual messages with person he thought was teen, Melt Bar & Grilled closes 2 Ohio locations, Ohio Gov. You have permission to edit this article. Norman Mitchell, age 80, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., (formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Cleveland) passed away on Feb. 25, 2023. . Rabbi Stephen Weiss, of B'nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, [] The county prosecutors office will present Weisss case before a grand jury; he has been released after posting bond. I first met Rabbi Weiss when he was a rabbinical student and Ive maintained a close relationship with him to this day. ActivePaper Archive CLEVELAND Rabbi Stephen Weiss to head B'nai Jeshurun - Cleveland Jewish News, 3/30/2001. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Rabbi Stephen Slater, born in 1983, grew up the son of Baptist missionaries in West Africa. In April, Weiss resigned from his position at Bnai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. He thought he was setting up a meeting with a 15 year old boy, but it turned out it was the Ohio . Authenticity Theatre Brings Social Issues to Life. B'nai Jeshurun Congregation 27501 Fairmount Boulevard Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124 phone: 216.831.6555 fax: 216.831.4599 He faces a maximum of 3.5 years in prison. 2023 The Times of Israel , All Rights Reserved, Rabbi Stephen Weiss (Courtesy of Cleveland Jewish News, via JTA), Bnai Jeshurun Congregation, in the Greater Cleveland area of Ohio. Pepper Pike Rabbi Stephen Weiss, 60, was arrested after allegedly engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old boy on a . View a list of stores and vendors. In a Feb. 27 email, Rebekah Dorman, president of B'nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria, senior rabbi, offered counseling to congregants in the aftermath of former Being Jewish in Berlin. Bnai Jeshurun completed its own investigation last month, finding no evidence Weiss engaged in illegal, illicit activity within its congregation. CLEVELAND 61-year-old Stephen Weiss, who was arrested last April amid allegations he arranged to have sex with somebody he thought was a teen boy, will . You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. , , . According to the court docket, as a condition of his jail release, he is required to wear a GPS standard monitoring device and to have no contact with any victims. After leaving Ahavath Achim, Weiss worked for four years at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Mich., before joining Bnai Jeshurun. 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By. 61-year-old Stephen . Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, Walton Hills police face lawsuit over traffic stop, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Problems. Contact Us . We will, of course, be here to help anyone in processing their emotions and in dealing with their pain during this very difficult time., Bnai Jeshurun president Rebekah Dorman told CJN in an April 27 statement: During this very challenging time, with (acting senior) Rabbi (Hal) Rudin-Lurias spiritual leadership, we have begun the healing process. Subscribe today! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 78.46.72.35 Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel. Rebbetzin Miriam Libby Weiss was born on the Lower East Side to her parents Rabbi Aaron and Mrs. Devorah Gelbtuch, z"l. Rabbi Aaron was a Chassid of Kopyczynitz and Boyan, who had lost his first . 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Weiss was arrested on April 18 after he allegedly traveled to a pre-arranged location in Cuyahoga County to engage in sexual activity with whom he thought was a teenager, said Cuyahoga County prosecutors. Week-long residency features works by the Los Angeles theater company and educational seminars. and have dabbled in puppetry for the past fifteen years. I have written a number of children's stories, and am working on a book about prayer. The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is an umbrella organization made up of more than 600 Conservative Jewish congregations across North America. immediately suspending Weiss this week following his arrest, will present Weisss case before a grand jury, Detroit Jewish Basketball League Will Tip Off This Summer, E-Commerce Site Redbubble Restricts Schindlers List Design After Leggings Go Viral, Police, Security Agencies Advise Jews to Be on Alert Ahead of Planned National Day of Hate on Shabbat. Support the Detroit Jewish News Foundation, Police, Security Agencies Advise Jews to Be on Alert Ahead of, Jerusalem Winner Marathon Takes Place March 17, Astrolojew Horoscopes: ADAR 5783: The Consoling Power of Holy Laughter, Purely Commentary: Among Ukraines Jews, A Year of War Has Transformed, Statement From Federation: Reflections on the Recent Tragedy, Purely Commentary: Standing United Against Hate, Motor City Mission Countdown: A Federation First-Timer, Faces & Places: A Taste of Camp Gan Israel at The. Bnai Jeshurun, where Weiss had served since 2001, suspended the rabbi immediately upon his arrest in 2022, and he resigned days later. A gifted orator with an imposing presence and a deep, booming voice, Wise could inspire an audience like few others, whether at a protest rally or in the pews of his Free Synagogue in . After marrying, the couple moved to Oxford, England, where his wife completed a degree in Jewish Studies. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio Police have arrested a 60-year-old Higher Cleveland rabbi after he allegedly organized to have intercourse with a youngster. 103.30.145.169 Larry and Adam Brown explain why Cash is king and provide an outlook on the 2023 commercial real estate market. Rabbi Stephen Pearce is celebrating 50 years as a Reform rabbi. Weve had enough. The growing congregation also signed five-year contracts with its associate rabbis. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The Cuyahoga County Grand Jury has indicted a 60-year-old rabbi accused of engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 15-year-old boy. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. . Were really pleased that youve read, Please use the following structure: example@domain.com, Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition. Emory Dance Program Examines New Beginnings. Heart Disease is Leading Cause of Death for Women. Up to this point, everyone has expressed dismay over the situation and feelings of betrayal of a meaningful relationship they had in the 1990s when Rabbi Weiss was at Ahavath Achim. We will continue on in that tradition as a synagogue family that supports and cares for each other in challenging times.. This is a sad story., In a statement to the AJT, Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, the current senior rabbi at Ahavath Achim, said: We are extremely upset and disappointed by this news and are processing many emotions. DIANE WEISS OBITUARY. Dr. Neil Cooper left his medical practice to inspire others to choose a proactive, plant-based diet. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. Rabbi Stephen Weiss, who served as an assistant rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue from July 1990 to June 1997, had been the senior rabbi at Congregation Bnai Jeshurun, in Pepper Pike, Ohio, since 2001. 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