According to a recent lawsuit filed by a former yeshiva student and alleged survivor of childhood sexual abuse, a Brooklyn rabbi has been accused of using his position to abuse children.

Brooklyn Rabbi Accused of Sexual Abuse

Plaintiff Baruch S. filed his lawsuit against rabbi Yoel F. of Brooklyn in August 2019. According to Baruch, he was sexually abused by two rabbis during his time at the Yeshiva Torah Temimah 40 years ago. Baruch was a student at the yeshiva between 1978 and 1980, where he claims that rabbis Yoel F. and Joel K. both inappropriately touched him.

In his lawsuit detailing the abuse he suffered as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Baruch claims that the rabbis “exploited their positions of power and trust together” in order to commit “heinous acts of sexual abuse on numerous occasions over a period of years.”

Baruch additionally claims that the yeshiva received several credible reports by other survivors of abuse by the rabbis, and instead of confronting the men, attempted to conceal the allegations. The Yeshiva Torah Temimah released a statement regarding Baruch’s allegations, stating “These are events that occurred 40 years ago. The yeshiva is under different management now … For those who may have been injured, it is a tragedy.”

Baruch filed his lawsuit under New York’s Child Victims Act. As well as updating New York’s sexual assault laws to make it easier for a survivor of childhood sexual abuse to file charges against their abuser, the law also instituted a one-year look-back window. During this one-year period, victims whose cases had expired under the state’s previous statutes of limitations are able to file lawsuits against their abusers.

About the New York Child Victims Act

Under the New York Child Victims Act, the statute of limitations for filing childhood sexual abuse lawsuits has been extended to allow victims to file charges until age 28. Previously the law only allowed them until age 23. The new law also allows victims to file civil charges until age 55.

More than 200 lawsuits have already been filed under the new law.

The Child Victims Act was stalled by religious organizations for years, due to the argument that sexual assault law reform may bankrupt these organizations. In September, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester became the first New York diocese to file for bankruptcy protection following the New York sexual assault law changes.

Bill sponsor and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal spoke about the consequences of the abuse new laws, stating that victims “have every right now to go to court and seek justice, and if the institutions find themselves in financial difficulty, what I could say is: It’s their own fault.”

New York victims of childhood abuse may be eligible to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit against their abusers. If you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you may be able to pursue compensation for your experiences and suffering.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.