NY--Prosecutor seeks info on rabbi
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 3
Statement by Mary Caplan of Manhattan, national board member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (917-439-4187, [email protected])
We’re grateful that Bronx prosecutors are using their bully pulpit to beg possible victims of a rabbi to come forward. At the same time, we’re disappointed in synagogue officials who are selfishly acting timid and callous.
Rabbi Rosenblatt of Riverdale Jewish Center is accused of taking “young congregants to a gym to play squash or racquetball and then to the shower, and, often naked, to the sauna or hot tub.” Some of the boys, now grown, said that he “gawked at their naked bodies, or would often rest a hand on a clothed leg during one-on-one nighttime chats at the rabbi’s house.”
We urge anyone with information or suspicions about Rosenblatt to call law enforcement authorities – not synagogue staff – right away.
Finally, shame on Rosenblatt for attacking his accusers and their alleged motives. We see predators doing this all the time – impugning the intentions of those who expose their misdeeds. Rosenblatt has no idea why some are accusing him and speculating about what drives them will only deter others who have seen, suspected or suffered sexual misconduct from speaking up.
Rosenblatt can defend himself without assailing others. That’s what he should do.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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