Sexual Abuse of convert in Skokie
Stay away from Rabbi Gail Ginsburg Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg
Let's not forget that Rabbi Ginsburg resigned as the senior rabbi at Temple of Aaron, and 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
By Paul Gustafson
Star Tribune (St. Paul, MN) - January 22
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.in June 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.
0 comments