Ew, ugh, not again
I don’t know how I missed this sorry story for nearly two weeks.
It seems that on October 17th the story broke in NC news that Rabbi David Alan Stein, who had been working at The American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro as the director of campus life, was charged with having sex with a now 16 year old boy.
This is rather curious as it was last spring (and Stein was fired), and the alleged acts took place in the 2006-2007 year. The most interesting thing, in my opinion, is that there has been no big news brou ha ha around the country as there was with, for example, the schlemiel David Kay (who resigned his rabbinate). From mental health professionals with whom I have spoken, that poor schmo would likely have never actually acted out his pathetic fantasies if he hadn’t been entrapped in that particular way. Reagardless of whether he would have or not, however, now, we have a guy who has been charged with actually doing something, and the news just dies stillborn, as best as I can tell.
Is this simply evidence that clergy engaging in appalling acts simply have become so commonplace that we no longer notice unless they’re served up with some sort of entrapment scandal where we get to indulge in our worst voyeuristic tendencies and read the transcripts?
it’s a much sexier story when the rabbi involved is orthodox. Also it doesnt appear that a cover-up took place.
—Merliner · October 31st, 2007 at 11:23 am
David Kay wasn’t orthodox . . .
—rebecca m · October 31st, 2007 at 11:53 am
Shaloom,
I am knew to this site and I have to tell you the truth that I am surprised with the oppenness and frankness of what I have read.
Every thing fanishes but the truth.
Take care
AArab
—A Arab · October 31st, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Corrected link to the story.
—themicah · October 31st, 2007 at 5:23 pm
it’s a disturbing story. but it’s good to see an institution handling this kind of thing properly.
—rebecca m · October 31st, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Of /course/ there hasn’t been a major news brouhaha — we’re obviously covering it up with our famous dominion over the media. Don’t you guys ever read Jew Watch?
Seriously though, I think the thing that makes this case unusual is that the school took action promptly. Also, it doesn’t appear that the abuse was systemic or multi-victim (all respect to upstanding Catholics out there, but their clergy seems to have a little bit of a problem on that score).
—Goyisher Yid · November 1st, 2007 at 11:48 pm