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In the News

Uncovering abuse in Baltimore’s Orthodox Jewish community

A new documentary, “Standing Silent,” follows journalist Phil Jacobs on his quest to uncover sexual abuse survivors’ stories.

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After a meeting set up in Pikesville by Yacov Margolese, pictured, for victims of abuse, a young man approached journalist Phil Jacobs and asked Jacobs to help tell the young man’s story. After that story was published many more survivors contacted Jacobs about their experiences.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Yacov Margolese, left, and Murray Levin participate in a discussion group for sexual abuse victims at the Chana Counseling Helpline and Aid Network for Abused Women and the Shofar Coalition in Baltimore. Levin says he was molested by a rabbi and Margolese says he was molested by that rabbi's son, an Orthodox Jewish tutor .

Yacov Margolese, left, and Murray Levin participate in a discussion group for sexual abuse victims at the Chana Counseling Helpline and Aid Network for Abused Women and the Shofar Coalition in Baltimore. Levin says he was molested by a rabbi and Margolese says he was molested by that rabbi's son, an Orthodox Jewish tutor .

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

The Chana Counseling Helpline and Aid Network for Abused Women and the Shofar Coalition in Baltimore. In 2010, 67 people who said they had suffered from sexual abuse came to the Shofar Coalition, a nonprofit agency that helps victims of sexual and other abuse. in the Baltimore area’s Jewish community. That number nearly doubled in 2011, to 132 people, the coalition’s director said.

The Chana Counseling Helpline and Aid Network for Abused Women and the Shofar Coalition in Baltimore. In 2010, 67 people who said they had suffered from sexual abuse came to the Shofar Coalition, a nonprofit agency that helps victims of sexual and other abuse. in the Baltimore area’s Jewish community. That number nearly doubled in 2011, to 132 people, the coalition’s director said.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Lisa Ferentz, a licensed clinical social worker, leads a discussion group for sexual abuse victims. A documentary, “Standing Silent,” was filmed between 2007 and 2010 by a three-person crew that traveled with journalist Phil Jacobs through Baltimore’s suburbs and to Israel, eventually recording more than 125 hours of video, much of it interviews with victims and alleged perpetrators.

Lisa Ferentz, a licensed clinical social worker, leads a discussion group for sexual abuse victims. A documentary, “Standing Silent,” was filmed between 2007 and 2010 by a three-person crew that traveled with journalist Phil Jacobs through Baltimore’s suburbs and to Israel, eventually recording more than 125 hours of video, much of it interviews with victims and alleged perpetrators.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Lisa Ferentz, a licensed clinical social worker, leads a discussion group for sexual abuse victims. Among Orthodox Jews, there are cultural reasons for silence, stemming at least in part from a Jewish law known as “mesirah,” which forbids informing on a fellow Jew to secular authorities. The law is integral to a culture of self-protection rooted in centuries of anti-Semitism, according to Rabbi Yosef Blau, spiritual adviser of Yeshiva University in New York.

Lisa Ferentz, a licensed clinical social worker, leads a discussion group for sexual abuse victims. Among Orthodox Jews, there are cultural reasons for silence, stemming at least in part from a Jewish law known as “mesirah,” which forbids informing on a fellow Jew to secular authorities. The law is integral to a culture of self-protection rooted in centuries of anti-Semitism, according to Rabbi Yosef Blau, spiritual adviser of Yeshiva University in New York.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Marci Drimer and Yacov Margolese share a lighter moment as they take part in a discussion group for sexual abuse victims. Margolese, now 37, says he was afraid to tell his parents of his abuse by an Orthodox Jewish tutor, but he reported the alleged molestation to his rabbi in Pikesville., just outside Baltimore. Margolese remembers the rabbi telling him to keep quiet and stress to the teacher that he wanted to focus on learning.

Marci Drimer and Yacov Margolese share a lighter moment as they take part in a discussion group for sexual abuse victims. Margolese, now 37, says he was afraid to tell his parents of his abuse by an Orthodox Jewish tutor, but he reported the alleged molestation to his rabbi in Pikesville., just outside Baltimore. Margolese remembers the rabbi telling him to keep quiet and stress to the teacher that he wanted to focus on learning.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Murray Levin, center, hugs Yacov Margolese, right, following a discussion group session for sexual abuse victims in Baltimore.

Murray Levin, center, hugs Yacov Margolese, right, following a discussion group session for sexual abuse victims in Baltimore.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Chaim Levin, 22, was raised in the Chabad-Lubavitch community, an ultra-orthodox branch of Hasidic Judaism, and spent nearly two years in JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality. Levin, who describes feeling suicidal for years, recently began blogging about the sexual abuse he says he experienced at age 19 at the Orthodox Jewish counseling center. The counseling center did not return calls or e-mails seeking comment.

Chaim Levin, 22, was raised in the Chabad-Lubavitch community, an ultra-orthodox branch of Hasidic Judaism, and spent nearly two years in JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality. Levin, who describes feeling suicidal for years, recently began blogging about the sexual abuse he says he experienced at age 19 at the Orthodox Jewish counseling center. The counseling center did not return calls or e-mails seeking comment.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

“Our goal is to capture the eyes and ears of the world,” said Levin, who earlier this month traveled to Georgetown University to speak on “Faith Complex,” a campus TV talk show about religious issues, about abuse that he says he experienced at age 19..

“Our goal is to capture the eyes and ears of the world,” said Levin, who earlier this month traveled to Georgetown University to speak on “Faith Complex,” a campus TV talk show about religious issues, about abuse that he says he experienced at age 19..

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

The Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn is the center of the Chabad-Lubavitch community in which Chaim Levin, 22, not pictured, was raised. He is now openly gay and no longer religious, but he still lives in the neighborhood.

The Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn is the center of the Chabad-Lubavitch community in which Chaim Levin, 22, not pictured, was raised. He is now openly gay and no longer religious, but he still lives in the neighborhood.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

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