Incidental Victims of Abramoff's Largess

Some kids came because their parents respected Abramoff. Some came because they had gotten in trouble at other Jewish schools and needed a fresh start. And some came because they loved sports.

"A lot of the boys were there because they wanted to play hockey," Whitehill says. "Let's face it, it's not often that a Jewish school has a hockey team."

Abramoff wanted to build a school that would be strong in both Jewish and secular academics, and also in sports. Toward that goal, he bought the school two Zamboni ice-resurfacing machines. Only problem: He never got Eshkol a rink.

Abramoff's lawyers have told the teachers' lawyers that the Zambonis, school buses and other Eshkol assets have been sold, "but we haven't seen a dime," Rubin said. "We don't know where that money went." Similarly, Abramoff has sold a house in Silver Spring that he bought to use as a dormitory for Eshkol's boarding students, but the teachers haven't seen any of that money either.

A spokesman for Abramoff, Andrew Blum, declined to discuss any aspect of the Eshkol matter, saying, "We just don't want to comment on it."

While Eshkol went through some rough times -- one principal quit the day before school started, and several teachers complained of rampant discipline problems -- the teachers generally don't see the school as part of Abramoff's larger crimes.

"He gave us a lot of independence," said math teacher Judy Stern, who sent her son to Eshkol. "He just wanted the best in every subject. If he hadn't built the school, all these boys who got a love of learning might not have. So I'm not at all angry with him; I'm more disappointed in the way things turned out."

Stern's son is now being home-schooled, as are some other former Eshkol students, including one of Abramoff's sons. Others have found places in other Jewish schools in the area.

"It was a real school with real teachers," Whitehill said. "It was just like his restaurant: He didn't run it right."

Some teachers were so loyal to Abramoff that they declined to join the lawsuit. "One guy, a religious Christian, said the Lord would take care of him," Whitehill recalled. "Others were still involved with the Jewish community and didn't want to cause a ruckus."

Extended discussions between the two sides in the lawsuit have not produced a settlement, Rubin said, despite Abramoff's repeated assertions that Eshkol was "nearest and dearest to my heart of everything I've ever done."

Most recently, Abramoff's lawyers have asked a Montgomery County court to put the teachers' case on ice while he deals with a "complicated" situation involving multiple federal investigations. The court has not ruled on the request.

Stern and Whitehill are among the many former faculty members who have found other teaching work. But the loss of a quarter of a year's pay leaves a big gap.

"People like Abramoff bounce back; look at Boesky, Milken, Marc Rich," Whitehill says. "He'll be back. I have no antipathy toward Mr. Abramoff. I just want to be paid."

"If Jack doesn't pay his lawyers, he'll lose them," says Sweeney, who is owed $13,000 and is struggling to get by teaching at a community college. "But the teachers are just a bunch of working stiffs. Jack can afford not to pay us without consequences. Well, I want my $13,000."

E-mail:marcfisher@washpost.com