Bnai Jeshurun, where Weiss had served since 2001, suspended the rabbi immediately upon his arrest in 2022, and he resigned days later. We can help you and your family manage stress-related problems due to injury or illness, and find VA community resources to meet your needs like: Check our classes and support groups listed inThe Bulldog. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A judge on Monday sentenced the former longtime rabbi of a Pepper Pike synagogue to prison following his arrest as part of an underage sex sting. Rabbi Lebeaus testimony was not on behalf of the Rabbinical Assembly, a Rabbinical Assembly spokesperson said in a statement this week, which noted that the group is now in the process of expelling Weiss permanently. Significantly, over more than 30 years as a rabbi there was nothing close to a grievance about his rabbinic service or his personal conduct, Lebeau said. (Screenshot). Significantly, over more than 30 years as a rabbi there was nothing close to a grievance about his rabbinic service or his personal conduct, Lebeau said. St. Louis Art Museum acquires rare second work by 18th-century Jewish woman artist, New Jewish Theatre presents Every Brilliant Thing, Wikipedias Supreme Court tackles alleged conspiracy to distort articles on Holocaust, This Jewish St. Louis artist delights in creating little edgy mysteries, In the battle of kosher beef vs. non-kosher, scientists may have declared a winner. The Rabbinical Assembly, with which Lebeau is currently associated, had harshly condemned Weiss alleged behavior upon his initial arrest in April 2022 and suspended his membership, making him ineligible to apply for jobs or participate in other activities. Apply for the 2023 Citizens Academy. But, Bickart said, Choosing to support and defend Rabbi Weiss here, as opposed to the community that was victimized or potentially victimized, was the wrong decision to make., In an email to JTA, Lebeau said, I chose to make a personal statement referring to the Stephen Weiss I have known for 35 years and the qualities that defined him, as I said in the courtroom, prior to this tragic event.. Bickart had been a student at JTS when Lebeau was its dean. The Rabbinical. The Rabbinical Assembly began publicizing a list of suspended and expelled rabbis in 2021, amid a widespread reckoning over whether Jewish organizations had inappropriately obscured misconduct by rabbis and other leaders. Prosecutors for Ohios task force on internet crimes against children disputed the arguments of Lebeau and Weiss attorney that Weiss conduct was a brief irregularity, saying that he had shown evidence of premeditated action. The statement was issued two days after Rabbi Stephen Weiss was arrested and charged with attempting to solicit unlawful sexual contact with a minor online. He had been arrested and charged after a sting operation last April and pleaded guilty to the two felony charges in January. As somebody whos a parent of a boy precisely the same age as the fictitious victim in this case, its hard for me to see an important rabbinic mentor seemingly take more seriously the concerns of a convicted sex offender than of the community, Bickart said. upon his initial arrest in April 2022 and suspended his membership, making him ineligible to apply for jobs or participate in other activities. Ive come from New York City this morning because I wanted to share with you in court my experiences with Rabbi Weiss over the more than three decades that Ive known him, Lebeau said as he opened a three-minute statement on Weiss behalf, according to a recording of the hearing. Police have arrested a 60-year-old Greater Cleveland rabbi after he allegedly arranged to have sex with a teenager. Weiss had already pleaded guilty to the crimes; Lebeau and Weiss daughter appeared as character witnesses as part of his attorneys effort to secure a more lenient sentence. Rabbi Stephen Weiss, who served as an assistant rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue from July 1990 to June 1997, had been the senior rabbi at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, in Pepper Pike, Ohio, since 2001. Weiss had already pleaded guilty to the crimes; Lebeau and Weiss daughter appeared as character witnesses as part of his attorneys effort to secure a more lenient sentence. Our laboratory and pathology services include: If youre struggling with issues like PTSD, depression, grief, anger or trauma, we offer counseling and other support. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Choose from the CJN's informative e-newsletters. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The former longtime rabbi at a Pepper Pike synagogue pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony charges involving an underage sex sting. As somebody whos a parent of a boy precisely the same age as the fictitious victim in this case, its hard for me to see an important rabbinic mentor seemingly take more seriously the concerns of a convicted sex offender than of the community, Bickart said. A two-vehicle crash that killed three people, including a 10-year-old girl, and sent at least six others to the hospital Wednesday night is believed to have been caused by an intoxicated driver, officials said. You have permission to edit this article. With VA telehealth, you can get care from your health providers without having to travel. A strong network of family and internal medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care. CLEVELAND, Ohio A judge on Monday sentenced the former longtime rabbi of a Pepper Pike synagogue to prison following his arrest as part of an underage sex sting. Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent, diagnose, and treat adult diseases. My sense is that Rabbi Lebeau is probably the go-to person to be a character witness for anybody.. Sara Netanyahu rescued by police after protesters trap her in hair salon, Jewish siblings book chronicles St. Louis life during pandemic lockdown, How Lev Furmans dream job became a reality on the sideline for St. Louis City SC. (Screenshot). Bickart had been a student at JTS when Lebeau was its dean. Below, youll find our address and hours, parking and transportation information, and the other health services we offer at our Placentia VA Clinic. Get the award-winning Cleveland Jewish News and our popular magazines delivered directly to you. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Stephen Weiss, who had preached from the pulpit of Bnai Jeshurun for two decades until his April arrest, pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans. The Placentia Citizens Academy will be an eight-week educational program designed to empower residents and businesses to learn more about the City. The Rabbinical Assembly, with which Lebeau is currently associated, had harshly condemned Weiss alleged behavior upon his initial arrest in April 2022 and suspended his membership, making him ineligible to apply for jobs or participate in other activities. Anti-Israel display at Parkway elementary school sparks outrage, This Week In Mah Jongg: Understanding the Card, Illinois taxpayers footing $1 million bill for group inspired by antisemitic Nation of Islam, Remember Central Hardware? He had been arrested and charged after a sting operation last April and pleaded guilty to the two felony charges in January. Weiss, 61, must register as a sex offender every six months for 25 years as a result of the plea. Wheelchair availability:Wheelchairs are available upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building. Lebeau had previously defended a different rabbi accused of inappropriate behavior towards children. Among those who testified on Stephen Weiss behalf in a bid for leniency was a prominent rabbi in the Conservative movement. When first responders arrived at the scene, two of the victims were deceased. (JTA) A Cleveland-area rabbi was sentenced to six months in prison on Monday for soliciting underage sex, capping a sad and shocking saga for the areas Jewish community. In a Feb. 27 email, Rebekah Dorman, president of B'nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike and Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria, senior rabbi, offered counseling to congregants in the aftermath of former Some in the community questioned the decision of Lebeau, a widely admired mentor in the Conservative movement, to testify on Weiss behalf. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Emily Hagan will sentence Weiss on Feb. 27. Learn more about DAV and the other van services available in yourcounty. The Rabbinical Assembly, with which Lebeau is currently associated, had harshly condemned Weiss alleged behavior upon his initial arrest in April 2022 and suspended his membership, making him ineligible to apply for jobs or participate in other activities. Lopezs younger brother, believed to be about 8 years old, has been hospitalized, as has her mother, who is expected to be survive. In 2014, according to the Forward, he had supported. Weiss was sentenced to six months in prison. The collision involved a dark-colored Honda compact car and a passenger van, and most of the victims were in the van, according to Battalion Chief Michael Finnerty with the Placentia Fire Department. We offer: If you're a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, please contact the 24/7 Veterans Crisis Line hotline (1-800-273-8255; press 1), text (838255) orchat online. I think Rabbi Lebeau honestly just wants to defend rabbis, he said. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 months in prison. The site is secure. Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent, diagnose, and treat adult diseases. In 2014, according to the Forward, he had supported. We offer blood tests and other advanced testing services to help you and your VA health care team monitor your health, find and understand any health problemsand make informed treatment decisions. Want to sell your business? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The synagogue conducted its own investigation and concluded that Weiss did not engage in any criminal activity within the synagogue community, the Cleveland Jewish News reported. The longtime rabbi is accused of sending explicit messages to a police officer he thought was a 15-year-old boy. cancel your appointment. For after hours emergencies, please go to the Emergency Department. The Rabbinical Assembly began publicizing a list of suspended and expelled rabbis in 2021, amid a widespread reckoning over whether Jewish organizations had inappropriately obscured misconduct by rabbis and other leaders. Rabbi Stephen Weiss was arrested after reportedly attempting to meet a 15-year-old kid for adultery in Cuyahoga County on Monday. Lebeau had previously defended a different rabbi accused of inappropriate behavior towards children. Still, Bickart said, he found the choice to testify on Weiss behalf meaningful. He is also eligible for probation. A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community. primary care provider first. Rabbi William Lebeau (right) provides a character witness testimony on behalf of Rabbi Stephen Weiss (left) at Weiss' sentencing hearing for crimes of soliciting underage sex, Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 27, 2023. Weiss, 60, was arrested April 18 by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children task force. (JTA) - A Cleveland-area rabbi was sentenced to six months in prison on Monday for soliciting underage sex, capping a sad and shocking saga for the area's Jewish community. NEW! Appearing as a character witness for Weiss at his sentencing hearing was Rabbi William Lebeau, a former dean of the rabbinical school and former vice chancellor at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Weiss was previously rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta and Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan. For after-hours assistance, please call the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 22 Telephone Advice Nurse Call Line at877-252-4866for an evaluation from a triage nurse and, when appropriate, referral to an urgent care center in the community. His lawyer also cited a 2018 brain injury as a relevant factor in his behavior. Rabbi Stephen Weiss (Courtesy of Cleveland Jewish News, via JTA) JTA Two groups associated with Conservative Judaism called the allegations against a Cleveland-area rabbi arrested for. Lebeau had previously defended a different rabbi accused of inappropriate behavior towards children. These deeply disturbing accusations betray the sacred trust our communities put in their clergy and must be fully and immediately investigated and dealt with appropriately, the group said in a joint statement with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism at the time. Rabbi Stephen Weiss, senior rabbi at B'nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, was arrested April 18 after allegedly engaging in explicit online conversations with an undercover investigator posing as a 15-year-old boy. Weiss began chatting with an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old boy on a social media app, and the two agreed to meet up on April 18 to have sex, prosecutors said. Weiss, 61, will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as: Some of our medical doctors are licensed and regulated by the Medical Board of California. Weiss, 61, will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. The congregation had determined in its own investigation that Weiss had not engaged in any illegal or illicit activity at the congregation itself. Weiss legal team had argued that his 2022 solicitation of an undercover police officer posing as an underaged boy was an aberration in Weisss three decades of rabbinical activities. Ive come from New York City this morning because I wanted to share with you in court my experiences with Rabbi Weiss over the more than three decades that Ive known him, Lebeau said as he opened a three-minute statement on Weiss behalf, according to a recording of the hearing. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Placentia Police Traffic Division at 714-993-8157. Bnai Jeshurun, where Weiss had served since 2001, suspended the rabbi immediately upon his arrest in 2022, and he resigned days later. Our medical center and clinics provide consultation, evaluation, and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being. After Weiss sentencing was announced, the congregations president and senior rabbi emailed congregants to offer counseling services. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or on their website occrimestoppers.org. Prosecutors said that he had. Appearing as a character witness for Weiss at his sentencing hearing was Rabbi William Lebeau, a former dean of the rabbinical school and former vice chancellor at the Jewish Theological Seminary. 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