Print the value of index0
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg - Gail Ginsburg - ehnt.org Jewish Chicago Convert judaism, Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg accused of sexual exploitation, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, sexual battery and 12 other charges. Skokie ILLINOIS
Rabbi, woman settle lawsuit
By Stephen Scott, Religion Editor
Pioneer Press (St. Paul) - June 08, 2004
(((link redacted)))
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg appears set to resign as senior rabbi at Temple of Aaron, shortly after reaching an out-of-court settlement with a former congregation member who accused him of sexual misconduct. A criminal investigation into the case also is being closed, with no charges forthcoming.
Ginsburg's attorney, Robert Weinstein, said Monday the rabbi has decided to resign after 17 years at the Conservative synagogue in St. Paul's Highland Park.
'Over the past several months he's given a lot of thought of what to do with his future,'' Weinstein said. 'I think he was looking for all of this to be concluded.''
Congregation president Phillip Kibort said Monday synagogue officers had not received a notice of resignation, though discussions had taken place with Ginsburg 'about the future leadership of Temple of Aaron.''
In a civil suit filed in January in Ramsey County, a Maplewood woman accused Ginsburg of sexual exploitation, intentionally inflicting emotional distress, sexual battery and 12 other charges. The suit claimed sexual contact between the two occurred between December 1999 and April 2002, during which time the woman said she was seeing Ginsburg for counseling.
The suit also named the synagogue, on Mississippi River Boulevard, as a defendant.
Weinstein and Philip G. Villaume, the attorney for the accuser, Linda A. Cohen, each confirmed Monday that a settlement with all parties had been reached. Citing confidentiality agreements, they released no details.
It is still not clear whther or not Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg was having inappropriate sexual relations with Gail Ginsburg at the time when he converted her.
By Paul Gustafson
Star Tribune (St. Paul, MN) - January 22, 2004
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 2002. In June 2002 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.
Joe
LA, California
U.S.A.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
15 Updates & Rebuttals
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
THESE GINSBURGS WOULD BE GREAT SPIRITUAL LEADERS FOR A MESSIANIC JEWISH MOVEMENT!
#16Consumer Comment
Sat, March 21, 2009
I KNOW THAT OF WHICH I SPEAK BECAUSE I CHECKED IT OUT TO SEE IF THEY WERE AS BAD AS THE XTIANS AND JEWISH CONGREGATIONS AS A HYBRID... TOO XTIAN FOR ME BUT IT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THESE FOLKS.
I THINK THIS DUDE, "RABBI" BERG, THE ONE WHO ROOKED IN THAT TWIT-HEAD MADONNA, HAS THE MARKET ON A POP CULTURE FAD TREND VERSION OF WHAT HE CALLS "KABALLA" BUT WHICH THOSE WHO KNOW WOULD CALL "RIPOFF." AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED JEWISH, AND WHO HAS STUDIED VARIOUS RELIGIONS AND MAGIC PRACTICES, I BELIEVE KABALLA IS NOT FOR DILETTANTES AND DABBLERS. THIS SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR ULTRA ORTHODOX REBBES ONLY WHOSE FAMILIES HAVE A LONG TRADITION OF STUDY IN THIS. SAME THING WITH THE OTHER ORTHODOX TANYA AND OTHER TRADITIONS.
BERG IS CLEANING UP SELLING KABALL WATER AND FAKE RED BINDLES AND ALL THE REST OF IT.
I HATE TO SEE A "RABBI" HAWKING KABALLA BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DEBASED AS SOME SORT OF MAGICAL CULT OR WHATEVER INSTEAD OF THE WAY UNDERSTAND AND POSSIBLY COMMUNICATE TO G*D WHICH I THINK IT WAS MEANT ORIGINALLY. AND G*D MUST HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR --KABALLA WATER INDEED!
PEOPLE CAN SAY ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON.
NO CLERGY MEMBER SHOULD BE ALONE WITH A MEMBER OF THAT CONGREGATION. PERIOD.
IF I WAS A CHAIRMAN OF A BOARD OF A SHUL, I WOULD STILL BACKGROUND ANY POTENTIAL RABBI AND HIS \HER SPOUSE AS WELL.
I THINK THE GINSBURGS WOULD BE OK FOR A REFORM CONGREGATION BUT NOT FOR ANY OTHER JEWISH CONGREGATION. I STAND BY MY PREVIOUS POSTINGS ON THAT.
BUT THEY WOULD DO WELL IN THE MESSIANIC MOVEMENT.
THEY SHOULD MOVE AND GIVE IT A TRY. ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE BELT AND EVEN PUT IT ON TV LIKE ZOLA LEAVETT OR THAT OTHER GUY MIKE EVANS.
Jerry Wing
Carroll,Iowa,
U.S.A.
Some say that Jonathan Ginsburg was having inappropriate sexual relations with Gail Ginsburg at the time when he converted her.
#16Consumer Comment
Fri, March 20, 2009
More people are uniting around this ideal, lets save lifes
Since I have another blog on the subject of spiritual abuse, I feel it necessary to post this as a warning.
I was recently made aware of a Rabbi doing long-distance conversions (Conservative movement) on the internet through the medium of YouTube.com. I personally am converting Orthodox, however, it seems that this particular Rabbi has quite a large following on YouTube.
for more
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=53625539668&h=WoCKA&u=eOSA8
Ginsburg and Temple of Aaron leaders wrote letters to the congregation. Ginsburg 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.'
Gail Ginsburg a Lutheran minister, was ordained in a long distance scheme as a 'rabbi' and NO movement of Judaism recognizes her as a rabbi. Now she pretends to be a Kabbalist and to run this conversion program. Her understanding of judaism and hebrew is less than any 10 yrs old Jewish child.
Some say that Jonathan Ginsburg was having inappropriate sexual relations with Gail Ginsburg at the time when he converted her.
Ruth Bat Avraham
St Paul,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
It has nothing to do with conversion-she's a scorned woman
#16Consumer Comment
Mon, March 09, 2009
What the newspapers don't tell you about Linda Cohen and her supposed abuse by this great Rabbi. We know who the real abuser is and was.
These are well known facts to Minnesota Jews and easy to find out: She was forced out of several synagogues, even before she became Jewish when married to her ex husband, in several cities including a lifetime ban from the synagogue where the alleged abuse took place.
Years before the accusation she told a synagogue sisterhood past president she war horny for the rabbi.Years before the accusation she told people she was going to break up his marriage and/or the marriage of another member of the clergy staff. She was kicked out of the house of the other couple when as a guest, she made moves on the staff member and the wife picked it up on it. People were ready to testify to all this.
For years before the accusation she sent daily emails, expressing deep friendships and love-the police and Rabbinical Assembly have copies of the emails
Aafter he started dating his current wife, his tires were slashed, a hole was drilled in the garage door, his then girlfriend's, now wife's car was nearly forced off the road. The authorities have testimony of all this.
This alleged abuse has nothing to do with abuse of converts-she was taught and converted years before the accusation, by the rabbi and his then wife. He has converted hundreds of people, including me and many of my friends, and the only complaint is from this woman, who filed a charge the day after the rabbi told her to leave him alone, and the day after she told him she loved him. He knows he was incredibly stupid to get involved with her. He stupidly and naively thought they were good friends. This is 100% a case of a scorned woman. He converted me and I know dozens of others he converted, who know what a treasure he is. We don't know if these other posts defaming them are all from her various other personalities, or people who believe her lies and don't know better.
Jerry Wing
Carroll,Iowa,
U.S.A.
All the articles about Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg - Rabbi Gail Ginsburg - Gail Nord Ginsburg Fake Rabbi and Rabbi accused of sexual abuse are true
#16Consumer Comment
Sat, February 28, 2009
All the articles about Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg - Rabbi Gail Ginsburg - Gail Nord Ginsburg Fake Rabbi and Rabbi accused of sexual abuse are true
The alleged predator is using a fear tactic again.
Very typical of sex predators!
All the Articles used in Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg - Rabbi Gail Ginsburg - Gail Nord Ginsburg Fake Rabbi and Rabbi accused of sexual abuse target potential new victims on youtube are from the main media like AP the largest news agency in the world and facts speak for themselves
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
LEAVE THESE PEOPLE ALONE! THEY DON'T NEED ANY MORE HASSLE!
#16Consumer Comment
Mon, February 23, 2009
THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE THAT THE RABBI DID WRONG WAS NOT TO HAVE TWO OTHER WOMEN PRESENT WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY COUNSELLED THIS WHACKED OUT, WEIRD CYBERSTALKING WOMAN!
HE HAD BETTER HAVE WITNESSES NEXT TIME BECAUSE IT IS TOO EASY FOR SOME NUTCASE TO SUE A CONGREGATION FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND GET A FAT OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT WHICH IS APPARENTLY WHAT SHE DID AND I GUESS SHE BLEW THROUGH THE GELD AND WANTS TO SUE AGAIN.
THIS IS A LESSON I HOPE HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE LEARNED FROM.
THERE ARE THOSE CRAZY AND DEMENTED PEOPLE AMONGST US.
THERE ARE THE CON ARTISTS WHO WANT EAST FAST CASH.
THERE ARE THE NAZIS WHO ARE STILL OUT TO SMEAR ALL JEWISH PEOPLE ANYWAY THEY CAN BECAUSE THEY JUST DO NOT LIKE US.
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF CRAZY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND MOST OF THEM HATE JEWS.
THAT SAID, I SYMPATHIZE WITH THE RABBI AND HIS WIFE. OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE BEING STALKED.
Sam Jones
Waukegan,Illinois,
U.S.A.
martha either is the lying accuser or has no knowledge
#16Consumer Comment
Fri, February 20, 2009
anyone can make an accusation and one sided newspaper stories don't tell the story..
many people know the story that they were friends and she filed a complaint when he told her he would not date her afer his marriage. it was investigated and he is still a member of the rabbinic assocaition, employed by a synagogue. whose story is more credible?
the hysteria of the posters should be obvuious to anyone who sees this effoer to undermine one of the most im poprtant jewish educators in the country. anti-semitism perhaps?
He helps housands of people and hundreds who know the facts support him like us. Because they know the truth
Sam Jones
Waukegan,Illinois,
U.S.A.
martha either is the lying accuser or has no knowledge
#16Consumer Comment
Fri, February 20, 2009
anyone can make an accusation and one sided newspaper stories don't tell the story..
many people know the story that they were friends and she filed a complaint when he told her he would not date her afer his marriage. it was investigated and he is still a member of the rabbinic assocaition, employed by a synagogue. whose story is more credible?
the hysteria of the posters should be obvuious to anyone who sees this effoer to undermine one of the most im poprtant jewish educators in the country. anti-semitism perhaps?
He helps housands of people and hundreds who know the facts support him like us. Because they know the truth
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
I DID NOT WRITE SLANDER.WHAT OCCASIONED THE ACCUSATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE?
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, January 29, 2009
I am NOT the JOE from CA who posted the news story from the newspaper in ST. Paul. I see no libel there because the newspaper reporter can claim TRUTH as a defense...
I would be reluctant to recommend hiring a rabbi who apparently has had two sexual harassment accusations against him -- if the RIP OFF Report accounts apparently based on newspaper accounts ( SO SUE THE NEWSPAPERS ALREADY!) are true.
I AM JEWISH by way but I think that Christians feel the same way about their clergy.
I defended this Rabbi in earlier posts concerning him.
As a Spiritual leader, he should AVOID even the least hint of a scandal and that is done by NOT BEING ALONE WITH A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. Ot even the SAME GENDER as the Ted Haggard scandal as proved disastrous for a Christian pastor.
Because there are always professional law suit makers ready to get some easy money by suing a congregation and there are some very sick, neurotic people out there of both genders who fixiate on authority figures...
I am NOT the Joe from California and I see NO slander or even libel when there is a news story about the alleged actions of a clergyperson.
When a clergyperson is a community spokesperson, a public figure, then commentary from the public is just part of the job. Rebgardless of the private club nature of most religious worship bodies, a clergyman is considered to be a public figure.
I still think the Rabbi would be better served to lead a Messianic Jewish congregation because they will not hold his shicksa wife against him and his knowledge of Judaism will be honored and definitely more appreciated. It is up to him.
I would also be careful about naming people's names who brought accusations of sexual malconduct against him since I do not recall seeing names in the newspaper story.
THIS IS A GREAT REASON WHY I DO NOT ATTEND SHULS, CHURCHES, ETC.
I want to attend to my spiritual needs --not have the scandals, oneupsmanship, backstabbing, lies, gossip, rumor, innuendos and the rest of the garbage,,,
If the rabbi was a victim of this, I am sorry for him but he should have never have put himself in the position to have been sued --and if there was no grounds, there would have been no basis for the suit --they settled out of court to keep something from hitting the public airwaves....because the bringer of false charges would have been impeached on the grounds of barraty.
THINK ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS BECAUSE IMAGE IS EVERYTHING TO CONGREGATIONS.
That's how they are and I would rather not spend my money of my shul defending lawsuits against a clergyperson who has been in one sexual harassment suit AS DOCUMENTED IN A CREDITABLE PUBLICATION OF GENERAL CIRCULATION.Truth is not an issue or the newspaper would have been sued for libel. IMAGE is the issue and a reasonable caution as well.
SORRY because that is how a reasonable and prudent person would think based on the information that has been presented here. I did not publicize ANY of the original information --I do not know the rabbi or the rabbitzim personally. I am just telling
you what an average person would think after reading the commentaries and what has appeared in the newspapers as they appeared here.
HOW did the material in the newspapers get generated in the first place?
You need to read all the posts on this controversial rabbi. I defended him and his wife because I personally don't care since I do not participate in any congregation. Too petty and hypocritical...Sorry.
I am just telling you what a typical congregation would think and probably do based on what happened when I attended and participated --one of the reasons I no longer participate.
Sam Jones
Waukegan,Illinois,
U.S.A.
please help us identify these slanderers
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, January 29, 2009
I doubt the slanderer is really Martha from Chicago but the many supporters of Rabbi Ginsburg want to identify these slanderers. Someone out there knows who they/he/she/it really is. Please let us know.
There are civil and criminal las being violated here. We have many attorneys
who have volunteered to help. Please post their real identity here and help us
Sam Jones
Waukegan,Illinois,
U.S.A.
lies, slander, defamtion of a great rabbi
#16Consumer Comment
Tue, January 27, 2009
First Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is an amazing rabbi who has helped hundreds of thousands of people. He is a graduate of the main Conservative Seminary-the Jewish Theological Seminary where he won top student hionors and has been a member of the main Conservative rabis group for 27 years. he has been employed full time as a Conservative rabbi for 27 years, as he is now. Don't you think his Board of Trustees knows more than these anonymous slanderers?
A few of his defamers are regularly quoted by white power and muslim groups-what is their real agenda????
With regards to the accusations, everyone in Minnesota knows he was good friends with Linda Cohen and she filed a suit when he told her he did not want to date her. Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. His tires were slashed. Many people were ready to testify for him. Holes were drille din his garage dor to see when his car was there. Who says it was him who pushed hard to settle the case? A thousand members came to is final sermon begging him not to leave and I am one of them. We still want him back her to start a new Congregation. All these anomymous defemaers quote here is a onesided newspaper story without the facts. You can guess who all these anonymous slanderers really are.
One main defamer is the Awarenes Center. yes alot of rabbis support it. But do they know from the internet?
just gogle vicki polin
BEWARE THE SOCIOPATH CRUSADER. Vicki Polin's confession is a con job ... Vicki Polin herself was a submissive bystander in her own life. ...
usajewish.com/archive/BEWARE_THE_SOCIOPATH_CRUSADER.htm - Cached
CONSUMER ALERT: BEFORE YOU SEND VICKI POLIN MONEY...
Internet rabbi-s**t peddler Vicki Polin is nothing if not ambitious. ... I met Vicki Polin on the internet when she and I were both actively fighting ...
usajewish.com/archive/CONSUMER_ALERT.htm - Cached
YudelLine: Is Vicki Polin a confessed murderer?
... wild claims is none other than Vicki Polin, founder of The Awareness Center, the ... If Vicki is Rachel, here's the key question: Was Vicki Polin raised by a ...
www.shmoozenet.com/yudel/mtarchives/001283.html - Cached
Joe
Austin,Texas,
U.S.A.
I AM JOE AND I DID NOT WRITE THIS ORIGINAL DIATRIBE AGAINST THE RABBI
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, January 21, 2009
It has been alleged by members of the Jewish Community that this "rabbi" did not attend a proper Yeshiva like rabbis and cantors should but bought his ordination online from someplace --I think it was for $3,000.
If this is the case, the rabbi needs to consider becoming a MESSIANIC "JEWISH" RABBI because he has enough training to do that nicely.
If I were on a Board of Directors for a Synagogue, I would make sure that any RABBI CANDIDATE WE SELECTED HAD A YESHIVA EDUCATION THAT WE COULD VERIFY BY CALLING THE YESHIVA.
And you should always run a criminal background check on ANY PERSPECTIVE CLERGYMAN to make sure they haven't been convicted for ANY moral turpritude crimes like theft, embezzlement, robbery, sexual assault, pedophile behavior, fasle misrepresentation ( fraud) and things like that! Any ARRESTS that have not been expunged will also show up here.
Wonder what you would get if you ran a complete criminal history check on this rabbi AND his wife?????
SERIOUSLY, I WOULD NOT HIRE THIS "RABBI" FOR A JEWISH CONGREGATION BUT HE WOULD BE JUST FIND FOR A MESSIANIC "JEWISH" CONGREGATION. NON-JEWISH WIFE WHO HAS NO TRAINING ON HOW TO BE THE WIFE OF A TRADITIONAL JEWISH RABBI? NO PROBLEM. THEY WILL BOTH FIND A PLACE IN A MESSIANIC "JEWISH" CONGREGATION.
AND PLEASE STOP CALLING THIS UNCREDENTIALED PERSON A RABBI. IF ALL HE DID WAS BUY A RABBI TITLE FROM AN ONLINE DIPLOMA MILL, HE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE JEWISH RABBI. IF HE DID NOT GRADUATE FROM A YESHIVA OR STUDY WITH A REBBE FROM A LONGLINE OF REBBES OR IS NOT DESCENDED FROM A LINE OF REBBES AND IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS ONE BY HIS PARTICULIAR CONGREGATION, THEN THIS GUY IS IMPERSONATING A RABBI AND NO WAY IN HELL SHOULD HE BE CALLED ONE!
HOW DO WE EVEN KNOW FOR SURE HE IS JEWISH AND NOT SOME GUY PRETENDING TO BE JEWISH? ( YEAH, IT HAPPENS)
WHOEVER HE IS, WHATEVER HE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE, THE MATTER IS APPARENTLY SETTLED.
ANY THINKING JEWISH CONGREGATION WILL NOT HIRE HIM BECAUSE IF THEY ARE INTELLIGENT, THEY WILL BACKGROUND HIM WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CHECK WITH HIS PRECIOUS CONGREATIONS AND, OF COURSE, THE RIP OFF REPORT AND THEY WILL CONTACT THE REPORTER ON THE NEWSPAPER TO CONFIRM TO SEE IF THE STORY ABOUT HIM REALLY HAPPENED.
I DO NOT WISH THIS POOR MAN FURTHER HARM AND EMBARRASMENT, I AM TELLING HIM WHERE HE CAN GO AND BE MUCHLY APPRECIATED AND IT IS NOT TO A JEWISH CONGREGATION --NOT AT ALL IN THE ULTRA-ORTHODOX THROUGH THE RECONSTRUCTIONALIST COMMUNITIES...
Is the allegation true? An out of court settlement is not always PROOF of an allegation but does your shul really want to spend the money in case someone makes a similiar allegation against the rabbi or the cantor?
Martha
CHICAGO,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, January 21, 2009
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv ill complain about him too
Martha
CHICAGO,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, January 21, 2009
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv ill complain about him too
Martha
CHICAGO,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, January 21, 2009
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv ill complain about him too
Martha
CHICAGO,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv
#16Consumer Comment
Wed, January 21, 2009
Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg is a perv ill complain about him too