Yeshiva of Spring Valley Alleged to Have Fired Two Molesters But Not To Have Warned the Public

Baruch Erps was a beloved Pre-1a Rebbe of five-year-old children at the Yeshiva of Spring Valley for over thirty years. His career came to an abrupt end in June 2010 when a child in his class complained to his parents about contact of a sexual nature. This boy realized that some of the things that he was being asked to do were not right.

The Hanhala of the Yeshiva were notified and promptly confronted Erps about the allegations. Erps admitted to molesting this child and blamed his actions on medications he was taking. He immediately resigned or was terminated on the spot.
The Ramapo Police were called by the Hanhala of the Yeshivah (as mandated reporters), and Erps was arrested. He signed a confession detailing his crimes and was released on bail with his case pending adjudication.

Now the question is: Why is this man now free as a bird? The answer is: Because a combination of rabbinic pressure, fear of reprisal and social pressure convinced the parents to withdraw from the case and not allow their child to testify. As a result the prosecutor was not able to indict Erps. Now that six months have passed the prosecutor has been forced to drop the case. This is a dangerous situation for other children as he now has the freedom to molest them. If he had been indicted and convicted, he would be off the streets and then subsequently on the sex offender registry so that others would know to take action to protect their children.

Yet again, the rabbonim involved in the cover up have earned another yasher koach from the pedophiles in the community for doing a fantastic job of protecting an ADMITTED child molester. The rabbonim had rachmonis on Erps, but what about the child he abused? Where will the parents of this child get the funding that they need for the therapy to repair the psychological and emotional damage as a result of the molestation? To the best of our knowledge neither these rabbonim nor Erps are taking care of the expenses they incurred as a result of the molestation.

These “good” rabbonim, these kanoim for rachmonis on Erps, these great balei tzedakah have given Monsey a molester who roams our streets and like most pedophiles will probably molest other kids. His new victims will also not get help. All of his victims will have to live with seeing him on the streets, which will remind them of their pain and make them feel victimized again. Each of his victims will grow up knowing that their tormentor is free to do whatever he wants.

How can decent rabbonim live with the knowledge that they ignored one churban and continue to create one churban after another? Do these rabbonim have any suggestion for the parents about how to answer this child when he asks, “Why did you let my tormentor go free?”

It seems that in Monsey there is in a never-ending cycle of the wanton destruction of tinokos shel beis rabbon. Our rabbonim feed this cycle by their actions and their inaction. Their conduct defies morality. They will never be able to say Yadenu Lo Shafchu Es Hadom Hazeh. They willingly turn our children into Korbanos. Gehennom eagerly awaits them.

A similar situation played out at Yeshiva of Spring Valley almost 3 years ago. Chaim Abrahamson was fired from his position as first grade rebbe, a position that he held there for over 30 years as well. The abuse that Abrahamson inflicted on his scores of victims was most severe.

Due to statute of limitations for many, and the reluctance of those victims who are within the statute of limitations to come forward, Monsey has another very dangerous pedophile roaming its streets, shuls, parks and mikvaos.

As our legal avenues of ridding our streets of dangerous sex offenders are restricted and subject to Rabbinic and social pressures of so called “mesirah”, “shidduchim” and similar pressures of being ostracized, I write this as a public service message, L'maan Yishmiu V'yirou.

Protect your children carefully. Be vigilant. If either of these individuals engage your child in any fashion, you must immediately remove your child from their presence so they will not become their next victim.