Case of Rabbi Yaakov Menken (AKA: Kenneth Lloyd Menken)

The Awareness Center is The Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA)

Case of Rabbi Yaakov Menken

(AKA: Rabbi Kenneth Lloyd Menken, Ken Menken)

Baltimore, MD

Kiruv Worker

Founder and Director of Project Genesis -Baltimore, MD

Author - The Everything Torah Book

Serious allegations have been made against Rabbi Yaakov Menken which include sexual harassment and professional sexual misconduct. Menken's alleged modus operandi (M.O.) is of becoming a father figure to vulnerable young women and eventually manipulating them into having sexual contact with him. Rabbi Yaakov Menken is a married orthodox rabbi.

In 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Menken had a discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzkyi and confessed to having sexual contact with a very young woman he counseled. He basically blamed the survivor, stating "she came on to me".

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CALL TO ACTION: Stop Funding Programs Organized By Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Yaakov Menken

December 24, 2006

In honor of the survivors of Rabbi Yaakov Menken (AKA: Ken Menken), The Awareness Center is bringing the following information to your attention. The goal is to prevent any more individual from becoming the next victim of a sexual offense.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the founder and director of Project Genesis, a Kiruv organization (Jewish outreach). He has put together an educational program that is funded by the Jewish Education Enhancement Projects (JEEP), which obtains its funds through the Jewish Federation of Baltimore (The Associated).

The Awareness Center, Inc. is asking that you contact both organizations and demand they stop funding programs connected to Rabbi Yaakov Menken. We are also asking that you contact those who are advertising Menken's programs. Explain to them that they are putting unsuspecting women at risk of harm.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken confessed to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky that he had sexual contact with a young religious woman. At the time of the abuse this particular survivor was undergoing "spiritual counseling" by Rabbi Menken. The survivor was bearly out of her teens at the time she was sexually manipulated. Kenneth Menken was nearly in his forties. He was also a married, haredi (orthodox) rabbi.

The young woman describes her experience with Menken as clergy sexual abuse (professional sexual misconduct) During a conversation with Rabbi Kaminetsky, Kenneth Menken stated the young woman "manipulated him into having sexual contact."

Project Genesis has put together the following lecture series, which is funded by The Associated of Baltimore. Each time this program is advertised puts another unsuspecting woman at risk of harm -- by being "counseled" by Rabbi Menken. Please demand that all organizations stop funding activities organized by Yaakov Menken. Also demand that newspapers and magazines refuse to advertise events connected to him. The goal is to prevent one more unsuspecting individual from becoming the next victim of a sex crime.

The Awareness Center is also asking everyone to contact the following speakers. Please help inform them of Rabbi Menken's past history of alleged clergy sexual abuse (professional sexual misconduct). All inquires of his confession should be directed to Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky. (215) 477-1000.

Please ask Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky make a public statement regarding Rabbi Menken's confession and require Yaakov to be in therapy with a highly qualified psychotherapist whom specializes in working with sex offenders. The Awareness Center is also asking that Ken Menken financially compensate the survivor for the pain and suffering he has caused her. Click Here: For Entire CALL FOR ACTION

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky

Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia

6063 Drexel Road

Philadelphia, PA 19131

Telephone: (215) 473-1212 Fax: (215) 477-5065

If you or someone you know has had similar experiences, please contact your local rape crisis center and or The Awareness Center, Inc..

Your Financial Support is Needed! Make a Donation

Email Groups for the Awareness Center This link will bring you to a list of different mailing lists offered by The Awareness Center. We offers several different email groups,which include our general mailing list, press-releases, Jewish survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Parents of children who were molested, Family members of sex offenders, etc.

Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet their own personal needs.

Table of Contents:

Rabbi Yaakov "Ken" Menken (01/2005)
Background information on Rabbi Yaakov Menken
Can one expect that a pretty, innocent girl with an older, "experienced" superior will be so easily able to escape his advances? (11/30/1994)
Watchdogs vs Rabbis (12/31/2004)
CALL TO ACTION: The Awareness Center is asking that Rabbi Shumel Kamenetzy make a public statement regarding the confession of Rabbi Yaakov Menken. (11/19//2006)
Call To Action: Stop Funding Programs Organized By Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Yaakov Menken (12/24//2006)
Rabbi Yaakov Menken (05/14//2007)

Also see:

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Rabbi Yaakov "Ken" Menken

By Lev Ford

January 2005

Ken Menken was born around 1966. He became observant during his years at Princeton, graduating in 1986. Menken's official biography states he spent the next seven years studying at various yeshivas as Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, Bais Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood and Jerusalem, and the Mirrer Yeshiva Jerusalem (becoming an Orthodox rabbi). He founded Project Genesis in 1993.

Rabbi Menken is married with five children. His wife is employed as a teacher.

He was ordained by Ohr Sameach of Monsey, New York. His rebbe is rabbi Silberberg of Monsey, who brought Menken his biggest client -- Compuplus.

Rabbi Menken is friends with Rabbi Eliezer Eisgrau, head of Baltimore's Torah Institute. They both go to Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer's Glen Avenue shul Shearith Yisrael.

Rabbi Menken says the incest and molestation accusations against Eisgrau are ludicrous, as well as the sex abuse allegations against Rabbis Matis Weinberg and Mordecai Tendler. He also says Gary Rosenblatt was wrong to expose rabbi Baruch Lanner, who went to prison for sexually abusing underage girls.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken has two main computer businesses -- Project Genesis (which does torah.org and other jewish stuff like that) and Team Genesis, which does commercial web development. Teamgenesis.com is the website.

Interesting Team Genesis/Project Genesis connection includes convicted sex offender Rabbi Benyamin Fleischman, who was protected by the rabbunim of Baltimore, until his conviction.

Some of the clients of Rabbi Benyamin Fleishman includes (click here to see the full list Rabbi Benyamin Fleischman's clients)

Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Bais Yaakov of Baltimore
Ner Israel Rabbinical College
Torah Institute of Baltimore
Project Genesis (Rabbi Yaakov Menken)

List of Rabbi Benyamin Fleischman's Friends:

Project Genesis (Rabbi Yaakov Menken)
Team Genesis (Rabbi Yaakov Menken)

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Background information on Rabbi Yaakov Menken

http://www.torah.org/staff/menken.html

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is the founder of Project Genesis, and creator of many of its sites and programs. You will find hundreds of Torah commentaries authored by Yaakov Menken on this site and elsewhere.

Rabbi Menken graduated from Princeton with a degree in Computer Science before going to Yeshiva (traditional Rabbinic school) for further Jewish studies.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken is a pioneer in the field of Internet-based Jewish Outreach and a veteran analyst of the global Jewish scene. Project Genesis supports outreach organizations worldwide, while operating Torah.org, the Internet's premier Jewish learning web site. Both Yaakov Menken and his organization maintain open communication with Jews at all levels of learning and education, and Project Genesis is endorsed by Jewish leaders from across the Jewish spectrum.

Yaakov Menken earned his Bachelor's degree from Princeton University in Computer Science, and then pursued Rabbinic studies in Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, Bais Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood and Jerusalem, and the Mirrer Yeshiva Jerusalem, before founding Project Genesis in 1993.

Rabbi Menken is also the founder of TorahMedia.com, and a new journal of thought and opinion called Cross-Currents. Smaller Torah.org projects include Aveidah.org and more.

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Can one expect that a pretty, innocent girl with an older, "experienced" superior will be so easily able to escape his advances?

Rabbi Yaakov Menken - November 30, 1994

http://www.ottmall.com/mj_ht_arch/v16/mj_v16i98.html

The problem with Sherut Leumi [women serving in the Israeli Defense Force with men] is that a girl cannot abandon her post the first time a man makes a pass at her. With all the debate over sexual harrassment in _this_ country, you would be amazed at what Israelis consider "normal" behavior. Can one expect that a pretty, innocent girl with an older, "experienced" superior will be so easily able to escape his advances?

It's hard for me to fathom the naivete of a person who, in the 1990's, questions whether it was appropriate to forbid religious girls to do this kind of service. If you want to call preserving religious mores "stifling" religious girls, that's your prerogative.

Immediately before I became frum, I met two religious girls who were on a break from their "Sherut Leumi" - on a beach in Teveria. I can assure you that it wasn't their religiosity that was on display.

Why is it that no one has remarked on how the State of Israel "stifles" people by forcing them to serve in the Army, or how the US "stifles" us by forcing us to pay taxes? Just as the leaders of the country are called upon to tell us what is necessary for preservation of the nation, so too the leaders of the Torah community should be expected to tell us what is necessary for the preservation of Torah.

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Watchdogs vs Rabbis

December 31, 2004

http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2004/12/30/blogging-and-emloshon-horaem-gossip/#comments

Note: Rabbi Yaakov Menken writes (these paragraphs since deleted from his blog):

Below Rabbi Menken is talking about journalist, Gary Rosenblatt who originally broke the story of the case of Rabbi Baruch Lanner.

I will make one comment about the so-called "watchdog" mentality, as applied to a well-known scandal of a few years back. The newspaper editor who "broke" that story insisted that he "went public" not because he wanted to sell papers and enhance his own reputation as a journalist, but because "nothing was being done."

Then, two years later, he "broke" a similar story after a whole set of steps were taken, and, in fact, the first line of his story was that a Bais Din was about to be convened in order to find out the truth.

This tells you something about the truthfulness of the so-called "justification" for his publication of the first set of allegations. I am not saying that those who should have done better supervision are not worthy of criticism – but I'm saying something about the motivations of self-appointed watchdogs.

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CALL TO ACTION: The Awareness Center is asking that Rabbi Shumel Kamenetzky make a public statement regarding the confession of Rabbi Yaakov Menken.

The Awareness Center - November 19, 2006

It is not often The Awareness Center puts out a warning regarding an individual who is also rabbi. Due to the seriousness of the allegations, the time has come for action to be taken regarding the case of Rabbi Yaakov Menken.

The Awareness Center has recently learned that Rabbi Menken has created two new organizations associated with "Project Genisis". He has began a Kiruv organization (Jewish outreach) called 'e-Kiruv". He is also involved with an organization called Oz Nidberu. There are also rumors floating around that he may be involved in the development of a new counter-missionary organization.

We all have to be aware that it is not uncommon for Kiruv workers and or counter-missionaries to be involved with individuals who are experiencing a personal crisis in their lives. These crisis's includes a death in the family, illness of a loved one, trying to sort out unresolved issues, and even individuals who have been traumatized (victims or witnesses to a violent crime, survivors of childhood abuse, survivors of sexual assault, etc.). Individuals who are experiencing a life crisis are often in a vulnerable state and are more susceptible to being manipulated by sexual predator.

Over the last few years Rabbi Yaakov Menkin was accused of both sexual harassment and professional sexual misconduct. At one point Rabbi Menken had a discussion with Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky regarding the allegations made by one of the women he counseled. The conversation included a confession by Yaakov Menken of having sexual contact with the woman. Rabbi Menken basically blamed the survivor stating "she manipulated him". Rabbi Menken was nearly forty at the time. The young, haredi woman was hardly out of her teens.

Because of the serious and complicated allegations made, the word needs to get out that young, single adult women could be at risk of harm if they share information about their personal lives with Rabbi Yaakov Menkin, especially if the woman is experiencing any sort of life crisis.

Due to the sensitivity of the situation and for reasons of confidentiality we are limited in what we can share with you about the case. What we can share is on The Awareness Center's site on Rabbi Yaakov Menken <http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/menken_yaakov.html>

If you need more information regarding Rabbi Menken's confession please contact Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky.

The Awareness Center, Inc. is also asking that everyone contact Rabbi Kamenetzky requesting that he make a public statement regarding the confession made by Rabbi Yaakov Menken. Contact information for Rabbi Kamenetzky is provided below.

Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor" (Leviticus 19:16).

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky

Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia

6063 Drexel Road

Philadelphia, PA 19131

Telephone: (215) 473-1212 Fax: (215) 477-5065

If you or someone you know has had similar experiences, please contact your local rape crisis center and or The Awareness Center, Inc. 443-857-5560

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Organizations connected to Rabbi Yaakov Menken's Jewish Learning Network

November 19, 2006

If you go to the home page of the organization called "Oz Nidberu", you will see an image of a leeping frog. The link will take you to the Jewish Learning Network's web page, which is operated by Rabbi Yaakov Menken.

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Rabbi Yaakov Menken's Newest Kiruv Effort - eKiruv.com

November 19, 2006

Contact: domains@capalon.com

Domain name: EKIRUV.COM

Registrant Contact: Project Genesis

Project Genesis (office@torah.org)

+1.4106021350

Fax:

122 Slade Avenue, Suite 250

Baltimore, MD 21208

Administrative Contact: Project Genesis

Project Genesis (office@torah.org)

+1.4106021350

Fax:

122 Slade Avenue, Suite 250

Baltimore, MD 21208 US

Technical Contact: Capalon.com

Hosting Services (hosting@capalon.com)

+1.4103589800

Fax:

122 Slade Avenue, Suite 250

Baltimore, MD 21208 US

Status: Locked

Creation date: 26 Dec 2003 16:22:29

Expiration date: 26 Dec 2006 00:00:00

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Call To Action:

Stop Funding Programs Organized By Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Yaakov Menken

The Awareness Center, Inc. - December 24, 2006

Contact The Following Organizations

The Jewish Education Enhancement Project (JEEP)

rgreenfeld@cjebaltimore.org

410-735-5006

The Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore

Adam Rosenberg

arosenberg@associated.org

The Center for Jewish Education

1) Larry Ziffer, Executive Vice President

lziffer@cjebaltimore.org

2) Rivka Lampert Adler, Director Adult Education

radler@cjebaltimore.org

The Baltimore Jewish Times

Andrew Buerger, Publisher

410-752-3504

publisher@jewishtimes.com

The Advertiser

ads.theadvertiser@gmail.com

410-764-3787

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Rabbi Aharon Feldman

Rabbi Beryl Weisbord

410-484-7200

List Project Genesis Speakers:

Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Becker
Rabbi Motti Berger
Rabbetzin Tzipporah Heller
Rabbi Doron Kornbluth
Rabbi Zev Leff
Rabbi Noach Orlowek
Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblum
Rabbi Ken Spiro

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Rabbi Yaakov Menken

Torah.org - May 14, 2007

http://www.torah.org/staff/menken.html

Rabbi Yaakov Menken has been called a ' visionary ' in the field of Jewish Outreach. Project Genesis supports outreach organizations worldwide, while operating Torah.org , the Internet's premier Jewish learning web site. Both Yaakov Menken and his organization maintain open communication with Jews at all levels of learning and education, and Project Genesis is endorsed by Jewish leaders from across the Jewish spectrum.

Rabbi Menken earned his Bachelor's degree from Princeton University in Computer Science, and pursued Rabbinic studies in Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, Beth Medrash Gavoha in Lakewood and Jerusalem, and the Mirrer Yeshiva Jerusalem, before founding Project Genesis in 1993.

Yaakov Menken joined Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, in creating Cross-Currents , a journal of traditional Jewish thought, in late 2004. This award-winning web log, or blog, features ten recognized, outstanding Orthodox rabbis and teachers. The name Cross-Currents reflects, in Rav Adlerstein's words, the aspiration "to expose the intersection between two currents: the timeless flow of authentic Torah thought, and the ebb and tide of current affairs."

Recently, Rabbi Menken led the technical development of Contact Loved Ones , an open voicemail system for those displaced by recent natural disasters. This story was picked up by the general media and especially by technical publications.

Rabbi Menken is a veteran analyst of the global Jewish scene. Project Genesis has helped with the hosting of Jewish World Review since its inception, and Yaakov Menken has contributed articles to JWR on tolerance , the value of life , the risks of the Internet (which also appeared elsewhere ) and other topics.

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For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

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Last Updated: 05/14/2007

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

--Margaret Mead

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