Case of Rabbi Jack Sparks
(AKA: Jack L. Sparks)
Director, Albert Einstein Academy - Wilmington, DE
Talleyville, DE
Newark, DE
(2004 - ) Director, Austin Jewish Academy - Austin, TX
(2004 - ) Volunteer, Shir Ami Congregation - Cedar Park, TX
Miami, FL
New York City, NY
Boston, MA
Rabbi Jack Sparks was arrested on May 12, 2008 on charges of child endangerment of a fourteen-year-old boy. Sparks took the boy on a shopping trip to the Fairfield News and Tobacco store on New London Road in Newark and encouraged the boy to pick out a magazine in the "back room" where pornographic magazines are kept. The boy declined, picking out a gaming magazine instead.
Dr. Rabbi Jack L. Sparks, holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Boston University, as well as graduate and undergraduate degrees in curriculum and instruction, Jewish studies, counseling psychology and elementary education. He has been an educator in Jewish Private Schools for 25 years in Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Miami, FL; Austin, TX and Talleyville, Delaware.
Unfortunately it is not uncommon for an individual who molest children to work in the education field and also to move around from state to state. There is a fear that Rabbi Sparks could have left a trail of victims along the way.
If you or anyone you know was abused by Rabbi Jack L. Sparks please contact Newark Police Department or The Awareness Center.
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.
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Head of Del. school charged with encouraging boy to buy porn (05/12/2008)
Del. Rabbi Accused Of Sexual Internet Chat With 15-Year-Old Boy (05/12/2008)
Talleyville school rabbi charged, put on leave (05/13/2008)
Delaware rabbi arrested for child endangerment (05/14/2008)
Rabbi arrested for child endangerment (05/14/2008)
Rabbi charged and put on leave (05/152008)
Einstein Academy head faces sex charge (05/09 - 24 2008)
Also see:
Related Information:
When A Family Member Molests: Reality, Conflict, and The Need For Support
Background Information and The History of Rabbinical Ordinations
Hebrew College Visits Greenfield Day School, Miami
Hebrew College - 2003
http://www.hebrewcollege.edu/hct/spring-summer_2003/focus/friends.html
____________ with Dr. Jack Sparks P'74,
Headmaster of the Greenfield Day School, Miami
Shir Ami - September 3, 2004
http://www.shir-ami.org/webcalendar/view_entry.php?id=22&date=20040903
Description: Rabbi Jack Sparks, Guest Leader
Rabbi Sparks recently moved from South Dade, Florida. While very busy as Head of School at the Austin Jewish Academy the school, he has offered to volunteer some of his time with us.
Date: Friday, 9/3/2004
Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm
Duration: 120 minutes
Priority: High
Access: Public
Created by: admin
Updated: Tuesday, 9/7/2004 11:56pm
Congregation Shir Ami - Williamson County,
Texas
Shir Ami - November 5, 2004
http://www.shir-ami.org/webcalendar/view_entry.php?id=38&date=20041105
Shabbat Services & Oneg Shabbat
Description: Once again Rabbi Jack Sparks has graciously volunteered to conduct our Shir Ami Shabbat service. Plan to join us on November 5th for a participative service and Rabbi Jack's spirited D'var Torah and stay for our fun Oneg Shabbat. Dr. Jack L. Sparks is Head of Austin Jewish Academy and an Educator in Jewish Private Schools for 25 years in Boston, New York City and Miami. He moved to our area in June of 2004.
Date: Friday, 11/5/2004
Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm
Duration: 120 minutes
Priority: High
Access: Public
Created by: admin
Updated: Thursday, 10/21/2004 11:59am
Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2006-2007
A Letter to the Community
By Robert B. Pincus and Samuel H.Asher
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:N563CQBZiFwJ:www.shalomdelaware.org/getfile.asp%3Fid%3D19496+%22Jack+sparks%22+rabbi&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us
The Jewish Federation of Delaware plays a unique role in building a vibrant community here in Delaware and the BrandywineValley, in Israel and around the world.
Over the past two years, we have focused on four objectives: to engage the community, strengthen Jewish education, take a critical look at our governance model and place a greater emphasis on Israel in our agenda.
We have engaged the community through Mitzvah Day, a standing room only Federation Shabbat, our incredibleYoung Emissary Program and the continued growth of Women's Philanthropy. We have also established a Young Leadership Division under the chairmanship of Community Leadership Institute graduate Brian Singer.
The second annual Live Generously Mitzvah Day -- an effort to engage the community -- was a great success.With Dorothy Bobman, Deane Kattler and Laura Kramer at the helm, over 500 community members worked on 20 different projects that benefited people in need within and beyond our Jewish community.
In the area of Jewish education, the work of the Jewish Education Task Force was completed and efforts are underway to strengthen Jewish Education in our community through the combination of Delaware Gratz Hebrew High School and the Albert Einstein Academy under the capable leadership of Dr. Jack Sparks. (click here to read entire report)
Ravsak: The Jewish Community Day School
Network
Ravsak - May 3, 2007
http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=1535830252&page_url=%2f%2fwww.ravsak.org%2fabout.php&page_last_updated=5%2f3%2f2007+11%3a11%3a00+AM&firstName=Jack&lastName=Sparks
http://www.ravsak.org/about.php
Dr. Jack Sparks, Treasurer
Jack Sparks is the Head of School at the Albert Einstein Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. With over 25 years in the field of day school and religious school education, Jack holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Boston University, as well as graduate and undergraduate degrees in curriculum and instruction, Jewish studies, counseling psychology and elementary education.
Associated Press - May 12, 2008
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/head-of-del-school-charged-with/n20080512165509990018
http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8312161&nav=menu222_2
NEWARK, Del. (AP) - Newark Police have arrested the head of a Wilmington school for allegedly encouraging a teenage boy to buy porn.
Police say Rabbi Jack Sparks of Albert Einstein Academy took the 15-year-old to a store with a room with merchandise for adults. Police say Sparks offered to buy the boy a pornographic magazine so he could "have a good time."
Police say the boy declined and told his parents, who notified police.
Detectives learned Sparks got to know the boy because one of the teen's relatives is a student at the academy.
Police say Sparks had been taking the boy out to eat and shop. Eventually, police said he bought the boy a computer where he was having sexual conversations with him during online chats.
Del. Rabbi Accused Of Sexual Internet Chat With 15-Year-Old
Boy
NBC News 10 - May 12, 2008
http://www.nbc10.com/news/16243400/detail.html
A Wilmington rabbi and head of a school was charged in connection
with endangering the welfare of a child.
Jack Sparks, 53, was taken into custody Monday morning and then released on $2,000 bond.
He is head of the Albert Einstein Academy in Wilmington.
Sparks was charged with engaging in sexually inappropriate Internet conversations with a 15-year-old male. NBC 10 reported that the boy was not a student at the school.
One of the members of the board of trustees said Sparks was on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Police said the victim was the older sibling to one of the students at Albert Einstein, which is how he met the rabbi. Police said Sparks and the teenager spent time together from February to December of last year.
"They had a relationship with the consent of the parents, that they were shopping together and hanging out together," said Lt. Brian Henry of the Newark Police Department.
Police said the teenager cut off the relationship when the rabbi offered to buy him pornography. Investigators said the boy eventually told his parents about the incident this February, and that is when police began to investigate.
"And during that investigation, we determined that they were having online conversations that were becoming sexual in nature," Henry said. "That the rabbi had purchased a computer for this child to have the ability to have these conversations with him."
Police said they arrested Sparks and seized a computer and adult pornography from his home.
Neighbors witnessed the police activity in disbelief.
"(I'm) sad, but I don't have any other comment," said neighbor Mark Deshon.
No one was home at Sparks' house Monday night, NBC 10 reported.
Police said they had a message for other parents.
"We're very concerned," Henry said. "We know that this type of offender usually has more than one victim -- that they seek out other children, so at this point, we're asking for anyone who has had an inappropriate relationship with Rabbi Sparks to come forward so we can investigate that as well."
Talleyville school rabbi charged, put on leave
- Teen's mom alleges inappropriate bond
By Terri Sanginiti
The News Journal - May 13, 2008
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS01/805130367
A rabbi who heads a nonprofit religious school in Talleyville was arrested by Newark police Monday on a child endangerment charge for allegedly fostering an inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy.
Advertisement
Rabbi Jack L. Sparks, 53, head of school at Albert Einstein Academy at 101 Garden of Eden Road, was released on unsecured bail on the misdemeanor charge stemming from a relationship developed since February 2007 with a now 15-year-old boy, police said in court records.
The inappropriate incidents are alleged to have occurred between February and December 2007.
Police said Sparks took the boy on a shopping trip to the Fairfield News and Tobacco store on New London Road in Newark and encouraged the boy to pick out a magazine in the "back room" where pornographic magazines are kept. The boy declined, picking out a gaming magazine instead, Newark police spokesman Lt. Brian Henry said.
According to court records, the victim's mother reported the "possible inappropriate relationship" to police April 26.
"The teen was smart enough to put an end to it," Henry said. "[Sparks] didn't get a chance to follow through."
The boy, who is not a student at the school, and the rabbi developed a friendship over time, talking at the school two or three times a week over the next few months.
When the boy was hospitalized in June 2007, the rabbi visited him and noticed the boy using a computer. The two then started to exchange e-mails and talk online in the hospital, which continued after the boy returned home. In September, the rabbi bought the boy a computer for his room.
The victim's mother viewed Sparks as a role model and mentor for her son, police said in court records, and the two had regular lunch dates. Sparks also would take the boy to Game Stop.
"Sparks told the boy he loved him," police said in court records.
The online conversations turned sexual, including talk of female body parts, pornography and masturbation, Henry said.
Sparks, who has headed the school since 2005, was released on $2,000 unsecured bail. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
Larry Hamermesh, a board of trustees member, called the rabbi's arrest "regrettable regardless of the outcome."
"He was placed on paid administrative leave last Monday pending the outcome of a school investigation," Hamermesh said.
Delaware rabbi arrested for child endangerment
JTA - May 14, 2008
http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/108550.html
A Delaware rabbi was arrested for allegedly conducting an inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy.
Rabbi Jack Sparks, 53 was arrested on charges of child endangerment by Newark police on Monday and released on bail, the Delaware News Journal reported.
Sparks, who is the head of school at the Albert Einstein Academy in Talleyville, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, a school official said.
Police say the relationship occurred between February and December 2007, and entailed Sparks shopping for pornography with the boy and sending sexually themed messages to him over the Internet. The boy was not a student at Sparks' school.
Rabbi arrested for child
endangerment
by Johnnie Braxton, Wilmington Bureau Chief
ABC News 6 - May 14, 2008
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6137529
NEWARK, Del. - May 12, 2008 (WPVI) -- Newark Police arrested 53-year-old, Rabbi Jack Sparks at his home in Newark this morning on one charge of child endangerment.
Rabbi Sparks is the head of the Albert Einstein Academy, a private school located north of Wilmington at 101 Garden of Eden Road, in Talleyville.
According to police, the charge stems from Sparks befriending a 15-year-old male and ultimately taking the teen to a store where he encouraged him to pick out a pornographic magazine. Police say Sparks told the teen he would buy the magazine for him so he could "have a good time."
The teens sibling attends Albert Einstein Academy and met Sparks while picking up his sibling. Sparks developed a friendship over time, taking the teen out to restaurants, he bought the teen a computer and according to police their online contact became sexual in nature. Eventually Sparks took the teen to a store and encouraged him to enter a room marked with a sign prohibiting minors, where he was to pick out a magazine. The teen refused and told his parents what happened.
Sparks was arraigned and released on $2,000 unsecured bond.
Rabbi charged and put on leave
NewsNet 14 - May 15, 2008
http://www.newsnet14.com/2008/05/15/rabbi-charged-and-put-on-leave/
A rabbi who heads a nonprofit religious school in Talleyville was arrested by Newark police Monday on a child endangerment charge for allegedly fostering an inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy.
Rabbi Jack L. Sparks, 53, head of school at Albert Einstein Academy at 101 Garden of Eden Road, was released on unsecured bail on the misdemeanor charge stemming from a relationship developed since February 2007 with a now 15-year-old boy, police said in court records.
The inappropriate incidents are alleged to have occurred between February and December 2007.
Police said Sparks took the boy on a shopping trip to the Fairfield News and Tobacco store on New London Road in Newark and encouraged the boy to pick out a magazine in the "back room" where pornographic magazines are kept. The boy declined, picking out a gaming magazine instead, Newark police spokesman Lt. Brian Henry said.
According to court records, the victim's mother reported the "possible inappropriate relationship" to police April 26.
"The teen was smart enough to put an end to it," Henry said. "[Sparks] didn't get a chance to follow through."
The boy, who is not a student at the school, and the rabbi developed a friendship over time, talking at the school two or three times a week over the next few months.
When the boy was hospitalized in June 2007, the rabbi visited him and noticed the boy using a computer. The two then started to exchange e-mails and talk online in the hospital, which continued after the boy returned home. In September, the rabbi bought the boy a computer for his room.
The victim's mother viewed Sparks as a role model and mentor for her son, police said in court records, and the two had regular lunch dates. Sparks also would take the boy to Game Stop.
"Sparks told the boy he loved him," police said in court records.
The online conversations turned sexual, including talk of female body parts, pornography and masturbation, Henry said.
By Rachael Samuels
WDEL News Talk Radio 1150 AM
http://www.wdel.com/story.php?id=617090175741
The Head of Albert Einstein Academy in Wilmington faces charges of inappropriate interaction with a minor.
Rabbi Jack Sparks, of 69 West Mill Station Road in Newark, initiated a friendship with a 15 year old boy whose sibling went to Albert Einstein.
According to the family, the friendship bloomed from dinner and shopping to Rabbi Sparks buying the boy a computer and having online chats with him.
The friendship initially had the blessing of the parents because they viewed the rabbi as a mentor for their young son.
Eventually the online conversations turned sexual where he offered to buy the child a pornographic magazine and take him into the back room of an adult store.
The boy refused and told his parents who called police.
Rabbi Sparks faces child endangerment charges.
Some of the information on The Awareness Center's web pages may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.
I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
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.
Updated Last: 05/16/2007
"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