Rabbi’s actions brushed under rug, say community members

BEVERLY HILLS (CA)
KABC

[with video]

Darsha Philips
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (KABC) — A rabbi, who worked at a Beverly Hills youth center, is accused of child sex abuse in New York. Some say his alleged crimes were known in the community, but they were just swept under the rug.

The 30-year-old rabbi was arrested on Tuesday on charges of sexual criminal acts. In the grand jury Indictment out of Brooklyn, Tevel is accused of performing an oral sex act on one victim several times in the past. The incidents occurred about eight years ago. Tevel was 22 at the time and the victim was 14.

Authorities say the victim was abused several times in Tevel’s car starting in 2005. The victim was not sure if he should come forward to report the abuse, since so much time had passed. He finally alerted police on Sept. 12.

Though only one victim is mentioned in the indictment, authorities are investigating other possible allegations as well.

“He was arrested for child molestation allegations, on child endangerment allegations. Everything will, I’m sure, be publicized as soon as the official charges are made in New York,” said Ilanit Gluckowsky with the Jewish Community Watch, an organization that focuses on child abuse prevention.

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