Rabbi Barry Freundel outside DC Superior Court after he pleaded not guilty to voyeurism charges. Photograph by Harry Jaffe.
The Rabbinical Council of America, a major governing body for the United States Orthodox Jewish community, says in a press release Monday that it investigated Georgetown Rabbi Barry Freundel, who was charged last week with six counts of voyeurism, back in 2012 over accusations that he acted inappropriately with prospective converts. The accusations reviewed by the rabbinical group were not sexual in nature, but they do suggest Freundel’s alleged activities began well before his arrest at his home last Tuesday.
Freundel, who pleaded not guilty to the voyeurism charges, was investigated by his fellow rabbis two years ago after conversion candidates at Kesher Israel complained that he had coerced them to perform clerical work for him and contribute money for the operation of Washington’s beit din, a ritual Jewish tribunal. Freundel headed the group of rabbis overseeing conversions from 2006 to 2013. According to the rabbinical council’s statement, Freundel was also found to be a co-signer for a checking account opened by one of his converts, which triggered an investigation. Freundel avoided punishment in the matter as long as he stopped using conversion candidates for office work and financial donations.
The Rabbinical Council of America looked into Freundel again in summer 2013 after it received a phone call from a person alleging that Freundel shared a sleeper car with a woman who was not his wife on a Chicago-bound train. That investigation was dropped after the organization could not verify the authenticity of the tipster, who claimed he was a railroad worker.
Freundel, who was suspended by Kesher Israel’s board of directors following his arrest, is also suspended from the rabbinical council. But his arrest is rippling through US Orthodox Judaism. The council says that in light of charges that Freundel allegedly placed a hidden camera in a women’s changing room next to Kesher Israel’s mikvah, a ritual bath frequented by prospective converts, every beit din that oversees conversions will appoint a female ombudsman whose name and contact information will be distributed at the beginning of the conversion process.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Rabbi Charged With Voyeurism Was Investigated by Top Jewish Organization in 2012
Barry Freundel was investigated by his fellow rabbis for allegedly mistreating potential converts.
The Rabbinical Council of America, a major governing body for the United States Orthodox Jewish community, says in a press release Monday that it investigated Georgetown Rabbi Barry Freundel, who was charged last week with six counts of voyeurism, back in 2012 over accusations that he acted inappropriately with prospective converts. The accusations reviewed by the rabbinical group were not sexual in nature, but they do suggest Freundel’s alleged activities began well before his arrest at his home last Tuesday.
Freundel, who pleaded not guilty to the voyeurism charges, was investigated by his fellow rabbis two years ago after conversion candidates at Kesher Israel complained that he had coerced them to perform clerical work for him and contribute money for the operation of Washington’s beit din, a ritual Jewish tribunal. Freundel headed the group of rabbis overseeing conversions from 2006 to 2013. According to the rabbinical council’s statement, Freundel was also found to be a co-signer for a checking account opened by one of his converts, which triggered an investigation. Freundel avoided punishment in the matter as long as he stopped using conversion candidates for office work and financial donations.
The Rabbinical Council of America looked into Freundel again in summer 2013 after it received a phone call from a person alleging that Freundel shared a sleeper car with a woman who was not his wife on a Chicago-bound train. That investigation was dropped after the organization could not verify the authenticity of the tipster, who claimed he was a railroad worker.
Freundel, who was suspended by Kesher Israel’s board of directors following his arrest, is also suspended from the rabbinical council. But his arrest is rippling through US Orthodox Judaism. The council says that in light of charges that Freundel allegedly placed a hidden camera in a women’s changing room next to Kesher Israel’s mikvah, a ritual bath frequented by prospective converts, every beit din that oversees conversions will appoint a female ombudsman whose name and contact information will be distributed at the beginning of the conversion process.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
What to Know About the Dupont Circle “Deckover” Project
Every Bus Line in DC Is Changing This Weekend. Here’s What to Know.
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Bans on Underage Vaping, Swastika Graffiti, Synthetic Dyes: New Virginia Laws Go Into Effect in July
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
“Mean Mugging” at Ward 8 Candidate Forum Leads to Arrest
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
More from News & Politics
How DC’s Attorney General Got So Good at Double Dutch
DC Council Ponders New Way to Expel Trayon White, the GOP’s Budget Bill Advances, and We Found You Some Tacos With Ethiopian Flair
For DNC Chair Ken Martin, the Big Beautiful Bill Is Personal
Every Bus Line in DC Is Changing This Weekend. Here’s What to Know.
We’re Still Litigating “Obliterated,” Apparently; Man Deported After Kicking Dog at Dulles; and “Big Balls” Is Back on the Job
Did Busy Pizza Shops Really Predict US Airstrikes on Iran?
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain