On Faith: Guest Voices: Letty Cottin Pogrebin: 50 Top Rabbis

Mark Brownstein:

What temple is there in NYC that I can attend is represented in the list of these distinguished rabbis? Does anyone know? Thanks Mark Brownstein New York

April 10, 2008 3:54 PM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on April 10, 2008 15:54

Deborah Savage:

The idea that Dan Ehrenkrantz could be on ANY list of rabbis other than those who should be indicted for fraud is be President of RRC after a lackluster performance of president of the rabbinic association. Competent candidates were turned away because RRC felt sad that none of its own graduates were actually qualified. He does not have an earned PhD. Rumor was that they were afraid of the "gay" thing and really wanted a straight guy to lead the place. I was not in those meetings; that is the word from people who were.

He does not have the academic experience to lead any educational institution, although he sings well enough and probably could run a Hebrew School in a small upscale Jewish Community with his mommy's help.

Had I not seen this list I might have remained silent. I will provide for anyone who wants it the information and documentation -- his own e-mails -- that Dan Ehrenkrantz (a) was ignorant of educational law and allowed substantial and egregious violations of FERPA to occur. When a student pointed out the harm coming from that, he strung her along for 180 days to the day so that his lawyer could figure otu what to do. The Asst. AG for higher education in CT said for the record that RRC was theleast ethical educational instituion he had ever encounted in his carrer, and he is [ast president of the association of lawyers who represent colleges and universities.

Ehrenkrantz directed his atty to not negotiate in good faith, accroding to this same AG. I can provide documents demonstrating that as well.

He signed a fraudelent document with the the Middle States AA saying that there were no ongoing problems, and violated a written promise to a former student that she would be able to document the issues in that report. David Teutsch (who has some redeeming qualities) was party tp that pieceo f the coverup, having also promised to let the student know when time came to file thrid party reports. He and Dan told the student that he knew that the law didn't apply (even though the catalog said it did and they take federal money) and then told the student that "he'd beed sued before. They had the chutpah to saythat to an AG and a college professor from a real university.

He allowed further violations to occur and has committed furher violations himself by making deals with the people who provided evidence. He allowed Sarra Lev, the rabbi who initiated the violation, to claim that she had lost her e-mail records, so the main person in the case did not have to turn over records.

RRC is a cult where students livei n fear of people like Sarra Lev and others, where students are afraid to tell when a professor makes a pass at them, because they know they'll be tossed out, and where students laugh about Jacob Staubs journal requirements and openly say that they put however many entries into their meditation jurnals as they want. Lying is built into this system from the ground up.

Dan is not nor will he ever be a scholar. His discussion of terrorism set the field back many years. By his definition, though, he is a terrorist.

There are all statements that are easily defendable in court. As I said, should Newsweek want the documents, I'm happy to send them.

May the Jewish people be served by better rabbis in the future.

Howard Greenstein ought to be on the list; and if someone from RRC has to be there, it should be Teutsch -- he can think his way out of a brown paper bag, and while it may take a two by foru to get his attention when he thinks he's right, he eventually gets the nod. But I'd leave him off the list because he knowingly covered for the school.

Frankly, as much as RRC wanted to reinvent the rabbinate, I think they are as much a danger as any other group of rabbis, probably worse because they rae so insular and quirky and afraid of honest debate.

For the record: The passage of time does not negate teh responsibility to fix. And apology and tshuvah go a longway toward tikkun olam.

RRC under EHRENKRANTZ cannot do the right thing. They erred, then they lied.ANd now they will tenure their partner in crime.

For all of Judaism I hope we can do better. I hope they can do better.

January 20, 2008 4:59 AM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on January 20, 2008 04:59