Baltimore Rabbi Fired Over Sex Abuse Allegations Sues Families

PIKESVILLE, MD — A teacher fired from Beth Tfiloh, a private Jewish school in Pikesville, has filed a lawsuit against families who reported he sexually abused two 7-year-old and one 8-year-old boy. The alleged abuse by Rabbi Steven Krawatsky — which he has denied — reportedly happened in the summer of 2015 when he worked as a counselor at Camp Shoresh in Frederick County.

Families of the three boys talked to a reporter with The New York Jewish Week about the incidents, and the story was published last month. After the news story broke, the school fired Krawatsky on Jan. 18, and he resigned from his longtime position at the camp that day. According to the publication, the rabbi asked the boys to touch his genitals, and two of the youths told Child Protective Services workers that Krawatsky had raped them.

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office investigated the reports; prosecutors did not file charges, The Baltimore Sun reports. Krawatsky, 40, and his wife, Shira, claim in their lawsuit that his accusers wanted to “damage Rabbi K and destroy his reputation and ability to earn a living.” The lawsuit’s claims include defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Along with the parents of the boys, the lawsuit names Chaim Levin of New York, who advocates for victims of sexual abuse and who has spoken about the case. Levin is now an intern for a law firm in Indianapolis that represents the families in the case, the Sun reports.

In two cases, Child Protective Services case workers reported initially that Krawatsky was “indicated” for child sexual abuse, while a third case was ruled unsubstantiated, The Jewish Week reported. An “indication” from Child Protective Services means there was a “preponderance of evidence” that sexual abuse took place, an assistant Maryland attorney general told the publication.

Rabbi Krawatsky appealed the findings, and case workers eventually changed the findings from “indicated” to “unsubstantiated,” which means that there is not a preponderance of evidence that abuse took place.

Zipora Schorr, director of education at Beth Tfiloh, told parents last month that “Rabbi Krawatsky will not be on the premises and will not have any contact with our students,” reports The Jewish Week. “This decision is in keeping with our school’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our students, which we consider to be paramount.”

Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim, the synagogue where Krawatsky led youth programs, announced his resignation the same day, and said, “this should in no way be considered an indication of guilt or innocence.”

The lawsuit was filed the lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Maryland, The Sun says. No damage amount is cited in the court documents.

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