More Victims Including Towson Students Join Lawsuit Against Georgetown Rabbi

By Mary Ann Barton

More women—including Towson University students—have reportedly joined a lawsuit filed earlier this month against a Georgetown rabbi accused of voyeurism.

A third-year law student at Georgetown University filed the original lawsuit against Rabbi Barry Freundel; the synagogue where he used to work; the “mikvah” ritual bath where he is accused of videotaping unknowing victims; as well as Georgetown University Law School, The Washington Post reports.

A group of Towson University students, identified as “Stephanie,” has also joined the lawsuit, according to WBAL.

Related: Rabbi from Towson University Suspended Amid Peeping Allegations

Freundel was an associate professor at Towson but has been suspended pending an internal investigation.

The lawyer representing “Stephanie” said that the group he represents includes more than a dozen Towson students who believe they may have been victims, according to WBAL.

Another of the alleged victims said Thursday at a news conference in the District of Columbia that she was converting to Judaism in 2012 when Freundel asked her to take a ”practice” mikvah. The woman, who publicly identified herself as Emma Shulevitz, is also now part of the class action lawsuit against Freundel.

Related: Georgetown Law Student Sues Rabbi Who Taught at Towson

After police arrested Freundel in October at his home, charging him with six counts of voyeurism, a Georgetown student filed suit, stating she was invited by Freundel to the ritual bath, where she disrobed after he left the dressing room, the Post reported. The lawsuit is filed in D.C. Superior Court, and seeks class-action status.

In addition to teaching at Georgetown, Freundel was teaching at Towson University in Maryland, where he invited female students to visit the mikvah.

When authorities searched Freundel’s office at Towson, they found a backpack containing multiple cameras, according to WJZ. The recording devices were hidden inside items such as a keychain and tissue box, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The Kesher Israel synagogue in Georgetown recently fired Freundel, and he’s been turned out of the home that was provided to him with a deadline to move out by the first of the year.

Authorities have set up a hotline for those who may have been victims in the case. The number at the U.S. attorney’s office is 202-252-7585. The email address is usadc.bernardfreundelcase@usdoj.gov; and a there is a website with updated information about the case here.

Freundel is due for a court hearing Jan. 16. He has pleaded not guilty.

Related:

• Georgetown Rabbi Arrested for Alleged Voyeurism
• Authorities Set Up Hotline for Potential Victims of Rabbi Accused of Voyeurism
• Prosecutor Asks for Delay in Georgetown Rabbi Case, Says More Victims May Come Forward

Photo of Freundel from Kesher Israel synagogue website.