A rabbi once accused in a civil lawsuit of repeatedly sexually abusing his teenage roommate is now on staff at an Orthodox boys yeshiva on Chicago’s North Side, raising fresh questions about how religious schools vet educators and what families are told about their backgrounds.
The allegations trace back to the early 2000s, when both were students at a Jewish boarding school on the East Coast. The case did not surface in court until 2021, and reporters say the lawsuit was quietly settled last fall and later sealed, a move that advocates argue only deepens mistrust around how abuse claims are handled.
Where he is teaching now
The rabbi appears on the faculty roster of Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, an all-boys institution on the North Side that offers both high school and post-secondary studies and runs dorms for local and out-of-town students, according to the school's website. The site notes that the yeshiva opened in 2019 and highlights a curriculum that puts a premium on ethics and character development.
What the civil case alleged
Court filings show that in 2021 a civil complaint was lodged in New York, with the plaintiff proceeding under the pseudonym "John Doe" and naming Mesivta, also known as Torah High School of Long Beach, as one of the defendants, according to court records. Reporting states that the lawsuit claims the rabbi assaulted his roommate while they shared a dorm room, and that the alleged abuse happened regularly and repeatedly, at least 300 times over about two years.
Docket entries and written opinions reflect months of legal wrangling over whether the plaintiff could remain anonymous, what records would stay confidential, and other procedural fights that often shape how much the public can see in cases like this.
School response and quiet settlement
Leaders at Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, through their attorney Hal M. Garfinkel, told reporters that the civil claim against the rabbi was unsubstantiated and that the school sought legal, rabbinical and professional guidance before deciding how to move forward, according to news coverage. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the 2021 lawsuit was quietly settled last fall for undisclosed terms and that the court has since sealed the case.
School officials did not provide answers about when parents at the yeshiva were informed of the rabbi’s past legal troubles or who carried out the internal review they say guided their decision making.
Advocates say secrecy blurs the picture
Advocates with the survivor-support group ZA'AKAH told NBC Chicago that confidential settlements and sealed court files do more than just hide paperwork. They argue those tactics can shield potential wrongdoing, prevent communities from understanding what happened, and discourage other victims from coming forward.
Ariella Kay of ZA'AKAH said that when reporters are able to cover cases like this, it can help survivors on their healing journey and act as a warning for communities that have historically struggled to confront and address abuse.
Legal notes
The lawsuit played out in New York courts, where judges handled extensive motion practice over anonymity and confidentiality, according to court documents. No criminal charges have been reported in connection with the allegations, and coverage notes that both men are now adults and that their attorneys declined to comment to journalists.
The case highlights a persistent tension for religious schools that serve minors: how to protect students, comply with legal rules around confidentiality, and still respond openly to survivors who are calling for real transparency and accountability. Advocates say the confidential settlement and sealed docket in this matter make it harder for communities to learn concrete lessons about prevention and about how hiring decisions are made.
