Forward The author claims to have been sodomized by Rabbi Macy Gordon, a former teacher at Yeshiva University High School for Boys, while a student at the school in the late 1970s and early ’80s. His was one of the accusations reported in the Forward’s December 21 issue, in “Student Claims of Abuse Not Reported by Y.U. Leader.”
I am Macy Gordon’s accuser. My allegations are true, yet I understand why some people may doubt my claims. I wish now to respond to some of the comments I have read in the wake of the Forward’s revelations and to make a few statements of my own.
To those who say that pedophiles exploit more than one child and that there must be other victims — you are correct. There was at least one more victim but he has not come forward. I cannot speak for him, but for me the exposing of this abuse has evoked nightmares and forced me to relive traumatic events that I had put behind me. Although I have asked to be anonymous, there is no guarantee that my identity will remain protected, and that is a risk I take. If other victims decide to remain silent out of fear or otherwise, that is their right, but it does not make me a liar.
To those who knew or know Rabbi Gordon and respect him, shock and
denial is a reasonable response; however, surely they know that this was
the reaction in the cases of Jerry Sandusky and many Catholic clergy.
It is that very veneer of respect that might enable some of these
infamous pedophiles to commit serial crimes. If it were the janitor, he
would be reported immediately. But when a revered member of society
commits these crimes, victims are confused and are frightened of the
perpetrator’s authority. Their stature also grants these pedophiles a
lesser degree of suspicion. That, too, intimidates victims.
To those who are outraged that these individuals are
being tried in the press, this was the last — and only — resort. Rabbi
Norman Lamm, Y.U,’s former president, admitted that staff who had
improper sexual activity were let go, especially if it was what he
called a “cut-and-dry case.” In my case we reported the activity to Y.U.
and as far as I know they did not investigate further, although I gave
them the name of another victim. That also means they did not try to
evaluate or assist that other student. After so many years, the statute
of limitations has expired. Others have previously pleaded with Y.U. to
investigate past sex abuses but were ignored. The only way this has
gotten any attention was through the media. Whatever you think of the
Forward, the paper’s staffers are not stupid. Trust me that they did
their due diligence, interviewed me a number of times and still took
great risks to publish my account. [....]