Exclusive: Officials substantiate child intercourse abuse allegations at outstanding DC synagogue’s preschool

Officials have substantiated multiple accusations of infant sexual abuse with the aid of a preschool instructor at a distinguished synagogue in Washington, DC, in line with a give up-and-desist letter despatched via the DC superintendent of schooling to the synagogue in June.
The letter says the district’s Child and Family Services Agency located that “more than one infant became a sufferer of sexual abuse by way of the alleged maltreator” at Washington Hebrew Congregation’s preschool.
CNN acquired a replica of the letter via a Freedom of Information Act request.
Founded in 1852, Washington Hebrew Congregation is certainly one of DC’s oldest and maximum distinguished Jewish institutions, attended via the town’s Jewish elites for generations.
But the congregation and its early life education middle were thrown into turmoil considering allegations of child sexual abuse arose remaining August. The cease-and-desist letter is believed to be the first public finding of research into the alleged abuse on the college by way of DC government.
The school allegedly allowed the accused abuser to lead organizations of children to a wooded region out of doors the middle and the toilet and dismissed other workforce individuals’ verbal complaints about the alleged maltreator “disappearing with youngsters for periods of time,” in keeping with the letter.
The middle did now not put in force its coverage prohibiting a group of workers participants from the usage of cellphones on the faculty, which the alleged abuser used to take motion pictures and photographs of kids, consistent with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
The middle’s former director also threatened to reprimand a group of workers participants who complained approximately the alleged abuser, the corporation says.
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s letter instructs Washington Hebrew Congregation to give up and desist from the alleged violations and to comply with a motion plan to accurate them.
In a statement, Washington Hebrew Congregation said that it has engaged outdoor audits to assess its preschool regulations, practices, and tactics, and has carried out “maximum” of the recommendations listed within the nation superintendent’s end-and-desist letter. It also mentioned that the Office of the State Superintendent of Education reissued the preschool’s license to operate in May 2019.
“We are gratified to understand that the stairs already carried out were correct and that we are absolutely licensed to function our toddler care programs yr-round,” the congregation said in a statement to CNN on Monday. “We will preserve paintings cooperatively with OSSE in accomplishing exceptional practices in toddler protection.”

Parents filed in shape in April
In April, the families of eight younger kids filed fit towards the congregation and its former director, D.J. Jensen, alleging that they did not note warnings about the trainer for greater than two years. DC’s Metropolitan Police Department and the district’s attorney standard also are investigating the alleged abuse at the congregation’s Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center.
In May 2019, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education became notified that every other toddler informed a psychologist the alleged abuser touched the child inappropriately, consistent with the organization’s letter.
The mother and father’ lawsuit alleges that the abuser is Jordan Silverman, a former instructor at Washington Hebrew Congregation’s preschool. Silverman, who changed into now not named as a defendant inside the lawsuit, has no longer been charged with any crimes with regards to the alleged abuse and has denied the allegations inside the in shape.
“Mr. Silverman categorically denies accomplishing any beside the point or unlawful contact with children at Washington Hebrew Congregation,” stated his former legal professional, Shawn Sukumar.
Jensen, the middle’s former director, has not responded to a couple of requests for comment.
The quit-and desist letter changed into despatched by means of the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education on June three, with an amended copy following on June 5. It was addressed to Steven Jacober, government director of Washington Hebrew Congregation.
According to the letter, the synagogue’s early youth center didn’t make sure the protection of kids in its care, to properly supervise children and a team of workers and did no longer report the alleged abuse to school officers, as required by regulation.
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s investigation blanketed interviews with Washington Hebrew Congregation (WHC) leaders, multiple web site visits and an assessment of the preschool’s documents and information, according to the letter. The letter does not call Silverman, rather referring time and again to an “alleged maltreator.”
“OSSE’s research revealed that WHC had not safeguarded the health, protection, and properly-being of the youngsters entrusted to their care,” the letter says.