fbpx

Mikvah-Peeping Rabbi Set to Be Released Early From Prison

[additional-authors]
March 31, 2020
Photo by Mikvah Esther

Rabbi Barry Freundel, a once-prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi in Washington, D.C., who was convicted for secretly videotaping women in his synagogue’s mikvah, is scheduled to be released early from prison.

First, however, an assistant U.S. attorney is asking his victims whether they object to Freundel getting his freedom on April 15.

Freundel, 68, who began serving his prison term in May 2015, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years after pleading guilty to 52 counts of voyeurism, a charge that carries up to a year’s incarceration. He was due out toward the end of 2021.

A message this week to Freundel’s victims from Amy Zubrensky of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, said Freundel had accrued “good time” credit for “classes and/or other rehabilitative conduct.” She said he may be released even earlier because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Zubrensky said she wanted to hear from victims before deciding whether to oppose early release. She must register any objections by Friday.

JTA has reached out to Zubrensky and to Freundel’s attorney in 2015, Jeff Harris, for comment.

For at least six months and on dozens of occasions, JTA has asked Keena Blackmon, the spokeswoman for the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, for information on Freundel’s date of release. She has never returned calls.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

The Fourth of July and ‘Four Score’

This July Fourth, members of the Jewish faith can take particular pride in one of their rabbis likely inspiring America’s most beloved president’s famous phrase.

‘As a Jew,’ I Love America

America is our home. Our flawed, beautiful, battered, and still-standing home. We don’t need to agree with everything in it to love it. 

Life Lessons at the DMV

A few weeks ago I traveled to the building made of cement and despair that is called the DMV, to take my Behind-the-Wheel Driving Test.

Tikkun Olam and Iran

Why haven’t Tikkun Olam advocates, particularly, if not exclusively, within the Jewish community, spoken out against the Iranian regime as part of their social action agenda?

Schumer Flips on Antisemitism

To prove his loyalty to his party, and no doubt to fend off challenges from Mamdani supporters (such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), Sen. Schumer has chosen to join them rather than fight them.

NYC Muslim Mayor Blues

If the Democratic Party retains its time-honored hold on the city electorate, the next Hizzoner will be an avowed Jew-hater.

An Imaginary Journey to the Wedding of the Century

Given my insecurities about the invitation, I decided that instead of my usual schmoozing, I would do lots of observing, like an anthropologist studying a species of human beings I rarely encounter– filthy rich people who are not Jewish.

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.