THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
The name of a strictly Orthodox man who abused a schoolgirl has been removed from one of the community’s largest public menorahs.
Organisers of the Chanucah in the Square event confirmed they had agreed to cover the plaque carrying Menachem Mendel Levy’s name once they were made aware of it.
Father-of-six Levy was sentenced to three years in jail for two counts of sexual assault in 2013.
But his name had remained on the giant Chanuciah used for event in London’s Trafalgar Square for the past three years despite his conviction.
Yehudis Goldsobel was 14 years old when Levy first abused her. Following his conviction she waived her anonymity to tell her story in the JC.
Levy, a builder, had designed, built and presented the Chanuciah before his conviction.
Ms Goldsobel said she felt “uncomfortable” when she attended the celebration last Thursday.
In a Facebook post, she wrote: “I absolutely love Chanucah and tend to participate in communal events and lightings. The big event in Trafalgar Square has a fantastic atmosphere and vibe. Yet the actual Menorah was designed by the person who sexually abused me as a teenager.
Menachem Levy arriving at Wood Green Crown Court during his trial. (Picture: Central News)
Only thing that surprises me here is that it was another Jew he abused and not goyim. Goyim are fair game but to abuse another Jew – thats why he had his day in court. If it was Jew against goyim it would never have seen the court probably. Keep up the good work.
Too bad they removed his name. It should have stayed there and the fact of whom the menorah repesent shoudl have been well publicized