A rabbi was detained in the United States for trying to meet a 14-year-old for sexual intercourse

According to authorities, Shacktman corresponded with an undercover police officer whom he believed to be a 14-year-old teenager. After the correspondence, the rabbi arrived at where he believed the meeting was to take place and was detained.

Shactman is charged with attempted second-degree rape. On August 28, he appeared in court, pleaded not guilty and was placed in custody.

The FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security also participated in the New York State Police operation. A total of eight men were detained during the operation.

After Shacktman’s arrest, the Reform congregation Temple Emanu-El removed him from all positions and banned him from entering the synagogue grounds. The community said it was shocked by the charges against him, but stressed that he has the right to the presumption of innocence.

In the past, Shactman lived for about two years in Kafr Qar, Israel, where he was engaged in social activities as part of a program to develop relations between Jews and Arabs.