Israeli migrant Heeb teacher arrested for molesting heeblets

[Rasp]

Heeb teacher arrested for molesting heeblets

El Cerrito teacher arrested in connection with lewd acts

A teacher at a small private school in the El Cerrito hills was jailed last week on suspicion of molesting a student, police disclosed over the weekend.

Achi Ben Shalom, 52, of El Cerrito, posted $100,000 bail from County Jail in Martinez on Friday after his arrest the previous evening on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a child.

Detectives revealed few details of the case, both to preserve elements of the criminal investigation and to protect the privacy of the victim, who attends class at the close-knit Tehiyah Day School, which has about 200 students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Police said a series
of incidents at the campus spanning about one month made the student, a girl, progressively more uncomfortable until she confided in her mother, who immediately called police.

The incident that resulted in Ben Shalom's arrest occurred in his campus office after school hours, police said.

Reached Saturday by telephone, Ben Shalom said, "I deny all allegations." He did not want to elaborate without consulting an attorney.

Police have not yet brought their case to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office for consideration of criminal charges.

Detectives quickly developed evidence corroborating the student's story, El Cerrito police Detective Don Horgan said, and arrested Ben Shalom at his home about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Police also searched the house for additional evidence.

Police found no evidence that other students may have been molested, Horgan said, but continue to investigate. School officials notified all parents of the arrest Friday evening, police said, and assur
ed them that their children were not at risk.

Tehiyah is a Jewish community day school in the 2600 block of Tassajara Avenue that teaches from a Judaic cultural perspective. School officials could not be reached during the weekend for comment.

According to the school's Web site, Ben Shalom has taught there since 1985 as Hebrew teacher, choir director and band leader. A native of Israel, he founded a band and has released three albums of Jewish music.

"My musical activities are geared toward creating the sense of belonging to the whole -- the community, as it supports us with our quest for a religious experience," Ben Shalom is quoted as saying in his biography on the site. "At the same time, I find ways through music to help us find our own unique voice."

Ben Shalom's own Web site includes information about his band, Adama, which plays at community events and weddings around the Bay Area. The site advertises a party for the releas
e of his third album, "Hebrew Love Songs," at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on the night as his arrest.

[Whitebear]

Achi Ben Shalom - Bio

Achi Ben Shalom

Achi Ben Shalom (achibenshalom.com) is a music teacher, singer/guitarist, choir director, a song leader and a band leader. Born and raised in Israel, Achi studied guitar and taught music in Tel-Aviv, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983 and continued teaching music and Jewish studies and directing bands and choirs. He is the founder and leader of the band ADAMA, ..more

[The Bobster]

I wonder how much hs jailmates will like kosher meat.