Upset Over Albany Column
The August 19 Albany Beat column by Marc Gronich was an absolute outrage. The piece was titled “Orthodox Rabbis Urge Leniency In Child Porn Case.” It chronicled the efforts of rabbis and community leaders in Albany, New York, to help Michael Isaacson, who was convicted of distribution and possession of child pornography. Isaacson admitted to distributing the smut over the Internet and possessing over 1,000 image files and 30 video files.
Child pornography is a particularly heinous crime. It records young children involved in graphic and deviant sexual acts for the prurient enjoyment of a degenerate audience. The children who are used and abused in this manner carry a lifelong burden of emotional, mental, and spiritual injury. They are damaged forever.
Isaacson apparently became an observant Jew after his indictment two years ago. Certainly the rabbis who wrote letters on his behalf were well intentioned. In their minds they were engaging in chesed, in helping a fellow Jew. They asked for leniency in sentencing. His supporters said he is “kind, gentle, introverted, troubled and a good person.” All thought that with the proper rehabilitation Isaacson would “return as a positive member of our community and society.”
The reality, however, is quite sobering. The recidivism rate of sex offenders involving crimes against children is very high. Nevade State Prison psychologist Dr. Mace Knapp is quoted as saying, “The serial killer has the same personality characteristics as the sex offender against children.”
Child pornography is perhaps the ultimate sex crime aimed at children. The ability to distribute in volume through the Internet opens up horrific opportunities for abuse. It is quite disturbing that at no point, did the column discuss the children involved or their lives that were forever broken as a result of their participation in these pictures and videos.
The focus and consideration were solely aimed at Michael Isaacson and at accommodating his many needs. There was not one word of the victims of this crime, children who were robbed of their innocence, robbed of their childhoods, robbed of their futures.
Susan Birnbaum
(Via e-Mail)
Editor’s Response: Albany Beat is a roundup of state political news. It is not an opinion column and as such does not reflect the views of The Jewish Press or the writer. In this particular case, the column’s focus was on those well-intentioned individuals who sought leniency for Mr. Isaacson.