Steven M. Cohen Resigns Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Jewish sociologist Steven M. Cohen. Image by Wikipedia
One of America’s leading Jewish sociologists has resigned from a Reform Jewish seminary amid sexual misconduct allegations.
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion announced Wednesday that professor Steven M. Cohen had resigned. The college had opened a Title IX investigation against Cohen after several women accused him of sexual misconduct.
The allegations span decades and come from women who have worked with Cohen or associated professionally with him, as detailed an investigative article by The New York Jewish Week. They include inappropriate touching and grabbing, sexual propositions and advances, and inappropriate sexual remarks.
Five women in the article said Cohen sexually harassed them, while three others accused him of other kinds of sexual misconduct. He didn’t dispute some of the alleged conduct.
Cohen is also the director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive, an electronic database based at Stanford University.
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
