Teaneck Rabbi Pleads Not Guilty in Sex Abuse Case

A Teaneck Rabbi pleaded not guilty Wednesday after being who were staying at his home as part of a scholarship program.

Uzi Rivlin, 63, of Lindbergh Boulevard, was arrested Tuesday after Bergen County investigators learned that two 13-year-old boys had separately reported the abuse to Israeli police, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said in a statement.

“His reaction was confusion, shock and denial that any of this could have ever happened,” defense attorney Howard Simmons said of his client.

According to prosecutors, the two teens told Israeli police they were abused while staying at Rivlin’s Teaneck home over the summer of 2009 and 2010. Israeli authorities alerted the FBI, who contacted Bergen County investigators.

Simmons said prosecutors must bring the accusers to the United States to make their case.

“They have to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, which will be very difficult with these accusers living in Israel,” Simmons said. “They have to be secured and brought to the United States.”

The accusers stayed with Rivlin briefly before attending summer camp as part of the scholarship program he helped run for disadvantaged Israeli youth, Simmons said.

Rivlin remained in custody Wednesday afternoon, but Simmons said his client would likely post bond tomorrow. He was ordered held on $175,000 bail and had to surrender his Israeli passport.

He faces two counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and two counts of child endangerment. The case now heads to a grand jury.