Reform rabbi arrested in US on charges of attempting to meet a minor
Rabbi Peter Schaktman, 66, was arrested in New York State during a sting operation targeting online sex offenders. Authorities allege he corresponded with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old and arrived at a meeting spot. Schaktman, who previously lived in Kafr Qara, denies the charges and has been suspended from his synagogue.
A New York State Police sting operation targeting the online sexual exploitation of minors has resulted in the arrest of eight men, including a veteran Reform rabbi. Rabbi Peter B. Schaktman, of New Hartford, is suspected of second-degree attempted rape. According to authorities, he engaged in correspondence with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, but who was actually an undercover officer.
The investigation moved beyond digital communication when Schaktman arrived at a location where he expected to meet the minor, leading to his arrest by law enforcement. On August 28, Schaktman appeared at the Onondaga County Court, where he denied the charges and was subsequently held at the county correctional facility. The operation was conducted with the assistance of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
The Temple Emanu-El community in Utica, where Schaktman served as rabbi, responded immediately to the news. The synagogue announced his suspension from all duties and prohibited him from entering the premises.
"Temple Emanu-El is shocked and deeply troubled by the serious criminal charges concerning Rabbi Peter Schaktman," the community stated.
The synagogue announced it would cooperate with law enforcement, conduct an internal review, and consult with relevant Reform Jewish institutions regarding ethical and professional procedures. The community also emphasized that Schaktman is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Decades in the Reform movement and time in Israel
Schaktman’s career spans decades within the Reform movement. According to his biography, which has since been removed from the Temple Emanu-El website, he was ordained in 1989 at Hebrew Union College. Over the years, he served in various communities, including Houston, Lake Charles (Louisiana), New York City, and Honolulu. For nine years, he also worked at the Reform headquarters in Manhattan as a consultant for program development and synagogue management.
Schaktman also has a distinct chapter in his past involving Israel. Before pursuing the rabbinate, he lived for approximately two years in the Arab village of Kafr Qara as part of the Interns for Peace program, where he engaged in community work focused on Jewish-Arab relations.
