Rabbi Yizhak Meir Sabo also has served Tiferet Israel as its spiritual leader.
By Sharon Wisch-Ray
April 2, 2025
Editor’s Note:
It is never easy when one of our beloved Jewish institutions experiences a serious crisis as the one that follows. However, given the nature of the allegations, we believe that it is the TJP’s job and in the community’s best interest to have all the facts.
DALLAS — Rabbi Yizhak Meir Sabo, the director of Jewish Life at Akiba Yavneh Academy, was arrested by Dallas police on a felony charge of indecency with a minor, the school confirmed in an email to its community Wednesday.
The arrest follows an allegation brought to school officials on March 27. In an email sent that same day, Akiba Yavneh administrators notified parents and staff of an ongoing investigation involving a member of the staff, without identifying the individual or the nature of the allegation. The Texas Jewish Post was included in the email distribution.
“We have immediately taken steps to initiate an investigation and are in contact with the appropriate authorities,” the March 27 email stated. “While an investigation is underway, this individual will not be permitted on campus.”
On Wednesday, AYA sent a second email to the school community which included the Texas Jewish Post. Raymie Venable, AYA’s chief academic officer, confirmed that the individual involved is Rabbi Sabo and that the charge stems from the allegation the school first received last week. Venable said the school placed Rabbi Sabo on administrative leave as soon as the allegation came to light and reported the matter to Child Protective Services and local law enforcement.
“We prohibited Rabbi Sabo from coming to campus, attending school events, conducting school business or contacting students, parents and staff,” Venable wrote.
Venable also disclosed that since the initial communication, additional families have come forward with “similar concerns.” She did not provide details, citing the privacy of those involved, but called the allegations “shocking and serious.”
The Dallas Police Department has indicated that the allegations received so far do not involve students or staff in the school’s Early Childhood Program or Lower School.
In addition to its own school counselor, the school has enlisted Jewish Family Service to provide support for students and families and has named two attorneys — Ephraim “Fry” Wernick of Vinson & Elkins and a school trustee and former federal prosecutor, and LeElle Slifer of Winston & Strawn, who is an Akiba Yavneh parent — to conduct an internal investigation. The effort will be overseen by a committee of the school’s board of trustees.
“This remains an active law enforcement matter and we continue to learn more information,” Venable said. “Our primary focus right now is to ensure the safety and well-being of all of the students, families and staff that are part of the AYA community.”
Rabbi Sabo is also the spiritual leader of Tiferet Israel Congregation. According to an email sent Wednesday to the synagogue’s congregation and the TJP, synagogue officials learned of the investigation March 27 from AYA. An emergency meeting of the executive committee was convened. Rabbi Sabo was asked to ” cease all responsibilities while Tiferet Israel attempted to learn more about the allegations against him,” according to the email.
On Wednesday, the synagogue learned of Rabbi Sabo’s arrest and he was put on unpaid administrative leave.
“He will not be allowed on Tiferet Israel’s premises, nor will he be allowed to conduct any business related to Tiferet Israel,” the email stated.
Community members with relevant information are encouraged to contact the school, investigators or law enforcement directly. Contact details for school officials and detectives were included in AYA’s communication.
Anyone with relevant information may contact Chief Academic Officer Raymie Venable (rvenable@akibyavneh.org or (214) 295-3420), school investigators Fry Wernick ( ewernick@velaw.com or (202) 639-6730) LeElle Slifer (lslifer@winston.com or (214) 453-6431) or Detectives Michael Vaughn ((214) 275-1301) or Kristen King at the Dallas Police Department (214) 275-1303).
Akiba Yavneh Academy, located in North Dallas, serves students from early childhood through 12th grade.
