Reform Rabbi Arrested in Undercover Sting Operation for Child Sex Offenses

A sting operation by the New York State Police targeting online child sexual exploitation has led to the arrest of eight men, including a prominent Reform rabbi. Rabbi Peter B. Shaktman of New Hartford is accused of attempted second-degree rape after allegedly corresponding with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, who was in fact an undercover officer. Authorities report that Shaktman not only corresponded but also traveled to a location where he expected to meet the minor, leading to his arrest by law enforcement. He was brought before a court on August 28, pleaded not guilty, and is being held in the county jail.

The operation was conducted with assistance from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Following the revelation of his arrest, Shaktman's congregation, Temple Emanu-El in Utica, immediately suspended him from all his duties and banned him from entering the premises. The congregation expressed deep shock and distress over the charges, pledging full cooperation with law enforcement and the prosecution. They also announced an internal review and consultation with relevant bodies of the Reform Jewish movement regarding ethical and professional proceedings, while emphasizing Shaktman's presumption of innocence.

Shaktman has a long career within the Reform movement, having been ordained in 1989. His past roles include serving congregations in various U.S. cities and working at the Reform movement's headquarters in Manhattan for nine years. Notably, he also spent two years in Israel, participating in the Interns for Peace program and engaging in community work focused on Jewish-Arab relations, residing in the Arab village of Kfar Kara during that time.

In a separate but similar incident in August 2025, Tom Artemy Alexandrovich, a senior official in Israel's National Cyber Directorate, was arrested in Nevada during an undercover operation targeting online sex offenders. He allegedly believed he was corresponding with a 15-year-old girl and attempted to arrange a sexual encounter near Las Vegas. Alexandrovich was arrested, released on bail, and returned to Israel. This case became complicated when Israeli authorities initially stated he was merely questioned, contradicting Nevada court documents that confirmed his arrest.