It was also distressing to know that Rabbi David Kaye was entrapped in a journalistic "sting" operation.

Journalists are not law enforcers. Investigative reporting is one thing; luring someone into wrongdoing is another.

The methods used on the Dateline segment are disturbing, and may have wrongly ruined the lives of many. It is sad that a respected news organization such as NBC News associates itself with such seamy methods.

Television should not serve as judge and jury, and the Dateline piece, put together in cooperation with Perverted Justice, a vigilante group, led viewers to conclusions that may be not be accurate.

At this writing, we have no indication that Kaye used his former position (he resigned early last week) at the Rockville-based Panim: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, a teen educational group, or at his jobs anywhere else for untoward purposes.

We hope that remains the case, although we understand that it may take victims some time to come forward. Parents and other youth leaders must talk to our youngsters, letting them know it is safe to discuss any such experiences they might have had.

Thus far, Panim is taking the right steps with an internal investigation, and other Jewish organizations that work with youths seem to be rallying around the group.

Meanwhile, it is unclear yet if there will be a police investigation into the allegations raised on the Dateline piece.

But, if any of what we saw is even remotely true, we urge Kaye to seek proper psychological therapy, and we urge his colleagues in the Jewish community to help him to help himself.

Pedophilia is an illness, and must be treated as such. But our compassion extends only so far as to those who are willing to admit they have a problem and seek help for it.

This painful incident can serve as a needed catalyst for all in the Jewish community ‹ clergy, lay and professional leaders ‹ to keep a sharp eye out for sexual abuse of youth and to address it promptly, if and when it occurs.