German Rabbi at Center of Controversy Plagiarized His Doctoral Dissertation

"More than 60 pages of Homolka’s 240-page dissertation, “From Essence to Existence. Leo Baeck and Religious Identity as a Problem of Continuity and Change in liberal Jewish and Protestant Theology,” consisted of verbatim translation of a German scholarly article – pages 43 to 106, according to the newspaper.

The doctoral dissertation at Kings College London did not include attribution or acknowledgment of the author, the Protestant German theologian Dorothee Schlenke. Only in 1994, when Homolka published his dissertation as a book in English and German, did he explicitly thank Schlenke, now a professor at the University of Education in Freiburg, the newspaper reported."

"Kings College London removed public access to the dissertation the day that a reporter asked Homolka’s attorney about allegations of plagiarism, the newspaper reported."

https://www.jta.org/2023/02/16/global/german-rabbi-at-center-of-ongoing-scandal-plagiarized-his-dissertation-newspaper-finds

 

I read the article. A Dissertation with a 63-page unattributed direct, verbatim quote? That's lamentable, for two reasons:

(a) Plagiarism, of course, and
(b) The Committee - those who read the dissertation and held the viva voce - didn't spot, suspect or investigate a thing. The degree was awarded.

I think maybe Rabbi Homolka isn't the only one who should be censured, here! Furthermore, I see he's in enough trouble aside from this mess. The report on his (confirmed) abuse of power at Abraham Geiger College, and a current investigation into scientific misconduct. Speaking as a "fashion maven," (hah!) that combination is not a good look on you, Rabbi.

I have only one question - and I don't know whom to ask first - Rabbi Geiger or Kings College London. It's simply this:

"What went wrong, here?"

 

Timer again. Typo: That's Rabbi Homolka, of course. Geiger College was the school he led.

 

A few thoughts.

First, plagiarism does not require intent. If you did it, you did it, even if it was a mistake. (This ain't that.)

Second, dissertations require three things: data collection/generation, data analysis, and a whole lot of writing on each side. It would be easy to plagiarize the first part, particularly the literature review. But the introduction, data collection, data analysis, and impacts of the study would all have to be original, or all plagiarized. One or the other.

Third, what to do? I said above that plagiarism doesn't require intent. But what to do about it sure does. If a researcher made a mistake without the intent to commit academic fraud, such a mistake can be corrected. (It must be.) If it makes a material difference to the research, that must be dealt with, too. But if the researcher intended to defraud, throw the (big) book at him. Dismissal. Retracting other publications. Rescinding the affected degree. Calling him a bad name, even.

 

Yeah it happens. Wasn't there something similar surrounding Martin Luther King Jr.'s dissertation at Boston University? Bottom line is outside academia no one cares.

If you're looking for a classic British detective novel on the subject of academic integrity try Dorothy Sayers' "Gaudy Night."

 

Making it even more important that those inside do.

 

One wonders what possessed him to publish it (in German as well as English). Tempted fate and it didn't go well. His reputation is taking a hit and this adds to the issue. I suppose revocation is a distinct possibility (is there a statute of limitations so to speak?)

 

No. There is no statute, so no limitations.

I don't understand why anyone would do it. Oh, sure, pay for a dissertation, dress it up, and slide it over to an unaccredited-but-legal school to get a doctorate no one will check on.* But this? Why do all that work just to skip over part of it?


*Or, write a book on some birds you're really an expert on and have some guy in Denmark sell you a diploma with zero legal standing for it. At least, back in the day....

 

Right. And German Universities DO revoke degrees - quite a few of them. Couple of articles here.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/22/german-politicians-suffer-higher-degree-of-embarrassment-from-plagiarism-than-from-sex-scandals

German politicians suffer higher degree of embarrassment from plagiarism than from sex scandals.
Great title, but faced with the choice, I'd rather be half of a sex scandal, myself.

And here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guttenberg_plagiarism_scandal

 

IIRC, some referred to Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg as "Dr. of cut-and-paste" and "Baron zu Googleberg" during the scandal. He comes from nobility and his wife is a Countess - and a great-great granddaughter of the first German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

Here's a full bio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl-Theodor_zu_Guttenberg

I'm at a loss to understand why a person of his capabilities would resort to plagiarism. Then again, I don't understand why Rabbi Homolka plagiarized, either. I'd ask the same question in both cases. "What went wrong?"

 

Dr Duck! Such memories!

 

Yes, indeed. Dr. Neil Hayes passed on in 2021. A commemorative bio is here, on the website of the family business, which briefly mentions his Knightsbridge degree, somewhere amid his considerable list of accomplishments.
http://www.hayes-associates.co.nz/about/

 

That was always Levicoff's point. Why sully yourself with not one, but two degree mill purchases? Neil bought a fake PhD from a diploma mill, showed up here talking about it, and when he was shown his effort was a fraud, went out and did it again! He replaced the first with the second--as if that was an upgrade--and went down swinging.

He was awarded the Queens Service Medal for his community service. It is not a knighthood, nor is there a direct equivalent in the British awards system, but it is a high honor, at least as significant as an MBE or OBE. It comes with the post-nominal QSO and is a really big deal. But in these parts, no one wanted to hear about it because he was trading on it all to get a fake doctorate. Twice.

 

deleted - j.

 

Says here: "Post-Nominals QSM." It says elsewhere in the text that the Queen's Service Medal is related to the Queen's Service Order (QSO) but does not say it is the same thing. No biggie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Service_Medal

And as to the rest - perhaps "de mortuis nil nisi bonum" should apply here. (Say only good things about the deceased.) I'm sure, Rich, it's an unpleasant thought - the prospect of someone quoting Levicoff's diatribes about you, after your demise. And I'm not suggesting or hoping that's any time soon, of course. I'd like you to celebrate your 120th - and for me to be here to read about it!

I see no reason to inflict Levicoff once again on Neil, who posted here as fnhayes, as you kindly reminded me a while ago. Fact is, I see no reason to inflict Levicoff on anyone - alive or deceased. (Though I'd make exceptions for Vladimir Putin and / or Donald Trump.) And if I learn of Dr. Steve's demise at some point, when I'm maybe 120 - I won't say anything adverse about him. Bygones are just that. We're all DI members.

 

And from the Family website: "In memoriam of Dr F.Neil Hayes QSM 1938~2021"

 

IIRC, degrees are serious enough in Germany that having your degree revoked can lead to criminal charges. Being called a Doktor is serious business, whether that's a medical doctor or a literary one.

 

Hmmm. On my next trip to Deutschland, I'll remember not to pack my "Doktor der Philosophie" diploma from "Die Alte und Freie
Universität von Johann," then.

 

What I like about Levicoff is that his posts are never a waste of time. The man is no fool.

 

Long standing feuds lend interest to any society.