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Readers,
I am in communication with Mr. Pasik Esq., he is spending his own resources trying to institute various laws and programs to protect our children and vulnerable adults from sex abuse. I have done my due dilligence on this gentleman; he has an impeccable reputation in the legal as well as the Jewish community. I am urging members of our community to assist him in this noble and much needed effort.
I'm a lawyer, and I've been active in trying to do something about the problem of sex abuse in our community. In person, on the telephone, and by numerous letters and e-mails with all of the major frum organizations, I've been trying to accomplish two things:
1. Criminal background checks of all employees and volunteers working in yeshivas/day schools;
2. Torah U'mesorah having an internal registry of people who are unfit to work in our mosdos, because of a history of violence or sex abuse.
In May 2003, Torah U'Mesorah had a seminar on the problem of sex abuse, and some of the speakers said that the concept of a registry has been endorsed, but nothing has yet been done.
I got a boost in May 2005, when the RCA at its Convention passed a Resolution that I proposed and drafted, which endorses my two proposals. You can read it on their website, rabbis.org.
At this point, I've written letters to the Governor, and leaders of the Assembly and State Senate, asking for a new statute (law) that would require criminal background checks in all nonpublic schools, i.e., yeshivas, day schools. As I state in my letter, 42 out of 50 states require their public schools to perform background checks; 10 states require their nonpublic schools to do background checks; without compulsion of law, many nonpublic schools and volunteer youth groups are doing background checks, e.g., all Catholic schools, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Little League of America, etc. Only we Jews aren't doing this.
Public support for my proposal would help, and if you, or someone you know, or any other serious person reading this blog would like to invite me to speak somewhere, I am available.
Finally, I hope to form an association of yeshiva/day school parents and friends that will push this proposal, and also explore other, new ways to make our schools a better and safe place for our children. Again, all interested persons can contact me at my e-mail address below. I do have some specific ideas in my mind. I particularly need somebody with computer skills to set up a website, which will include some of my letters on this issue; and I also need lawyers who can set up a nonprofit corporation, eligible for tax deductions.
Kol tuv.
Elliot B. Pasik, Esq.
Long Beach, New York
efpasik@aol.com
I am in communication with Mr. Pasik Esq., he is spending his own resources trying to institute various laws and programs to protect our children and vulnerable adults from sex abuse. I have done my due dilligence on this gentleman; he has an impeccable reputation in the legal as well as the Jewish community. I am urging members of our community to assist him in this noble and much needed effort.
I'm a lawyer, and I've been active in trying to do something about the problem of sex abuse in our community. In person, on the telephone, and by numerous letters and e-mails with all of the major frum organizations, I've been trying to accomplish two things:
1. Criminal background checks of all employees and volunteers working in yeshivas/day schools;
2. Torah U'mesorah having an internal registry of people who are unfit to work in our mosdos, because of a history of violence or sex abuse.
In May 2003, Torah U'Mesorah had a seminar on the problem of sex abuse, and some of the speakers said that the concept of a registry has been endorsed, but nothing has yet been done.
I got a boost in May 2005, when the RCA at its Convention passed a Resolution that I proposed and drafted, which endorses my two proposals. You can read it on their website, rabbis.org.
At this point, I've written letters to the Governor, and leaders of the Assembly and State Senate, asking for a new statute (law) that would require criminal background checks in all nonpublic schools, i.e., yeshivas, day schools. As I state in my letter, 42 out of 50 states require their public schools to perform background checks; 10 states require their nonpublic schools to do background checks; without compulsion of law, many nonpublic schools and volunteer youth groups are doing background checks, e.g., all Catholic schools, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Little League of America, etc. Only we Jews aren't doing this.
Public support for my proposal would help, and if you, or someone you know, or any other serious person reading this blog would like to invite me to speak somewhere, I am available.
Finally, I hope to form an association of yeshiva/day school parents and friends that will push this proposal, and also explore other, new ways to make our schools a better and safe place for our children. Again, all interested persons can contact me at my e-mail address below. I do have some specific ideas in my mind. I particularly need somebody with computer skills to set up a website, which will include some of my letters on this issue; and I also need lawyers who can set up a nonprofit corporation, eligible for tax deductions.
Kol tuv.
Elliot B. Pasik, Esq.
Long Beach, New York
efpasik@aol.com
posted by Paul Mendlowitz | 12:55 PM
113 Comments:
Mr. Pasik, Boruch Hashem for people like you and UOJ.
hello,
i agree completely...its about time that people like mr pasik and UOJ finally show the dirty little secrets going on in the religious communities-and dont think for a moment that this doesnt affects less religious jews-and plays into the goyim's stereotypes that all jews give a hoot about is money,power and stauts...i have read this blog for a while now..and the abuses...monetary,sexual..and otherwise...just have me shaking my head.
I also agree - I want to feel comfortable sending my grandchildren in cheder & yeshiva. For me, its not about "exposing dirty little secrets" - that's only the means to an end - making our schools safe and hiring teachers and rabeim who present a model of yidishkeit our children can endorse. I wouldn't worry about the goyim too much right now - most Catholic parents won't let their teenage sons go to confession with a priest.
"Only we Jews aren't doing this." -- not true... I know of "out of town" private jewish schools that require comprehensive criminal background checks (fingerprinting, etc.) of all school employees, not just teachers... The fact that Heimeshe schools in NY are reluctant to jump on this bandwagon is an indictment of our leadership. That such a "no brainer" has not yet been implemented is beyond me. Kudos, counsellor.
It will happen in one of two ways:
1. Parents demand it.
2. NYS Legislature passes legislation.
This is probably the only good thing that's come from this site,but a good thing it is.
What are you waiting for? If you set up an organization, with financial transparency and a sound plan of action, I will donate the first $1,000.
UOJ,
I am an admirer of yours since you began blogging. Great work, I work among 350 people who read you everyday, jews and non jews, you have the balls that we all admire.
By far and away the best jewish blog who actually does someting important.
When you set up the corporation, post it, i will raise $5000.
mazel tov to you and mr. Pasik
Way to go UOJ its about time something was done
Mr. Pasik:
Kudos to you for attempting to register orthodox deviants in order to keep them away from our children.
However, the major issue facing our community is the propensity to sweep these problems under the carpet. Yeshivas don’t hire convicted sex offenders, they merely cover up the actions of those that should be convicted.
How would you propose dealing with perverts who have not yet been convicted, such as Kolko of Torah Temima?
Mr. Pasik,
Let us know who at Tora Umesora you have been talking to.
Hitting these organizations in their pocket is a language they understand.
Picketing their next event or dinner is not a complicated procedure.
Set up the corp, raise some money for full page ads in the "Goyishe", Jewish weeklies, that is certain to get their attention.
I know this blog is read by thousands of Jews, post your stuff here, every shul will be talking about it.
Mr. Pasik;
Set up that organization. You will be receiving money contributions from parents. This blog is a great way to get the message out.
You are doing a great thing. Please keep us posted.
Mr. Pasik;
What about Agudah? Have you approached them?
The Agudah does not support initiatives that are not their own. Period. They will only comply if they can control the whole idea and sabotage it as if it were their doing.
Mr. Pasik,
Interesting that all the organizations you named would do nothing.
My fear is that they are well aware of the amount of people that have been accused of this heinous behavior, and are concerned that they may be in their organizations as well.
Look at the amount of time it took the OU to get rid of Boruch Lanner; years.
Therefore don't expect them to cooperate, they all have childrens programs, and if they look, God knows what they may find.
I would like to see a list of names of the people you contacted at the various organizations. I know just about all the "leaders", and have ways of reaching them and getting their attention.
This will not be easy or quick; we will make changes.
Kol Hakovod!
Mr. Pasik,
Please expect the letters to find it's way to the media once you fax them out to anyone.
I would suggest that you wait until you are ready to have them publicized before sending them out.
Mr. Pasik:
You seem focused on creating a nonprofit entity. Why do you need contributions? What expenses do you intend incurring?
Is someone suggesting that our Yeshiva's refuse to spend a few dollars doing a criminal background check before hiring their teachers? Sounds absurd to me.
the rca is an irrelevant organization.
torah umesorah protects their own, whatever they say in public.
the only logical recourse is uoj.
The board members of yeshivas, the Agudah, etc. are all parents themselves. You suggest that we need another nonprofit in order to raise money for yeshivas, the yeshivas are aggressively raising funds themselves. Any yeshiva that is willing to open its books has professionals willing to assist them in their management; the problem is with the many yeshivas that won’t open their books.
In short, I don't think we need yet another organization to drain our resources. We need fresh blood in our existing organizations. Perhaps we need the media to expose a few glaring examples of the criminal negligence that allows our children to be exposed to perverts and lunatics. Embarrass the powers that be and they will be forced to take their heads out of the sand and join the 21st century.
If you are sincere in your wish to fix a dangerously broken system, do so from within the existing infrastructure. The number of capable, levelheaded, influential and substantial members of our community who are disgusted with those who have seized the mantle of leadership, will shock you. These are the people who will fuel change; from within the system.
anon 2:11 am
How do you fix margulies and kolko from "within the system"?
Mr. Pasik;
Good ideas to start with. Let us know which periodical your article will appear in...look forward to reading it.
Your item # 4. Exercise. Good luck with this one. Crying need for this but you will meet stiff resistance as this is considered Bitul Torah and Bitul Z'Man.
Never mind the fact that our children are getting fatter by the day on junk-food high-calorie diets and no exercise.
Anonymous said...
anon 2:11 am
How do you fix margulies and kolko from "within the system"?
8:01 AM
________________________________________
Get rid of them.
RE: Lack of Exercise and Proper Diet:
We are rapidly becoming a nation of "Big Fleishigs".
Mr. Pasik -- you are correct... The private schools to which I was referring are in one of those states that require background checks... I was unaware of the requirement prior to you pointing it out.
As long as I see Margolis running a school, as long as I see Koko as a rebbe, this is all talk.
Mr. Pasik before you waste your time i want to see what you do about these 2 criminals.
if you cant handle this, you are wasting our time and our money. these guys are prime examples of why I feel nothing will change. all the organizations and rosh yeshivas know about these criminals one a vicious child molester the other a filthy scoundrel and thief, and a man who has harbored this molester for years and years.
here's your chance to show us what can be done to what the frum world is suffering with. get some action here, you become a hero, you cant do anything here, your spinning your wheels.
Mr. Pasek,
I agree the above anon. As long as the organizations and rosh yeshivas leave Margolis and Kolko in their positions, we know that they themselves are corrupt.
They have conventions and dinners talking about tznius and other issues when two criminals are right under their noses and they do nothing.
In order for us to have confidence that change is possible, do the obvious get rid of these two bums, if not i too believe you are wasting your time.
I will be happy to make a major donation and so are many of my friends who have read this blog, but not until we are convinced that all these guys are just not covering up for each other.
I agree with you that they have to go but you'll get to the promised land, IMO, much faster if you start at the bottom and work your way up.
Get this registry in place, eliminate the ability of molesters and pervs to get into our yehiva system as employees.
You won't pin Kolko's shmekel to the wall unless and until the parents of these abused kids step front and center and file charges. Till then it's all heresay and unsubstantiated.
As one of the posters here has indicated, yeshiva administrations are aiding and abetting these low-lifes.
I'm sure Mr. Pasik is very familiar with this.
As far as margulies is concerned, none of our "leaders" will do diddly-squat. They have no beitzim and no doubt are covering their own peccadiloes. Hit him in the wallet where he'll feel it. Get his big money baalabatim to pressure him to open the books and accountability, otherwise they close their wallets.
Mr. Pasik,
We, as baalei batim have been spending huge amounts of money to support these mosdos and yeshivas.
We sit on their boards and sit and sit...as soon as we say something that sounds progressive all hell breaks loose.
Take your own example, these organizations agree with you on something so fundamental; protect our children from abuse. What have they done????
Therefore change from within is not possible as long as there is no vaad controlled by respected lay people that have access to the books and records, and the ability to challenge the "owners" of the yeshivas.
Correct, UO;
Tough nut to crack.
Mr. Pasik,
Simple question for you.
Do the umbrella organizations of the yeshivas have a fiduciary responsibilty to their contributors?
If one was to file suit against Torah Umesorah or the OU for example, for breach of their fiduciary obligations, would that lawsuit have any merit?
Mr. Pasik,
Why not a letter to Torah U'mesorah putting them on notice that a legal proceeding may be forthcoming?
They ultimately would be forced to respond in depositions.
They have ignored you and us for years, time to get tough big time.
I will contribute to the legal expenses of such a lawsuit.
Shame on Shia Fishman, Avi Shulman and Company. What's their excuse now, Elya Svei is out of the picture?
Is Sheldon Silver friend or foe?
I agree that the legislative route is best right now. Just imagine if you could get Shelly Silver's ear and support on this.
Prediction: This exchange will go on for a while and then die.
Suggestion: The Forward is a well-respected Jewish newspaper that has no problem exposing serious issues within the Orthodox community. An investigative article in the Forward will grab the attention of the mass media and lead to political action.
The results will be instantaneous. The “leaders” will react and heads will roll, including Kolko and company.
UOJ, please contact the Forward and point their noses in the direction of this particular issue on your Blog.
Mr. Pasik:
Is there a statute issue on child molestation?
Mr. Pasik, are you willing to take a pro bono case and be the lead attorney in a lawsuit against Kolko and Margolies? If yes, there are many victims who will cooperate and the action will blow this issue wide open. Look at the result of the Tendler affair publicity.
UOJ, Mr. Pasik, and fellow Yiden,
I am employed at one of the "umbrella" organizations you have referred to. "They" feel sufficiently comfortable that the clout these organizations carry with the politicians will protect them from any legislation that could bring harm to the private school sector.
They watch with amazement how the metziza b'peh issue is going their way where the city has stepped back from protecting their citizens because of the Orthodox political clout.
Mr. Pasik, I am on the inside, we know who UOJ is, he's worked with his chashuva family for years on this and many other issues and got practically nowhere, with all their money.
Somebody needs to go to jail, that's the only language they will understand.
As long as well known molesters and their protectors are out and about, no legislative change will mean anything.
By all means, no harm no foul, someone needs to get nailed, lawsuits have to be filed.....
Tendler has been doing his thing for fourteen years that we know about...he's still a rabbi of a prominent kehilla.
Good luck; take my word, ten thousand letters are not worth one lawsuit.
Chaim Dovid Zweibel reads UOJ before he washes nagle vasser. He understands the power of this one family and the fear that a lawsuit is coming with Mr. Pasik or without. The head of the Pirchei, Shimon Grama, is an accused child molester, was kicked out of yeshivas and summer camps and interfaces daily with hundreds of teens. Go figure. Is there an honest man in any frum organization?
Mr. Pasik:
This is Anon 5:05 responding. I am not a “yenem.” I am actively involved in communal work and serve on Boards. I also reserve a healthy dose of skepticism for self-serving activists. Your unwillingness to offer pro bono legal assistance coupled with your ambiguous reference to the sizable awards won by lawyers in the Catholic abuse cases leaves me wondering.
I am well aware of the damage caused by abusive and deviant educators. My point is that your goal of founding a new organization to battle this scourge is ill minded and bound to fail. The unfortunate reality is that it will most likely fail without much notice.
We live in an open democracy with a legal system that sometimes offers justice. While I abhor Sam’s simple minded entreaty that I
“please stick to Mr. Pasik's ideas and way of thinking, and keep your sinas chinum to yourself.”
I do understand his mentality. I disagree with his thinking. He and ilk believe that anyone who criticizes our community is an enemy. Not so. Our community is far from perfect and in many ways needs to learn about basic decency from society at large. The recent Chasidic battles are a case in point.
The Forward is a highly reputable newspaper with a mostly secular Jewish focus that is manned by reporters who have solid American values. As such, they are insulated from our Community’s political influence and do not share our baseless awe for religious leaders who are scoundrels. Lacking this awe they are well positioned to expose the abusers and their protectors (eg. Kolko and Margolies.) As a well respected publication (as opposed to the Jewish Press, Yated, Hamodia, etc.) an investigative article in the Forward will prove more powerful than the political might of Margolies, Agudah, Torah Umesorah, etc, all of whom have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. No politician, and as you must know the DA’s are politicians, wants to be seen as someone allowing crimes against children to go unpunished.
In short, exposure is the only sure route and since we must take that route, better a Jewish paper, albeit a secular one, than a non-Jewish paper. Once exposed, the perpetrators will face the legal and social repercussions of their crimes and cover-ups. We do not have the expertise or the credibility to mount a thorough investigation, they do.
Finally, my purpose in respectfully requesting that UOJ contact the Forward is to offer the newspaper the benefit of his knowledge. He has a group of Kolko's victims willing to talk, I don’t. I believe that once a serious investigation commences, dozens more victims will step forward (no pun intended.) The ultimate outcome, the downfall of Kolko and Margolies will prove cathartic to their victims and will bring the gates crashing down on other molesters and their protectors.
At least The Forward has authentic journalists and not Agudah/Lakewood puppets.
BOOG:
Anonymous said...
anon 2:11 am
How do you fix margulies and kolko from "within the system"?
8:01 AM
________________________________________
Get rid of them.
8:14 AM
Boog: How do you propose getting rid of them?
We should be extremely carefull who teaches or comes in contact with our children.Chinuch should be an honored profession, not something a kollel guy does because he has a lack of skills so chinuch is the only way he can be a wage earner.People not qualified for chinuch should not come near our kids,its an concept of pikuach nefesh.I don't understand why we need government intervention to have checks in yeshivas for sex offenders,isn't it obvious>We entrust our kids 8 hours a day to schools that should keep the creeps out.They should embrace checks no matter the cost.Perhapes this is why theres a rise in kids at risk.A call to all yeshivas fully embrace having checks for sex offenders,please.Its crucial and obvious.
Seeker,
True, but they aren't doing it. Why? The operators of our schools are not stupid, they simply don't care because they are focused elsewhere.
We need to focus their attention on this issue by focusing the world's attention on them.
Please flag this as "prohibited."
It's a Chilul Hashem and serves no good purpose.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/rnr/123013967.html
this too
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/rnr/123012022.html
To anon:
See my post above at 11 A.M.
_____________________________________
Mr. Pasik; UOJ,
Actually going to The Forward first, and have them do a series on this topic may give you "Kefitzas haderech" and Hatzlocho vis-a-vis getting legislation passed. The publicity, storm, protests, threats of/or instigation of lawsuits are going to cause a "Va'Yikatz Paroh" among our politicos.
For a politician not to act against sex perverts who molest our children is like them going against motherhood, apple pie, and the American Flag.
DOA at Election Time.
Mr Pasik, I suggest you get together with UOJ, decide on a presentation and go to The Forward. UOJ you can start with Kolko. The parents are waiting and ready.
Friends,
I am communicating with the Forward.
Can't Wait!
UOJ;
Hatzlocho Rabboh!!!!!!!!!
Keep us posted on your progress.
BTW on a totally unrelated topic to this thread:
Pat Robertson for next Prime Minister of Israel.
Read the transcript of his remarks RE: PM Sharon on his 700 Club Program.
Boog,
Don't think for a minute that the Right Wing Christian Evangelists give two shits about the Jews. It's old news that their support for Israel is for self-serving reasons. Their interest only lies with the supposed, final descent of Jesus and the Rapture which can only occur if the Chosen People are in the Promised Land so they can be left there while "Christ" sets up his eternal Kingdom in heaven before converting the Jews.
Shame on anyone who takes this kind of support for Israel seriously.
Know and understand their Lo Lishmah motivation, anon; and I apologize for not being clear.
From my perspective it's refreshing to hear plain talk even though it is not PC.
I'm sure many of the expelled Gush Katifniks are thinking these same words but don't want to spend time in the clink for saying them publicly.
On the other hand, jail might be good; at least they would have a roof over their heads.
Why jump to the conclusion that God punished Sharon for expelling Jews?
Perhaps God kept Sharon alive (after all he was always medically, high risk)just to expel the Jews and now that the task has been completed, there is no use for him any longer.
Or, God used Sharon as his messenger and then punished him anyway. My point is, it is silly to say that "this is God's punishment..." Nobody knows why God (or if God for that matter) does anything!
UOJ:
Please post as to your progress with the Forward. I'll do anything I can to assist you.
True, NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE about why these things happen, just as nobody knows for sure the reason(s)why Hashem brought forth the Holocaust.
I am merely addressing the non-PC, fearless expression of an "opinion".
Front page of the New York Times today.
Lunatic Satmar Chasidim fighting Bloomberg over his attempt to protect our children from their dangerous behavior.
Mr. Pasik & Friends,
Please assist me with the Forward by e-mailing to "letters@forward.com", urging the editors to take on this story.
I'm sorry to say that if they view it as a internal Jewish fight among the Orthodox, adding sexual molestation to the story, in addition to having hundreds of e-mails, chances are they'll be glad to go with it.
Mr. Pasik, kindly e-mail your legislative proposals to them as well.
Guys, Look,
I need help, I am a one man band and have been for years, the blog finally is getting somewhere.
Have your friends, family, kids, co-workers etc... bombard the forward with e-mails.
Thanks,
A very frustrated Jew
What is it exactly we want the Forward to accomplish? What should our letters convey?
That finally something that has been covered up for years is about to be exposed. Get it Mr. Forward before the New York Times gets it.
Legislation is a small step in conquering our problems within.
Most abusers/molestors have never been through the system. Out concern should be to eradicate from our community (at least our yeshiva/dayschool community) the possibility of a known/abuser employed at an educational institution.
I don't think there are many "certified" child molestors who are then hired to work in a yeshiva. It's the people who have been known to be involved in things like this and have been covered for. It would be very difficult to implement a system to avoid another cover-up - as in actually reporting the
guy.
Check this out
http://american-orthodoxy.blogspot.com/
This is the contents of Anon 11:31 AM's blog. He is trying to be "UOJ-Lite" but he is nevertheless on the mark:
Mayor Balances Hasidic Ritual Against Fears for Babies' Health
Don Hogan Charles/The New York Times
Orthodox Jewish men visited Gracie Mansion Thursday for a meeting with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.
When one of the most revered Orthodox leaders, Rabbi David Niederman, addressed the throngs, he praised the mayor for his push to create more affordable housing, his takeover of the public schools and his support for the constitutional separation of church and state.
For many in the crowd, the last reference was code for the administration's decision to hold off from taking action against an ancient form of ritualistic circumcision practiced by some Hasidic rabbis that had been linked to three cases of neonatal herpes in late 2004, one of them fatal.
But now, with the election over, the city's Health Department, while not banning the procedure, is angering those Hasidic leaders just the same by pushing a public health campaign against the rite, in which the practitioner, or mohel, sucks the blood from the circumcision wound to clean it. The department took the action after linking the rite to additional cases of herpes in infants, one of whom suffered brain damage as a result.
Some in the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox communities say the city is infringing upon their religious rights. They go so far as to accuse Mr. Bloomberg of reneging on what they say they took as an election-year assurance that the administration would leave the matter to rabbinical authorities. But others outside those communities had been harshly critical of the administration, saying that it failed to take adequate action against a practice that has been endangering the lives of infants.
The dispute, which had the mayor trying to calm rabbinical leaders at Gracie Mansion yesterday in what his aides called a frank exchange, has put Mr. Bloomberg in the rare position of balancing a key constituency against the policies of one of his most trusted commissioners. And it occurs against the backdrop of the roiling ethnic politics of New York, with Orthodox leaders having threatened to disrupt the mayor's inauguration last Sunday by wearing yellow stars like the ones Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany.
The Bloomberg administration denies that politics have had anything to do with its decisions, and administration officials say they made no pre-election promises regarding the rite.
"The mayor has a fundamental commitment to public health," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, the commissioner of health and mental hygiene. "That didn't change when it looked like the ban was going to cost him re-election, and it didn't change in this case."
Still, Dr. Frieden said, there were plenty of other factors to make an issue affecting a small percentage of city Jews as thorny as the smoking ban that the mayor pushed in 2002, which affected millions. In this case, Dr. Frieden said, the administration is trying to balance religious rights against the health of infants by educating parents about the dangers of the procedure. "There's no question this is one of the most delicate issues I've ever had to deal with," he said.
Dr. Frieden and other officials said they were forced to act in recent weeks after discovering the two new cases of herpes infection.
But some Hasidic leaders see political motivations at work. "The whole thing seems to be that Bloomberg before the election just told the health commissioner, 'Listen, cool it down, and wait till after the election,' " said Isac Weinberger, a leader in the Satmar Hasidic sect in Williamsburg. "It was a flip-flop. He fooled the community."
The health department began focusing on the risks of the procedure, known as metzitzah b'peh, after it learned that one boy in Staten Island and twins in Brooklyn, circumcised by the same mohel in 2003 and 2004, contracted Type-1 herpes.
That form of herpes can prove deadly for infants, who, health officials argue, are of particular risk during metzitzah b'peh. Most non-Orthodox Jews have abandoned the practice, as have even many Orthodox Jews.
But Orthodox rabbis who support the procedure say 2,000 to 4,000 such circumcisions are still performed each year in the city. They insist the procedure is safe and does not transmit herpes, which can be contracted by infants from their mothers, during childbirth. For some Jews the procedure is crucial to raising boys in a Jewish tradition.
"We chose America because of religious freedom. That's why we are here," Rabbi Niederman said this week in an interview at City Hall. "There is no compromise on this issue, because we know it is safe."
The issue erupted in August, when the health department prepared an order prohibiting the mohel whom the department had linked to the three cases of herpes, Rabbi Yitzchok Fischer, from performing further circumcisions. After members of the Central Rabbinical Congress promised to keep him from performing circumcisions and to investigate the cases involving him, the health department stopped drafting the order.
The mayor and his health commissioner said they would continue to study the matter but that they would not ban the practice, with Mr. Frieden saying that such a ban could be seen as interfering with religious freedom, and that a ban would be unenforceable anyway.
And, in a message heard loud and clear by rabbinical leaders, Mr. Bloomberg said on his radio program, "It is not the government's business to tell people how to practice their religion," although he also promised, "We're going to do a study, and make sure that everyone is safe."
Some outside the Hasidic communities criticized the mayor's statement, seeing it as a decided change of tack for an administration that had banned smoking and taken an aggressive stand on public health issues in general.
"He has made it legally impossible to have a cigarette and a cocktail at the same time, anywhere in the city," fumed the writer Christopher Hitchens on Slate in August. "I'll trade him his stupid prohibitionist ban if he states clearly that it is the government's business to protect children from religious fanatics."
An editorial last week in a local Yiddish newspaper, Der Blatt, cited the mayor's position then as a catalyst for the huge campaign rally for him on Nov. 5 in Williamsburg.
"What has been promised to us prior to the recent elections - and this was the only request we made - was that the subject of metzitzah b'peh should be completely untouched by the city department of health," the editorial said. "This and only this was the reason why thousands of Orthodox Jews registered themselves to vote, undersigned a petition to the mayor, came out in droves, men, women and children, to an unprecedented rally."
Rabbi Niederman said this week that he believed that Orthodox Jews supported Mr. Bloomberg because of many of his policies, not just his position on the rite, and said it would be unfair to question his political motives. Nonetheless, he said, "Before the election, we were very proud that the mayor did the right thing."
He said he was "astonished" and "shocked" by the city's more recent actions.
In December, Dr. Frieden wrote an "open letter" to Jews recommending against the practice and highlighting an alternative in which a sterile tube is used. He has also announced a plan to hand out literature about the practice's dangers to postnatal mothers. And a new health department alert has reminded hospitals of a mandate to report what Dr. Frieden described as "all unusual manifestations of disease" in newborns.
Dr. Frieden said his hand was forced when his department discovered the new cases of neonatal herpes - one coming in the spring, the other, in which the infant suffered brain damage, coming in October - and conclusively determined that they and the earlier cases were caused by metzitzah b'peh.
He emphasized that the city had no plans to take more aggressive action against the procedure. "I really have bought into the worldview that says for some part of the community metzitzah b'peh is integral to circumcision, and circumcision is integral to being Jewish," he said.
One public health specialist, Dr. William M. McCormack, director of the infectious disease program at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, said Dr. Frieden's move "was probably the least that he could have done with a clear conscience."
But members of the Central Rabbinical Congress said that Dr. Frieden was in effect going over rabbis' heads by talking directly to their congregations in an attempt to persuade them to abandon a centuries old religious practice.
An open letter responding to Dr. Frieden, signed by "a member of the Jewish community" but approved by Hasidic leaders, said, "The citizens of the observant Jewish community live by the our own Director of Surveillance, with mandates that have guided and preserved our families for thousands of years."
Rabbi Niederman, who attended last night's meeting at Gracie Mansion, said the mayor calmed the rabbis by calling for a meeting of doctors who agree with the city and doctors who agree with the rabbis at which they would find "common ground."
"Maybe it needs a Camp David, you know what I mean, for three days, and nobody leave the room until an agreement is reached," Rabbi Niederman said.
OPINION:
I find it odd to hear these uneducated simpletons argue about the preservation of their ancient traditions. What part of their psyche doesn't grasp the historical reality of their relatively recent entry into our religion.
The Chasidic movement is a MODERN movement began a mere 250 years ago. For them to argue "tradition" with a straight face, when the basis of their movement was a challenge to traditional orthodox Judaism, is sheer lunacy. For them to attempt the continuation of Metzitzah B'peh, claiming they have a handle on the medical risks, is against Halacha and shocking.
Perhaps if they had a single medical doctor in their community, they might feel differently.
copy and paste the link into the address bar of your web browser. it worked for me.
the person to contact at the forward is ms. schaechter. her email address is
schaechter@yiddish.forward.com
please be respectful and moderate in your communications with her.
thank you uoj.
i did a search of this reporter. this is her most recent article.
Rabbinical Court Slams Embattled Rabbi
By Rukhl Schaechter
January 6, 2006
An ultra-Orthodox rabbinical court in Monsey, N.Y., has waded into the battle over a beleaguered rabbi facing allegations of sexual harassment.
Rabbi Benzion Y. Wosner, head of the Shevet Levi rabbinical court in Monsey, issued a ruling last week (dated Hanukkah 2005) stating that Rabbi Mordecai Tendler, the spiritual leader of a synagogue in nearby New Hempstead, is unfit to serve as an Orthodox rabbi. The ruling was widely distributed to the rabbis and congregants of the local Orthodox synagogues, including Tendler's synagogue, Kehillat New Hempstead. Tendler did not return phone calls from the Forward.
The ruling comes just one week after Adina Marmelstein, a former congregant of Tendler's synagogue, filed a civil lawsuit in Manhattan against Tendler, the scion of a prominent rabbinical family, accusing him of giving her "sex therapy" when she went to him for counseling. Tendler was expelled from the Rabbinical Council of America, a Modern Orthodox organization, in March 2005, after a yearlong investigation of allegations that he sexually harassed women who came to him for spiritual guidance.
In the months before the RCA ruling, Tendler's supporters said that the allegations against him were being orchestrated by ultra-Orthodox rabbis who opposed the methods he used in helping women who were unable to secure a religious divorce from their husbands. At the same time, Tendler told people that several of the ultra-Orthodox rabbis in Monsey who criticized his work on women's issues had investigated the sexual harassment allegations and rejected them. However, attached to Wosner's ruling was a clarification signed by seven ultra-Orthodox Monsey rabbis disputing Tendler's claim that they had exonerated him.
In an interview with the Forward, one of the signatories, Rabbi Mordechai Orbach, said he arranged a meeting with Tendler at the beginning of 2003 in Congregation Shaarey Tefilah, Orbach's Monsey synagogue. The meeting was attended by six other rabbis representing the various Hasidic and non-Hasidic ultra-Orthodox groups in Monsey.
The rabbis questioned Tendler and ended the meeting by saying they would investigate further, Orbach said. Since then, Tendler and his supporters claimed on a number of occasions that the Monsey rabbis had cleared him.
In their clarification, however, the rabbis wrote: "Since it has been publicly announced...and printed that we investigated R' Mordecai Tendler and that we were convinced of the truth of his statements, we are hereby forced to publicize that this is an outright lie." Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, one of the seven signatories, told the Forward that the clarification "is authentic, and we stand behind the statement contained in it."
Meanwhile, the RCA, the Modern Orthodox rabbinical union that expelled Tendler, has been fighting its own battle with the rabbi.
A Jerusalem regional rabbinical court contacted by Tendler after his dismissal by the RCA has been chastising the organization in a series of letters for expelling Tendler without bringing the issue to an independent rabbinical court. In response, on December 29, the RCA announced on its Web site that it has formally agreed to participate in a Jewish legal procedure, known as zabla, in New York. According to the rules of the procedure, each side of a dispute chooses a rabbinical judge, and the two judges jointly choose a third judge, forming a religious tribunal to hear the case.
"To this date, neither Mordecai Tendler nor his representatives have ever properly communicated his commitment to in fact proceed to zabla," the RCA statement continued.
In his recent ruling, Wosner, the ultra-Orthodox legal authority in Monsey, defended the RCA. According to the rabbi, Tendler questioned the RCA investigation because women are not considered kosher witnesses according to rabbinic law and because Tendler was not present when the witnesses testified. Wosner wrote that in a case where only women could possibly testify, they can and should do so. In addition, he wrote, testimony taken without the defendant present is valid, especially in a case where the defendant has a history of intimidating witnesses.
Citing what he described as incriminating tapes, Wosner wrote, "The RCA had every right to oust this rabbi from their organization, and his own congregation has the same obligation." In conclusion, he wrote, "the rabbi can no longer officiate at divorces, weddings. ... One should never allow their wives or daughters to go to him at all including [for] counseling... and all his rulings are null and void."
Copyright 2006 © The Forward
mr. pasik, will you be contacting schaechter at the forward?
uoj, will you be contacting her with the detailed information you have?
Yesterday, a list of ten states was given where nonpublic schools are already legally required to performed fingerprint criminal background checks. In those states, people should check with their yeshivaS and day schools to see if this is being done, and if not, TELL THE FORWARD. THIS IS PIKUAH NEFESH, AND ONLY A SHOTEH CHUSID WOULD ASK A SHAILAH!
The states are Alabama, California, Louisiana, Maryland, Mass., Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington.
Check out a story in today's NY Post.
NYC Board of Education which has mandatory fingerprint and criminal background checks reports that 2005 saw the greatest number of complaints of sex and physical abuse levied against their employees. Having these safegurds in place as a condition for employment means that if any of these accused are found guilty, it will be impossible for them to get a job in another school system that screens in the same way.
Incredible!!!!
What are we worth if we don't protect our children?????
The biggest scandal is that all of our Shayna Yidden "Leaders" allow this travesty and danger to continue.
Know what fellas, my Tyre Shayna Yidden "Leaders". Your Shabbos Hagodol and Shabbos Shuva Droshos ain't worth diddly-piddly squat.
Roll up your sleeves and FIX THIS PROBLEM!
If any of you want to know what is happening to our community all ya need to do is check this out
http://newyork.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=3&subAreaID=&query=frum&catAbbreviation=ppp
Can you say Jews Gone Bad? I know you can....
One major point that Mr. Pasik fails to mention, perhaps because it is obvious to him, is that these perverts are attracted to schools and other jobs where they have access to their prey. A simple concept seemingly lost on the illustrious bureaucrats running our mosdos and organizations.
Sorry to say, but anyone who looks for a career that revolves around children should be suspect and thoroughly investigated. The many wonderful teachers who love children in a healthy way, would certainly not mind the minor inconvenience of a background check if it will serve to protect the children.
"Sorry to say, but anyone who looks for a career that revolves around children should be suspect and thoroughly investigated."
You made your point but "sorry to say" that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Sorry UOJ I don't mean to hijack this thread but I must post this before I explode. Much of this has been said many times over but some people don't seem to get it. Feel free to move this to a new thread if you want.
My blood is boiling at the unmitigated Chutzpah of the ad in this week’s Jewish “Mess” promoting Metzizah B’Peh. The piece has to be the most deceitful occurrence of Yellow Journalism I’ve ever encountered. The part that really infuriated me is that this communist, mafioso, mind police, is urging the community to “report any conversation initiated by doctors, hospitals and other professional caregivers on the issue of Metzizah B’Peh.” Furthermore they are against mandated reporting of any herpes infection following a Bris. This can’t be for real.
This Metzizah issue is an immense Chillul Hashem and, unfortunately will not go away so fast. The reason is that the Rabbinical Court of the Central Rabbinical Congress (a.k.a Satmar) is keeping the embarrassment alive.
When reports of Mohel-to-baby-herpes-transmission surfaced, the Health Department respectfully requested that until the investigation is complete, Rabbi Fischer of Monsey should refrain from Metzizah B’Peh. They did not say that nobody should perform suctioning by mouth – just Rabbi Fischer. Now I have nothing personally against Rabbi Fischer and am not singling him out as the only one who is harmful in the process of MBP. The fact is most adults over the age of 40 are carriers of a strain of Oral Herpes. This particular strain is harmless if transmitted to an adult but deadly when transmitted to a baby. The facts are clear. Research and reliable scientific testing was done to prove this.
The Health Department was in touch with the Agudah who agreed that it was rational that anyone suspected of carrying the Herpes Virus should cease from this practice for the duration of the investigation. As a matter of fact the Agudah thought it reasonable to test Mohels for herpes and anyone who is positive should not be able to perform Metzitzah B’Peh. They basically told Rabbi Fischer to stop (and even suggested someone else perform the Metzizah while Rabbi Fischer performs the Milah!)
The people at the Health Department decided to keep this issue quiet so as not to embarrass the Jewish community or to cause any unnecessary strain on the relations between the Orthodox community and the government/public.
This was quite noble of the Health Department as they could have immediately called a press conference or worse.
Anyway, Satmar was pissed - to say the least - at the Agudah for even entertaining the notion that Rabbi Fischer should at least temporarily refrain from MBP. They “flew off the handle” and proceeded to contact significant donors in order to persuade them to cut off all ties to the Agudah! I’m no big fan of the Agudah but they were obviously in the right and they have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our community. There has been a long-standing feud between Satmar and the Agudah and this issue has widened the rift.
Not only did Satmar refuse to turn over the results of Rabbi Fischer’s herpes test, but Rabbi Fischer continued to perform MBP and the Health Department’s request to arrange a Rabbinical Tribunal amongst themselves and to issue a decision by December 1, 2005, regarding Metzizah, was ignored.
Needless to say, on December 1, Satmar refused to issue a statement to the Health Department based on any internal findings. They were given an awesome opportunity to take care of the matter without the government stepping in and they blew it! Their egos and stubborn self-righteousness got in the way. They thought that they can push off the serious matter and basically “jerk” the Health Department around, however the Health Department was not playing games. The Commissioner had no choice but to issue a statement warning of the potential dangers of MBP. They did not ban it (hopefully they will.) All they said was that there is a danger and parents of newborns should consult with the Mohel several days in advance of the circumcision and discuss the options. They were informing the public as is their duty. This is a great service as many people are still not aware of the medical facts surrounding herpes and potential dangers of transmission to infants.
The Agudah, due to tremendous pressure (I’m sure you can figure out what kind of pre$$ure) caved in and issued an insincere statement that told of “findings” by two Orthodox Jewish Pediatricians that said there is no conclusive evidence that MPB is a danger. Rumors have it that of two doctors that the Agudah cited, one is not board Certified and the other graduate from a medical school in the Caribbean!
I and many others saw the medical data regarding the herpes transmission and the findings are solid. The credentials of the Health Department physicians and scientists are impeccable and the fact that they provided the community a fair opportunity to sort this out amongst themselves, speaks volumes of their honest intentions.
Satmar is causing a tremendous Chillul Hashem by keeping the issue alive. Convening at City Hall is pure Chutzpah and is quite possibly the worst decision they could have made. Unfortunately, Satmar has tremendous influence and the Agudah is frightened of them and so are many politicians.
It is my hope that the truth will prevail and the issue of this dangerous practice is put to rest. The only way to do this is through educating people of the facts. Many people are buying into Satmar’s claim that the government is just trying to stop Brissim! This is patently false and Satmar knows it. The constitutional protection of any religious practice is null and void when a clear and present danger is discovered. Can someone perform female circumsicion (genital mutilation) just because it is part of their “religion?” Will we allow food handlers to refrain from wearing gloves in kosher establishments because they didn’t do so in the kosher establishments years ago?? Of course not!
My advice to the "Va'ad Hamishmeres Bris Kodesh" is to quit while you're ahead and spare the community any more humilation. Be thankful that this government that $upport$ you from welfare, to section-8, to food stamps, doesn't pry into other matters.
Gross,
Excellent post, you are right on.
I have a new post for tonight but there is a technical problem at blogger.
I'll get it up as soon as I am able to.
The rude awakening of how politics plays in New York, regardless of the inherent danger to children by MBP.
Several point to Gross' post above:
1. Testing a Mohel's blood for herpes and not finding it is a Trojan Horse. He can show negative and still have the virus in latent condition. Currently there is an organization that tests their member Mohel's (No pun intended) twice a year. Testing is Meaningless.
2. The two Boro Park pro- MBP pediatricians are both graduates of foreign Med schools and are not board certified in Pediatrics. Both have not given any stats or clear data to support their pro MBP position.
3. Read the editorial in this week's Yated by Lipshutz on MBP. This man is off the wall and needs help.
4. Good luck in trying to reason with Satmar. Chilul Hashem? You joshing me? From these Behamehs that were involved in a street riot on Simchas Torah and brought in Goyishe goons to physically club the opposition! It is a Bracha L'Vatala. They're animals.
As an aside, perhaps someone can explain to me the phenomenon that I have witnessed countless times in food stores of the clerks handling the food with plastic gloves, making change for the customer with these gloves on, and then handling food for the next customer in line with these same gloves! This you call sanitary?
"You made your point but "sorry to say" that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Dumb? I don't think so. I recall my first interview for high school with a Rosh Yeshiva in Brooklyn. I felt uncomfortable with his close proximity and the kiss he ended the interview with.
The four years I spent with this man was peppered with his inappropriate fixation on sex and masturbation. This guy is still in business. The chinuch business has more than its fair share of weirdoes.
Gloves. Think they change them after they take a piss (or worse)?
Perfect example of letter of the law vs. spirit of the law.
I can't get anything new up , Blogger is having technical difficulties, I'll keep trying!!!
I agree with Anon & Attorney Pasik in a way.
Not to broad brush this issue, I have always noticed that male teachers that were caught molesting kids had one of these personality traits:
1-Angry people
2-Exhibited feminine traits
3-Immature-they never grew up emotionally.
4-Suffered from huge mood swings, quickly and without warning.
5-Vengeful
UOJ:
Perfect description of Kolko's behavior as assistant principal in Stolin during which time he was active in his perverse pastime and co-founded Camp Ma-Na-Vu.
Anon, 8:42
Please e-mail me information on this rosh yeshiva, I would like to gather all the relevant facts on these guys for judgement day.
Boog,
I am in agreement with you. I was merely illustrating how sick the "Pro-Retzicha" camp is, in their unwillingness to even test a Mohel for the virus or even prohibit Fischer from performing this life-threatening practice. The risk is is akin to that of unsafe sex.
I don't read the Yated. That filth it is poison for my neshama.
UOJ,
Add "intimidating or 'powerful' personalities" to the traits that might indicate trouble with a male teacher. Not many Rebbeim are effeminate - I could be wrong though.
BTW I have lost whatever respect I had reserved for Zweibel. When I confronted someone close to me who is a member of the Agudah and discussed Zweibel's embarrassing statement and his use of these garbage "doctors" as "evidence," he laughed at the absurdity of it all and admitted that Zweibel is clearly under immense pressure (there goes any shred of credibility.)
Satmar is bigger trouble than we think. That's the sorry consenquence of such a hate-filled, insular way of life.
To my knowledge, this Rosh Yeshiva has never been accused by anyone. I believe that he has tendencies towards pederasty, but don't think he has acted out on his inclinations. Do you still want his information?
Gross,
I found that those intimidating or powerful personality traits in rebbes, especially in yeshiva k'tanas are acts. Those guys are lacking self esteem and need to act tough.
They are not talmidei chachamim, and are generally not making a living at teaching.
No kavod, no mizrach vant, no shishi or shlishi, no parnassah...and you got a loser who is trapped and miserable.
Ever notice that the shortest guys have the biggest mouths?
kolko taught in stolin?
Anon, 10:28,
Yes, I am keeping records of possible potential problems.
It will be kept in the strictest confidence, unless he has hurt kids.
ok. how do i email you the name?
My e-mail:
a_unorthodoxjew@yahoo.com
Thanks.
Gross, that information about Satmar is priceless. Now I understand Aguda/Zweibel. They don't believe their own words. Its all about keeping their Coalition together (pun intended), and money.
Judaism is not a baby sacrifice religion. That's for the jungle "religions" in Africa and South America. Yet, for politics and money, Agudah is selling its soul, and "sacrificing" one or two dead or brain damaged Jewish babies per year.
What's become of us?
Somebody should start an online Metzitzah b'feh petition. I would do it myself if I knew how. You'd get a lot of signers. Speaking of the RCA Resolution on criminal background checks and the registry, the RCA also has a very sensible Resolution on metzitzah b'feh on its website, rabbis.org. That would be a good place to start for drafting the text of the petition. Also, the Jewish Week has quoted three department heads from Hopkins, Columbia, and Einstein as warning about the hazards of metzitzah b'feh - that could be included in the petition, as well as the NYC Health Department letters.
And what UOJ, the attorney, and everybody else are doing on the sex abuse issue is just outstanding. Tizku l'mitzvos.
UOJ,
The intimidation factor I refer to is common with abusers. They are seen as very powerful to children (and often well-liked by the general public). Therefore, kids are afraid to tell anyone. That is often the reason these sickos get away with it for years. They have the kid believe that if they tell anyone, the will be physically harmed (again) or worse.
My experience with suspect child molestors:
Third grade rebbe: Used to enjoy putting anyone who misbehaved over his lap in middle of class and "gently" spank him. It was even for something as mundane as talking during class (we were seven and eight-year-olds!) I remember two boys who were fighting and the Rebbe called them aside and kissed both their hands and told them how holy it was.
I bumped into him many years later. He is no longer a Rebbe and claims to be in "e-commerce." Perhaps he had "trouble" and was forced to leave.
Fifth-grade Rebbe: Beat kids with a ruler and threatened to pull down their pants. He eeven commissioned help from one of the bigger bochurim to hold down a smaller kid while he spanked him. Note: he never actually carried out this threat.
Menahel: Biggest threat was to pull down a student's pants "in front of the whole Yeshiva." I remember him calling me into the office and telling me how much he loved me...
He regularly spanked kids with their pants on. I see one of the recipients of his beatings, today; he is in his 20s now and there is something, unfortunately, definitely wrong with him.
I’ll tell you camp stories when I have more time
Later-
anybody know wwhy Sobel is still out there as a mechanech, after having been thrown out of Neveh Tzion in the 80's for abuse?
Gross:
I had similar experiences in a chasidish yeshiva as a kid. i agree with anon above. these sickos are attracted to chinuch.
Rodef,
Thanks, It's a battle that we will win!
Anon,11:07 Which Sobel are you referring to?
Rodef,
I sincerely believe in what R' Moshe Tendler from YU said, that we do not know how many children have been affected by MBP.The dramatic rise of the numbers of kids in special education classes could be the tip of the iceberg.
Anon 4:17,
It is wrong to say that anyone who looks for a career with children is problematic. Depite all of this there are still many wonderful Mechanchim
UOJ,
Yes, I also agree with Moshe Tendler, and the Johns Hopkins guy, who is chairman of the infectious disease department there, AND is head of the AMA Sexually Transmitted Disease committee. Because neonatal herpes can be asymptomatic, we don't know how many neurologically damaged babies there are today in special ed.
And I just read on the Lakewood blog, newsfrombmg, that the ACLU has discovered that the frum community there has a higher percentage of kids in special ed. than other groups. I would agree though, that whether that is a function of mbp, or "inflated" psychologists' reports in order to get babysitting services, is a legitimate issue.
And the LIJ doctors approached the haredim and the City Health Department between five to seven years ago!
And Mordecai Avigdor, a former Aguda inhouse lawyer, gets a letter published in the Jewish Week last week (not identifying himself as a former Aguda lawyer) saying that the Health Department should not bypassed the organized Jewish leadership, by making their letter-appeal directly to Jewish parents themselves.
We are a nation being lead by fools! And shame on us for allowing us to be lead by them!
Gross,
suspect, not problematic. of course there are many superb teachers in our schools. the perverts are a small minority. the problem is with the people running the schools who allow the perverts to thrive.
Mistake. Not newsfrombmg.
Should be failedmessiah.typepad.com
TEST!
You can set up a blog with your letters attached. you dont need a web site.
PLEASE GO TO UNORTHODOXJEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM
WITH AN "S"- FOR NOW.
THANKS
www.unorthdoxjew.blogspot.com
has moved to unorthodoxjews.blogspot.com
I think UOJ got hacked and they took down this site for new blogs.
unorthodox jew has a new blog. This one is no longer working. Go to www.unorthodoxjews.blogspot.com
GO TO:
UNORTHODOXJEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM
add the "S"
NEW ADDRESS:
UNORTHODOXJEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM
ADD "S" TO JEW
NEW SITE
UNORTHODOXJEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM
ADD "S" TO JEW
New Address:
theunorthodoxjew.blogspot.com
Please don't forget about the day camps. I went to Camp Rochel in Monsey NY approximately 20 years ago. The "frum" bus driver used to have the girls (9 or 10) sit in his lap and he would hold their thighs while he let them steer the bus under the condition that we promise to never tell our parents, or we'd all get in trouble because we were too young to drive. It didn't make me uncomfortable at the time because I was so innocent. But I don't know if he did anything worse with the other girls. Clearly his motives were sexual, because no frum man should be putting 10 year old girls in his lap and holding their thighs. I've never reported anything ... it wasn't traumatic ... but what else did he do?? That's what worries me.
No Redress For Abuse Victim
While you say in your May 26 editorial "Allegations Against a Rabbi" that your position "should in no way imply support for the accused," you seem to strongly disagree with the bringing of the lawsuit and having the plaintiff "publicly accuse another," preferring instead to "have our rabbinic leaders come up with a process that can appropriately deal with these very serious challenges to our community" – with "a course of action compatible with Torah standards."
If you read the article that you refer to in New York magazine carefully, you will note that the victim sought relief from the community some twenty years ago but that the accused rabbi’s employer, "a pillar of the … community, took extraordinary measures to derail a rabbinical court action, or beit din."
It seems it was decided that the appropriate way to deal with the rabbi was to let him continue having his fun with young boys.
At least the Catholic Church transfers offenders to another area.
Gerald Deutsch
Glen Head, NY
If you will unorthodox-jew, please relay this message to David Framowitz:
Fire your Jewish lawyer and get a non Jewish one. With an orthodox Jewish lawyer you will reach the same inherent problem as dealing with Jews in general, in the end he will not betray his own.
I won't get into it, it's psychological.
Thanks.
Elliot, I commend your efforts to do something about this grave issue. If I can help in anyway let me know. I am a person with limited means and time (working kollel mother of two little kids) yet I have something to offer that most of you seem to lack: A good reputation and working relationship within our community.
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