Milchemes Dor Hamabul
Grand Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg Shlit"a

מלחמה לה' נגד אנשי דור המבול
מרביה"ק רבי נחום ראזנבערג שליט"א

דף יט    -    PAGE 19

 

גליון "קול השופר 2009" - # 19
כסלו תשס"ט לפ"ק

 

 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: VosIzNeias.com <vinnews@vosizneias.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Subject: asher, asher recommended this article to you on VosIzNeias
To: lipnera@gmail.com

Hello,

asher (lipnera@gmail.com) recommended this article to you.

 
   
 

Borough Park, NY - Chareidi Girl Molested On Way To School; Hikind: Kudos To Family For Reporting It to Law Enforcement; Hynes Speaks Out

Today at 07:00 PM		  
  Borough Park, NY - Last week, in the shadow of the Mumbai massacre, a significant battle in the ongoing war against sexual abuse in the Orthodox community was begun. A Chasidic resident of Borough Park, beard, conservative clothes and all, lured early morning a Chasidic girl on her way to school into his home off the street in broad daylight under the pretext of needing some assistance. He...  
   

 

To read this entire article, please click here or copy and paste the following URL in your address bar:

http://www.vosizneias.com/24091/eid/62791215


Thank you,
The team at VosIzNeias

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <VICKIPOLIN@aol.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Subject: Baltimore Jewish Council to Fight Child Abuse
To: TheAwarenessCenter@yahoogroups.com


BJC To Fight Child Abuse
BJC resolution presses clergy in child abuse reporting and prepares for Annapolis lobbying.
By Barbara Pash
Baltimore Jewish Times - December 12, 2008
 http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/local_news/bjc_to_fight_child_abuse/9246

The Baltimore Jewish Council has adopted an official policy on child abuse and neglect that supports legislation to limit the current broad exemption for clergy on reporting sexual and other child abuse, except in specific circumstances of confidentiality.

"For those who commit sexual crimes against children, or protect those who do, there must be no sanctuary," the resolution stated.

The document, approved by the Associated agency's board of directors on Nov. 13, was prompted by the BJC not taking a position on child abuse bills in the 2008 General Assembly because the BJC and its partners in the Maryland Jewish Alliance did not have a policy, according to Jo-Ann Orlinsky, chair of the BJC's government relations commission.

Last year's and previous bills on the issue dealt with the statue of limitations on reporting child abuse and with judicial sanctions against perpetrators. They were either withdrawn by their sponsors or defeated in committees.

The Maryland Jewish Alliance is a legislative coalition of the Associated, BJC, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. It generally speaks with one voice for its members. When there are differences of opinion or, in this case, no official opinion, coalition members speak individually.

Fourteen years ago, the BJC did deal tangentially with child abuse through its resolution on domestic violence, which is now part of the BJC legislative agenda. "We didn't have a separate policy before because the issue had not come up in a context other than a domestic violence situation," Ms. Orlinsky said.

Now, based on the 2008 experience, commission members wanted a separate and distinct policy on child abuse in place before the upcoming 2009 General Assembly.

The BJC resolution on child abuse includes:

    * Recognizing that child abuse exists in society at large and the Jewish community. "Abusers thrive in an environment where discussion of this topic is silenced and reporting and punishment are discouraged," the resolution stated.
    * It urges identification and treatment of victims.
    * It encourages institutions and synagogues, among others, to implement programs to prevent abuse, identify victims and support children and teens.
    * It makes clear that adults — not child victims — have a responsibility to disclose suspected abuse. It talks about schools, synagogues, camps and youth service organizations in this context.

"The cycle of witness intimidation of those who report abuse must end now and our community must cooperate with legal authorities when they become involved," continued the resolution, adding that Jewish institutions must "stand up" against abuse.
 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asher lipner <lipnera@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Subject: [jewishadvocates] Fwd: Important recommendation
To: jewishadvocates@yahoogroups.com
 
Subject: Important recommendation
 
 
The following is an important piece of information for all victims and victims advocates that was forwarded to me by someone who has been there (i.e. made reports to police, etc.):
 
"I wanted to make what I feel is an important recommendation that I believe is not widely known and needs to be publicized.  I would recommend that victims of sexual assault (including molestation) go first to their state or local coalition against sexual assault before going to their local police.  From our own nightmarish experience, I can tell you that local police can be corrupt and influenced by local liasons with tremendous political clout.  There are usually numerous coalitions in each state with lots of experience that can accompany the victims and serve as important advocates for them so that witnesses do not get intimidated and evidence inexplicably lost.  
 
We need to get the word out that victims should not report to the police on their own.  They need experienced support and an advocate with them  - or all their efforts to report can backfire and be worse than worthless.
 
In NY, there are the NYCASA branches (NY Coalition Against Sexual Assault) in NJ, NJCASA, in Maryalnd, MDCASA, etc.  Their contact info can all be found online."  

 

Furthermore, the Survivors for Justice have gained an enormous amount of experience in dealing with the police and the D.A.'s office in Brooklyn and should definitely be contacted by anyone wanting to report a sex crime in our community.  They will not only offer support, but technical information, personal introductions, and invaluable counsel. 

 

Forwarded message ----------
From: <yhdarchei@aol.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Subject: [jewishadvocates] from yakov horowitz - just posted this on my website re mondrowitz's extradition
To: jewishadvocates@yahoogroups.com

 
 
Dear Readers

 

Last week, one of Avrohom Mondrowitz's victims -- one I've never met before -- approached me in a public setting, and thanked me profusely for writing about abuse for the past few years. He said that this is the first time in decades, that he feels that finally frum people are 'getting it' about abuse, and told me how comforting it is to him, to see this happening. He then looked me in the eye, and begged me to do everything in my power to see to it that Mondrowitz is brought to America to face charges. I promised him that I would. And I will.

 

Any of our readers who has suggestions for respectfully applying pressure on the Israeli and American powers-that-be, please post them in the comment section.

 

------------------------------------------

 

Why Avrohom Mondrowitz Must Be Extradited

What I Would Tell the Judge

By: Rabbi Yakov Horowitz

I do not anticipate receiving an invitation to address the Israeli judge presiding over Avrohom  Mondrowitz's extradition case. However, given the opportunity, here is what I would say:

Your Honor:

One of the great Torah sages of the 19th century famously stated that one of the main functions of a Rabbi is to advocate for and support the weakest members of his community. I respectfully suggest that our judicial system, as well, has a similar mission – to provide a venue for the downtrodden individuals among us to be heard and fairly represented.

I can think of no group of people who are in need of rabbinic and judicial support more than child-abuse victims. For the vast majority of them were abused or neglected many, many times – first by the monsters who ravaged their innocence and cruelly stole their childhood, later, inadvertently, by the adults in their lives who weren't attuned to their silent cries for help while the abuse was taking place, and finally by those who passively or actively protected the abuser rather than the victim once the abuse became known.

On behalf of the hundreds of abuse victims that I have met and tried my very best to comfort and support over the years, I beg you to remove the legal barriers that stand between Avrohom Mondrowitz and his long overdue date with justice in America.

Mondrowitz cruelly abused and ruined the lives of many dozens, perhaps hundreds, of vulnerable kids who came to him for counseling and support. I personally have met many of his victims and know of at least one who committed suicide after years of a tortured existence. I know victims of his who became alcoholics, heroin and cocaine addicts and those who are my age and unmarried – never becoming whole enough to love and be loved. My wife and I became grandparents 18 months ago, and this evil monster robbed them of the joy of holding their own child.

Thankfully, I was never molested as a child. But I often think of how I could very well have been one of the kids who were ruthlessly sodomized by Mondrowitz. I lost my father before my fourth birthday and, due to my restless nature, was a very poor student in school. In short, I was a perfect candidate for an evil predator like Mondrowitz – who was a practicing social worker when I was struggling in school as a teenager. Because I was spared that horrible fate, I feel all the more morally compelled to stand with his nameless, voiceless victims and advocate on their behalf. 

 

I am far from an expert in legal matters. But, one human being to another, I plead with you to do everything in your power to see to it that his victims can finally gain a modicum of validation and support – seeing him stand before an American court of law and squarely face his crimes. This is where he committed his crimes and this is where he must face justice.

Two years ago, several months before the attempt was made to extradite Mondrowitz, I wrote a column in The Jewish Press decrying the fact that he was permitted to live a peaceful life in Israel after the horrible crimes he committed. At that time, the public at large was apathetic, as this case was under the radar of the average person on the street. Thankfully, the tide is turning and there is now a groundswell of support for his extradition. It is difficult to convey to you what a body blow it would be to the fragile emotional health of long-suffering abuse victims to see this high-profile case fall into the win column for this monster and the immoral people who are protecting him.

Word on the street is that there are powerful people backing Mondrowitz. Having him successfully avoid extradition will confirm that suspicion in the minds of many. It will also reinforce a horrible message – unfortunately the one that is prevalent – to the public at large and more specifically to abuse victims – that the blood of innocent children can be washed away if the molester knows the right people. Additionally, it will be a huge step backwards for those of us in the trenches who are begging abuse victims to step forward and assuring them that they will be taken seriously.

At the risk of overstepping my bounds, I appeal to you from the depths of my heart not to be a party to yet another rape of his victims – and all the other abuse victims who are watching this case carefully – which offering Mondrowitz shelter from justice would be.

Thank you for offering me the opportunity to address the court.

© 2009 Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, all rights reserved

 

 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asher lipner <lipnera@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 7:56 PM
Subject: [jewishadvocates] The way things SHOULD be...
To: jewishadvocates@yahoogroups.com
 
While the Iggud Harrabanim has backed up Dov Hikind loud and clear in Brooklyn as reported in this weeks Jewish Press (see page 50 in Rabbi Tannenbaum's "machberes"), I think we have a long, long, long way to go before chareidi rabbis would write a letter like this:

 

 

 Horim Yikarim,

    

I hope you and your family are well and had a restful and productive summer.

 

As I am sure you are aware, several weeks ago a member of our community was arrested for allegedly engaging several young boys in an inappropriate fashion.  Two weeks ago, I alerted everyone from the pulpit that parents speak to their children and encourage them to come forward and report any instance of abuse. I take this opportunity to share with you the sentiments of HaRav Herschel Schachter, Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva University in this regard.  He stated that we have a sacred obligation to protect all children in our community and to fulfill the mandate ובערת הרע מקרבך .  In the absence of a Bet Din that can address this type of issue in a serious fashion, it is not only permitted to report such episodes to the local authorities but one is obligated to do so.  If the allegations are true as strong a case as possible is needed for the prosecutor. 

 

There are two phone numbers that I want to share with you.  The first is the hotline to the Prosecutor's office manned by Sergeant Alan Lustman, 201-226-5155.  The second is that of a trained frum psychologist in our area, Dr. Stephen Glicksman, who is willing to talk to any student or to parents who would like to discuss how to approach these sensitive issues with your children.  Children and parents will maintain their confidentiality should they call.  His number is 718-670-3290.

 

I hope that we will be able to maintain the safe and protective environment that has enabled our community to flourish B'Ezrat HaShem. 

 

Beyedidut,

          

Rabbi Yosef Adler

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asher lipner <lipnera@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Subject: [jewishadvocates] VERY IMPORTANT OLD ARTICLE....has anything really changed yet?
To: jewishadvocates@yahoogroups.com


 
 


 

 



Haredi Group Balks At Clergy Law
by Debra Nussbaum Cohen
Jewish Week - April 5, 2002
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a2095/News/New_York.html

New legislation adding clergy to those professionals who are legally required to report suspected child abuse is being welcomed by a wide range of rabbinic leaders and those who work with victims, but it is being opposed by an influential group in the fervently Orthodox community.

As Catholic Church officials struggle to deal with a flood of lawsuits over the sexual abuse of children by priests, the New York state Senate unanimously passed the measure. The Assembly is preparing a similar bill.

The legislation comes as Manhattan's largest Reform congregation, Temple Emanu-El, remains silent on the sexual abuse charges against its cantor, though its leadership had information about the allegations before Howard Nevison was arrested last month. (See accompanying story.)

Professionals who come into contact with children —
doctors, nurses and dentists, schoolteachers and administrators, psychologists, social workers, child care workers and law enforcement staff — must report to the state any suspected abuse.
But clergy have been exempt from the requirement in New York since 1828, when the state Legislature became the first in the nation to protect the "clergy-penitent privilege." The law has stood through the efforts of the Catholic Church and Agudath Israel of America, which have blocked measures for change at the state and local levels.
This time, however, the Church is staying out of the fray, leaving only Agudath Israel, which represents the interests of fervently Orthodox Jews on a variety of issues, in opposing the addition of clergy to the law.

The organization, whose offices are essentially closed for the Passover holiday, is still undecided on whether it will formally oppose the bills, said David Zwiebel, Agudah's executive vice president for governmental and public affairs.

But, he said, if the law is passed without any exemption for clergy-penitent privilege, some Orthodox rabbis may choose not to comply with it.

"If the law tells the rabbis 'you've got to go to the authorities on this' and the rabbis feel that, for instance, a case of abuse goes back seven years and the best way to deal with it now is to refer the man to therapy rather than to law enforcement, they will choose to deal with it themselves," said Zwiebel, who is also an attorney.

"You decide where your first duties and obligations are," he said.

Illustrating the position of some in the haredi community, an Orthodox pediatrician in Brooklyn who has lectured on child abuse and disseminated tapes of her speeches has said that though she is required to report suspicions of child abuse, she checks with her rabbi to get permission.

Psychology professionals who work with victims of sexual and physical abuse say the new law will likely help their young victims.

It "makes it easier for clergy to do the right thing," said Herb Neiburg, who directs behavioral medicine at the psychiatric Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, N.Y., and teaches pastoral counseling at the Conservative movement's Jewish Theological Seminary.

"When something is mandated by law, it takes away the guilt over breaking what used to be this old type of priest-penitent relationship," he said.

"The tough part will be when clergy hear that other clergy have molested kids. It's always tough to turn in a colleague, but it has to get done," said Neiburg. "This law will open that door."

Leaders of the Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and centrist Orthodox movements have all publicly voiced support for the legislation.


But those who work with the fervently Orthodox say it may not work in their community, which is suspicious of secular authority and has its own way of dealing with problems — relying on rabbinic judgment.

"People go to rabbonim [rabbis] to talk," said David Mandel, chief executive officer of the Brooklyn-based Ohel Children's Home and Family Services. "This law may discourage people from going to talk to their rabbis if they think that the conversation is going to be on the record." (click here for more information on David Mandel:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soo67uqrseE)

That, Neiburg argues, "is like saying that since pediatricians are mandated reporters, no one will bring a kid with injuries that could look like abuse to a pediatrician, and it obviously doesn't work that way."
Even so, said Mandel, "the legislation may be premature" for the Orthodox community.

"Legislation will not necessarily dramatically improve the way the Orthodox community handles these issues," he said. "Continuing to educate the community, to remove the stigma from the victim and his or her family and put the onus on the offender, will make the most dramatic changes." n

 
On Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 7:49 PM, asher lipner <lipnera@gmail.com> wrote:
 
 



 


 
I am not a rabbi, but I am neverthess quite certain about the following:  There is no loshon hora problem to forward news articles to one another about sexual or other abuse in the jewish community or in the general public, about enforcement of child protection laws, about perpetrators of sexual and physical abuse, about rabbinic responses to abuse allegations, or about any other news items which we feel are important for everyone in our organization to be aware of for the sake of our organization's work.
 
To be a bit more technical:  Someone mentioned the notion of "clear and present danger".  This is is an American legal concept which is analogous to the halakhic concept of "pikuach nefesh lefaneinu."  The standard of "pikuach nefesh lifaneinu" is invoked, or example, when we violate the laws of shabbos in order to save a life.  However, the standard for an exemption to loshon hora is much lower than that of violating shabbos.  Basically there needs only to be a "to'eles" (i.e., a significant and legitimate benefit to which the party being told the loshon hora is entitled).  For example, hearing that a potential shidduch may have medical problems is a "to'eles" for the person considering him/her for a marriage, even if it is not a threat to his/her life or safety.  Another example: the fact that a charitable organization has a reputation for theft and defrauding the government is something that a potential donor is entitled to know even though it is not a threat to his life or safety.  In such cases, it is permissible to speak loshon hora to the parties who are entitled to benefit from this knowlege.  In fact, it is mitzvah to speak loshon hora in such cases.
 
Back to our situation:  Everyone on this list has taken it upon themselves to be working to prevent the abuse of children.  Any articles in the news about child abuse in the Jewish community are of great importance for us to be aware of.  I cannot believe that it is any violation of loshon hora to forward news articles which concern our organization's work to one another.  It is critical that we are aware of what is happening, who is enforcing the law, who is violating the law, what media agencies are reporting these stories, how they are reporting these stories, etc. etc. (Furthermore, once items are being circulted and discussed in the public forum, the prohibition of loshon hora is even more lenient.  For our purposes, I don't think we even need to invoke this.)
 
The above is my understanding of how this area of the laws of loshon hora based on guidancy by numerous rabbis over many years for work I have done on behalf of communal organizations as well as in my professional work.
 
By the way, if any of you are attending the Nefesh Conference on January 4-5, I will be speaking on Sunday Jan 4th.  Please come say hello to me.
 
Nachum Klafter, MD
Cincinnati OH
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asher lipner <lipnera@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Subject: [jewishadvocates] Letter from a survivor from Baltimore
To: jewishadvocates@yahoogroups.com
 
 
 
KLAL YISRAEL HAS ITS HEAD IN THE SAND WHILE A SMALL PORTION OF US, THE "[NECHASHALIM] ACHARAYCHA V'ATA AYAYF V'YAGAIA V'LO YAREI ELOKIM" HAVE OUR HEADS HEARTS AND SPIRITS AND SOME OF US EVEN STILL OUR BODIES EXPOSED ABOVE THE SAND.
 
I SPEAK OF THE ISSUE OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND INCEST, PARTICULARLY, BUT BY NO MEANS EXCLUSIVELY, AT THE HANDS OF RABBIS, YOUTH LEADERS AND OTHER TRUSTED MEMBERS WITHIN THE VAST MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES THAT COMPRISE OUR NATION.
 
WHO AMONG YOU, WILL PROTECT AND DEFEND US ? WHO WILL COMFORT US OR HELP US HEAL ? WHO WILL TELL US WE NEED NOT SUFFER IN SHAME AND SILENCE ? WHO WILL EVEN RECOGNIZE US FOR WHO WE ARE AND THE YISOORIM WE SUFFER AS A RESULT ?

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: asher lipner <lipnera@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Subject: [jewishadvocates] Fwd: please please read this-it cuts to the heart
To: jewishadvocates@yahoogroups.com

 
On Wed, Sep 17, 2008 at 10:47 PM, Michael Reches <mreches@patentsink.com> wrote:
 
I (a female) grew up in an ultra-orthodox/orthodox community, and was routinely sexually abused by a an esteemed brooklyn institution's yeshiva bochur 11 years my senior. I was 5/6/7/8 years old.

Today I am in my mid twenties. If you passed me by on the street you might think i'm a perfectly normal person, sophisticated and intelligent even.

My three sisters are married and have kids. I'm still wondering if i might be a lesbian. I'm still trying to focus on reality instead of instinctively falling back on the defense mechanism i created as a child: dissociation from reality. I'm still trying to feel less ashamed of my existence. I'm still trying not to indulge my ever present, unnaturally strong, pain.

Every man that begins a relationship with me ends up regretting it: I cannot trust, I cannot believe intimacy. This is not merely thoughts i need to change. This is the way i am now wired. If i could easily change it, i would have done so already. I try with vigor.

Because there is nothing else I would like more than to experience genuine love. To experience a breath of fresh air without shame. And to be the person i would like to be without perpetually self sabotaging myself.

After severe internal chaos, that includes a suicide attempt when i was 16 and countless agonizing episodes, I understand that the only way i can achieve that is by fighting myself every day.

I will do that. I will fight every day in order to be just to my own self. But by now, I am well aware that it will never be easy.

The pain and the consequences of sexual abuse truly cannot be understood.

I am sure, or perhaps i am just thinking ideally within the context- that this yeshiva bochur who now has five beautiful kids, and learns Torah every day, has asked god for forgiveness.

But that is actually the TRUE injustice of sexual abuse. The perpetrator can liberate himself. The victim CANNOT.

Sexual abuse, like another commentator said, is truly a cancer.

What incredible anger I feel when i learn that the effort in the orthodox community went towards eradicating the possibility of hope, concern, understanding and aid. Shame, true true shame on this community.

If only i had been armed with some knowledge as a kid that it was not me who had to feel ashamed. IF ONLY MY PERPETRATOR HAD HEARD A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT THIS CRIME AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

What callousness. What selfishness. What outright immoral behavior this response from the orthodox community is. Keep hiding, keep idolizing only your image as a religion, and eventually if it isn't already, the orthodox community will be nothing but stupid savages.

5:03 PM, September 17, 2008

 

 Michael Reches

Patents Ink, Incorporated

17 Warren Rd, Suite 8B

Baltimore, Maryland  21209

(    410.484.5844  ext 142

)    410.963.5338    

7    410.484.9974

*   mreches@patentsink.com

8    http://www.patentsink.com "Experience "Live Virtual Drafting"

 

 

 

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