Tzedek-Tzedek

Guest Writer: Dr Gerald Weinberger,  MD,  Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem       It is rare that a victim of sexual abuse is given a hero’s welcome when seeking help concerning   an abuser.   All too often , rather than being comforted and   recognized   as courageous, the victim is turned a cold shoulder and treated   as if he/she is   the   troublemaker, while the perpetrator, teacher, Rabbi, care-giver or family member, etc…. is protected by the small or larger community. The community response is usually   “ how can a man’s livelihood, reputation and family be defamed and undermined because of an aberrant sexual act” without a clue as to the life damage abuse causes.         Drs. Mandel and Pelcovitz,   and the courageous and   expert group of principled authors, who have contributed to “Breaking the Silence”, shine the light of Jewish Law (Halacha),and   ...

  Dr David Pelcovitz at "Magen" Sunday, January 16. 8:15 PM, Genesis Center, Beit Shemesh The newly formed Magen organization has had its first child abuse awareness conference. Magen is filling the need for services in the area of education, prevention and treatment of child abuse; judging from the head-count at the Magen event, there is a large interest in these services. Despite being on a school night, the limited advertising, and that fact that Magen is a new organization, the conference was attended by over two hundred people, the vast majority of whom stayed late into the night to hear all the presentations. The audience consisted of parents, who gathered together to hear the well-rounded program: Rabbi David Spektor, Chief Rabbi of Givat Sharett gave introductory Words of Torah, as well as his personal praise and encouragement for the new Magen initiative. Dr. David Pelcovitz, the renowned psychologist, speaker and author, delivered a powerful and informative...