Tzedek-Tzedek

By Guest Writer,  Dr Nachum Klafter,  Cincinnati, OH (Note from David: Many thanks to Dr Klafter for this helpful and detailed article explaining the different approaches of the RCA and Agudah to reporting child abuse to the authorities, and follows my previous article on this topic. Please note that, for Israelis, ALL citizens are mandatory reporters in Israel, ie it is a criminal offense to fail to report a suspicion of child abuse; whereas in some states in the USA solely some professionals are mandatory reporters - for a full listing of mandatory reporters in USA, state by state see:  http://www.childwelfare.gov/ systemwide/laws_policies/ statutes/manda.cfm  ) I have received several requests from clinicians and Rabbis asking me to respond to the last round of articles and posts, by explaining what exactly the differences are for therapists according to the rulings by the R.C.A. and Agudah. The intent of some recent articles has been to defend the posit...

                                                                (Illustrative photo) Following the tragic and gruesome murder of 8 year old Leiby Kletzky in Borough Park, New York, the two largest orthodox rabbinical organizations, the Rabbinical Council of American (RCA) and the Agudath Yisrael, have both put out statements (see RCA and Agudah ). The RCA is Modern Orthodox whereas the Agudath Yisrael is Chareidi. Both organizations address the question of what someone should do, if they suspect or know of abuse against children. The RCA's bottom line is: "if one becomes aware of an instance of child abuse or endangerment, one is obligated to refer the matter to the secular authorities immediately,"   and then adds, "As always where the facts are uncertain one should use common sense and consultations with expe...

This important statement has been published on the Rabbinical Council of America website on 25th July, 2011. The Rabbinical Council of America has today reaffirmed its position that   those with reasonable suspicion or first hand knowledge of abuse or endangerment have a religious obligation to report that abuse to the secular legal authorities without delay . One of the unique features of Jewish law is that it imposes upon every member of the community an obligation to help others avoid danger. The biblical verse “do not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed" is understood by Jewish Law to mandate that one must do all in one’s power to prevent harm to others - even if monetary harm, but certainly physical harm. Consistent with that Torah obligation, if one becomes aware of an instance of child abuse or endangerment, one is obligated to refer the matter to the secular authorities immediately, as the prohibition of mesirah (i.e., referring an allegation against a fe...

(Photo for illustrative purposes only) This is a 'reprint' of an article that Rabbi Blau kindly wrote for Tzedek-Tzedek in September 2009. Rabbi Yosef Blau is the mashgiach ruchani at Yeshiva University and its affiliated rabbinical school Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchal Elchanan. Rav Blau has been active in trying help survivors of abuse in the Orthodox community. Rav Blau has kindly agreed to offer his insights on Tzedek-Tzedek into the question of Rabbinical involvement in child abuse cases in the orthodox community. ----------- By Rabbi Yosef Blau  My experience is with the Orthodox community in America but from what I have heard the situation in Israel is similar. As in many other personal areas, Orthodox Jews, when they are informed about abuse, instinctively turn to their rabbis. Unfortunately the rabbis (with the exception of young rabbis recently trained in modern Orthodox rabbinical schools) have no training and are not equipped to evaluate the accusations. When th...

On 23rd February, several well known National Religious rabbis sent a letter of support to ex-President of Israel, Moshe Katsav. Katsav, who resigned from the Presidency in scandal, was subsequently found guilty on two counts of rape, obstructing justice and other charges on 30th December 2010. Katsav is currently awaiting sentencing, which is widely expected to include a prison term. “To our country’s former president, fear not because the truth will come out,” the letter begins. “And even if it takes it’s time, it will be revealed, and all those who pursue lies will be ashamed, the rabbis wrote. “All of the people of Zion are sighing and groaning under the burden of the poisonous media, waiting for the return of pureness to our public life and hoping for the day when the injustice will be removed and the truth will come out – and then many, many people will be redeemed and rejoice with you.”  The letter was signed by Rav Shlomo Aviner from Beit El, Rabbi Zvi Tau, dean of ...

YNet has published a copy of a letter (above), supporting alleged child abuser Elior Chen, apparently signed by leading rabbonim, including Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman, and Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky. “Rabbi” Elior Chen was recently extradited from Brazil, where he had fled child abuse charges in Israel. Chen is accused of running a cult-like operation, based in Beitar, and instructing/participating in the systematic torture of eight children, who were apparently possessed by demons. This torture, including beatings and burnings, led to one of the children now being in a permanent “vegetative state”. The letter obtained by YNet, is signed by leading rabbonim, reads: קוראים אנו בזאת לכל מי שרוח טהרה בקרבו לרחם ולעורר רחמי שמים ולהטות שכם לעוסקים במסירות בהקמת קרן לפדיון שבויים עבור האי גברא יקרא, הר"ר אליאור חן ני"ו, מתושבי עירנו, אשר כל ימיו עסק בתורה ויראה והרבצת תורה ואשר נימוק בבית האסורים כבר שנתיים ונתהפך עליו הגלגל בעינויים קשים ומרים....