Borough Park, NY – Exclusive to VIN News – Dr. Benzion Twerski In His Own Words Addresses His Departure From ‘Askunas’

    193

    Benzion Twerski, Ph.D., graduated with a Ph.D. in psychology from University of Pittsburgh in 1985. He studied in Yeshivos in Scranton, PA, Baltimore, and Jerusalem. He has been one of the leading professionals in youth-at-risk and addictions in the Jewish community.Borough Park, NY – I am taking a few minutes to make some statements in response to the article about my departure from Dov Hikind’s project and the events that triggered this.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Firstly, I have extreme respect for Dov Hikind, and I share in his mission to make a difference in this painful and destructive issue. I was eager to join with him to create a Task Force that would actually lead to reduction of this terrible problem while doing everything from within the community. It is with sadness that I left the position, and I will always to continue to consider Dov a good colleague and friend. I know he feels the same.

    For quite some years, I had invested time and effort, without compensation, for various projects that were being done for the Klal. Even at times when my own financial situation was difficult, I extended myself at great cost for the hatzolas nefashos of youth at risk, addictions, etc. I am not interested in writing my own hesped, but there is much that has never been publicized and won’t be. My expectations were that the mission that I was entering would be understood as something that will be done properly and sensitively. It seems that some understood this quite erroneously.

    For several days, I was approached by individuals, some stating that they would cross the street if they were to meet me while walking with their children. Others told me that they would not accept my child into their class if assigned. Others used euphemisms that I refuse to repeat. Family members were likewise confronted by all sorts of comments and phone calls. My married children had been told to fear ever getting shidduchim for their children. Basically, I was left to choose between abandoning my family for this mission, or to take the painful step that I did.

    Molestation is underestimated in our community. I never proclaimed it an epidemic. I have not found any reliable statistics. But each victim is a precious neshomoh, an “olam molei” that is totally destroyed. Some victims leave the derech, others struggle with post traumatic stress disorder, some have major hurdles in establishing their own married lives, and still others become molesters themselves. There are frequent comments such as “It does not happen in my yeshiva” which constitutes denial. Perhaps there are no incidents, but one never knows. We’re talking about things that occur in secrecy. I never looked at this problem as one of quantity. I am concerned with the severity. Even the minutest percentage of foreign objects in food will prompt a recall. Our children deserve a zero tolerance for violations of their safety. And for those who insinuated that I was going to go after yeshivos and mosdos hachinuch, I will add that the abuse that occurs in these holy settings is a small percentage of what occurs in various other locations. To combat the problem, we need to begin somewhere.

    The intent of the Task Force was to devise systems that would be implemented by the yeshivos themselves to accept complaints, evaluate them, and move the cases onto the next level, whatever was determined by a body of individuals that would include poskim. No fox guarding the henhouse either, as the system would comprise individuals from outside the yeshiva as well to prevent denial and bias from interfering with the process. Part of this process would help filter out complaints that are baseless, either by exaggeration, inaccuracy, or pure fabrication. To consider this project a new “abuse clinic”, or a molestation police brigade is completely groundless.

    So I spent several days watching these gross misperceptions feed the mouths of “holchei rochil”. Not one person called me to inquire about the mission, and there was never a chance to explain any of this to anyone before the hatchet began swinging.

    Most bothersome to me is that this occurred during Chodesh Elul, when we all need to be doing some self-exploration – cheshbon hanefesh and teshuvah. We will need to face the upcoming yemai hadin, where we will each stand in our individual judgments. I will face Avinu Malkeinu with the position that “I tried to help Your children but they refused to let me.” What will the “holchei rochil” offer in their defense? “Hashem, we just shot down an “osek betzorchei tzibbur be’emunoh”. You shot the wrong person.

    I am not personally offended. I have learned to tolerate being called names. I’ve been around a little. I grieve for the work that could have been done, and my tefiloh is that someone capable is found who can see this mission through to success. I grieve for the pain and anger that this whole situation caused for myself, my family, for Dov Hikind, and for all others who recognize the seriousness of the mission. I grieve for the pain and suffering that innocent neshamos will experience in the absence of a system that could stop it. The flak will eventually fade, but the damage has been done. If nothing else, it is a really serious lesson in hilchos lashon horah.

    In reality, every frum Yid benefits from the things that askanim do. From intervening with governmental matters, legal issues, dealing with yeshivos, getting streets blocked for various events, and others too numerous to mention, we all derive much benefit from what they do. Nearly all, or perhaps absolutely all, function selflessly. Hatzoloh, Shomrim, and Chaverim are totally volunteer staffed. Since when do we carelessly and viciously attack an askan? Was there any posek asked about doing this? Was this a campaign by a group or individual, or was this just the street gossip fueling itself? I may never know. But I have been sensitized away from participating in askonus.

    I already contacted others whose projects are precious and worthy, and withdrew from taking any askonus role. Without any hesitation, I will share my thoughts and opinions with any of them, including Dov. But no one will be able to hold me responsible for something I did not do.

    To all the voices in the street that made this happen, my conscience is clear entering the days of selichos and yemai hadin. Are yours?


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    193 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    i wonder if this is coming from ignorant pepole or from higher up

    Joseph
    Joseph
    15 years ago

    What a shame. The New York frum community could have had the best possible professional deal with this problem. Instead, they chased him out.

    That’s messed up. Thank God I don’t live there.

    Been there
    Been there
    15 years ago

    I guess that they did not like the nice way of dealing with the molestation issue. It is incumbent upon all of us to stop protecting the molesters and report them to the authorities and have them locked up. When they get out they can build themselves a Megans Law IR MIKLAT where they can live with their own shul, kollel and mikvah away from society and children. Then they can molest each other for their amusement.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    so sad you couldnt continue this great work, perhaps a non jewish person of your caliber would have less to loose in order to do this mandatory work of g-d.

    BP
    BP
    15 years ago

    Dr Twerski,

    We all know how this works and your being respepected and appreciated and understood for taking this step, macshuva kmaseh….you wanted to do but you were stopped by our own.

    Dov hikind please get a grant that will pay for cameras in every room in a yeshiva building and youll have all yeshivas beg that you go with Dr. Twerskis guidance.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    IF anyone has the rabbis ear can they ask him and post his response. is there any way those of us who want him to continue with this task. can get the rabbi to reconsider.

    political  analyst
    political analyst
    15 years ago

    ok, so who’s up for the task?

    Logically, the only people who have an interest in opposing this should be the molestors themselves. are there that many molestors out there?!

    astonishing!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I have rarely read such a powerful piece as that by Dr. Twerski. He does not need to be told that he deserves the praise of the entire community for his work in this area as well as others, but it needs to be stated publicly and unequivocally. Indeed it is the Rabbonim who should have started and been backing this initiative. For that reason I hope that the opposition to Dov Hikind’s initiative comes only from ignorant people.

    HALDOLPRN
    HALDOLPRN
    15 years ago

    MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE NEXT CHILD THAT IS VIOLATED AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. HASHEM YERACHEIM!!! WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR PPL TO GET THE MESSAGE.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Why are people more interested in protecting the criminals than the victims?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    If this is a result of stam people making him crazy then I beg Rabbi twerski to rethink his decision as we all must strengthen our Bitachon in the RBS”O that it is HE and no one else who controls the world and ours is the job of doing for the Kllal. Hashem will protect him and guide him. If this is a result of Daas Torah pressuring him to not do this then he is commended for stepping down but questioned as to why share publicly the frustration. We must follow our Gedolim like it or not – this is the lesson from last weeks Parsha.

    Anon.
    Anon.
    15 years ago

    To BP  test:42,

    I take offense by calling these people who did this “our own”. They might look like frum jews, but they don’t act like them, so in my opinion they aren’t.

    A Therapist
    A Therapist
    15 years ago

    Why do people think that the Frum community does not have social ills? are we not human? have we not come past the Nish’t Bah Inz Principle?

    Not only is “shikur deh Goy” We have illnesses by Jews too. We have At Risk youth in our midst and we have pedophiles in our midst. We are human.

    Thank you Dr. T for your tircha for the Tzibur. Thank you Dov.

    Dr. T – this letter makes me shiver. Keep Strong for us all.

    Let’s keep our children safe.

    ano
    ano
    15 years ago

    as someone involved in askunas and in these sensitive issues it is time for all of the so called rabbanim to issue a kol koreh not about music but about molestation

    i am tired of getting calls to my home late at night because someone has beeaten there wife or children on drugs or molestation

    these cases are happening every day in our community

    and believe me in some of the finest mishpochas

    let us start protecting the defenseless and hay hashem protect each of us the way we protect the defenseless

    TRAGIC
    TRAGIC
    15 years ago

    What a tragedy!

    My heart goes out for Rabbi Twerski and his family.

    My heart goes out for all the children that may be unprotected from sick individuals.

    We recently read in Parshas Hashavua about the Eglah Arufah, that was mandated in the event of an unsolved murder. The murder of the soul of child is just as bad.

    Can we say our hands our clean?

    We must eradicate “HORAH SHEBIKIRBENU”, and that includes protectzia and mafia.

    victim #........
    victim #........
    15 years ago

    THERE IS ONLY ONE SELUTION NOW, I DONT CARE IF ITS A SICKNESS AND I DONT CARE FOR FAMILY, AT THIS POINT, I AM GETTING A NEW BASE BALL BAT. IF THEY WE NOT DO ANYTHING, WE WILL DO IT OUR SELFS, I CAN NOW BEAT AT LEAST 7 MOLESTERS KNOWN TO ME, PEOPLE I GUARENTEE YOU, THERE IS ONE LANGUAGE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    victim,

    Like you said there is a universal language. hatzlocha

    Pearl Herzog
    Pearl Herzog
    15 years ago

    Hashem should heal the sick people who have violated vulnerable children.

    Hashem should send a refuah sheleimah to the demented people who have threatened Rabbi Twerski.

    Rabbi Twerski, for the dozens of people who have intimidated you, there are tens of thousands of people who applaud you.

    As a rebbeshi einikel, you should have bitachon that shidduchim are from the Ribbono shel olan. You don’t want to meshadech with those types anyway. They don’t come to your pinky.

    You also don’t want your children being educated by ignorant boors.

    Make your holy ancestors proud! please retract your resignation.

    Participate in this very very holy endeavor.

    If anyone threatens not to take you child or grandchild, it may be because he is a molestor and is afraid of exposure.

    Tell him, you wonder if he is reacting like that because he is afraid he may be exposed himself.

    Send around a petition. You will see how many signatures you will get who want you to pursue this holy endeavor.

    It is a milchemes mitzvoh!!!

    molested kid
    molested kid
    15 years ago

    rabbi NO don”t quit!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Nobody addressed Dr. Twersky’s point…that his FAMILY is getting flak, his kids have been threatened with not getting Shidduchim for their children.

    Dr. Pelcovitz works extensively in this field…I know, because I’ve called him. He isn’t being harrassed. So it begs the question…is it the Chassidim, the “VERY holy people” to whom many look as examples who are putting the word out on the street that they will destroy Dr. Twersky? I guess it must be. Dr. Pelcovitz, whose religious affiliation I don’t know but I guess he’s just a poshiter yid (!) clearly isn’t a Chasid & he’s safe.

    I am cetain that no Rebbe would do such a thing. But I’m not sure about the rest of the flock. All these Chassidim, who cloak themselves in their bekershes, streimlach, lange payos etc…you allow this cancer to fester and in the process you destroy (or try to destroy) one of your own. You are AS GUILTY of abuse as the molestors themselves. You may not assault children, but you protect those who do & are stopping the one person who may, just may, be the missing piece of the puzzle of those able to make a difference.

    May G-d forgive you all.

    Apple
    Apple
    15 years ago

    The Rabbis are failing us. And Dov Hikind is failing us, by protecting the criminals he, himself, knows about.

    Most of all we are failing ourselves. All day at other so called jewish yeshivish news sites we talk about YU, and the dress wearing professor. We bash the moderns. We bash the Jews who are not like us.

    RABBOSAI we MUST bash this instead.

    Bash the rabonim who protect molesters. And most of all, we must bash ourselves.

    ALL OF US MUST SHOW THIS ARTICLE TO FIVE RABONIM BY SHABBOS.

    DO IT

    MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

    PRINT THIS OUT AND SHARE IT WITH RABBIS WHO PROP UP THIS CORRUPTION

    Apple
    Apple
    15 years ago

    RABBI TWERSKI YOU ARE A COWARD

    INSTEAD OF SLINKING AWAY I WANT YOU TO NAME NAMES

    NAME NAMES

    SHINE SOME SUNLIGHT ON THESE SKUNKS

    DONT LET THEM WIN

    NAME NAMES

    NAME NAMES

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    While there are numerous disturbing things about this situation, I wonder if the Shidduch and school/yeshiva admissions systems need to be changed since it seems that black-mailing parents with threats to their children’s shidduch possibilities and yeshiva admissions and punishing children for perceived non-conformity by parents is a common control/extortion tactic. For starters, let’s have school admissions questionnaires that assign each child a number that are reviewed by an admissions committee that does know which number goes with which names and all of the questions and written references stick to relevant information like age, interests, grades, etc.

    open your eyes
    open your eyes
    15 years ago

    To victim #…….. Says:

    Amen. Either a literal bat or a figurative one using the legal system and the media. If we can’t police ourselves, if our “leaders” don’t have the cajones to deal with such an obvious no-brainer, we have to do it on our own. One case of molestation is more important than all the idiots who will scream chillul hashem, don’t wash laundry etc. It will (Ch”v it should happen) their own fault that we had to got to secular systems to protect our children.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    6:28 – he addressed that aspect of it. Dr. Pelcovitz is part of an MO/Chareidi-Lite community and doesn’t get this sort of treatment. Let’s call a spade a spade; we can’t always be PC if we want change.

    conscience
    conscience
    15 years ago

    I can’t not sleep at night, never mind say “my conscience is clear” when I know that i just turned my back on all the Yiddishe Neshomos who continue to be abused RIGHT NOW, as we speak and we DO NOTHING about it, because we have to “save our own skin”!

    moshe
    moshe
    15 years ago

    Why would he want to stay in a community with these animals who call themselves Jews?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    After reading the news of Rabbi Twerski’s resignation, I cried. I truly hoped and believed that finally something will get done in our community that will put an end to the sickness.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    GOD BLESS RABBI TWERSKI

    MAY ALL THE MOLESTERS BE PUNISHED IN THIS WORLD AND THE WORLD TO COME.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I wonder if the molesters themselves were afraid and were behind the campaign to get him to resign

    Ich Farshtei Nisht
    Ich Farshtei Nisht
    15 years ago

    Where is he getting flak from ???? We need more details and insight into this. Something just isn’t adding up. WHO is pressuring the rabbi and his family ????

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    if you read his letter is was not just regular people or nuts.

    It was rebbis that’s who he says if you son comes to my class I will not accept him.

    Why are the rebbis powers to be quiet on this, you would think they would move faster then they moved to bann the music concert.

    No maybe it is a little darker they are protecting some of their own

    yitzchok
    yitzchok
    15 years ago

    Dov Hikind take off the gloves. People don’t want to take care of this problem within, that’s fine. Bring in the DA, maybe after someone goes to jail…..

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    My heart goes out to Rabbi Bentzion Twerski and his family. What this tremendous person could have done to help our community and the victims therein is endless, and what a tragedy that R’ Twerski was forced to step down!!

    What is going on here???

    Moishe Zichmach
    Moishe Zichmach
    15 years ago

    First nuchem rosenberg now twersky? I think its time for the people to say enough. We are at war. Playing nice is over. Let’s take it to the streets. Let’s get the govern$ent involved. This our jihad. We can fight too. Hashem imuni! Let’s roll!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Rabbi T- You are abroigating your responsibility to the molested and the abused and you will pay for your cowardice in Heaven. Shame on you for caving in. You have the press behind you , the media, DOv, Rabbi Horowitz, and you cave in to their foolish demands. Appeasement does not work, we all know that. You should rejoin the struggle, name names, publicize their evil deeds, and collect your reward in Heaven like every other long suffering Askan. Your capitulation for your Family or other reasons is beyond belief after you have been such a great leader in this arena. Go to the Rabbonim and ask for their support, go to the the leaders of those who attack you and work to have them ostracized. To cave in is to condemn countless souls who for looking up to you. J’Accuse.

    The Boys
    The Boys
    15 years ago

    Please publish names of the Pigs that are harrasing Rabbi Twerski. My friends & I are rady to take action.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Its incredible how a few looney characters control an entire community and call themselves askunim. I just found out that two boys were molested this summer in the m. camp by a yingerman counchler,I nstead of throwing the bum out they kept him on staff p[roviding he keep his distance from campers. The corruption is incrdeible. I have a friend who years ago was kicked out of a yeshiva for keeping a daily news hidden in hi closet but known older gay molesters were allowed to stay in the yeshiva. somethings wrong.

    murray
    murray
    15 years ago

    I have a bullet proof vest I can donate to the Rabbi. This is a serious offer, Not a sick joke. There is No doubt that all the “flak” he would be taking for pursuing this in earnest would at some point not be limited to Verbal abuse,and idle threats. Don’t think for a moment that if some big shot in the community was about to be exposed and prosecuted they would have any qualms about silencing their accusers, they alredy have demonstrated an eager willingness to sin, and commit horrible crimes.

    Lock & Load
    Lock & Load
    15 years ago

    Rabbi Twersky I fully undestand you….

    Your Not a Coward…..

    All of us Normal People would do the Same…

    His Family comes First….

    The Cowards are the Parents of these Children….

    You take the Law in your Hands and deel with it Later….

    LOCK & LOAD

    Heimish Yid
    Heimish Yid
    15 years ago

    Dear Dr. Twersky,

    Do not be discouraged! I too have been an askin in the community and know that at times it is a “thankless” job! Yet I continue on in my own quiet way and do not expect any appreciation or thank yous, and when I finally do receive it, its a bonus! We all know how hard you have worked and will continue to work helping the “klal.! Keep up the great work and may Hashem help you to continue your “heilige” work!!

    murray
    murray
    15 years ago

    How dare you insult the Rabbi, imply cowardice!

    Why do all you posters out there assume that the detractors of Rabbi Twerski, as well as the molesters are “civilized” enough to keep their threats and abuse in the Verbal zone, and not turn physical? I submit to you that they have (the sexual abusers) sufficiently demonstrated that they are capable of anything.

    MARK
    MARK
    15 years ago

    DOV YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AFRAID OF THREATS IN THE OLD DAYS YOU WERE TOUGH HANG IN THERE MAYER A

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    it might as well be tisha bav today because thats how bad it is

    What????
    What????
    15 years ago

    To Anon at 5:51 —-

    Daas Torah would make threats and “pressure” like that? What Daas Torah do you listen to????

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    while it is sad that Rosenberg and twersky left. I am sorry to say the one who should be protecting the children are the parents themselves. Stop crying that you are not getting help from so and so from this rov and that rabbie. Protecting your children is you main job, go to the police protect your children, otherwise you are negligent in you duties as a parent.

    This is a law enforcement issue, not an halacha issue. The rabbis are simply not up to the task.

    History should tell you in crisis situations listening to you rebbe is detrimental to you and your families lives

    PLEASE
    PLEASE
    15 years ago

    Please start publishing the names of the people who have molested children.The kehilla has the right to know

    Mommy
    Mommy
    15 years ago

    It’s so sad that in our community our OWN people are dumb and deaf! Now all the molesters know that in the jewish community it’s ok to molest kids because NOTHING will be done about it. PLEASE prove them wrong! They should be named in newspapers and radios. SHAME ON THEM and SHAME on the so called RABONEM!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    People can only be threatened if they agree to cave in to blackmail. Rabbi Twersky should not have caved in, but rather had bitachon that “shliach mitzvah ayno nezoykin” and he should have had faith that Hashem would protect him and his family.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Bullys are full of bluff. It;s about time we called their bluff and let them fall flat on their faces.