New York – Augdath Israel To Strongly Support Mandatory Finger-Printing For Teachers In Yeshivas

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    New York – Originally reported in the Jewish Star, Agudath Israel of America has officially changed its position and now is prepared to actively support mandatory finger-printing and background checks for teachers in yeshivos. Though they did specify that they would like to see how a voluntary bill is enacted before actually supporting the bill. The change follows a wave of publicity orchestrated by Jewish media—newspapers, bloggers, and radio commentators– that has drawn attention to sex abuse in the Orthodox Jewish community.

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    Speaking to VIN News, Rabbi Dovid Zwiebel, Agudah’s Executive Vice President of Government Affairs explained that when the initial she’ailah was posed to the Rabbinical leaders, Agudah was authorized to support the bill for voluntary fingerprinting but to wait until “the yeshivos that voluntarily opt into the system had some experience with [it]” before either opposing or supporting the mandatory bill.

    However, in light of the recent publicity to the issue, Agudah felt that it was in its best interest to support the mandatory bill, in Zweibel’s words, in order “avoid the libelous misconception out there in certain parts of the world that we oppose background checks on the people hired by our Yeshivos.”

    Zwiebel also added that prior to this Agudah sent out mailings to all yeshivos and affiliated day schools across America urging them to do appropriate background checks when they hire their employees.
    “So,” Zwiebel concluded, “All the talk out there the Rabbis are opposed to background checks is flat-out wrong.”


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    40 Comments
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    Suri Palin
    Suri Palin
    15 years ago

    It is about time Agudah is waking up from their slumber. It is time concert ban rabbis stop being timid and speak up right away against atrocities. They were quick to sign a concert ban, shame a singer publicly and bring down an innocent concert promoter. But for important issues they are nowhere to be found. Shame on them and shame on people who support them.

    Avrohom Abba
    Avrohom Abba
    15 years ago

    Finally!
    This is a bigf step forward! We have a right to know the details about the people we are being asked to trust our children to. Fingerprinting and background checks should be mandatory for every staff member of every yeshiva and shul. Invasion of your privacy? Go somewhere else where they don’t care who they entrust their children to.
    Why should I pay to have my children taught by people who don’t want me to know about their backgrounds?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    look what pressure and public education can accomplish! parents dont give up!

    MARK  APPEL
    MARK APPEL
    15 years ago

    KOL HAKAVOD TO RABBI DAVID ZWEIBEL YOUR A TRUE MENCH AND URE COURAGE TO FIGHT THE OLD SHERER MACHINE IS A HISTORIC BREAKTHRU IN AGUDA BECOMMING A TRUE ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY CHAZK

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Obama our president? Agudah finaly taking a mediocre anti-molester stand? Moshiach a comin’!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Don’t the insurance ompanies require it?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Not one Rebbi/educator that was “in the news” had a criminal background, these checks would not have prevented any abuse, so why are people so excited about it?

    Give me a break
    Give me a break
    15 years ago

    Is it “libelous” to say that the Agudah rabbis still are the only religious group to oppose mandatory reporting by clergy?

    Is it “libelous” to say that without the mandatory fingerprinting and background checks that almost NO Yeshias in New York have been doing it voluntarily?

    Is it “libelous” to say that the Agudas Yisroel rabbis are STILL totally silent as a Rebby in Satmar Yeshiva who has been alleged by TWO students according to Assemblyman Hikind to have molested children and failed a lie detector test, as reported by VIN is STILL teaching in that school?

    Is it “libelous” to say that the Agudas Yisroel rabbis stayed silent when the other yeshivah in Brooklyn that had a molester for forty years who plead guilty to two counts of endangering the welfare of children, was protected, and that they STILL have not condemned this horribly cruel and irresponsible coverup AND have not publicly warned parents (many of whom still believe in the man’s innoncence) to keep their kids away from him?

    If this is the kind of “honesty” and “integrity” we can expect from the next generation of Agudas Yisroel (as the current President Rabbi Bloom retires), then unfortunately, I am afraid, we are in for more scandals in our community in areas such as sexual abuse and its cover-up, abuse of labor laws in the kashrus field and its white-washing by rabbis, and federal indictments of rabbinic leaers for money laundering and other white collar crimes.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Its time for Klal Yisruel to sever all ties with that zionist liberal organosation!

    Dag
    Dag
    15 years ago

    I think this is misdirection: “Though they did specify that they would like to see how a voluntary bill is enacted before actually supporting the bill. ”

    That means they can wait for the anger and passion to blow over without mandating that ANY Yeshiva do ANYTHING.

    “Zwiebel also added that prior to this Agudah sent out mailings to all yeshivos and affiliated day schools across America urging them to do appropriate background checks when they hire their employees.”

    Urged them? How about requiring it as a condition of affiliation? And what does “appropriate background checks” mean? Finger printing? REAL background checks, or a half- hearted attempt to make it look like they are doingsomething?

    To me, this says NOTHING.

    Same old, same old I’m afraid.

    MARK APPEL
    MARK APPEL
    15 years ago

    A HISTORIC DAY FOR AGUDA LETS GO FORWARD IN A GOOD AND POSTIVE MESSAGE AM YISROEAL CHAI

    Melon
    Melon
    15 years ago

    “Is it “libelous” to say that the Agudas Yisroel rabbis are STILL totally silent as a Rebby in Satmar Yeshiva who has been alleged by TWO students according to Assemblyman Hikind to have molested children and failed a lie detector test, as reported by VIN is STILL teaching in that school?”

    Agudas Israel has less to do with Satmar than the RCA, why should the comment about it? Should Agudas Israel comment about abuse in a Conservative school?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    First of all, fingerprinting for jobs is wuite common. I was fingerprinted before getting licensed as a Dentist.
    Maybe, just maybe am pervert that knows he will be fingerprinted will decide to not select a career in chinuch. It will help even in cases where the person has no pior record.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am a Satmar chussid, and I support the idea of background checks. In fact, every Yeshiva/boys or girls school employee should have a “license” type of photo ID card that they received by going through a fingerprinting and background check.

    This should include both a criminal state and nationwide background check, as well as a check of the sexual perpetrator lists. Yes, this is expensive, but the rebbe should pay for it.

    In fact, this license should include something like a 30 hour course in how to behave, what is appropriate and what is not appropriate, as well as how to avoid situations where one can be falsely accused of molestation even when the rebbe is innocent.

    Just like when I applied for my concealed carry permit, I had to be fingerprinted, and have a state and national criminal check. I also had to attend a 40 hour gun safety course, as well as demonstrate minimal proficiency on a gun range. This gives me the “license” to carry a concealed weapon in 30 states.

    The rebbes in our yeshivas, as well as most of the secular teachers have little or no training. This should be a minimum requirement.

    shlomo
    shlomo
    15 years ago

    this is a sad day for what the aguda once was they now seem to have veered all the way to the left they do not represent mainstream yeshiva orthodoxy instead they are out to appease the modern orthodox young israel and the media.however this is not the first time they caved in ,where was the agudah during the metzitzah bpeh controversy they stood on the sidelines and did nothing if they can’t stand up for yiddishkeit they might as well shut down.

    Yoily Voily
    Yoily Voily
    15 years ago

    Very cute. But what is the benefit? This is a fake thing that won’t help anything, and distracts from taking real steps.

    None of the alleged molesters had previous convictions, so fingerprinting wouldn’t have helped anyway.

    Molester’s information is widely available on the internet. Anyone with a conviction will be discovered with a two minute check online.

    Religious groups were opposing a law requiring fingerprinting because it is a useless waste of time and money.

    “If you’re going to argue, make a coherent argument, otherwise keep quiet!”
    -Yoily Voily

    M. Richter
    M. Richter
    15 years ago

    Guys don’t get excited yet & please don’t yet let your gaurd down from your kids!!! Backgroung checks will to absollutly ZERO!!! Unless the person is a convicted & found guily fellon who’s put into the criminal data base all the finger print check will turn up ZILCH… It will only give U a false sense of security. In all the past known cases of teachers (without mentioning names) finger printing wouldve probably not help much especialy as long as our community dosent put it into the criminal legal system how do U expect it to show up on a check? Despite all that still kuduss to AY for finnaly taking this bold step. Kol hakuvud.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The background check and fingerprinting can have a positive effect. Even if it will not read the teacher’s mind and spot perverts, it may help as a deterrent. Now the melamed risks getting fired, but knows he can get hired elsewhere. With a central license that is based upon fingerprinting, he may have more fear of losing everything, and not taking any chances. Heck, if it saves one kid from molestation, is is worth the effort; is it not?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Background checks anywhere do not prevent much. Most of our cases of abuse do not get reported, and this means there is no record to find. Also, molestation does not leave behind fingerprints. However, the fact that there is such a policy in place is an indication of accountability by the yeshiva. That is one area where we have been deficient for decades.

    While this is not a legislative issue, there needs to be a tracking mechanism within the frum community for anyone seeking employment in chinuch. There is supposed to be such a database kept by Torah Umesorah, but I have not encountered any yeshiva or school that utilized this resource, either to report or to verify anything. Making such a system mandatory would go farther than the legislation described in this article.

    It has also been suggested that our organizations mandate that anyone entering chinuch undergo training by any of the several programs available. Some of these (not an exclusive list) include Torah Umesorah, Mileches Shomayim, Merkaz, etc. These should have certificates of completion, and should be comprehensive programs (more than 30 hours). There should be supervision for every single mechanech(es) on a weekly basis. There should be mandatory continuing education to insure that mechanchim are kept up to date on their specialty, new techniques and materials, etc.

    This legislation is at least symbolic, but it is a healthy step. Congratulations.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I’m puzzled why fingerprinting is going to make a difference. If someone is not prosecuted, they aren’t going to be in the system. It seems like a final step, not a first one.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    THANK YOU RABBI NUCHEM ROSENBERG SHLIT”A

    shmiel glassman
    shmiel glassman
    15 years ago

    THIS WILL HELP NOBODY SIMPLY BECAUSE THER ARE HUNDREDS OF MOLESTERS & ONLY A APPROX A DOZEN WITH A RECORD ” THERE ARE NO RECOERDS !!!!!!!!!!!GET IT!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Agudath Israel has an employee that is a child molester running the entire pirchei program. did they fingerprint him?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    “””However, in light of the recent publicity to the issue, Agudah felt that it was in its best interest to support the mandatory bill””””

    this line talks for itself

    SHMIEL GLASSMAN
    SHMIEL GLASSMAN
    15 years ago

    A FEW POINTS
    FOR ANYTHING TO GET DONE IN THIS FIELD
    a.there needs to be one group helping the victims THAT ARE seeking Therapeutic help w/o last names to avoid mandatory reporting ( this group should have nothing to do with pressing charges ,hunting down perpetrators etc.. this is something that the frum public & rabonim are ready for at this point
    B. a seperate group that deals with perpetrators that want help in controlling this “EVIL URGE” (people knowledgable in the various treatment modalities & physcho pharmacology that works
    after this is in place a hotline number can be set up to deal with ” NEW & CURRENT ALLEGATIONS & accusations / THIS WOULD BE A VERY GOOD START ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS WHATS HAPPENED WITH DOV HIKIND ( HIS INTENTIONS ARE GOOD ) IS THAT MANY VICTIMS HAVE VENTED & ????????????????? NO TACHLIS

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think a good place for the Agudah to start is looking into its staff at Camp Agudah.

    MARK M APPEL
    MARK M APPEL
    15 years ago

    GUT VOCH LETS POST POSITIVE RABBI ZWEIBEL IS A GREAT NEW GUY WITH A UPBEAT VISION,GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO BRING BACK AGUDA TO THE KATTOWICE ERA 80 YEARS AGO. HE IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND WILL RID AGUDA OF ALL THE SHERER PR GURUS AND BRING A TRUE KIDDISH HASHEM

    Oy Gevald
    Oy Gevald
    15 years ago

    There are several things missing from the Agudah statement.
    1) supporting proper “punishment” for schools harboring such employees.
    2) indicating what constitutes an abuser, secular Courts ruling suffices?
    3) what programs (state, city, federal) will be allowed into schools to “educate” STUDENTS as well as adults to this kind of abuse.
    4) Demand associates of such employees turn-in their collegues.
    5) Demand that schools with knowledge of current or prior complaints to report them to authorities now.
    Such actions will go a long way in coming to terms with this terrible Machlah that has turned our precious innocent yiddishe kinderlach into Oys-vurfs or at best made them abandon Yiddishkeit altogether.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    “However, in light of the recent publicity to the issue, Agudah felt that it was in its best interest to support the mandatory bill, in Zweibel’s words, in order “avoid the libelous misconception out there in certain parts of the world that we oppose background checks on the people hired by our Yeshivos.”

    C’mon at least pretend you actually care instead of admitting its all politics…………..