Jerusalem – Twenty two ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jews were arrested Monday and charged with sexually assaulting minors and women. The individuals, who were not named, are all between the ages of 20-60 and are residents of Jerusalem, Beitar Illit, Beit Shemesh and Bnei Brak.
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Police spokespeople said the arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into widespread sex crimes in haredi communities, and that the individuals arrested are suspected of committing crimes over a period of two years.
The police posted below video depicting the arrests on social media.
Rabbis and lay leaders in the haredi community reportedly sent the offenders for “counselling,” but support organizations for victims of sexual abuse told Tazpit Press Service (TPS) that the treatment rarely meets professional or legal standards.
“Most likely, if the offense wasn’t reported, it is nearly certain that the ‘therapy’ was not provided by a licensed, qualified responsible or an ethically practicing mental health professional,” said Shana Aaronson, Israel Director of Jewish Community Watch, an international organization dealing with child sexual abuse in Jewish communities around the world.
“You know that because any professional licensed mental heath professional in this country would know well that in nearly all cases we are legally obliged to report cases of sexual abuse to the child welfare department.
“Obviously, I’m not familiar with the specifics of any of these cases, and it is certainly possible that the minutiae of a particular case meant that the legal requirement to report did not apply (i.e. if the abuse was committed by a stranger). But it’s extremely unlikely that that is true in 22 cases,” Aaronson said.
Asked about strong community mores not to talk about sex and to protect the image of the community to the non-haredi world, Aaronson – who is Orthodox – acknowledged a shift in recent years in the haredi rabbinate on this issue, including the emergence of several leading rabbis who refer sex offenders to qualified mental health professionals, fully aware of legal requirements to file reports with legal authorities.
But she also said that the rabbis who are willing to comply with legal requirements are both in the minority amongst their rabbinic colleagues, and fighting a strong cultural norm in the community that includes deep-seeded mistrust of secular authorities.
“I think it is hard to paint all the rabbis who did this with one brush, but yes, there is a very strong pull towards keeping the image of the community pristine. To be blunt – it means sacrificing children of the community on that altar. So I think it’s a question of priorities,” she said.
Harav Nuchem Rosenberg, is The Tzadik Hador.
So instead of immediately arresting them, they let the abuse continue so they can “investigate” and then make noise by arresting 20 of them in one shot. Proof that it’s not about protecting the innocent but anti chareidi.
It’s amazing and impressive to observe the police officer, instinctively kiss the mezuzah as he was opening the door, during such a sensitive mission. Kol hakavod!
Sadly, it should be noted that when a child is abused, they often “go off the derech” and I think that the abuser and the “protecting Rabbonim” are culpable. In addition, it is often the case that an abused child becomes an abuser themselves. It’s an evil cycle. Think about all the damage 1 abuser can do over a lifetime.
Shocking news. What I dread is the noise from the “activists” who will create images of the dangers of living as a frum Yid. These are the people who went public claiming that sending your child to yeshiva was hazardous. B”H they have been silenced by their own failures. There are many tools and programs not only available but implemented in yeshivos to prevent abuse and increase safety. The average rebbe is not a danger, and the average mechanech is not a pedophile. It is a grave aveiroh to claim they are. It is interesting to note that all those soap boxes to yell about the terrible system contributed nothing to the various programs that yeshivos implemented to promote safety. These loudmouths were not interested in saving or protecting children. They were simply bloodthirsty savages who wanted to make as much noise and chilul Hashem, and to destroy souls of rebbeim who might be innocent. Abuse happens, and every measure to protect children must be taken. A suspected molester needs to be distanced, and reported. But the circus of public shaming and the rush to the secular media hurt, and do not help.
I pray that this current issue gets resolved fairly and quietly.
Cameras would be a first step.
There are cameras that can hold the images for five years, A Baltimore moisid installed them.
Education is very important. Rav Yankel Horowitz of Monsey, NY has given such educational lectures in the USA and srael.
בבאלטימור התקינו בבית ספר שארית הפליטה מצלמות עם זכרון שנשמר לחמש שנים מומלץ לכל הישיבות וכו’
Rav Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, Gateshead Rav ha at lengths addressed this issue at length. some are posted on various sites. check it out.
Trump can brag about doing the same and no one cares only when chassidim do it its a big thing.
We and others have spoken to many professionals and concluded that “there is no cure for this machla”. Therapy may be helpful only for the victim, never works for the perpetrator, it only gives people a false sense of security, so people put down their guard from these perpetrators.
The Israeli army is the safest place to be because the Rabbis don’t let the Ultra Orthodox serve in the army.
Wow, there are bloggers that are worried about the Hasids image. If these “G-d fearing” people are guilty I hope they get what they deserve. If they are brought to justice maybe it will act as a deterrent and other people will seek out the help that they need. Maybe they have too much free time. I wonder how many of there 22 men had full time jobs.
Hold your horses. My understanding is that they were arrested for being part of the “Va’ad Hatzenius” and forcing their dictates on others. They were not arrested for sex crimes.
if they were in Brooklyn Eric Gonzalez the DA would have them out in no time.
These perverts should GET A JOB!
The abuse continues after the abuse. In chareide communities victims and their familiess are threatened with violence and other destructive measures if they go to professional and legal authorities.
They can hide their face but they can’t hide their hat. Hilul Hashem
To #35 : You wrote: “would you say the same if it was ChV ur child?
Absolutely yes. The vicious attacks on the perpetrators (as well deserved as they are) help no one. They do not protect anyone, they do not help the victim heal, and they destroy the innocent members of the guilty molester’s family. The perp needs to be removed from circulation, and the enablers punished severely. The public shaming (again, well deserved) serves no purpose, except that it creates a chilul Hashem. I am not minimizing the tragedy of the crime, and I am not looking to protect the criminal. But the publicity stuff that goes on hurts all and helps no one.
Lastly, just because the victim is my child, it doesn’t change facts. I might have strong feelings, but morality and halacha are not determined by the intensity of my emotion.