Israel – Chief Rabbi of the city of Givatayim Yosef Gliksburg calls on all Rabbis to utilize the High Holiday sermons to battle the phenomenon of domestic violence.
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Gliksburg, a member of the Chief Rabbinical Committee of Israel, is promoting close cooperation between Israel’s chief rabbanite and civil organizations fighting against violence.
“The Rabbis should give the spiritual push,” explained Rabbi Gliksburg. “Together we will, if not eliminate the problem, at lease minimize it,” he said.
Rabbi Gliksburg said that rabbis spend hours helping couples reach peace in the home. But three recent cases of child abuse which shook Israel are not just cases of lack of peace in the home. “They are much worse,” he said, and “we must act to save the victims from their assailants.”
I agree with this rabbi.
Domestic violence is committed by fragile, tender failures with deep insecurity problems who take it out on their wives. Also, these fakers have the attitude, “If my father could hit my mother, I could hit my wife. If my father hit me, I will hit my children. And besides it says in Mishlei to hit your children.” That is how these cowards think.
The same is true for the leaders; just see how they treat their wife and children at home.
Any “godol” who treats his wife like garbage and smiles to the public, is a tiny katan and is not following the Torah. Their wives get yelled at until they cry. Their children hate them while their students think they are big tzadikim.
Yet, they are quick to give us musar.
The same is true for all these big show off talmidei chachmim who treat their family like low class citizens and show great happiness for the public, they are also phonies.
I support this Rav’s view. It is refreshing to know that there is a Rav out there who is not afraid to be an individual, to have views and act on it!
The time has come for all of us to take off our invisible blind fold and to truly see. To see with open, receptive and honest eyes. To see the children who are suffering beyond words. To see, to make it our business to investigate spouse abuse. To see, to admit the truth, and not follow the temptations of denial. Denial is an age-old technique that assists blindness, helps us to excuse ourselves for not investing effort into helping people under the claws of abuse. The whole spectrum of abuse, that of, emotional, physical, sexual… Each one of us is responsible to ask ourselves the following question: ”What have I done to take off the blindfold of denial of abuse in the Jewish, Orthodox community? ”
We need to face facts…too many people are not getting the help they deserve because of the ”blindfold desease of denial.”
We need to stop and reflect on our passive approval….the harm it causes, the irreparable damage…..
The children of abusive environments and spouse abuse victims,all need a support network of a warm and loving community, one in which embraces each member, emotionally, gives them a feeling of belonging, of acceptance, of healing, of repair….
NONE OF US CAN GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL NEVER NEED THAT HELP, THAT WARMTH,,,,,THE VICTIMS ARE RANDOM, NO PATTERNS, NO LABELS OF WHICH FRUM SECTOR THEY BELONG TO, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING…..WE CAN’T PREDICT WHO WILL BE THE NEXT VICTIM………………BUT…WE CAN GUARANTEE AND PREDICT A WARM AND LOVING SENSE OF BELONGING AND HEALING TO THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND CHANGE THEIR TITLE FROM ”VICTIM” TO ”SURVIVOR.”
Empowering others with a sense of self-respect is more significant than having power!!!!!!
Lets’ remember that most of these people are not Jewish. Rose’s mother is a shiksa. At least 1 of the other cases involved a Russian. I think both. Being that 70% of Russian olim aren’t Jewish they probably were also goyim. Maybe we should finally only allow Jews here.
This Rabbi Sh’lita is a very special and modest Rav, in appearnace and demeanour. He speaks at the Mamlachti Dati schools in Givatayim and is happy to attend all the frum ceremonies. He speaks in a gentle manner so respectfully, to the children present, at their level, and not aiming his word loftily, at the parents. We always enjoy hearing him at our grandchildren’s ceremonies in Emunim School Givatayim. I wish there were more like him. Something nice and warmly old fashioned in a caring gentle manner. Not the usual trail blazer style meant to impress the adults present.