Jerusalem – Chief Rabbi David Lau has issued a letter to educators in the haredi sector calling on them to report suspicions of child abuse to the authorities and not to sweep such claims under the carpet.
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His letter comes in the wake of several indictments in recent months against members of the haredi community for sexual assault against children.
Last week, an indictment was issued against six teachers in a hasidic elementary school in Tel Aviv, while another indictment was issued in May against a well known haredi rabbi for raping three of his nieces hundreds of times over several years.
And in July, an indictment was issued against Breslov leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland for sexual assault, including towards a minor.
In his letter, written last week and made public on Monday, the chief rabbi noted that “of late, terrible phenomenon have become known in our court and our sector,” in incidents in which “children have been harmed at home or in educational institutions,” that Lau said had been incredibly painful to hear of.
“At this time, parents, educators, relatives, and anyone who is involved in the holy work of education must keep their eyes open and help anyone in need as much as they can,” wrote Lau.
“Burying one’s head in the sand is not an answer for these difficult and painful issues, and everyone must know that they bear responsibility even if they are not directly affected,” he continued.
“In no way whatsoever should these matters be swept under the carpet, and to evade dealing with these difficult phenomenon, and if they do not stop many more souls are likely to be harmed,” Lau wrote, saying that awareness of such issues must be increased.
Perhaps those people that think the internet is evil, should go to a public library and have a look at the effects of sexual abuse and how many young people kill themselves and how many are suffering terribly, then they would realize that turning a blind eye or saying it’s loshon hora to talk about it, is just supporting the rapist by letting him or her continue to destroy more lives.
It is very nice of Rabbi Lau to agree that sexual abuse should not be swept under the rug. He fails to mention what SHOULD be done. Should we report to the secular authorities, or deal with it internally?
This sexual abuse is not a new phenomena. It’s been going on for years and years and has been swept under the rug. Too many people are getting away with this horrible crime. Justice has to be served and it’s not happening in the Charedi world so the authorities have to get moving and press charges against all abusers. If the abuser would care about his family and children, he wouldn’t be an abuser. He just cares about his selfish self with no mind to others. Too many children and people have been traumatized and psychologically effected by these abusers. There should also be a law that there is no statute of limitations for abusers of any kind. The hurt that they’ve caused has no statute of limitations but goes on forever and ever!!!
Please help the abused boys in New Square.
And when he is done with the task of eliminating sexual abuse, he should address the rampant pattern of other forms of abuse inflicted on innocent children. Hitting (has its place in chinuch, but Gedolei Yisroel have written much about how limited and controlled it needs to be to be permitted), and embarrassing children are unacceptable. It is blasphemous to consider these legitimate tools for the mechanech. Trouble is that most mechanchim are backing into the field because they are chicken to work or train for serious work. Without qualifications, the only way they know to manage a classroom is to exert tough discipline. That is not chinuch, it is boot camp. A trained mechanech knows how to make a lesson and classroom experience educational and interesting so that the use of discipline is occasional. The systems have a lot of needed improvement to make. Let this step be a start.
And when he is finished repairing chinuch in Eretz Yisroel, he should be invited to America.