Rockland County, NY – At noon on a Sunday afternoon, Isaac Brewer sits at his desk in the back of Fax Unlimited, the electronics store he operates on Route 59 in Spring Valley. The flat-screen monitor on his desk displays several camera views that let him watch the unattended front of the store. Every so often, a customer walks in and Brewer dishes with them over what printer to buy, and every so often, the phone rings and Brewer switches fluently between Yiddish and English, telling one customer that he’ll be happy to drop off a toner at so-and-so’s mother-in-law. And in between conversations, Brewer speaks about sexual abuse.
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“The problem has been going on since the world has been created,” explained Brewer, black waistcoat and gray sweater draped over the back of his chair. “But the Rebbe felt a need to get serious about it and to help victims and stop predators… The Rebbe has given us a carte blanche.”
Brewer is part of a six-member committee established 18 months ago by the Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi Dovid Twersky, to combat sexual abuse inside the New Square chasidic community. The committee, known simply as the Vaad, in many ways represents a giant leap forward for the community in dealing with sexual abuse. Advocates for victims of sexual abuse are not as charitable, however, and view the Vaad as a continuation of the legacy of cover-ups that have tainted the larger Orthodox community’s past dealings regarding sexual abuse.
Part of the committee’s strength, Brewer maintains, derives from the insular nature of the community of New Square, which is considered secluded even by chareidi standards.
“We are a closed community,” said Brewer, who speaks eloquently with a slight accent that betrays his upbringing in England. “You can take it in a negative way, but in a positive way a predator cannot slip away to the next synagogue.”
The Skver chassidus is clearly light years ahead of the rest of the frumme community in openly and agressively dealing with sexual abuse. Why cannot other chassidus and the litvish community deal with the issue as openly and forcefully?
Everybody is bashing R Nucham Rosenberg and maybe rightly so.. but since he came out of the closet you have news every day
If this vaad is 18 months old, why are the predators still in the school system??? Absolutely nothing has been done. They just put out a vaad for propaganda. They can’t take the heat anymore.
gevaldig! finally we can start repairing the damage the weve don by hiding these monsters!
what an attention seeker, they do nothing to it in new square, just cover it up and than saying you see, we have no abusers here…
As long as the predator doesn’t have to pay for his action, it doesn’t mean squat. The reason is simple without real consequences you will not prevent the reoccurring problem. Sorry but the only solution to protect future victim is to lock up the predator, so they are the example to all to see and contemplate if they want to be in jail.
There is hope if this Vaad is not just a dog and pony show. We will have to wait and see what type of changes occur and how abuses will be handled. But it still sends a positive message when leaderships start to talk about it in the open and not hide and whisper wishing things go away.
There should be open conferences involving leaders from all communities seeking to unite and address this brewing problem. Invite outside experts who will guide you on how to handle these issues because we don’t have experience with such problems.
It is easy to >say< that you are aggressive. That cannot be judged until we see what they do and how they do it. Secret unaccountable “aggressive” is meaningless.
this is just a way to protect the abuser. The abuser should be incarcerated and can receive treatment in prison, and be branded as a sex offender so others do not become victims of a hidden abuser.
If a Skverer was caught eating at McDonalds would he be dealt with less harshly or more harshly than a Skverer caught molesting a ten year old in the mikve?
A FEW POINTS;
the first mistake is this interview, what’s the point, i see little or no purpose
any sane person knows that “every community has its share” & most leaders are doing what they can
klal yisroel doesn’t have the answers ,it’ll take time to come up with a good framework (when you get involved in any real problem the ans. are far from simple)
i tend to think that most people commenting here have not read enough clinincal articles on pedophilia & forensics ( this is dinei nefashos for both victim & pedophile.
there are many victims out there that will not be satisfied with any measures short of “throwing away the key” the victims are in great pain & rightfully so but that past experience DISQUALIFIES them from accurately passing judgement
i personally feel that the publicity in the past court proceedings has hurt the cause in the big picture ( yes it has been soothing to victims & added a measure of fear in the perpetrators) but thats not where the big solutions lie.
lastly a question to ponder; from a torah perspective
can a pedophile be prosecuted to soothe a victim for past offences if the threat of recurrence is minimal ? protecting our children is priority #!
Since when does the skverer Rebbe actually know what’s happening in his town. In cases of marital abuse etc, he never knows, suddenly he IS aware? And what is he gonna do about it?
This is very bad for the Jewish people of an extremely insular community. It endangers children’s right to grow up in an abuse free environment and for their civil rights to be protected as American citizens.
The idea of a Vaad (Jewish religious court) to handle cases of sexual abuse is totally inappropriate. To this day I do not know of one rabbi who has undergone forensic training nor the education and or experience to conduct victim sensitive interviews.
Why doesn’t this Vaad reach out to the Catholic authorities & learn from their mistakes? I tend to agree with the posters who feel that there will be a cover-up, not because people don’t care but because they’re just not equipped to handle the issues. And unless the police are involved it’s inevitable that any treatment or action will fall far short of the mark.
Abusers must be held accountable. Getting them treatment seems to be a major focus of this Vaad. That should be at the bottom of the pile. How about public shame (yes, I’m aware of their families’ shame)? Why is going to the police always seen as Meseira? When are we going to learn that there are times when it’s our only option?
One last point: I read the part of the article about a victim’s sister marrying the son of his abuser in total disbelief. All I could think of is, “like father, like son???” That may or may not be the truth here, but I certainly wouldn’t stand by & let this happen. Unfortunately, the crimes of the fathers DO affect their kids. How do we know if he abused his own kids too? Would any reader here want this guy as Zaidie to their eineklach? As a mechutan?
The only reason for this unusual public reaction is the knowledge of 4 cases of severe sexual abuse in New Square, and the desire to either cut a deal with Rockland District Attorney Zugibe, or to cut that deal with good PR already in place in case the news breaks to the general media. The DA learned well from the last election that careers turn on the New Square dime (which of course is provided by the taxpayers), as his predecessor Mike Biongorno was criticized by New Square for sentencing a long time sexual abuser in that Community to 6 months of prison; the Skver Rebbe thinking that was too harsh for a man who had been raping his mentally impaired daughter. Zugibe wants to keep his job, and this is part of the game plan.
Yes, like many of you I do believe that Jane L. of The Journal News lacks sensitivity to the frum Community, but Jane (if you are reading this), please put at least the same effort into this as you did into “Hyenga Lake. Maybe this one will win your Pulitzer.
TO MENDEL #1 5 -
i am sure your story is accurate & unfortunately there are many such horror stories –
i believe today your story would be handled differently ,even by those same rabbonim
i am all for doing ,(prosecution is step #4 not step #1 )
as a head counselor i have spoken to the campers each yr. way before the recent publicity.
I DISAGREE ONLY WITH ONE WORD of your comment “anything” -should be changed to “not enough”
ill be glad to talk to you if there is any toeles ( 347-723-1619)
this is a sick joke,there is only ONE way and only ONE way to stop abuse,
call 911 and have the legal authorities deal with the predator,and put him away for a long time,the VAAD is only there for one thing, and it is to cover it up.
I don’t think prison is the answer. Yes you get the bad person ogg the street. But You are killing a whole family by locking up somebody for that. And we have enough jews in prison already. they should make the predator go for psychiatric treatment that will heal them of there problems
THere should be an 1-800 number established to gather information on a confidential basis. If an allegation is made, it should be investigated. If proven, through careful investigation, that person should be removed from any contact with children, offered counseling, barred forever from contact with children in a job, and if abuse continues, thrown out of New Square. In extreme cases, the authorities should be notified and the individual charged inthe criminal system.
In schools, mikvehs, and other places, no male adult should be left alone with another male under, say 21. Similar to yichud rules. Everyone should know, they need a “shomer” if they are learning late, or going to the mikveh early, or staying in a classroom after class.
Nice words. Let’s see if anything comes of them. And by “comes of them” I mean the community has to do the bare minimum. Those who are legally required to report abuse must go to the police. The community must cooperate with the investigations, not stonewall.
The practice of threatening, shunning, rejecting and destroying the marriage prospects of victims who come forward needs to end.
Synagogues and yeshivot must stop protecting and shuffling around abusers.
The community has to stop rallying around these criminals and treating them as saints.
How is a computer salesman an expert in child molesting?
So now tha New Square is finally talking about abuse, it’s not enough for the blood-sucker on this board.
Until we won’t stone the alleged molesters these so-called justice-seekers will never be happy. (And even then thy’ll whine that stoning is agaist our morals)
How pathetic!
i strongly agree that a vaad should handle these matters and not the government authorities. there’s absolutely no reason a person should get 30 years for these crimes when murderers go off with 5-10 years. especially a frum yid which from him sitting in jail for 1/2 year ruins his image more than it would for a non-jew who sits 30 years
I think this is a very bold move from the Skver Community to confront their issues. It shows that they have an Achrauis and are dealing with it (not sweeping it under the rug). Others should learn from them.
Secret vaads have little meaning. What have they done in 18 months? How do they handle these predators? Just kick them out of Sqvere so they can molest someone else’s children? It’s time to wake before more victims suffer.
How dangerous this is for the victims who will have a false sense of security. I am reporting more and more sexual abuse to NY and they are investigating. This Vaad needs to cease doing business and give all leads to the police department so that the kids can get the help they deserve.
whenever the issue of abuse comes up on vin it never ceases to amaze me how much utter ignorance there still is regarding molestation. many people especially from the very sheltered communities like skver,really have no idea on how molesters or victims should be dealt with.until there is some real education dealing with this ,victims lives will continue to be destroyed and and molesters will continue to molest.
They have no business dealing with abuse on their own. THEY SHOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THE POLICE TO DEAL WITH IT.
The chutspah here is incomprehensible! SICKENING!
reply to 6:
sorry to say you are so naive. Skvere is interested in protecting the image of skevere (and the Rebbe) you can post your comment on a blog but you cant say it to the people in your own community or anyone else who knows whats going on. dont fool yourself get out of the bubble.
What a mistake. The only people responsible enough to handle abuse claims are the POLICE. Otherwise you will continue to have coverup, after coverup.
The Modern Orthodox do not have that many instances of molesting since they can be openly gay, which is totaly prohibited by the Torah as is molesting.
Maybe I’m wrong about this, but I believe molesters should be kept under lock, stock and barrel for life.
It’s terrible. Just terrible. There are no winners here and I am so ashamed that this exists in our communities.
this guy kal holczler was a mixed up guy in the first place for those who know the around and around not in anyway to excuse the crime at all but to become a spokesman and doer what kind of world ???
I am not in the least bit modern Orthodox but it is sheker that the Modern Orthodox can be openly gay – and I know all about the forum at YU.
I implore any abuse victim to NOT discuss anthing with anyone at VAAD. Tell someone with authority who can protect you. If it’s a family member abusing you, tell a teacher, doctor, police, neighbor. If it’s one of your teachers, tell your parents, but do NOT go to VAAD because nothing will happen and you will only be looked upon with scorn.
VAAD has been in existence for 18 months with dozens of violations and nothing happened to the abuser. Nothing!
Child molestors will never change their behaviour. They can’t, even with years of therapy. Jail is the only place for them so please help protect your sisters and brothers.
vicky! get off this blog! you have no place here….go preach jew baby eating elsewhere…..
All children have to be taught that if someone , even someone he knows well, is touching him (or her) in private places, he should yell and run away and definitely tell his parents and not be ashamed. All boys should not go to the mikve without their fathers or someone else that is trusted. We have to protect our children and by teaching them what is appropriate and innappropiate is the first step. Of course molesters should be punished. The problem is that they are sick. What normal person would do such things? And if they are sick, jail time won’t cure them. They need to be locked up in a different sort of facility, or medicated and under the care of a doctor.
Boys should not be going to the Mikveh alone period. End of story.
Abuse cannot be blame on any individual it has to do with the way 1 is raised and his friends, and most importantly his surroundings and the schools and the way the chinuch is and new square imao is not a healthy place and they lack in teaching the wrongdoing of child abuse and being gay! They are to busy with the dress code and to busy mocking anyone that believes different then them! In this case new square is the one to blame for the way they structured the chinuch and the rebbe should not be on the va’ad
Another thing worth repeating…
Teachers, principals (or rosh yeshiva), health care workers including psychiatrists and a number of others are mandatory reporters. That means if they hear credible reports of child sexual abuse they are required by law to report it to the police. Not to do so is a felony. “Handling it in the community” means that every single one of these people is a criminal and is liable for serious prison time.
That’s why the Skverer claims of working with “mental health professionals” are nonsense, twaddle, garbage and horsefeathers. Any “mental health professional” knows that his duty is to go straight to the police with this sort of thing. To fail to do so is to go against professional codes of ethics and can result in criminal charges, civil action and the loss of his license.
to #63 I forgot to indicate that my post #47 was a response to post #39 who commented that the Chasidic have more molesters than the MO, to which I responded that (to be completely honest, I’m just assuming that to be the case) that’s because they are openly gay so therefore there are less MO molesters.
#66 Okay I confess I shouldn’t have made a blanket statement against any group, however with the gay forum and the gay clubs at YU they are certainly leading me towards a very definite opinion that that seems to be the case here. If I’m wrong, then how could there be gay clubs at YU?