NY Daily News Embarrassed by the sex abuse trial of a Hasidic counselor, leaders of Williamsburg’s pious Satmar sect are considering a different way to deal with rebellious teens: shipping them out of the country for treatment.
The idea comes as the jury weighs charges against the counselor, Nechemya Weberman, who prosecutors said molested a then-12-year-old girl referred to him because she wore supposedly indecent clothing, read People magazine and questioned God’s authority in a religious school class.
Without addressing the allegations against Weberman, a Satmar official told the Daily News that leaders are considering ways to avoid similar accusations by victims.
“This was a wakeup call; nobody denies that,” said Gary Schlesinger, who heads a nonprofit tied to Satmar leader Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum.
The idea comes as the jury weighs charges against the counselor, Nechemya Weberman, who prosecutors said molested a then-12-year-old girl referred to him because she wore supposedly indecent clothing, read People magazine and questioned God’s authority in a religious school class.
Without addressing the allegations against Weberman, a Satmar official told the Daily News that leaders are considering ways to avoid similar accusations by victims.
“This was a wakeup call; nobody denies that,” said Gary Schlesinger, who heads a nonprofit tied to Satmar leader Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum.
“Maybe we will send them to an Israeli program or a European program, and the kid will come back a different person.”
yeh. send em off to halperin.
ReplyDeleteAnything but get them actual professional help. This is a morally bankrupt group.
ReplyDeleteHey, here’s something novel... How about instead of shipping kids away because it “looks bad for the community”.
ReplyDeleteHow about addressing the problem that seems to be rampant IN the community.... namely Child Abuse, intimidation & belief that the leaders of the community are above secular law.
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ReplyDeleteYou left out half the article, including the part where the satmar rebbi blamed the victim!
ReplyDeleteI never publish whole articles that are copyrighted - excerpts are permitted by the fair use doctrine. That is why I always include a link to the original article.
DeleteA child with problems in school needs parental nurture more even than other children. Sending them away will make it easier on the DA but not easier for the child.
ReplyDelete