Meir Pogrow: Rav Yizchok Berkovitz and Rav Reuven Leuchter discuss how to deal with the scandal

update: I was extremely disappointed by the words of both rabbis. They basically ignored what happened or perhaps never knew what really happened. They just used it as a spring board to talk about what we or teachers or kiruv workers need to do to avoid having temptation or charisma. There was no mention or awareness of the institutional setting of this scandal. There was no mention or awareness that Pogrow operated in an environment which failed to protect students from being harmed by him. There is no awareness or mention of the issue of abuse and seduction. In short there is absolutely no mention of anything which prevent another teacher destroying the lives of their students.

Does Ner Le'Elef actually talk about sexual abuse or is that viewed as a dirty topic which shouldn't be discussed in public.
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Ner Le'Elef    Less than two weeks ago, the Orthodox community learned of a terrible scandal, a lowlight for rabbis around the world, as the promiscuous and abusive escapades of a popular teacher/scholar were called out.  The whistleblowing was led by six geographically diverse senior rabbis, with broad-based affiliations in the Orthodox community.  The important news sent shockwaves through a community of students and teachers, many of whom were acquainted with, or even students of, the abuser.

The healing has just begun for the victims and their families, and even many rabbis previously unfamiliar with the case — and still modestly unaware of the tawdry details — were terribly unnerved by the vulgar news.  Many sought counsel to better understand the pathology of what had transpired, so that they might continue in their own noble work and the spiritual development of their communities without, G-d forbid, cultivating future potential scandals.

Olami, a movement dedicated to helping rabbis inspire growth in Jews of all backgrounds, arranged reflective lectures by two leading educational lights.  Rabbi Reuven Leuchter, the spritual guide of Ner Le’Elef and other educational institutions, spoke to rabbis and educators around the world on “Charisma and Control”, discussing the pathology and dynamics that nurture unhealthy rabbi-student relationships.  Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, rosh kollel of The Jerusalem Kollel,and a leading authority on Jewish Law and rabbinic training, spoke on “Moving on After Scandal and Tragedy”, instructing rabbis and educators on the “cheshbon hanefesh” (self-assessment) necessary to inspire growth in others by cultivating honest growth in oneself. [....]

Download Rabbi Reuven Leuchter, “Charisma and Control” by clicking here.

Download Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, “Moving Forward After Scandal” by clicking here.