“Before the truth is known about any unusual phenomenon, there are many theories offered, some closer to the actual truth than others. Denying the existence of the unusual phenomenon is one approach.(Some people argue about the origin of the universe, but no one asserts, therefore there is no universe!) Giving the phenomenon formally discredited names is one approach —often called a “straw man” argument.This is usually not the best approach The best approach is a methodical collection of relevant information, careful attention to detail, weighing the various explanations with an attention to the data and generating the hypothesis that most closely approximates what is being seen. What is being seen is the abuse of children with concerning symptoms. The public should proceed with caution with the awareness that there is more severe abuse in Jerusalem than one would generally expect, listen to the children, get guidance from professionals, trust credentialed authorities, cooperate with professional investigators, listen to the wisdom of Rabbinic leaders that you trust, keep an open mind, while protecting children. I have met no one with bad intentions, but a community problem like this often creates divisiveness. I am against divisiveness in the Jewish community. I believe that Klal Yisrael should work together during crises.” Joyanna Silberg, PH. D.
This is my statement. I don’t intend to answer further questions. I hope the above summarizes my overall view. I wish success to the Israeli public in solving these difficult issues. Please don’t edit it.
“Joyanna Silberg, Ph. D."
Wow, what a helpful statement.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad she's a Phd- really brings a lot to the table.
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ReplyDeleteCan we apply this to the Kaminetsky-Greenblatt Heter, Mendel Epstein et al activities, Barry Freundel etc.? We have unusual phenomena. We have “many theories offered, some closer to the actual truth than others.” Dr. Silberg says: The best approach is a methodical collection of relevant information, careful attention to detail, weighing the various explanations with an attention to the data and generating the hypothesis that most closely approximates what is being seen.
ReplyDeleteCan we apply this to the Hillary Clinton-FBI email scandal? We have an unusual phenomenon. We have “many theories offered, some closer to the actual truth than others.” We need “a methodical collection of relevant information, careful attention to detail, weighing the various explanations with an attention to the data and generating the hypothesis that most closely approximates what is being seen.
Further Dr. Silberg says: “cooperate with professional investigators, listen to the wisdom of Rabbinic leaders that you trust, keep an open mind, while protecting children. I have met no one with bad intentions, but a community problem like this often creates divisiveness.” Sounds right. Kaminetsky-Greenblatt, Mendel Epstein, Barry Freundel, Hillary Clinton --- don’t have nefarious intentions.
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ReplyDeletePlease be more specific - we are not mind readers
could you please specify what bothers you about this statement. I am in contact with her and I am trying to explain to her why her statement is not helpful - so far unsuccessfully. Perhaps you can do a better job
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly was Dr. Silberg's involvement in this affair? At what point did she get involved? In what capacity? Is she still actively involved?
ReplyDeleteshe has trained some of the people involved and has reviewed the evidence that has been gathered. She has treated children in Baltimore who were abused in Jerusalem. She seems to be consulted. Despite exchanging of a number of emails with her- she has not really answered your questions or mine
ReplyDeleteYou may not have the answers to these questions but I will put them out there anyway:
ReplyDelete1. At what point did she get involved? Was it before R' Berkowitz's speech or after?
2. I have heard that the "training" that she provided was limited to a workshop or lecture but it was not ongoing. Can you confirm the nature and duration of this training? Who were the participants - the original 2 therapists or were there more people getting trained at that point and what were their credentials?
3. In another forum, anonymous posters who are identifying themselves as mothers of children who were abused in Yerushalayim have made the following claims repeatedly: That there are hundreds of victims (400 was specified), that they are all over the city, not just in one or two neighborhoods, and that they were drugged and smuggled out of their schools and ganim in boxes or suitcases, then returned with no one being the wiser until the children's behavior became worrisome, prompting the families to seek treatment. Can you confirm how many related victims there are, what their geographical area is, and what is known or hypothesized about when and how they were accessed?
What is being seen is the abuse of children with concerning symptoms. ........awareness that there is more severe abuse in Jerusalem than one would generally expect,
ReplyDeleteIs this true? We have one professional from Baltimore who believe it is true. We have a rabbi who believes it is true. We have others who don't. Can we have a list of yays vs. nays?
What evidence has been gathered? Anything other than what children have said?
ReplyDeleteI think Moshe Pick says it pretty concisely and your answer that her statement is not very helpful and Gerald's comment pretty much says what I wanted to say. I personally was questioning if she actually said anything????
ReplyDeleteWas she the therapist that trained the religious therapists how to treat child abuse?
ReplyDeleteI am trying to find out that information
ReplyDeleteHer statement is not helpful because it doesn't give enough information to identify the nature of the risk and protect the children from it. There are specific allegations out there which would call for targeted protective measures not usually required, heretofore not implemented. Are they necessary or not?
ReplyDeleteIt's not helpful because of the style in which it is written.
ReplyDelete"What is being seen is the abuse of children with concerning symptoms."
What does that mean? Children with "symptoms" lead us to be concerned and conclude the children were abused? Or maybe it means children with "symptoms" are being misunderstood, this misunderstanding itself being a form of abuse. Does it mean that abuse has been "seen", that is, actually witnessed?
"listen to the wisdom of Rabbinic leaders that you trust".
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of reasons why this bothers me. Is she saying that we are not expected to trust all Rabbis? Are some Rabbis not trustworthy? Is there a blacklist of untrustworthy Rabbis to warn the unsuspecting public. Do untrustworthy Rabbis lose the right be called Rabbis?
Most importantly, why should Rabbis be involved at all? If someone wants to raise an allegation of child sex abuse, they should go straight to the police. I don't believe this is a Rabbinic matter.
I think I have finally figured out what she is saying. "Unusual phenomenon" = the strange nature of abuse that has been taking place. "Denying that this is happening is one approach. As clear as there is a universe", there is also some weird abuse happening in Jerusalem. "We cannot deny this. Calling this by discredited names is one approach" ie Satanical Ritual Abuse. "this is often called a straw man argument. this is usually not the best approach." (so let's call it something else! ) "The best approach is etc etc. Let's collect all the data keep an open mind , listen to the children" (“There is absolutely no scientific evidence that a child can make up a false allegation and believe it based on an alliance subconsciously with someone. That’s just not in the literature. That’s just not how children behave. There’s no evidence they behave that way.” – Dr. Joyanna Silberg" "Get guidance from professionals" (after all I TRAINED THEM)
ReplyDelete"Listen to Rabbinic leaders" ( Rabbi Berkovitz?? )
https://underwatch.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/expert-witness-in-genevieve-kelley-trial-joyanna-silberg/