tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post5421099261550041553..comments2024-03-28T21:30:33.665+02:00Comments on Daas Torah - Issues of Jewish Identity: Survivor of Incest clarifies her letterDaas Torahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252904288544083215noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-8230311192262236852011-12-18T13:53:10.368+02:002011-12-18T13:53:10.368+02:00The posting on the sefer torah burning is found he...The posting on the sefer torah burning is found here:<br /><br />http://mekubal.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/sefer-torah-burning/J.A.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13551118357614892132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-46636111462276482022011-12-18T13:49:41.895+02:002011-12-18T13:49:41.895+02:00The writer is suggesting that perhaps it is better...The writer is suggesting that perhaps it is better for victims to not have their families exposed by the reporting of the abuser. <br /><br />She is suggesting that reporting is a guarantee to exposure. Advocates are currently screaming the opposite. How is it that indicted pedophiles (not the 'mere' incest abusers) are not being exposed and instead are being covered up and allowed plea bargins whereby they are not being required to be listed by Megan's Law (pedo watch)? <br /><br />Her question suggests that it might possibly be justifiable to not report a child rapist. <br /><br />Yet, the writer clearly states that she very much wanted help. She wanted out of the family, away from her abuser. She wanted therapy and safety. <br /><br />I understand that the thought of reporting is scary. But I would like to ask her father if he would have wanted, back then, when he first considered crossing the line with his daughter, for someone to stop him? <br /><br />My father is bummed that he has to be on Megan's Law. But he is grateful that he was stopped. <br /><br />It is a chessed, to those directly involved, to our community, and to society as a whole: If you suspect a child is in danger, report it!! And don't let the fear of the survivors' shame stop you. The shame of being sexually abused is far greater a shame to carry, and the sooner the abuse is stopped, the sooner the child enters therapy, and the better the chance for the victim to have a normalized and stabilized life.J.A.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13551118357614892132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-86899143910589123762011-12-18T11:39:31.120+02:002011-12-18T11:39:31.120+02:00@wanting more info 1
http://mekubal.wordpress.com...@wanting more info 1<br /><br />http://mekubal.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/sefer-torah-burning/<br /><br /><br />this is what I read about sifrei torah ordered by a child abuser being burned.<br /><br />When I thought it over, I came to the conclusion that this reaction is over the top and might be an indication of fanaticism (a bit like destroying tv sets). The sefer could as well be burried and never used again...<br /><br />@wanting more info 2<br />"Rose, I'm wondering what are the parameters of this commandment? Who is responsable to clean out this negativity in the community? Does the responsablity lie on every individual, or on the Sanhedrin, or our leaders?"<br /><br />In my naivity, I would have thought that this mitzva is for everyone.<br /><br />But of course, it is clear that when the authorities, the sanhedrin, the establishement do not believe or not help the individual, as is often the case with sexual abuse, there is nothing the individual can do.<br /><br />In fact, I am not really a fan of this commandment, since it is pronounced in relation with many harsh punishments for things that today would fall under the liberty of conscience or liberty of religion or liberty of expression.<br /><br />But I wanted to point out that this is an area where this commandment really should apply. Obviously, school principals and Rabbis who tolerate abuse in their schools/communities although they were warned do not respect this commandment.Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-61155227724642263352011-12-18T05:28:35.848+02:002011-12-18T05:28:35.848+02:00"we biarta es ha ra mikerbecha," Rose, I..."we biarta es ha ra mikerbecha," Rose, I'm wondering what are the parameters of this commandment? Who is responsable to clean out this negativity in the community? Does the responsablity lie on every individual, or on the Sanhedrin, or our leaders?wanting more info of Rabbis saying Sefer Torah of Abuser needs to be burnednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-76544583364740781672011-12-18T03:00:50.770+02:002011-12-18T03:00:50.770+02:00Rose, I feel your message is really really true. ...Rose, I feel your message is really really true. can you please give us more details about the Rabbis who decided that a Sefer Torah written by a child abuser needs to be burned? It would mean a lot to me to know which Rabbis these where and where this happened, since I really do deeply belive that we all get affected by the evil of child abusers, and taking a stand like that surely cleans out our camp, and allows more Keddusha to enter.wanting more info about Rabbis saying Sefer Torah of abuser must be burned.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-74296473673788033592011-12-17T22:40:10.248+02:002011-12-17T22:40:10.248+02:00I think it is a very brave of the letter writer to...I think it is a very brave of the letter writer to discuss her story , even anonymously.<br /><br />It is very difficult to understand how insulated the Haredi/Hassidic community is from reality.Ben MIkrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122937371918515052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-23481819338076831522011-12-16T20:49:51.511+02:002011-12-16T20:49:51.511+02:00This evil man needs to be exposed to protect the w...This evil man needs to be exposed to protect the world at large from his evil and influence.<br /><br />I know that for the writer it would be difficult but it needs to be done somehow. It's likely that he is continuing his evil.tzoorbanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-87851623890889914562011-12-16T15:50:17.894+02:002011-12-16T15:50:17.894+02:00Dear letter writer,
thank you for bringing up the...Dear letter writer,<br /><br />thank you for bringing up the subject of "confusion" and the child not realising she is abused.<br />This too is part of the complexity of the problem. By the way, I think that many victims of abuse do not realise they are abused, i.e. that the perpetrator is not allowed to do what he is doing.<br /><br />It is not limited to the hareidi world. According to the situation, predators will adapt their strategies to promote this kind of confusion: the hareidi ones will take advantage of the principle of kibud av, the non-religious ones will say "don't be so prudish, it's all natural" and do as if all parts of the body were equal - others will give gifts or resort to threats and intimidation.<br /><br />From a religious point of view, there is one thing I cannot understand. It says "we biarta et ha ra mikirbecha". I would suppose that this applies exactely to situations like: a person doing evil in secret, while maintaining an honorable facade.<br /><br />So, from a religious point of view, would it not be a Mitzwah to expose the perpetrator, so that evil cannot continue to spread in the community?<br /><br />Not long ago, Rabbis decided to burn a Sefer Torah that was paid for by a child abuser. Because they think everything he does is "infected" with his evilness, so his sefer Torah looses its kedusha and has to be burnt - not burried.<br /><br />If the perpetrator continues - let's say - to teach torah or make halachic decisionts - what can his torah be worth? Wouldn't it be infected by the evil of his hypocrisy?<br /><br />On the other hand, I understand that nobody can be asked to do what's impossible: If trying to expose him will not lead to truly expose him, but just ruin your good name, then, indeed, it is not worthwhile trying.Rosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309929059139673041.post-573068216382512242011-12-16T02:37:48.228+02:002011-12-16T02:37:48.228+02:00"And those of you familiar with the Chassidis..."And those of you familiar with the Chassidishe education system, I’m sure you can realize how we inculcate this notion into our children that the previous generations are for sure much better than the later ones."<br /><br />Until the Ba'al Shem Tov came along at least.Sammynoreply@blogger.com