One response I got was something I never expected. It came from a kollel member. After listening to the discussion I was having with another relative - he commented the following.
"What are you getting involved in this matter. It is none of your business. Rav Berkowitz is great talmid chachom who knows his community very well. You are not part of the Sanhedria community, You have no children there. Why are you getting involved? Rav Berkowitz has consulted experts, he has gathered testimony. You have no basis to disagree with him.
I pointed out that the Satanic abuse accusations have been made hundreds of times over the last few decades - and not one case and been proven to be true. That alone should give pause to any responsible person from make such accusations. In addition I noted that I have in fact spoken to people regarding the evidence - including professional in the field of abuse. None of these people believed Rav Berkowitz' claims.
He responded, "Just because no proof has been found so far - it doesn't mean it there is no such thing. Rav Berkowitz has seen the evidence and he clearly disagrees with you. What are you getting involved in this issue for?
I responded - "The mitzva of not standing idly by the blood of your fellow" says nothing about having to belong to a community in order to get involved. Rav Berkowitz is a wondeful person but he is not an expert in these matters and the people he has consulted don't seem to be experts either. The experts seem to be afraid to get involved in this matter in a public fashion"
I obviously had no influence on him. The discussion continued for sometime - but I was struck by the incredible blindness to reality and reliance on rabbinic authority (when it clearly was inappropriate and even harmful)
Just curious if there are any actual people that are being accused in Sanhedria?
ReplyDelete@Joe - have not heard of any identifiable people - but the people are clearly scared.
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting to know how many of the parents in Sanhedria are claiming their children were abused and collecting the monthly payments for abused children from the Government. Can they claim abuse without having an abuser? (I think it is 2000 sh per child) Also are donations being actively collecting from the public like was done in Nachlaot?
ReplyDeleteJoe Shmo - nobody in Sanhedria is getting abuse money from the Government as the police have long dropped the case and therefore are not entitled to any such money. You seem good and finding negative behaviour within the orthodox community - if you practice a bit more you can start your very own Chareidi bashing blogspot. You can call it, Joe Shmock!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is real. Please blast to the world!!! Its our our best hope right now! I have no time to answer the foolish skeptics. Its an elaborate plot involving the CIA, Vatican and complicit blindness by the Zionist authorities!!
ReplyDelete