84°
“For me, personally, it marks the first time I will discuss my personal story of abuse by Rabbi Moshe Eiseman in Ner Yisroel in Baltimore 25 years ago, as well as my as of yet unsuccessful attempts to stop him from having access to Jewish children,” Lipner said.
The event, which begins at 9 p.m., is billed as “a night of validation and support. A night where you will hear from survivors….You will learn what you can do to keep your children safe.”
See the ad below.
The need for the community to shine a light on the problem was underscored by the arrest of a convicted Megan’s Law offender from among their own on charges of attempting to have sex with two 14-year-old boys.
Some consider this a crucial moment in the history of Orthodox Jews nationwide, as they try to determine how best to deal with predators in their midst.
“I am pleased to say that by far most of the rabbis in Passaic have been supportive of the alleged victims and of bringing the allegations to law enforcement authorities,” said attorney Michael Lesher,
Those unfamiliar with the Orthodox faith are only just discovering the struggles its people are dealing with. And yes, there are similarities to the scandals within the Catholic Church, with prior incidents handled — for want of a better term — in-house.
Lipner, who is vice president of the Jewish Board of Advocates for Children and an advocate for the victims of abuse, has tried to get the community to turn to law enforcement authorities when such incidents occur.
His religion actually requires criminals be turned over to secular authorities, he said. Those who don’t are guilty of “idly standing by the blood of your neighbor.”
“Some people feel … if you publicly name a rabbi as a molester, you are ‘anti-rabbis,’ or if you publicly criticize a yeshiva that acts irresponsibly you are ‘attacking yeshivas,’ or if you say the Orthodox community has a problem, just like everybody else, then you are ‘anti-Orthodox’,” Lipner said in an interview with Jewish Week.
Indeed, critics within the Orthodox community have said that abusers often weren’t recognized for what they were. People simply couldn’t believe it could happen.
Orthodox leaders also apparently believed that if they counseled the abuser — or perhaps moved him someplace else — the trouble would end, community members say.
Such “behind-the-scenes” agreements obviously have failed, as the number of publicly-cited victims have increased. But they’ve also taught the community a lesson — at least in Lipner’s eyes.
In turn, the Orthodox community’s attitude toward sexual predators seems to be changing, he said.
The “fear so many have of speaking up is based on a stigma that is illogical and disappearing with education and awareness,” Lipner said.
The Jewish Board of Advocates for Children (www.jewishadvoctes.org) has called for mandated reporting of suspicion of abuse by rabbis and teachers in yeshivas; mandated fingerprinting and background checks of all employees in yeshivas; mandated safety plans with full transparency and written instructions to parents; and mandated firing and punishment of employees for any sexual or physical abuse.
Click here to follow Daily Voice South Passaic and receive free news updates.
