Sunday, February 06, 2005

How Do You Find A Rabbi That's Safe?

I was just reading BatDina's blog called Beach of Yellow. She posted an extremely important list called:
"Twisted Mind".

Please go and read it. You can find it by just clicking on the title of this posting.

The items she lists in her posting are things she experienced with her offender. The problem is that the lines she heard are way to common.

Do rabbis who are sex offenders have a book on how to manipulate and assault men and women? The lines these so call rabbis feed their victims are unreal!

Many of us are either taught or made to believe if someone is an ordained rabbi, then you should just trust them. . . NO one teaches us that TRUST has to be earned.

Does it really make a difference if a rabbi is part of any rabbinical organization?

The reality is that the only thing that rabbinical organizations can do is terminate the rabbis membership. So then what? The alleged or convicted offender can still lure in unsuspecting victims. They still hold the title of "Rabbi". How can we protect our selves from the few rabbis who sexually exploit and abuse anyone they can?

Why is it that it's only The Awareness Center, Jewish Whistleblower (Blog) and Luke Ford who are brave enough to post the names of those who are potentially dangerous?

Why isn't any of the rabbinical organizations doing it? Why isn't any of the Kiruv or other Jewish organizations doing it? Don't they care that Jews are being sexually victimized? What will it take to make things change?

They have to stop bringing these issues to a committee to discuss the issues and act proactively. They need to do it NOW!

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with you that something must be done. I think that part of the problem is that rabbis have a very hard time doing anything about a trusted and respected member of their "rabbi club." I think that any rabbi with allegations against them should have to undergo an evaluation by proffesionals trained to evaluate potential offenders. If they think they are innocent then what do they have to fear? If the allegations are false they can use this evaluation to help clear their name. If they pose a danger others will be protected and they can hopefully get some treatment.

February 06, 2005 6:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

" I think that any rabbi with allegations against them should have to undergo an evaluation by proffesionals trained to evaluate potential offenders."

This would probably work in some cases, but what about those who can manipulate their ways around *everything*?
Even Worch had a therapist---whom I doubt had any ideas about what his true problems were.

February 06, 2005 6:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Why is it that it's only The Awareness Center, Jewish Whistleblower (Blog) and Luke Ford who are brave enough to post the names of those who are potentially dangerous?"

The problem with these guys is that they'll post names without anything more to go on than unsubstantiated allegations. They are prepared to ruin a man's life on account of a rumor. They're as bad as the people they criticize.

February 06, 2005 9:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

At least Jewish Whistleblower, Luke Ford and Vicki Polin have the balls/ovaries to do something! Everyone is sitting back and allowing more children and innocent adults to be victimized.

February 06, 2005 9:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"The problem with these guys is that they'll post names without anything more to go on than unsubstantiated allegations. They are prepared to ruin a man's life on account of a rumor."

Not true at all. When they've gotten 3,5,10, however many similar complaints, from sources who don't even know each other, it is hardly ruining a man's life.

February 06, 2005 11:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

On The Awareness Center's site they say that they only post articles and legal documents that are public. They take what's out there and put it in one place. It's scary to look at, because it's really right in your face. There's no more denying that we have a problem.

Luke has the guts I wish others had. He takes the risk of exposing things that most Jewish news media groups are afraid to.

But the question on this posting is about how do you find a rabbi you can trust. I can't even imagine what it must be like for survivors of rabbinical sexual misconduct to do.

February 07, 2005 9:19 AM  

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