NY Post: Orthodox Jews Require Victims to Call Rabbis Instead of Police

leavingwt

This doesn't sound good.

Orthodox Jews Require Victims to Call Rabbis Instead of Police

The close-knit Orthodox Jewish community insists that rabbis, not the NYPD, get the first phone call about a suspected child abuser.

"There are prohibitions and a psychological fear about saying bad things about people or talking about negative things that bring shame," said Long Island psychologist Michael Salamon, author of the upcoming book "Abuse in the Jewish Community. "

The taboo had tragic consequences for Motty Borger, 24, who leapt to his death from a Williamsburg hotel the night after his wedding in November 2009. He had confided to relatives that he'd been molested while attending a yeshiva, but they never went to the police.

Another old law forbids turning a Jew over to secular authorities, for fear of anti-Semitism.

"In the Orthodox community, absent a homicide or murder, the people are encouraged not to go to the police," said Michael Dowd, a lawyer who represents victims of clergy sex abuse.

The Post reported yesterday that Leiby Kletzky's accused killer, Levi Aron, had allegedly tried to snatch another young boy near his house but that it wasn't reported to the cops.

A leading ultra-Orthodox group, Agudath Israel of America, recently affirmed that someone who suspects sexual abuse by a community member must first consult a rabbi "with experience in these issues."

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/orthodox_rules_shield_fiends_from_R62qnl0P6LciaRXSQKWu8H

VIII

Oy vey!!!

Frightening and oh, so similar!

undercover

I think this is coming more to light after the little boy that was killed last week. The parents first contacted members of the faith to begin a search for the missing youngster before contacting police from one report that I read.

Robdar

there are idiots sheeple in every culture

cult classic

This is true. I grew up (and currently reside) in a community with a large population of Orthodox Jews. The custom to speak to clergymen before the authorities on criminal matters is not unique to JWs.

Band on the Run

A couple of weeks ago there was an Orthodox pedophile who preyed on a Hasidic boy and murdered him. The New York Times ran long articles. People in these Hasidic neighborhoods feel safe. A world away they will seek help from any fellow Jew over an authority. This murder may change this. Not since Etan Patz has a child murder stirred up such feelings of insecurity. These neighborhoods are very foreign. I always feel as tho I have no right to be in them. They have restaurants and I was so hungry I went in once to order something. Civil rights laws protect me. I felt I causing them not to eat their food.

What is so sad about the Witnesses is that religion was always the first place to go to be safe. Since Christ, social services were provided by the church. It is only recently with the New Deal, that government is seen to have a duty for the sick, the aged, the hungry, etc. Right wing Christians will assert it is not the business of government. This view has altered considerably since the Catholic majority Supreme Court has seen fit to eliminate separaton between church and state. Both Bush and Obama want government funds to go to church groups precisely b/c they are church groups. The claim is that churches do a better job. This belief is held altho there is not a single shred of social science proof that it is accurate.

If Christ's agent can't protect you, who can? What if Christ's agents can protect you but prefer to protect an adult pedophile in matters having nothing to do with criminal law. There is no presumption of innnocence outside of criminal law.