Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Topic: Attending Hearings

Calendar for Hearings and Trials
This calendar was posted on Yasher Koach's website - a site dedicated to "Giving chizuk to Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse."

What I especially like about this site is that they provide many ways to help victims, including a mentoring program. I will look into that program soon, maybe even become a mentor (if the supervision is done by people I can trust). I will keep everyone posted on that. But back to the current topic:
Attending Hearings
Who attends the hearings? Why do they do so? Should I attend, too?

Sunday, March 27, 2011

For Those Worried about Mesira or Loshon Hora

Here is a PDF with Teshuvos (responsa) from various poskim, including Rav Elyashiv, on halachically "mandated reporting".

Your concerns about Loshon Hora and Mesira are justified; that is why Rav Elyashiv is here to tell you that you have nothing to fear about reporting child molesters.

In short, you may report them to the authorities.

Does he say that you must? I did not read the entire thing; find out for yourself.

But don't hide behind "It's an aveirah!" It's more of an aveirah to allow children to be spiritually and emotionally murdered. OK?

NEW(added April 5, 2011): Here are some more PDFs.

Yeshurun 15 Shaarei Halacha Pamphlet

Yeshurun on Reporting Abuse 

Rav Elyashiv's Tshuva (responsum) 

Translation of Rav Elyashiv's Tshuva  


P.S. The PDFs were kindly provided by Dr. Asher Lipner, a frum psychologist at the vanguard of the war on abuse in our community.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

I Despise Silence

FACT #1: Courts cannot prosecute child molesters unless the abused child testifies.
FACT #2: (Most) Children of abuse are afraid to testify.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Why I Love Nuchem

This morning, March 25th, I attended the court appearance of child rapist Nechemya Weberman. So far, five victims have come forward with accusations against him. I also came to attend the appearance of Meir Dascalowitz (another child rapist, who - justifiably - wants to claim insanity), but i missed that one because by the time Weberman was done, Dascalowitz had already left.

It was very exciting to be there, because we were making history by coming out in the open with support for the victims of abuse. It was even more exciting because of the packed courtroom! The court officer at the entrance was constantly overheard saying, "You can't come in. You have to wait until somebody leaves, because there are no more seats." That was so inspiring, I wanted to dance and hug everybody in the courtroom, even the people who were there for other cases.

It was also exciting because of all the historical figures who attended; courageous men who speak out against abuse, continuously chipping away at the Wall of Silence surrounding abuse in our community:

Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz (see link below - he also attended the Dascalowitz hearing, somehow!)

Dr. Asher Lipner

Etc...

and of course...

Reb Nuchem Rosenberg!

I felt honored to be in their presence. I was also honored to be in the presence of Yoily Deitch/Joseph Diangello (I really don't believe that's how he spells it, but Rabbi Horowitz spelled it that way). Joseph/Yoily is a man who came forward with his own story of how he was abused by Nechemya Weberman, and because of him (and the others who came forward) Weberman will be put behind bars for many years, be'ezras Hashem. His days of terrorizing our children are coming to an ignominious end.

The judge offered him 5 years today in the courtroom. But he refused the offer. I guess Weberman's lawyer cannot admit defeat because the Va'ad Hatznius will assassinate him if he does. But it's quite obvious that he is already defeated, and he would have been smarter to take the five years and be done with it. Since the judge offered five years as a deal, this means that the charges against Weberman are sufficient to put him away for 20 or 30 years, if convicted.

I plan to attend his next appearance, as well, which was scheduled for May 11. I hope to see all of you there, too! .Just don't come too early; I want to get a seat! :)

Here is Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz's press release about today's court appearances.

Oh, so why do I love Nuchem? Without Reb Nuchem, this would never have happened! Now, it's the abusers who are running!

As Yoily Deitch said: "You can run, but you can't hide..."