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Monday, 11 February 2013

UK Jews react to haredi SEX abuse film

A documentary looking at how claims of child sexual abuse are dealt with in Britain's Orthodox Jewish community was recently featured on British television.

It sparked off debate in the United Kingdom, but how has London and its Jewish community reacted to the documentary?



The documentary, "Britain's Hidden Child Abuse," featured on Channel 4 on January 30, secretly filmed Rabbi Ephraim Padwa, leader of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.

"It's an investigation of the way the haredi community deals with allegations of child sexual abuse," says executive producer Tony Stark.

"What we've found is instead of rabbis advising people who come to them if they feel they've been sexually abused, to go to the police, they've been trying to deal with the issue themselves. They've been discouraging people from going to the police, and in some cases even forbidding them."

However, the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations has refuted all claims that they refuse to take allegations of child abuse seriously, stating they have a duty and responsibility to protect children.

Rabbi Barry Marcus of the Central Synagogue of London spoke to JN1 about his reaction to the documentary.

"The guidelines are pretty clear now as to how we need to protect, especially children, and the more vulnerable in our community.

There was an incident with a teacher within the United Synagogue some years ago, and I think that spurred the United Synagogue to be proactive, rather than reactive, which seems to be what's going on now within the haredi community. That doesn't make them any more guilty."

The Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations has published the number of a telephone line to report instances of child abuse to Rabbis who have been specially trained.

Indeed the Union recognizes that there "are certain times when it is correct and necessary to call the social services and police."

6 comments:

  1. The police also get things wrong. Four different police forces received complaints about Jimmy Savile, but all four dropped the case, even while he sexually abused about 400 children. The local police arrwested a leading member of the Stamford Hill Jewish community some years back and after a year and a half in the media the jury in court throughout the case as no case to answer, showing the ineptitude of the police and prosecution service. Rav Padwa didn't say all this because he was not asked to explain his view.

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  2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/10/pupils-accuse-third-teacher-abuse-school

    sounds familiar

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  3. Ifyoutickleus macht in der hoisen! על דאטפוך

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  4. It's been reported in The Telegraph that a 48 year old wife and mother -- Frances Andrade -- committed suicide after being brutally cross-examined in court in connection with sexual abuse that took place when she was much younger. The police pushed her to go to court and gave her further advice not to seek professional help before she has completed giving evidence in court. Yet again the police are worse than useless. They can be positively destructive.

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    1. Do not forget that victims who suffer in silence are much more at risk of suicide...

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  5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21595916

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