Oct 18, 2013 -- The RCA expresses its pride and respect for the courage of the now 16-year-old victim of Yosef Kolko, the confessed perpetrator of sexual abuse who was sentenced yesterday to almost thirteen years imprisonment.
The victim’s reporting of the abuse to the civil authorities, despite organized and overwhelming pressures and ostracism, sets an important example for the entire community. He raised the level of understanding of the impact of abuse when he said in court, “My message to those monsters out there who are abusing: You will be exposed, you will be put behind bars, and you will go through hell on earth. Molesting may seem harmless to you, but the reality is that it kills people with every touch.”
Rabbi Leonard Matanky, President of the RCA, reiterated the longstanding policy of the organization by reminding its members, “There is an unequivocal halakhic and moral obligation for everyone, victim and community member alike, to report all reasonable suspicions of child abuse to the civil authorities.
These are cases of piku’ach nefesh, the protection of the physical safety and the spiritual integrity of our community.” Rabbi Shalom Baum, First Vice President of the RCA, stated, “The moral and religious integrity of our community is shattered when communal leaders discourage and prevent others from responding to the cries of the victims of abuse."
English victims of abuse please take note of what is written above:
ReplyDelete"There is an unequivocal halakhic and moral obligation for everyone, victim and community member alike, to report all reasonable suspicions of child abuse to the civil authorities."
Idiot! why look above? look in the Torah Veaila Hamishpotim Asher Tasim Lifnyhem VELO LIFNEI AKUM!
ReplyDeleteIS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU GUYS AND NAZI GERMANY DON'T THINK SO!
Rabbi Sternbuch and Rabbi Kohn of North Hendon Addass have also written clearly (and so have others) that in cases of child abuse one should report to the authorities - even AKUM. Are you suggesting there is no DIFFERENCE BETWEEN these rabbis AND NAZI GERMANY? These rabbis are also not Modern Orthodox. Why are you so interested in protecting the abusers. Would you rather that they carry on their barbaric acts of abuse like NAZI GERMANY?
DeleteThe RCA is modern orthodox, I wish the ultra orthodox rabonim would say the same.
ReplyDeleteHarav Hagaon Rav Shternbuch (ultra orthodox enough?) has clearly said that one should report to the authorities.
Delete"You wish the ultra orthodox would say the same" Guess you don't have a big appetite, you could wish that the Torah would give us some liberal options to choose not to be so fanatic
ReplyDeletehttp://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=wa0vNInQiyg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dwa0vNInQiyg%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely not protecting the molesters or any individual breaking the law not even trying to protect them, my point is clearly it has to be case by case and according to halocho which is a GEVYAS EYDUS by a bais din obviously if they find it justified on their order you can and must report it
ReplyDeleteAnd there's no difference to Nazi Germany was meant on the hateful comments
Anonymous - there is no need for geviyas eidus in beis din to report a molester. If you know that molestation took place, then according to Rav Elyashiv you do not need to speak to a rov before reporting.
ReplyDeleteWe have a case in our London kehilah where a daughter had reported an abuser, as a result of his guilty conviction people within our kehilah took it upon themselves to destroy her father by making sure hi lost his Job, reporting him to the benefits (mesirah) for nothing that he had done wrong, that is nazizm
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