Haredim And Child Sexual Abuse: Is There More Abuse In The Haredi Community?

Wyoming, it seems, is worried. Why? Because it has become a playground, so to speak, for convicted sex offenders, who flock there from all over the country because Wyoming places few restrictions on them:

…While other states often prohibit sex offenders from living near schools, daycare centers or other places with children, Wyoming has no such laws.

"They can live right next to a school if they want to. They can live in a home with children if they want to," said Laramie County sheriff's Sgt. Linda Gesell.

Also, unlike many other states, Wyoming does not require people convicted of indecent exposure or sexual battery to register as sex offenders. In addition, ex-convicts who are deemed low- and medium-risk offenders are not listed on the state's publicly accessible Web site.…

Wyoming also lacks a standardized system for accepting convictions from other states. That means authorities must obtain court papers on each sex offender before determining the corresponding Wyoming crime and deciding whether that person must register. That can cause long delays, because only one person is in charge of such efforts.

"It becomes daunting," said that person, Bob Brackett, program manager for the Wyoming sex offender registry.…

"They look around for states that do not have the strongest laws, because if you can go someplace and you don't have to be a registered sex offender, you don't have to check in with authorities, obviously from their perspective that's a better situation," Wyoming's attorney general said.

Now substitute "haredi" for "Wyoming" and "communities and schools" for "states," and reread the the quote. Haredim have no registry of sex abusers, their schools are not mandated to do background checks, they resisted making clergy mandatory reporters, they have no central database or investigatory authority and they tend not to cooperate with police.

Are there more abusers in the haredi community per capita than average? I don't know. Statistics do not exist, in large part because haredim will not cooperate in gathering them. But, if Wyoming's example is any guide, one would think there would be. One would also think there would be more and more prolonged abuse, as well – especially when you factor in the rabbinic old boy's network that consistently sweeps abuse under the rug.

Comments

[Larry]

Check your email account -- I tried sending you something but was bounced with an "account full" message.

[YUGUY]

I recieved a message in response to my Anti-kolko facebook group. Wanted to share to show that people care. There are people who care to spread knowledge of molesters.

"Yaaaaay you helped fundraise money!!
Eeeemmm let me elaborate…

Basically, as much as I disagreed with the initial posting of your facebook group, I will admit that it has done some good. I recently contacted The Awareness Center -originally just to organize a very superficial overview of the topic of sexual abuse in the Flatbush area- but I found out about another program that they run: a 40 hour training course that informs people about basically all aspects of sexual abuse, from clerical (your forte) to marital rape to how to recognize symptoms, and how to react. At the end of the program people are “certified”, so to speak, and are able to spread awareness in other communities, and to potentially deal with cases…downside is that it costs lots and lots of mula… 20,000 to be exact, because right now the organization hasn’t a nickel to its name.

Here’s where you come in… I started speaking about the issue at the Brooklyn College Hillel this evening, and I introduced it by mentioning that most people have seen your group, and, whether or not they agree with the fact that it should be on facebook, realistically it has served its purposed… and what do you know, I actually got some donations (lol not exactly much…19974.5 to go awooohoo! but it’s a start)
However, the point of this whole ridiculously long message was not to give you a reason to yourself a pat on the back…yet. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you’re really as serious about this issue as it appears you are, I would very much appreciate your help in getting this project off the ground. I realize that the investment is more than just monetary, but it’s certainly worth it. I’ve seen the outline of the program…its worth it.

No pressure
Well except from your conscious :0)"

[nrc]

Don't make blanket statements like "hareidei schools don't run background checks". That is simply not true outside of the NY - for example in Baltimore all private schools are required to fingerprint and run background checks on all employees.

[H.G.]

Dear Awareness Center I was a student of Rav Moshe Eiseman in 1957 at the Yeshiva of Philadelphia and knew him quite well. We even dormed together as his wife was overseas for much of that year and he slept in the Yeshiva dorm on the third floor( the boys were on the second floor).Rabbi H. and his family lived on the first floor.

While it is true that he was “guilty” of inquiring about some of our more intimate sins—which he as a Rebbi may have felt his duty to correct, but there was NEVER any instance of abuse or crossing any sexual line in all the years of my stay.I was a very cute child of twelve and quite vulnerable.If he was the disturbed man you make him out to be, he would have surely tried something with me as we were often alone in class or at the dorm.From 1965 until 1971 I had the z’chus to study with him as a private chavrusa in sefer Yechezkel which was published later. Once again he never acted inappropriately in any way although I was now twenty-four.

So you see why I don’t believe the accusations you have raised against this rabbi .Please advise the editor of Failed Messiah of my convictions. I have told the truth because I too believe that the seal of Hashem is EMES

Sincerely H.G. now living in Brooklyn

[cowfy]

if this eiseman just wanted to hear about these students masterbations and fantasies then a great injustis is being done to this rabbi.may i add that this would be his job.some may not think so but this is NOT ABUSE.

[Shmarya]

I believe there are several former students that have made abuse allegations against him. Check out the Awareness Center's page on him.