More Weberman Trial Videos

More news videos from the trial of accused child rapist Rabbi Nechemya Weberman.

 

 

 

Comments

[Abracadabra]

What would you do if your sister called and told you that your brother was just arrested for child sexual abuse? After speaking to your children and ascertaining that he never touched them, how would you deal with your brother and any court case going forward. Would you show up in court to support him? What if he said he didn't do it but you thought he was lying? Would you take his word for it? What if he asked you for money because he's financially strapped since the court case - would you give it to him? What about after the trial, if they find him guilty - would you support him if he maintains that he is innocent? Would you support him if he sincerely apologized and seemed regretful of his misdeeds? Would you be more likely to be supportive of him if he admitted he was guilty or if he declared he was innocent? Would you go to his sentencing hearing? Would you visit him in prison? Would you give him money so he can buy socks and toothpaste in prison?

I thought about these things during the Sandusky case. Sandusky's wife stood by his side and still does. She is an old woman, and spent most of her life at his side.

Some families are different than others. Some stick together no matter what. Some are ready to break ties over seemingly trivial issues.

What would you do if someone who was on trial for doing stuff like this was your brother?

And would it matter to you what the Torah says in terms of how halachah treats the crime?

[S]

I still don't understand why she continued to go and see him, day after day, if he abused her. Saying one was scared makes sense why she did not run out of the room the day she was abused, but to return the next day - and for years - simply is puzzling.

[dh]

Abra, I think when all those hypothetical situations occur, you know what to do, what you have to do. You know in your gut, but you have to admit it to yourself first. You can deeply love and still support someone if you are not sitting behind him on that side of the courtroom.

That you so deeply ponder those things shows great depth.

[Eli, what me messiah?]

Good that the clip showed the packed Weberman fundraiser, and also focused on the harassment and intimidation of victims. We don't know yet whether Weberman will be convicted of the charges, but the guilt of the Satmar community is already clear. Just horrific.

[Rochel]

S: Parents in this culture teach their children to always obey elders and authority, esp rabbis and teachers and anyone learned. This is a no-questions-asked obedience that implicitly teaches children to ignore their own inner voice and sense of outrage. They are taught to accept this authority to the point of not rocking the boat and not defending themselves in situations that would warrant it. This sets up children to be very vulnerable to predators.

[JW]

Rochel, what you write would be true for a ordinary kid in the community. This was a rebellious kid. She would rebel against everything the f'ed up community advises her but she would return to her abuser for session after session? When she claims to have been numbed and appalled by it? It does not hold water.

[Pokey]

Yeah but the whole point of the counseling was because she was NOT conforming or just doing what she was told. If she was already rebelious, why not rebel against the abuse and refuse to go back?

[Eli, what me messiah?]

JW, so abusers can be prosecuted only if a victim comes forward.
But a young member of this community who was truly abused won't tell anyone. Because if they do tell someone, then they must be lying, and therefore the abuser would be innocent.
Phew, that's some catch, that Catch 22!

And this poor kid was 12 years old. You should be ashamed.

[S M L]

You're missing the point. ONCE - the first time - is a crime sufficient to merit conviction. This is statutory rape EVEN if she were to have consented. Got that? Doesn't matter why she went back. Not in the least.

[Atheodox Jew]

"She should be treated as a heroin, as someone who had the courage to stand up, and to do what she has to do to keep our children safe"

- Rabbi Yakov Horowitz

She's a hero, and R. Yakov is a hero!

[Shmarya]

R. Yakov is a hero!

Posted by: Atheodox Jew | November 28, 2012 at 02:28 AM

Yaakov Horowitz is NOT a hero. He helped to block the passage of the Child Victims Act and does Agudath Israel's bidding.

[Atheodox Jew]

Shmarya,

I don't know about this Act or the reasons for R. Horowitz's opposition. Is there a link you'd recommend to clarify?

My impression is that R. Horowitz is one of the most outspoken rabbis to come out of the charedi-Orthodox world against abuse, and that he's done a lot to raise awareness of the issue. Is this a mistaken impression, or is it that he doesn't go far enough in your opinion?

[notchaim]

Yakov Horowitz uses survivors when it suits him. Plain and simple. He's a puppet for the Agudah and hasn't met a camera that he doesn't love.

[SMR]

Rabbi Horowitz organizes masses of people to attend court hearings to support victims of Haredi sexual abuse. He takes big risks to support victims/survivors by standing in opposition the the Haredi power structure.

I have not seen any example of where he "uses survivors when it suits him".

[Alex]

Why is no one talking about the case of E. Yegutkin it is in court right now!

Knowing both sides of that story I initially thought he was innocent, but know I am convinced of his guilt and I hope justice will be served

[devorah]

Do you have any details of Yegutkin case? It would be outstanding if both these perverts went to jail for life at the same time!

[Alex]

Devorah

I have many details about Yegutkin case. I know both the accused and accusers and most of the witnesses. I just haven't decided when I will post info but would love to see a blog start about it.

[Shmarya]

Do you have any details of Yegutkin case? It would be outstanding if both these perverts went to jail for life at the same time!

Posted by: devorah | November 28, 2012 at 10:18 AM

You can put the word Yegutkin in any of the three search engines I have on this blog and you'll find most of the details you're looking for.

[Jenny]

Lets see a damn picture if her. She's a freakin lier!!

[Victor]

S: Parents in this culture teach their children to always obey elders and authority, esp rabbis and teachers and anyone learned. This is a no-questions-asked obedience that implicitly teaches children to ignore their own inner voice and sense of outrage. They are taught to accept this authority to the point of not rocking the boat and not defending themselves in situations that would warrant it. This sets up children to be very vulnerable to predators.
Posted by: Rochel | November 27, 2012 at 11:04 PM

I don't know in what place and time you are living but from what I see kids do NOT blindly listen to parents - certainly not for years on end. This is from observation of my own children and grandchildren and from speaking with friends and family.

Imagine, kids blindly doing what parents ask of them!

[Alex]

Shmarya

your blog is not complete and has no updated info. But as of right now I can tell you that somone testified today to the fact that when back in High school Yegutkin proposed some sexual activities to his classmate.

[devorah]

"I just haven't decided when I will post info but would love to see a blog start about it."

No time like the present! Send it to Shmarya and maybe he can post new information. Let's nail these perverts, one miscreant at a time. Shmarya is the global leader in getting out the word.

[Shmarya]

Posted by: Alex | November 28, 2012 at 12:16 PM

My blog is "not complete" enough for you?

Please.

What do want me to do? Spend money I don't have to pay a stringer to go sit in the courtroom of every trial that takes place?!

You're there, you know what's going on, but instead of oh, say, emailing me some information, you post comments devoid of that information but critical of me and others for not doing your bidding.

As to why "nobody" is paying much attention to Yegudkin's trial, it's for what I would think are very obvious reasons – obvious, at least, to most people:

1. None of the people who pay attention to these cases be they activists or blogger-reporters get paid. That means it COSTS US MONEY to cover these stories – money I can assure readers is not returned through donations.

2. None of us can be in two places at the same time.

3. The Weberman case is major for a whole host of reasons. Yegutkin's case really isn't. (This is not meant to minimize the damage he did to the alleged victims or the heinousness of his crimes. It has to do with the political issues and communal issue that protect rapists and pedophiles and terrorize victims.)

I hope this clarifies matters for you.

[disillusioned]

This kind of behavior in which a victim continues to return to the perpetrator, whether it is a counselor, a teacher, a coach, etc. is not unique to the orthodox community, although the orthodox community certainly fosters this kind of vulnerability. In any community when a young child is abused by an adult that is viewed as a powerful figure there are so many psychological factors at play which can lead to the victim feeling helpless as if he/she has no choices.
Pointing to the fact that this was a "rebellious" child is meaningless. Because she did not buy into everything that her parents and schools taught her makes her a thinking and intelligent child. But she was still a child: young, scared, vulnerable. Very often abusers convince their victims that if they tell about the abuse, no one will believe them, people will think they are crazy, etc. The victims are scared, filled with shame, confusion, and self-loathing.
Its hard for people who have not had the tragic experience of being abused to understand all of these dynamics, but it is extremely common for young children to return to the abuser without telling an adult about the abuse. This girl is such a strong and courageous girl to stand up to this horrible man.

[devorah]

"your blog is not complete and has no updated info."

Duh, day three and not one word of the Weberman trial on VIN. Think they're trying to hide something?

[jancsibacsi]

disillusioned-I am delighted to see someone like you write here about what goes on in the mind of the victim,you are absolutly 100 per cent on target when you say its hard for people who have not had the tragic experience of being abused,i wrote many times before about being molested in the mikva at the age of 10 in a european town in the late 50s i only spoke about it recently after 50 years the same person our shohet moel who molested me on a yom kippur he was the bal tefila all of a sudden he stepped out i was next to my father comes towards me picks me up in front of all the congregants there were a over 100 throws me down with all his might i could not get up they had to take me out to see if my back broke it didnt luckily but this shohet just went back and continued like nothing happened no one but no one not even my father dared to challenge him i ask him many many years later why didnt he do something he said he wanted to attack him but coundlt this shohet moel in my oppinion knew no one would challenge him he was god in the town this is the situation today with hteese hassidim they many of them get away with murder i am so happy that this girl is so courages i hope this weberman if he is found guilt gets the rest of his life put away in jail

[bas melech]

The girl returned, because she had no choice. diWhen she didn't return, the abuser came to her house.

The girl was said to be rebellious. That does not mean that she is/was a bad girl, just a non-conformist. Non-conformists still can respect elders, just not their lifestyle. Being somewhat familiar with charedi communities, I know that few people would believe she was abused by a respected community member. Besides, where would she go?

You critics don't understand the situation. They said she was rebellious. Why? Because out of general, normal curiosity she might have asked a question in class or to her parents that they didn't like?

[disillusioned]

jancsibacsi,

What you went through is horrible and the pain is still there all these years later.
I had my own experiences with abuse by orthodox men once when I was a young child and once when I was a teen and I felt let down by my parents as well in both cases. They were more concerned about drawing attention to our family and about shidduchim then they were about protecting me. As a parent I can't relate to that kind of thinking.

[Shoyteh]

>Rochel, what you write would be true for a ordinary kid in the community. This was a rebellious kid. She would rebel against everything the f'ed up community advises her but she would return to her abuser for session after session? When she claims to have been numbed and appalled by it? It does not hold water.

Here's a thought. Maybe she was not sure she didn't like it. (Don't beat me up, people.) It would have been exceedingly confusing for her, even IF she - my God - read People Magazine. She was a child.

And guess what? If she was conflicted about it, that's also normal. He still remains a predator, pervert, criminal and rosho - even if it wasn't clear to her how she could stop it.

Let me guess, based on this possibility now you're going to claim she's a liar because she claims she hated it.

[jancsibacsi]

Shoyteh-Dont forget this came out only when she had a different therapist,i understand very well the mindset of a child like her i went through it many years ago the way i felt is tottal abandonement by parents society,its a horribly cruel world and you are paralyzed with fear of doing anything since fear is so overwelming that it stopes you being afraid of getting even more hurt in the process of trying to get someone to help you in other words until youre in her shoes youll never know.

[Shoyteh]

When I was in first grade my teacher punished the entire class by making us keep our hands raised in the air until it hurt. I did not tell my parents. Why not? Because I was six and I was being punished. How was I to know this woman was acting crazy? A small thing, but I think it's on the same spectrum of what kids do. Which kid tells their parent when, according to their teacher, they did something wrong?

There are many reasons why kids won't speak, and that's why it is the most important thing in the world as a parent to teach your kids that on the contrary, it is when they are most ashamed and confused and in the most trouble, that is when they must know that they can and should speak up.

[jancsibacsi]

Shoyteh-You are 100 per cent right kids should be able to speak about abuse to their parents,the trouble is in a society where you know that doing so will not help you but get you more punishment a child wights theese things and decides its not worth it especially in past generations and alot of hassidim live in that type of atmosphere you have to understand that, you are talking about a society where according to you you just tell and everything will be fine that is not how the real world operates

[Sara]

@disillusioned - thanks so much for explaing that so well!

[Adina]

Does anyone else know someone that was molested by Weberman? Not to say it didn't happen, but it seems odd that no other girls came out with this in his 25 yrs. of counseling.

[Shmarya]

There are about a dozen known victims, I think. Police know about them. But it's very hard to come forward and go through the intimidation, shaming, attacks from almost the entire community, etc.

That's why so few rape victims report their crimes to police.

There is extensive scholarly literature that deals with this and documents it.