Britain's Haredim Write Letter On Child Sex Abuse That Claims UOHC Is Blameless, Rabbis Must Screen Allegations

The letter, signed by the head rabbi of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (Kedassia) Rabbi Ephraim Padwa also attacks the media and admits that it was only issued to mitigate damage to UOHC's reputation that will come from Channel 4's upcoming exposé.

The letter written on Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (Kedassia) stationary says that it is “our duty” to consider “every allegation” of child sexual abuse a “very serious” thing. UOHC therefore needs to inform the haredi public how to properly deal with this and to “make fences” to prevent it and to properly help everyone who has been abused.

UOHC says it has a committee of “rabbis, teachers and members of the community who know how to properly help abuse victims,” set up to deal with abuse cases in the haredi community. UOHC’s “rabbinic leadership recognizes that there are certain times when it is correct and necessary to call the social services and police. The committee will consult with the those rabbis to determine the proper course of action in each case. The committee will try to use the advice and help of experts to help families or children who have suffered from abuse, may God protect us.”

In other words, rabbis will screen cases and rabbis will decide whether or not police or social services will be called and the committee will try to follow the advice of experts to help victims and their families – but it will not promise to do so.

Why?

Almost certainly because 99.999% of these experts are not UOHC members or haredim, and to seek and follow their advice means to involve people outside the haredi community that UOHC does not control. And UOHC can’t have that in many cases – especially in cases of child sexual abuse where UOHC does not want police or social services to be involved. Why? Because those experts are often mandated reporters who will report the abuse to police or social services.

UOHC goes on to criticize Channel 4’s upcoming exposé on UOHC’s alleged abuse coverups, which allegedly cover many decades, and says that the UOHC hopes that the formation of this committee to deal with child sexual abuse will silence the accusers.

“Unfortunately a program has been made that is about to be broadcast on television about the abuse of children in our community claims that even after the actions of abusers are known” to UOHC’s rabbis, the abusers “have the possibility of continuing in their acts” because UOHC allegedly doesn’t report them to police or social services. “The Committee for Child Protection and Determining the Correct Way to Protect Our Children in Our Community will help, God willing, to silence the claims of the inquisitors that the UOHC does not fulfill its obligation in this matter.

“In every case that comes before a rabbi, teacher or principal of one of our schools, where there is fear for a child's safety, you are asked to refer the matter to the committee which will deal with it in consultation with the beit din tzedek [the Jewish religious court of UOHC] and according to the law of the land.”

The letter is signed by UOHC Chief Rabbi Ephraim Padwa. Underneath his signature is the number of the UOHC’s child protection line.

There is no number listed for UK Social Services or for the police.

This letter is another example of haredim trying to keep allegations of sexual abuse and even confirmed cases of sexual abuse from being reported to police and social services.

Worse yet, the letter was only issued as a public relations stunt to try to mitigate the legitimate damage to UOHC’s reputation that will clearly come from Channel 4’s exposé.

[Hat Tip to IfYouTickleUs for the letter.]

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British Haredi Leader Caught On Video Telling Alleged Child Sex Abuse Victim That It Is Forbidden To Report The Crime To Police

Comments

[jancsibacsi]

Whom are they kidding the reason theese molestations were hidden for decades is because theese holier then thou rebbes were deliberatly sweeping it under the rug since theese molestations are a direct outcome of their brand of fanaticism anyone with an ounce of brain matter would come to this conclusion,

[Sarek]

OHC says it has a committee of “rabbis, teachers and members of the community who know how to properly help abuse victims,”
Trained in the same classes where they teach secular subjects?

[Harvey]

I'm a retired professor of psychology with 35 years of clinical practice. I realize that child sex abuse has been around as long as children have been around. What I don't understand is the disproportionate frequency of child sex abuse by members of the clergy. That this abuse is institutionally covered up by the religious hierarchy DESPITE the legal mechanism of "mandated reporting" is something that should be punished consistently and severely by the governmental authorities charged with this responsibility.

[jancsibacsi]

Harvey -The answer to youre question about clergy abuse is this, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absoluly, i am sure you heard theese words before.

[Bas Melech]

No different than their counterparts is USA.

[der emes tit vei]

padwa is lying, i personally know someone that went to him recently, he did not offer any support whatsoever, instead he told him its a matter of the past and commanded him not to inform the police under any circumstances.

[Better than you]

Jancsi:
... And being abused long ago, makes you a total putz!

[Rochel]

And these charedim would be the first screaming objections if Muslims stated they wanted to use their sharia law and courts.

[seymour]

I ask can he name a few cases when they said go to the police

[contra apion]

jancsibacsi:perfectly expressed. what about rotten apples-what only one rotten apple can cause?

[MarkfromShortHills]

A translation of the letter appears here:
http://bloghd.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/uohc-child-protection-letter.html

[real]

The truth
http://speakerscornernw11.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/this-blog-key-board-of-anglo-jewish.html#comment-form

[is that all?]

I dont think the matter is just about going to the police, its also what happens after that, even if the rabbi gave permission. how many people have been intimidated after taking action they felt they needed to?

[Jeff]

Jancsi:
... And being abused long ago, makes you a total putz!

Posted by: Better than you | January 25, 2013 at 01:11 PM

You're a piece of garbage. You serve no earthly purpose other than to incite. The only language I could use to properly express the utter contempt in which I hold you would result in Shmarya deleting my comment. Shmarya does you a favor by tolerating your presence here, but you're too stupid to realize it.

It is my sincere wish that you live to see the collapse of everything you hold dear - which you almost certainly will.

[dh]

"You're a piece of garbage. You serve no earthly purpose other than to incite. The only language I could use to properly express the utter contempt in which I hold you would result in Shmarya deleting my comment. Shmarya does you a favor by tolerating your presence here, but you're too stupid to realize it."

Ditto.

[dh]

I do hope it is understood that I agree with Jeff's assessment regarding 'Better than you' and second that emotion.