Threatened with death, Rabbi Nochum Rosenberg, the haredi rabbi who uncovered and publicized rabbi-on-child sexual abuse in haredi communities has been forced to close his hotline and…
… give up the public side of his child protection efforts.
Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Controversial activist R' Nuchem Rosenberg announced Tuesday that his telephone hotline has permanently closed down. Citing death threats from various groups unhappy with his public pontificating, he said that he has been advised by Rabbinic leaders that his obligation to publicize the ills of society as he sees them extends only so far; once it became apparent that his life was at stake, he says he was advised that he should cease operations.
On the hotline, which R' Rosenberg claimed had thousands of listeners, R' Rosenberg championed a host of issues, ranging from transparency in Kashrus to the promoting of Tznius among young couples. But by far the issue that was most prominently featured by R' Rosenberg was his crusade against child molesters and those who harbor them, especially in the context of Yeshivos.
R' Rosenberg railed at those responsible for what he said was an ongoing cover-up in the Orthodox - and particularly the Chasidish - community. He advanced the opinion that child molestation in Yeshivos is a much more widespread phenomenon than commonly acknowledged, affecting hundreds of children each year. He stated that when victims do step forward, their claims are routinely swept under the rug, and the perpetrators typically allowed to continue serving as Cheder Rebbes, Menahalim, Rabbonim, camp staffers, and other positions that give them contiued access to children.
In recent months, R' Rosenberg was under ever increasing pressure to close down his operation. A Kol Koreh [advertisement against him signed by prominent haredi rabbis] published several weeks ago in the Brooklyn area Yiddish media forbid listening to his hotline. The Kol Koreh was signed by representatives of many major Chasidish groups, including, Bobov, Satmar, and Vizhnitz. The Kol Koreh characterized R' Rosenberg's telephone monologues as "disgusting" and "perversion" and stated that numerous young people had already been damaged by listening to his words. The Rabbonim added that R' Rosenberg had been warned many times to cease in his activities, but since he had refused so, the public ban was necessary.…
Last night and today is the 29th yartzeit of the Satmar Rebbe, Yoel Teitelbaum. I would assume the death threats were made in conjunction with this "holy" event.
Satmar hasidim try to kill Rabbi Rosenberg in London last month.
[Hat Tip: Sheryl]