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Ultra-Orthodox Shun Their Own for Reporting Child Sexual Abuse
The New York Times ^ | May 10th, 2011 | Sharon Otterman

Posted on 05/10/2012 1:38:08 PM PDT by KantianBurke

The first shock came when Mordechai Jungreis learned that his mentally disabled teenage son was being molested in a Jewish ritual bathhouse in Brooklyn. The second came after Mr. Jungreis complained, and the man accused of the abuse was arrested.

Their communities, headed by dynastic leaders called rebbes, strive to preserve their centuries-old customs by resisting the contaminating influences of the outside world. While some ultra-Orthodox rabbis now argue that a child molester should be reported to the police, others strictly adhere to an ancient prohibition against mesirah, the turning in of a Jew to non-Jewish authorities, and consider publicly airing allegations against fellow Jews to be chillul Hashem, a desecration of God’s name.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: children; molestation; religious; zealots
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To: Oberon

“I would have no objection to them handling the matter within their community, provided that they administered the punishment prescribed by the Torah for such a crime.”

I don’t know that anyone (except possibly the Natives who pre-date the country itself) would ever get that option because it involves a crime (a serious one). As Catholics we can’t even get out of the birth control coverage of ObamaCare...


21 posted on 05/10/2012 2:37:25 PM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: kearnyirish2

“The fact that it is in the news now is probably to stifle Orthodox Judaism from voicing disgust at Obama’s latest gay nonsense”

Or maybe because disgusting crimes are being committed against kids and the perps are being protected by the religious powers that be? Just a thought.


22 posted on 05/10/2012 2:44:58 PM PDT by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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To: KantianBurke

“Or maybe because disgusting crimes are being committed against kids and the perps are being protected by the religious powers that be? Just a thought.”

Did you read the start of my post? I know that this happens in that community (and in every other one); the timing is suspect is all.

I have no problem with these stories, as long as they are even-handed; the fact that the Catholic League was the only one reporting at the height of the Church’s coverage years ago that the NYC public school system had 5 cases in 5 days (with names of perps, schools, dates) is so absurd that questioning the purpose of the coverage just makes sense. If it was about the kids the papers (especially those in NYC) would have hopped on the public school story; guess it didn’t fit an agenda.


23 posted on 05/10/2012 2:52:42 PM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: KantianBurke; kearnyirish2
Or maybe because disgusting crimes are being committed against kids and the perps are being protected by the religious powers that be? Just a thought.

I would not discount it being a warning shot for these groups' leaders -- get on board for Obama NOW or else. The abuse is mostly men molesting boys, and the MSM does not generally go out of their way to focus on homosexual abuse.

OTOH, I think it more general politics than anything related to stifling comment about Obama's gay marriage position.

Lastly, I think that some communities' leaders have been co-opted by molesters among them. I think that the gays among them work tirelessly to remove from leadership any rabbi who might seriously threaten them, and promote any rabbi who is willing to cover for them. The game is not limited to the Ultra-Orthodox. The Sandusky case at Penn State stands out.

24 posted on 05/10/2012 2:56:28 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell)
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To: KantianBurke
There is no excuse for covering for child molesters. None. Those that cover up the crime or enable it belong behind bars.

Just like priests who hear confessions from other priests who molest children.

25 posted on 05/10/2012 3:10:40 PM PDT by gilor (Pull the wool over your own eyes!)
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To: a fool in paradise

Yep. It is funny how the only times the media cares about child rape or molestation is when a religious person supposedly does it.


26 posted on 05/10/2012 3:38:52 PM PDT by PghBaldy
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To: PapaBear3625

“The abuse is mostly men molesting boys, and the MSM does not generally go out of their way to focus on homosexual abuse.”

Given the non-stop coverage of the Catholic Church scandal, you can’t ignore the obvious. They ignore gay rape when it is done in lib circles (public schools, Girl Scouts - who have no ban on gay scoutmasters) and pour it on when it is done in the “enemy camp” (Catholic Church, Boy Scouts, and now I suspect Orthodox Judaism). The Orthodox method of dealing with this was reported quite a bit when the Church coverage was at its peak.


27 posted on 05/11/2012 3:20:38 AM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: kearnyirish2

Interesting that your outrage is reserved for media bias. Forget the fact that little kids are being raped and the perps are being protected.


28 posted on 05/11/2012 4:09:46 PM PDT by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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To: KantianBurke

“Forget the fact that little kids are being raped and the perps are being protected.”

I’ve never defended the perps; execute them for all I care. Just make sure you do the same regardless of whether they are reigious figures or public school teachers.

You’re about 10 years too late for those conversations, but there they are.


29 posted on 05/12/2012 12:23:52 PM PDT by kearnyirish2
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