A Single-Case Study of Rabbinic Sexual Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community

ABSTRACT

This paper considers a case of sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by a rabbi within an Orthodox Jewish community. The material is drawn from public records and interviews conducted with the family of the reported victim and others involved in the matter. Consideration is given to judicial procedures unique to the traditional Jewish community and how such procedures, while developed to foster justice within the Jewish community, at times may interfere with secular criminal procedures.

KEYWORDS:

• Beth din
• child abuse
• district attorney
• m'sirah
• Orthodox Jewish community

Notes

Nearly all Orthodox Jews send their children to private schools where religious education is an important part of the curriculum. The more traditional of such schools are called yeshivas; where religious discipline is less strict, such schools are usually known as “day schools.”

Within this and the following two sections, “Intervention of the Beth Din” and “Community Attitudes and Reactions,” there are more than 25 quotations drawn from personal communications. These quotations were drawn from face-to-face interviews, phone conversations, and e-mails. For the purposes of readability, each of these quotations will not be cited individually as a personal communication.