Recognizing and reporting abusers

The conviction of Nechemya Weberman to 103 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a minor on Tuesday may have been the tipping point for a problem that has long gone unrecognized or underreported in the Jewish community.

Weberman, an unlicensed therapist  and counselor and member of the Satmar Chasidic community, was found guilty of 59 counts of sexual abuse with a female that occurred over a three-year period, starting when she was 12 and ending when she was 15 years of age. The victim, whose parents sent her to Weberman at the urging of her school, was deemed in need of therapy for violating the school’s very modest dress policy and questioning the existence of God. She is now 18.

Meanwhile further investigations have yielded more charges pending against Weberman, who has been accused of molesting  two other underage girls and having inappropriate sexual contact with four married women. Other reported victims have refused to press charges over fear of recriminations from within their insular community.

Weberman reportedly used several methods to groom his victims and to give them assurances that their sexual activity was sanctioned by Kaballah. Suffice it to say he took advantage of the weak and unsuspecting victims by acts of chicanery and badgering.

This pattern of sexual abuse is not unknown to other sections of outside society. No matter they be boys or girls, the weak have been victimized by predators through the ages. In recent years, however, society has made it clear that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated, especially as victims have come forward to charge religious officials in the Church and elsewhere with unspeakable acts or with covering up the abuse.

What has been the rule in many of the  Orthodox or Chasidic Jewish communities has been to disbelieve, denigrate and demonize the victims, especially where accusations have been leveled at religious figures. In many cases the Beit Din (religious courts)  would attempt to keep the accusations within their own insular religious communities, where they might more easily be squashed.

An example of abuse in the Baltimore community was told in the 2011 film “Standing Silent,” where a rabbi and his son were accused of sexual abuse. The riveting film showed how a crusading journalist found himself the target of criticism when he wrote about alleged abuse in his community. Almost unbelievably, several members of the community sided with and, in some instances, protected the alleged abusers over their accusers. In the Satmar Chasidic community such a practice of stonewalling any charges of molestation has been the rule rather than the exception. Many of those that have come forward have been chastized and ridiculed. But these acts of abuse can no longer be swept under the rug. No matter how painful the outcome is vis a vis the outside community, we must submit to the rule of law and let the chips fall where they may.

With the convictions of  Weberman now a matter of public record and the knowledge that even more charges are probably being preferred against him, perhaps the Jewish community-at-large will begin to protect those that most deserve their allegiance: the young victims of these heinous acts.