This Sunday 8 PM, in a special edition of MyLife: Chassidus Applied, Rabbi Simon Jacobson will address the topic on many people’s minds – how we should approach the recent horrific tragedy of the disgraced author accused of serial abuse, and all its serious implications. He will be answering the many difficult questions we are struggling with in the wake of this scandal.
Torah Perspective on Such a Travesty
> Why would G-d allow a person to reach such a high position of power and influence within the religious public, and especially over the innocent hearts and minds of children?
> How do I deal with my deep feelings of betrayal?
Intervention and Community Response
> What should and should we not do?
> Can we publicly shame an accused abuser?
> Do the laws of slander apply to a sexual predator?
> How can you make sense of the seriously contradictory messages coming from different Torah authorities?
Speaking with Children
> How can we protect our children?
His Books
> What should we be telling our children? Especially those that read his books?
> How should we be treating his educational books?
Closure
> What can the victims do now to get closure and find justice?
Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
> What should we learn from this and what can we do as individuals and as a community going forward?
Tonight, January 2, 8PM EST
LIVE:
Very powerful, truthful, painful, compassionate, and even hopeful. Time to roll up our collective sleeves and transform this terribly bitter darkness …
Finally, poignant perspective on the many different angles and nuances. Such ability to navigate through the complexities and provide clarity on each point. Masterfully done.
And we HAVE to stop our so-called rabbis, teachers, singles and anyone with inappropriate access to women and children from leading their lives and – in the case of rabbis and teachers – remaining in their posts and continuing leading their communities and classes – with impunity. We must now name each proven perpetrator for the sole purpose of protecting others because in truth, the only real weapon we have is knowledge. Not to make this a witch hunt. But to carry on burying our collective heads in the sand must surely be a whisker away from allowing these horrific… Read more »
WITH RESPECT TO RABBI JACOBSON, NOW WASNT THE TIME FOR LOMDUS. WHAT I PERSONALLY WAS EXPECTING TO HEAR AND WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS HADROCHO AS TO HOW A FRUM JEW SHOULD ROOT OUT AND EXPOSE THE EPIDEMIC SCOURGE OF ABUSE ENGULFING OUR COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE BY SO CALLED “RESPECTABLE EDUCATORS” AND “ROLE MODELS” WHO HAVE NO ACCOUNTABILITY OR GUIDELINES UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. TRAGICALLY THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST HIGH PROFILE CASE. PRACTICAL STEPS LIKE THOSE SUGGESTED RECENTLY ON OTHER MEDIA FORUMS BY RABBONIM AROUND THE WORLD, AND THOSE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS BATTLE, SUCH AS A… Read more »
With respect, of all the talks we’ve heard over this past tumultous week, this one was far and away the most clear, carefully-worded and full of direction and guidance. And yes of course, all predators and sexual molesters need to be where they belong. Behind bars for the rest of their days.
Keep it simple and to the point. Say This is where we stand and this is what we will do about it.
All I can say is thanks. We threw out every book. At home school and my family. This was,imperative to hear.
We shredded all of ours. That way we knew they wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands in the (highly) unlikely event of them being found in a dumpster. We would have burned them but our local authority doesn’t permit burning.