Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Bill against sexual harrassment by rabbis


YNET

MK Orlev, who initiated bill, says: From now on, rabbis will not be able to shirk their responsibility and maintain limitations on preventing sexual harassment. Orlev careful to deny any connection between timing of bill and Rabbi Mordechai Elon harassment affair

The Knesset plenum on Wednesday passed two similar bills in a preliminary reading stipulating that offers or treatment of a sexual nature suggested by religious or spiritual instructors to their students be considered sexual harassment. This also would apply if the recipient does not expressly decline the offer.[...]

8 comments :

  1. The question is really 'why hasn't this already been the case'? I wouldn't suggest car repair by a rosh yeshiva without demonstrated experience or verified credentials. Certainly that logic ought to apply to the far more significant issues of sexual dysfunction. To suggest that a rav is best suited to oversee counseling an individual on sexual matters is not just a red flag- it is a bull horn warning.

    The only ones qualified to determine the need and type of treatment protocol an individual might requires is a mental health professional. Truly concerned rabbonim ought to be the first to suggest a referral. There are programs and therapists that are sensitive to the needs of frum individuals.

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  2. This entire question brings up a major issue in general.What are the limits of Rabbinic counselig in general.Are they aware of the limits of their expertise.In the U.S.there is an issue of clergy malpractice and the clergy can actually be legally sued.

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  3. B"H. Now we are talking. Many people will be saved from the most humiliating, traumatic experience imaginable, being used by a Rabbi / Torah authority as a sexual object for his personal gratification. Let us hope that our Torah leaders will learn from this that they need to comply to the law, to halacha and to basic human civility.

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  4. By bringing up this bill it appears that the RABBI STUDENT relationship was not similar to PROFESSOR STUDENT relationship and therefor the police could not prosecute and Takana could not have effectively gone to the police.

    Iwonder why R.Eidensohn cannot see anything positive in what this group is attempting to do?

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  5. I am not a Rabbi, but i have read a few books in my lifetime. The mussar and kedusha which any Ben Torah requires, is tremendous. The majority who are devoted to Torah, who fight for having some purity in their lives, who keep the Halacha, and have struggled and sacrificed in order to avoid ervah, are disgusted by those who pervert the Torah values.
    This is the reason behind the outrage and righteous indignation of those menuvalim who bring shame and Hillul Hashem by their acts.

    One can see from R Eidensohn's hard work that he is fighting to preserve Torah values. I belive R, Lichtenstein is doing the same, all the more so. We can debate what is the best way to achieve this, but remember please that Takana Rabbonim have done something unprecedented. 10 years ago it was all hush hush, and many are trying to keepit that way.

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  6. Silence of the Lambs (or sheep)February 25, 2010 at 4:26 PM

    Why hasn't Rav Eidensohn exposed the rabbis of Ramat Bet Shemesh?

    Me thinks he has a negios here and is thus silent.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Silence of the Lambs (or sheep)February 25, 2010 at 4:27 PM

    Why hasn't Rav Eidensohn exposed the rabbis of Ramat Bet Shemesh?

    Me thinks he has a negios here and is thus silent.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Silence of the Lambs (or sheep) said...

    Why hasn't Rav Eidensohn exposed the rabbis of Ramat Bet Shemesh?

    Me thinks he has a negios here and is thus silent.
    ============
    Why don't you ask David Morris? He has agreed to my request to write an article for my book about the issue.

    ReplyDelete

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