The Criminal Cover-Up 4 Talkbacks for this article 1. YY, 2/12/2012 3:15:03 AM nahalot, question Thank you for the article, Dr. Ballen, and all your other wonderful columns. Has Rav Arush given any public statements about abuse? Does the community have ways to educate children so that they know what is wrong and do not let themselves be victimized? It seems that many Orthodox communities have had many children abused because the children had never been taught about abuse. As I understand it the people in Nahalot in Jerusalem are all suffering great anguish because there are several known child molesters still living in the community, who have abused countless children there, but because of legal technicalities they had to be released. They really need guidance and support (see the Jewish Mom blog for the perspective of one (frum) resident). I wonder if Rav Arush or Brody would have anything to say or do for them in this difficult time? I'm not sure if it's any comfort, but it seems that the halachic criminal law system is designed to not convict many guilty people, because two witnesses are required. What is to be done when known offenders are in the community? Prayer is good, but "action is the main thing" and one should act as if the world was created for your sake, always looking for ways to improve the world. So aren't there concrete actions that can also be taken?     Add Your Comment     2. 2/12/2012 3:01:40 PM connection to a tzaddik this article is very strong. You however noted that leaders and rebbes of communities are often responsible for the cover-ups and continuation of sexual crimes against children, and yet recommend aligning oneself with a righteous rebbe/community, which seems contradictory given that those who suffered thought the same of their own rebbes, leaders and communities. Is it not enough to connect to true tzaddikim and Hashem without belonging to such a community?     Add Your Comment     3. YY, 2/13/2012 3:59:18 AM what rebbe nachman would do? Rebbe Nachman was usually very opposed to doctors, but when realized that smallpox vaccinations were effective, he ordered his followers to get their children vaccinated no matter what. What should we learn from this? That once something is proven effective in saving lives, we must do it! If there are certain good practices that have been proven to prevent child abuse -- such as teaching children about abuse, and having policies (as does one network of Orthodox days schools in America) that no teacher is allowed alone with a single student -- then we should adopt them too. We need to look to the experts, and implement their advice -- we can literally save lives by doing this. People like Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn (an Orthodox psychologist who has written one or more books on abuse) are probably good resources in this regard.     Add Your Comment     4. Rabbi Aryeh Goetz, 2/13/2012 1:18:35 PM Read "Let's Stay Safe" to your children (in English) Recently published by Art Scroll "Let's Stay Safe" by Bracha Goetz is an excellent venue to begin the discussion with young and other children to understand personal safety including good touch/bad touch.     Add Your Comment     Like What You Read? Help Breslev Israel spread the light of Rebbe Nachman across the globe, and be a partner in making a better world.