By Phil Jacobs
Baltimore Jewish Times
May 18, 2007
http://jewishtimes.com/3156.stm
Baltimore's rabbis have spoken out. Both of the major rabbinic organizations have delivered strong messages in recent weeks on the issue of sexual abuse within the community.
Indeed, the Vaad Harabbonim, the Rabbinical Council of Greater Baltimore, sent a letter signed by 23 of its rabbis to the Orthodox community, dated April 11.
Rabbi Steven Schwartz
The Baltimore Board of Rabbis, the umbrella group including modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis, followed suit with an advertisement in this week's edition of the Baltimore Jewish Times.
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"There is no subject more painful for us to discuss than the issue of sexual abuse within our community," stated the Vaad's letter. "Yet at this point we believe it is the subject most necessary to address. We must acknowledge that this horrible form of abuse exists — and has existed for generations — in our community as well. This issue must be confronted directly and we believe that this discussion can be a first step towards the necessary and achievable goal of ridding our community of this scourge."
(The full text of the letter is available to readers on jewishtimes.com.)
The letter went on to state that abuse can ruin an individual's sense of self, ability to trust others and ability to engage in healthy, intimate relationships. The letter added that in the past, there were "mistakes" made in handling these situations.
"Abusers," the letter stated, "were often not recognized for what they were, as it was too difficult to believe that otherwise good people could do such things, nor was it sufficiently appreciated what damage such acts could cause.
"Publicizing his status as abuser — while causing enormous damage to his own family — may be the only way to protect the community from him."
Several rabbis also addressed the issue from the pulpit with their congregations.
The Board of Rabbis advertisement was jointly signed by the organization's president, Rabbi Steven Schwartz of Pikesville's Beth El Congregation and Marc J. Terrill, president of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
Part of the advertisement reads, "Once it was a shande (sin) to discuss this topic; now it is a shande to ignore it.
"All abuse is wrong and against the values of Torah, to which we are committed. The abuse of children, among the most vulnerable members of our communities, is especially reprehensible and demands our immediate attention and our commitment to eradicate it."
"The stories [in the Jewish Times] have reminded us that this is an issue in the Jewish community," said Rabbi Schwartz. "And since it is an issue in the community, we need to acknowledge the problem to do whatever we can to help the victims.
"Also, we have to be proactive so that this won't continue to happen. This is a community moment to look at ourselves, and let's put an end to this."
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