People in the community do not get it.
Some are stupidly naive while others are wickedly aware yet choose to pretend not to "get it".
So often people will say things like: "Why did he wait 40 years to come forward to say that he was sexually abused"?
Or they might ask what was so terrible about a teacher touching a child inappropriately - it only happened once, or the child was fully dressed.
The most common trend in our frum communities is one of shock and outrage (when they hear that someone has been accused of sexual abuse) and they say things to the effect of: " I know him so well", or "He has davened in my shul for the last 25 years".
People make these comments with such conviction and self righteousness that they almost believe that a person cannot be accused just because he is well known in the community.
Little do they realize that the reason most pedophiles are well known is because they choose jobs such as teachers, Rebbeim or youth counselors, among other professions, so that they can have easy access to children.
It makes me feel so helpless and angry when I know that there are perpetrators molesting children right now as I write this blog. There are people running day camp programs, and youth organizations who have access to hundreds of kids.
My heart fills with pain and rage because I know that there are people in positions of authority who know what goes on, but choose to remain silent and do nothing.
I cry because I know the pain and sorrow that can fill a small soul when his body has been violated in such an intimate and terrible manner.
I know it only too well.
I imagine thee little boys climbing on to the school bus every morning, their small legs hardly able to get up the steps. Their hearts filled with sadness and perhaps fear because they know what awaits them....
Why?
Why am I so helpless?
Why can I not do anything to save the little boys and girls?
Why has Gd put me in a position of "knowing" yet helpless to stop these horrific crimes from being committed under our very noses?
I ask why?
And the silence is loud.
Some are stupidly naive while others are wickedly aware yet choose to pretend not to "get it".
So often people will say things like: "Why did he wait 40 years to come forward to say that he was sexually abused"?
Or they might ask what was so terrible about a teacher touching a child inappropriately - it only happened once, or the child was fully dressed.
The most common trend in our frum communities is one of shock and outrage (when they hear that someone has been accused of sexual abuse) and they say things to the effect of: " I know him so well", or "He has davened in my shul for the last 25 years".
People make these comments with such conviction and self righteousness that they almost believe that a person cannot be accused just because he is well known in the community.
Little do they realize that the reason most pedophiles are well known is because they choose jobs such as teachers, Rebbeim or youth counselors, among other professions, so that they can have easy access to children.
It makes me feel so helpless and angry when I know that there are perpetrators molesting children right now as I write this blog. There are people running day camp programs, and youth organizations who have access to hundreds of kids.
My heart fills with pain and rage because I know that there are people in positions of authority who know what goes on, but choose to remain silent and do nothing.
I cry because I know the pain and sorrow that can fill a small soul when his body has been violated in such an intimate and terrible manner.
I know it only too well.
I imagine thee little boys climbing on to the school bus every morning, their small legs hardly able to get up the steps. Their hearts filled with sadness and perhaps fear because they know what awaits them....
Why?
Why am I so helpless?
Why can I not do anything to save the little boys and girls?
Why has Gd put me in a position of "knowing" yet helpless to stop these horrific crimes from being committed under our very noses?
I ask why?
And the silence is loud.
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