OHEL CHILDRENS HOME REMAINS SILENT ON THE EXPOSE BY THE JEWISH WEEK

RESPONSE BY RABBI YOSEF BLAU ROSH YESHIVA YESHIVA UNIVERSITY

               In the March 2 issue of The Jewish Press, Ohel placed a full-page ad responding to criticism that had appeared in another Jewish newspaper. In order to evaluate the ad it is necessary to know what the issues in dispute are. A patient indicated she had abused her own child. The therapists treating parent and child unanimously agreed that the authorities had to be informed. The lawyer for Ohel was consulted and said it was unnecessary and no call was made.

In two cases accused abusers were referred to Ohel by rabbis. Ohel agreed to treat them without demanding they sign a release that would have enabled Ohel to break confidentiality. Both left the program and were later arrested for abuse. Please reread the ad and decide whether the accusations were refuted.

Unfortunately, Ohel in its ad chose to attack a psychologist, a prominent advocate for victims of abuse, for allowing the reporter to use his name. Other sources for the article chose to remain anonymous.

Rabbi Yosef Blau

New York, NY

   Editor's Note: Rabbi Blau is mashgiach ruchani at Yeshiva University. 

In their ad, Ohel attacked the Jewish Week for "only giving them 50 words in their article to say their point of view" which was refuted by the Jewish Week that stated truthfully that they HAD asked Ohel many detailed questions that Ohel, as usual, wouldn't answer.    On the other hand,  Ohel publicly attacked the Jewish Week and the psychologist in question (somebody we all care about) without giving us even one single word to defend ourselves.   How low can you go?  How cowardly?  How babyish?