CHILD ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES .......... IF ONLY..

Recent revelations in both local and national media in regard to the reporting cases of sexual abuse directly to the rabbis and not to the authorities have sparked a major controversy on the issue and its halachic implications. This has turned into a huge fiasco with the retraction by Charles Hynes, the D.A. of Brooklyn, saying that the position of Agudath Israel of America is not acceptable. The D.A. is now claiming that he never approved a special arrangement with rabbis

                                              

There are two issues that have divided our once strongly united community,
and have created chaos where cooperation had formerly prevailed.

1) Halachic misinterpretations on reporting

2) The stubborn refusal by the D.A not to publicize Jewish child molesters within the community

History of Charles Hynes and the Agudath Israel of America:

Brooklyn D.A. Charles Hynes has a long distinguished history of professional service in the criminal justice system;

In 1969, he became an assistant D.A., for Brooklyn;

In 1971, Hynes was appointed Chief of the Rackets Bureau for Kings County;

In 1973, Hynes was named first assistant district attorney;

In 1975, Charles Hynes’ career was catapulted when he was appointed special state prosecutor for nursing home and Medicaid fraud;

Governor Hugh Carey said that the appointment of Hynes brought national acclaim and Hynes’ career really began to flourish.

I have known D,A, Hynes personally for more than 20 years and I deeply believe him to be a man of honor and a man that can continue to bring necessary changes in our justice system. I recall meeting the D,A many times, whether it be at political events or at holiday gatherings like Chanukah parties. I participated with him and supported his various different initiatives to bring the people of Kings County together.

"The Voice Of Justice" has worked closely with the staff of the D.A’s office in Brooklyn as a liaison to many victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

Regarding Agudath Israel: I met David Zweibel on numerous occasions and found him to be a charming and energetic individual with a widely diversified rabbinical board that has many different halachic perspectives and directions.

Over the years I have been friends with many people in leadership positions in Agudath Israel. I have been a supporter of Rabbi Yaacov Horowitz and "Project YES."a division of agudah I am also proud to have raised substantial funds for certain worth while projects that the Agudah initiated.(like the PCCS vocational job placement agency)

However, in the last five years, I have become extremely disillusioned at the direction of their approach in regard to molestation of children. I have not hesitated to speak out against their policies in the public media, especially on the "Zev Brenner Hour" radio program

I find that their position with regard to protecting our children terribly flawed and misguided, as well as their interpretations of major rabbinical declarations, especially that from the leading sage of our generation, Rabbi Eliyashuv Shlit"a as being distorted and wrong.

The position by Agudath Israel has caused and continues to cause a great deal of pain and suffering to survivors and victims of child abuse

IF ONLY.... Agudath Israel had issued a public declaration that protecting and giving support to victims of abuse is important and condemning harshly those who harass and intimidate victims and families who have gone to the Criminal Justice System for closure.

IF ONLY.... the rabbis at the ASIFA held at Citifield and Arthur Ashe stadiums would have devoted five minutes to a proclamation as well as a joint recital of Tehillim on behalf of our precious children who have suffered molestation.

IF ONLY.... Agudath Israel would have supported mandatory finger printing of all personal in yeshivas and private schools and done so strongly rather their back and forth vacillation.

IF ONLY.... Agudath Israel had arranged a meeting between survivors and rabbis for the sharing of pain and frustration.

IF ONLY.... Agudath Israel had joined the effort to make reporting of child abuse mandatory by rabbis. In 26 of the fifty United States, it is already mandatory that cases of sexual abuse be reported to state authorities.

In summary, I and many of the advocates I have solemnly marched with for
the last five years are deeply committed to our Jewish faith and Emunah.
Articles written by some rabbis which have called us anti-religious, anti-rabbi and some have even equated us to the Judun Ratt in Nazi Germany. Many of us advocates have spent enormous amounts of money of our own funds as well as time providing support to victims and survivors.

To date in 2012, I traveled across America, to many different states, totaling thousands of miles, to lend support to victims of child abuse and to community efforts on their behalf.

We must meet the critical challenge of our generation with direct and hard
hitting responses. Victims and survivors must know that Am Yisrael, the entire Jewish community, is united on this urgent subject to save future generations of our youth by keeping them safe and healthy within the community.
                                                         IF ONLY....
mark meyer appel

TODAY SUNDAY MAY 20,2012 AT 5:00 PM WE ARE MAKING HISTORY IN THE FIGHT TO STOP ABUSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

                                                                  

                                                           UNITED WE MARCH 

                                                                                                                https://www.facebook.com/events/320642868009045/#!/events/320642868009045/333175230089142/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
 HOSTED BY ARI MANDEL,MOTTI WEISS,SUE DONIM   ,PINNY GOLD,     CHANIE FRIEDMAN  AND THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS

TODAY Sunday, May 20th, 2012,AT 5:00 PM thousands are expected to gather in Citi Field for a rally against the internet. Join our massive protest outside the stadium as we take advantage of this unprecedented gathering to deliver our message: Rabbis, stop protecting child molesters! ...                                         We are fed up with rabbinical leaders' dismissive attitude towards sexual and physical violence against children. The internet is not the biggest problem we face. Protecting children and bringing molesters to justice should be our number one priority. We are ultra-Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, secular, male, female, young and old. This is not an ideological issue. This is not an issue only for “insiders.”  When it comes to the safety of our children,  we must be united and unabashed in our Support

Citi Field

123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Corona, NY 11368

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Our Broken Truth

By Judy Braun (Op-ed)
May 19, 2012
This is why the Internet Asifa is important for K'lal Yisroel: because a wholesome lie is better than any broken truth; because denial must be protected at all costs; because ignorance is sacred in a world whose existence depends on it.
And this is why it is important that we be there on Sunday: because we hold the broken truth, the one we experienced firsthand when our rebbis, teachers, and leaders ripped their own lie piece by piece, life by life, in front of our eyes, and then intimidated, threatened, brutalized and suppressed any victim or witness who dared speak out, warning that they would destroy us and our broken truth if we did not accept their lie.
The Internet is an enormous threat to the ultra-orthodox world for the same reason it is a threat in Syria, Iran and Russia; a population that is aware is a population difficult to control. They say that they must fight the Internet for it brings moral decay. What they do not say, even to themselves, is that they must fight the Internet so they can conceal moral decay. That the only thing they fear more than the outside corruption the Internet brought inside, is the inside corruption the Internet has revealed to the outside.
The Internet is terrifying to the rabbanim perhaps because of porn, perhaps because it exposes youth to foreign ideas, but even more importantly, because it enables open dialogue and an honesty they cannot afford if they are to survive as a community, the community they insist they are; pure, innocent, and above their own frailties. And if a few children must be sacrificed for this wholesome lie, then so be it. It is better than any broken truth.
In the last few years, the Internet has served as a crucial tool for victims of sexual abuse. It is through blogs and online discussions that many victims first realized they are not alone, that this is a communal problem. The silence that has kept victims in such utter isolation, unable to connect with others, has been broken by the anonymity and connectivity of the Internet. It was there victims could finally speak honestly without fear. It was there they could hear of so many similar experiences, and reach out to other victims. The Internet played a large role in tapping at the wall of denial, and for the communal authorities this was a dangerous thing.
Denial is a terrible thing to lose. We know. For many victims it takes years to face their own traumas, to break away from the security and warmth of a well taught lie. But no one knows like we do that it is never technology that corrupts man, but man that corrupts technology. Because decades before there was Internet or computers, there was sexual molestation and the worst forms of moral decay. We were there when it happened, when men who did not have access to the Internet turned into beasts, groping, fondling, and raping boys and girls half their size and strength, then terrorizing them into silence.
Tomorrow we will stand outside Citifield with our cardboard signs. There will be thousands of orthodox men walking past us. Some will look quickly away, some will laugh in pity, some will wish they were standing with us. We'll stand for the first time as a united voice, in public, telling them that we are no longer afraid; that we, who have seen the darkest parts of their world, will never be silenced again; that we will make as big a 'Chillul Hashem' as we need to, and for as long as we need to, because there are basic morals and there are cultural traditions and for too long the ultra-orthodox world has confused one for the other.
The Citifield rally is so important to the community because it is another form of denial, another excuse they can point to. It allows them to avoid confronting the most dangerous enemy of all: themselves. The Internet does not molest, only people do; they always have. But if they can just persist on blaming internal problems on evil outside forces they can continue to remain blind to what they refuse to see: themselves. And that is why we will be there tomorrow, because this is the broken truth.
Just wanted to share,
Judy Braun, Hush                                             

SPECIAL BROADCAST NOW 8:00 PM ON CHILD ABUSE ON WSNR 620 AM RADIO

TONITE AT 8:00 PM ON WSNR 620 AM THE TRUE STORY OF SEX ABUSE IN KINGS COUNTY AS REPORTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BY RAY RIVERA AND SHARON OTTERMAN

                                                                            
                                                                     


TONIGHT  ON  WSNR 620  AM AT 8:00PM.  A SPECIAL BROADCAST ON  TALKLINE COMMUNICATION( ZEV BRENNER SHOW ) WITH MARK MEYER APPEL AND DR ASHER LIPNER    ON THE LATEST MEDIA REPORTS CONCERNING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF BROOKLYN  MR  CHARLES HYNES POSITION OF NOT REVEALING THE NAMES OF SEX OFFENDERS AND HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH AGUDAS ISREALS RABBI DAVID ZWEIBEL

TONITE AT 8:00 PM ON WSNR 620 AM THE TRUE STORY OF SEX ABUSE IN KINGS COUNTY AS REPORTED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BY RAY RIVERA AND SHARON OTTERMAN

                                                                            
                                                                     


TONIGHT  ON  WSNR 620  AM AT 8:00PM.  A SPECIAL BROADCAST ON  TALKLINE COMMUNICATION( ZEV BRENNER SHOW ) WITH MARK MEYER APPEL AND DR ASHER LIPNER    ON THE LATEST MEDIA REPORTS CONCERNING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF BROOKLYN  MR  CHARLES HYNES POSITION OF NOT REVEALING THE NAMES OF SEX OFFENDERS AND HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH AGUDAS ISREALS RABBI DAVID ZWEIBEL

MAYORS BLOOMBERG AND KOCH JOIN ADVOCATES CALL ON DA HYNES TO RELEASE NAMES OF THE MOLESTERS

TO  D.A  MR CHARLES J HYNES               KOL ZEDEK MUST BE CLOSED DOWN FOR CONFIDENCE TO BE RESTORED TO OUR LEGAL SYSTEM

Bloomberg Attacks DA Hynes' Double Standard

Bloomberg Among Critics of Prosecutor in Brooklyn(NYT) Bloomberg on Friday sharply criticized the Brooklyn district attorney, Charles J. Hynes, over his handling of child sexual abuse cases among the borough’s large ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.  * Who Speaks for the Children?(NYT Ed) Religious leaders in Brooklyn’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities must ensure that molesters are brought to justice.

Charles Hynes, the Brooklyn district attorney, follows different rules when dealing with abuse cases involving the ultra Orthodox Jewish community, like keeping the names of convicts secret. For Ultra-Orthodox in Abuse Cases, Prosecutor Has Different Rules(NYT) * Pressure mounts on Brooklyn DA over Orthodox sex abuse cases (The Guardian) Victims' families urge Charles Hynes to release identities of Orthodox sex abusers and allay community fears. Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes is under mounting pressure to respond to criticisms over his handling of child sex abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community. Victims advocates and bloggers lined up on Thursday to demand that Hynes reverse his policy of special treatment for abusers in the largest Orthodox population outside Israel. Ultra-Orthodox Shun Their Own for Reporting Child Sexual Abuse(NYT) * Mr. Zimmer’s lawyer was Asher White, who is married to Henna White, Mr. Hynes’s longtime liaison to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Ms. White, an adherent of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement, makes $138,000 a year, more than most of Mr. Hynes’s prosecutors.” * In its ongoing series on sexual abuse in ultra-Orthodox communities, The Times takes a look at how Brooklyn DA Joe Hynes has mostly deferred to rabbinical authorities on the matter. * For Haredi Abuse Cases, Prosecutor Has Different Rules (FailedMessiah.com) 

Koch Disagrees With Hynes

Koch, who is Jewish, said Hynes should prosecute the rabbis who interfered with victims reporting accusations of abuse. "We're all equal under the law and they have to subscribe to the law without getting preferential treatment," Koch said. "It's just dead wrong. And there's no explanation to make it right in any way." *'Joe Hynes has to live in the real world and he has to live in the world that they're(Capital)

Michael Powell ‏ @powellnyt @azipaybarah @SallyGold @DavidwChen @bkcolin Hynes seems most adept at finding a way of living in whatever world keeps him in office


Fidler the Hypocrite Defends Hynes and Funds Child Abuse Prevent Programs

As chairman of the City Council's Youth Services Committee Lew Fidler has funded millions of dollars of city funds to prevent and treat sexual abuse. This is what Fidler said about the mayor plan to cut Relationship Abuse Prevention Program — operating out of 62 host schools throughout the City. Filder is blasting the proposed cuts, pointing out that early prevention is key in abuse and domestic violence cases. “I’ve fought repeatedly to protect our City’s children and most vulnerable citizens,” said Fidler. “This is part of that fight. Appearently that fight ends at the door of the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. Lew Fidler, ran two of Hynes' political campaigns, defended the D.A.'s response to the times. "It makes sense to me," Fidler said. "One size does not fit all. It makes sense to me intuitively that sometimes the full frontal assault is not what gets you the most [results]." He said these communities are heavily controlled by rabbis whose dictates carry more weight than police, school and elected officials. Fidler said Lesher, in calling for the names of sexual abusers to be made public, doesn't appreciate the dynamics of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

From True News 

Pressure mounts on Brooklyn DA over Orthodox sex abuse cases (The guardian)
Victims' families urge Charles Hynes to release identities of Orthodox sex abusers and allay community fears

Brooklyn district attorney Charles Hynes is under mounting pressure to respond to criticisms over his handling of child sex abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community.

Victims advocates and bloggers lined up on Thursday to demand that Hynes reverse his policy of special treatment for abusers in the largest Orthodox population outside Israel.

The Guardian reported in March that Hynes stands accused of failing to stand up to community leaders to tackle a culture of cover-up and intimidation that has gone on for years.

The DA refuses to release the identities of the "over 90" Orthodox child molesters he claims to have arrested through his controversial Kol Tzedek outreach programme, citing the "unique nature" of the Orthodox community. Hynes's office said it was protecting the identity of the victims.

Requests under New York's freedom of information law submitted by the Jewish Forward newspaper and the Guardian have been turned down by the DA's office.

On Thursday, the New York Times reported on the community intimidation levelled against victims of abuse and the pressures they come under to pull out of prosecutions. Its story adds to the growing media attention on the issue.

Brooklyn assemblyman Dov Hikind, who has campaigned on this issue, said it was time that Hynes responded to his critics. "He needs to answer our questions."

"The DA has done some very good stuff. There is absolutely no reason why he should not be talking to all of us and answering everyone's questions, unless there's something to hide or there's something he feels uncomfortable with. If one has absolutely nothing to hide, you talk, you share."

"I think it's important to talk to the public that elected him."

Hikind said he couldn't understand why Hynes refused to release the names of perpetrators.

"When the DA says he's not releasing names because he wants to protect the victims – that confuses me very, very much. What about future victims? If my next-door neighbour is a perpetrator and I don't know about it, how are my kids being protected?

"If there is legitimate reason in some situation not to release certain information, I think we can live with it. But as a general policy, I don't understand it."

"Stop looking at your votes, stop looking at your next election. Do your job. Don't sell kids' lives for your next term."

Last month, the Guardian reported questions over the veracity of the DA's figures for arrests through Kol Tzedek. At least nine of the alleged 90 arrests took place before the start of the outreach effort in April 2009.

Shmarya Rosenberg, who blogs as Failed Messiah, said the DA was obliged to stand up and explain himself.

"What he's said so far makes no logical sense. The fact he padded the numbers so heavily and misrepresented which cases were Kol Tzedek cases and which weren't to make it seem really successful when it isn't … You would think he would want to answer that. The fact that he hasn't suggests that there isn't an answer." 

Mark Meyer Appel, whose group voice of Justice gives support to victims and their families called for the DA to dismantle Kol Tzedek. The culturally sensitive approach to Orthodox victims was well intentioned, he said, "but it's obviously not working."

Hynes should be taking a tougher stand, Appel said. There should be more community outreach, more education in the community and victims should be given proper support. Advocates claim victims are frequently discouraged from pressing charges.

"The Orthodox Jewish community is like any other community. Fathers and mothers of all religions and races should be treated equally by the law. That's all we want. We want fairness."

Jerry Schmetterer, the DA's spokesperson, declined to comment on the latest demands for information.