Rabbi Metzger's "Impossible Mission"

B"H

Almost everyone has heard about the mother of twelve from Beit Shemesh who abused her children and got arrested a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, child abuse is nothing new in Israel and almost daily we can read different stories in the newspapers. The mother of twelve children however, has been in the headlines since her arrest. The secular press just jumps on the subject and papers such as HAARETZ and YEDIOT ACHARONOT cannot get enough of the story.

The famous mum from Beit Shemesh is a haredi woman. A Baalat Teshuva who only became religious about seven years ago. She and some rabbis got arrested, as they are accused of child abuse. The rabbis obviously told the mother to torture her children because they (the kids) were obsessed by demons. I don't want to go into the exact torture details, as for me it is hard to understand all the different stories going around in the press.

The children claim that their mother has lost her mind when she became religious. The main role in her "new" life played some obscure rabbis who told her what to do. Two of those accused rabbis escaped to Canada and the rest is already behind bars.

I spoke to some Haredim about the case and, as it is very common in haredi society, they don't see anything wrong in their own society. Okay, this mother from Beit Shemesh is haredi. But what kind of a Haredi ?

Well, yes, she is a Baalat Teshuva, which turns her for most born Haredim automatically into a lower status.
"She is not one of us !!!".
Especially not when the police are after her and she destroys the haredi reputation.

And secondly, mum followed a bunch of freaky rabbis who really look more like freaks than serious rabbis. And do these "rabbis" have a Semicha (rabbi's certificate) at all or are they just some crazy self appointed ones ?

Many times, haredi society finds itself involved in scandals caused by Baalei Teshuva (those who later became religious in their lives). The most famous example is the Chassidut Breslov in Israel. Whereas you find the descendants of the original followers of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov in Mea Shearim, many other "newcomer groups" proclaiming themselves Breslov, consist of society outlaws.
Breslov and Chabad are the only chassidic groups making it more or less easy for outsiders to join. Any other chassidic group has strict rules and not everyone can just show up and get accepted.

Especially the Breslov community in Jerusalem faces more and more applicants who have formerly been criminals. Either drug addicts or those who were in jail for whatever reason. And many of those join the Breslover Na Na - cult. Serious Breslovers from Mea Shearim look down on them and don't accept them at all. The Mea Shearim population totally rejects them and even considers them as a danger to the kids in the neighbourhood. Of course, there are enough born Haredim causing scandals or becoming criminals as well. However, the mainstream of haredi society points its finger on the unreliable Baalei Teshuva.

Whereas Israel's secular press jumps on the abuse subject, haredi papers hardly mention the case. Have they mentioned the case at all ? Such topics have no place in the haredi press.
Once again, haredi society finds itself criticized because they don't break their silence. When a haredi family finds out that their child was abused, they rather keep quiete instead of going to the police. Those of you being familiar with the society know that it could be harmful getting involved with the police and starting a big fuzz. What about a nice Shidduch for the siblings ? What about the neighbours and the Yeshivot ? Haredim are afraid of scandals and they don't take risks. The majority of abused children have to overcome their personal nightmare alone, as they don't even get professional treatment from psychologists . The parents keep silent and business goes on as usual.

The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Jonah Metzger is now trying to encourage haredi society to go to the police and make complaints. Speak about child abuse because the abusers need to be put in jail. Obviously Rabbi Metzger's appeal won't be too successful; especially chassidic groups of all kinds and the Litvaks cannot change their behaviour so easily. Let alone in case the abuser is one of the greatest respected rabbis within the group ? How can you fight him anyway ?

There are still thousands of problems involved and another thousand considerations to be made. In the near future, haredi society won't change and further silence will be the response to child abuse. And with every new case, the secular press keeps on jumping on the subject and accusing haredi society as a whole. As soon as there appears another haredi criminal, the haredi world reacts in two different ways. Either they ignore the accusations and claim that everything is only "Lashon HaRah" or it is stated that the criminal had never been part of haredi society anyway. Preferably a Baal Teshuva who never succeeded in overcoming his Yetzer and has just been a burden all the time.