Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the
Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent, step-parent, sibling or other relative; or outside the home, for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or stranger. When sexual abuse has occurred, a child can develop a variety of distressing feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
No child is psychologically prepared to cope with repeated sexual stimulation. Even a two or three year old, who cannot know the
The child of five or older who knows and cares for the abuser becomes trapped between affection or loyalty for the person, and the sense that the
A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal.
Some children who have been sexually abused have difficulty relating to others except on sexual terms. Some sexually abused children become child abusers or prostitutes, or have other serious problems when they reach adulthood.
Often there are no obvious external signs of child sexual abuse. Some signs can only be detected on physical exam by a physician.
Sexually abused children may also develop the following:
- unusual interest in or avoidance of all things of a sexual nature
- sleep problems or nightmares
- depression or withdrawal from friends or family
- seductiveness
- statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that there is something wrong with them in the genital area
- refusal to go to school
- delinquency/conduct problems
- secretiveness
- aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games, fantasies
- unusual aggressiveness, or
- suicidal behavior
Child sexual abusers can make the child extremely fearful of telling, and only when a special effort has helped the child to feel safe, can the child talk freely. If a child says that he or she has been molested, parents should try to remain calm and reassure the child that what happened was not their fault. Parents should seek a medical examination and psychiatric consultation.
Parents can prevent or lessen the chance of sexual abuse by:
- Telling children that if someone tries to touch your body and do things that make you feel funny, say NO to that person and tell me right away
- Teaching children that respect does not mean blind obedience to adults and to authority, for example,
don't tell children to, Always do everything the teacher or baby-sitter tells you to do - Encouraging professional prevention programs in the local school system
Sexually abused children and their families need immediate professional evaluation and treatment. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can help abused children regain a sense of self-esteem, cope with feelings of guilt about the abuse, and begin the process of overcoming the trauma. Such treatment can help reduce the risk that the child will develop serious problems as an adult.
For additional information see Facts for Families:
#4 The Depressed Child
#5 Child Abuse
#10 Teen Suicide
#28 Responding to Child Sexual Abuse
#62 Talking to Your Kids about Sex
#73 Self-Injury in Adolescents
#00 Definition of a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
See also: Your Child (1998 Harper Collins) / Your Adolescent (1999 Harper Collins)
Click here to order Your Child from Harper Collins
Click here to order Your Adolescent from Harper Collins
Source: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/child_sexual_abuse
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30 comments:
A Partial Biography of Rabbi Yehuda Kolko & Rabbi Lipa Margulies
[This summary was written by an anonymous ultra-Orthodox insider and published as part of an open letter during the first week of December, 2006. The events dated after July, 2006 have been added by this website's adminstrator.]
· 1967 – While working as Dormitory Counselor at Yeshivas Mir, Rabbi Yehuda Kolko calls a student (name withheld) out of his dormitory room and begins discussing matters of a sexual nature with him while rubbing up against him in an aroused state. This abuse continues for the remainder of the school year and into the summer season at Camp Agudah [then owned by Agudath Israel of America]. This student is now a distinguished Manhattan attorney living happily with his partner in New York City and insists that his lifestyle choice has absolutely nothing to do with his abuse by Kolko.
· 1969 thru 1971 - Rabbi Yehuda Kolko begins abusing Dovid Framowitz in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas of Flatbush (now known as Yeshiva Torah Temimah) and Camp Agudah, the details of which abuse are now public knowledge. Mr. Framowitz, a grandfather living in Eretz Yisroel, has not gone a day since being abused without reliving the unspeakable agony he suffered at Kolko’s hands.
Continue Reading
http://www.rabbichildabuse.com/
This exemplifies the shifty and artificial persona of Agudah.
Not one word on scandalous happenings.
Just the same old overused topics, trying to pull the wool over our eyes like always.
We have an out of control Rabbinic structure with fallacious intentions all the way.
http://theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/42187/Urgent+Communal+Concerns+to+be+Addressed+at+Agudah+Convention.html
Urgent Communal Concerns to be Addressed at Agudah Convention
Among the most popular and effective aspects of an Agudah convention are the concurrent sessions that enable participants to come together in smaller, more informal settings where they can thoroughly examine critical issues of the day and share ideas regarding how best to address them.
In many ways, observes Mr. Aron Tessler, who is serving as this year’s convention chairman, these sessions typify what a convention, and indeed the Agudah movement itself, is about.
“Baruch Hashem, as a klal we have much to be proud of, including the myriad tzedaka and chesed organizations that provide important and vital services to the community. What sets the Agudah apart, however, is that it is both an incubator and a facilitator of ideas.”
In fact, he points out, many tzedaka and chesed organizations were originally conceived at Agudath Israel of America conventions. Shuvu, the Vaad Li’hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel. Operation Open Curtain, Ichud Mosdos Hachinuch of Brooklyn, Project YES, the Emergency Parnassah Initiative… The list is a long and impressive one.
This year’s convention – the organization’s 87th – will take place Thursday through Sunday, November 26-29 at the East Brunswick Hilton in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The conventions theme is “Areivim Zeh Lozeh: Dealing Decisively – And Jewishly — with the Challenges We Face”
Among the issues that will be discussed at the Thursday afternoon concurrent sessions – which, like all the other weekday sessions, are open to the public, free of charge – are the persistent and ever-growing dangers posed by the internet and other electronic media (“Tangled Up in the Web: Real Problems, Real Solutions”); the search for new and innovative ways to help singles find their mates (“Thinking Outside the Shidduch Box: New Approaches to an Old Problem”); and the imperative to preserve the memories – and the lessons—of the Holocaust for our children (Seventy Years Later: The Need to Keep Churban Europe Before the Eyes of Our Young”).
On Friday morning, four concurrent roundtable discussions will deal with such topics as identifying and addressing “pre-risk” distress in our children (“Denying ‘At-Risk’ a Foothold: The Importance of Prevention and Early Intervention” ); finding ways to insulate ourselves from the moral darkness of the world while striving to be a light unto the nations (“Standing Up to the ‘New Normal’: Contemporary Culture’s Assault on Torah Values” ); maintaining a strong and enduring connection to Torah study growth – even after we leave the walls of the yeshiva (“ Beyond the Beis Medrash: Ensuring That When the Yeshiva is Left, It’s Not Left Behind”); and exercising our communal responsibility to ease the physical and emotional pain of those still suffering from the economic downturn (“Arvus in Action: Our Communal Responsibility Victims of the Economic Collapse”).
Says Mr. Tessler: “When Yidden gather at a knessia l’shem Shomayim – and resolve not only to confront the problems we face but to take constructive steps to alleviate them, Hakodosh Boruch Hu provides the wherewithal for success.”
Like confronting child sexual abuse by vigorously opposing The Child Victims Act Of New York.
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Says Mr. Tessler: “When Yidden gather at a knessia l’shem Shomayim – and resolve not only to confront the problems we face but to take constructive steps to alleviate them, Hakodosh Boruch Hu provides the wherewithal for success.”
Defense Attorney: Hasan Is Paralyzed From the Chest Down
Galligan Wants Military Justice System to Move More Slowly, Says Accused Fort Hood Shooter is in Severe Pain
By MARK SCHONE
Nov. 21, 2009—
Major Nidal Hasan, charged with killing 13 in the Fort Hood shooting spree, is paralyzed from the chest down and is not a flight risk, said his defense attorney after a hearing before a military magistrate in Hasan's hospital room Saturday. The accused Fort Hood shooter had his first court hearing in the intensive care unit of a San Antonio hospital at 1 p.m. His status has now been changed from pre-trial restriction to pre-trial confinement, meaning that he will be confined until his court martial.
The military magistrate ruled that Hasan will stay at Brooke Army Medical Center for now, but the military has the option of moving him to another medical facility or to jail. According to defense attorney John Galligan, Hasan is paralyzed from the chest down, is incontinent and "in severe pain."
"He is an individual in need of constant medical attention," Galligan said. "He has no sensation from his chest down."
Previously, Galligan had said Hasan was paralyzed from the waist down. Galligan questioned the speed with which the legal process is moving.
"In the 36 years I've dealt with military justice cases," Galligan said, "this is the first time I have ever had to go to an ICU to conduct a hearing.
"We could have conducted this hearing next week," he said. "He is paralyzed. He is not going on leave."
Galligan, a retired Army colonel now in private practice, said the hearing lasted a little over an hour. According to Galligan, Hasan recognized him and was able to speak, but grew fatigued. Galligan said he does not expect the Army to move his client from Brooke AMC immediately, but he does want to know when Hasan might be moved and where he might be moved. Hasan's change in status to "confinee" also limits the number of people who can visit him.
"He is still a patient, but he is also a pretrial confinee," Galligan said. "There was not a compelling government interest to change his status at this time.
"Given that condition, why is he anything but a patient?"
Hasan was transferred to Brooke AMC on Nov. 6, a day after the shooting. He was taken off a ventilator Nov. 7. The following day, when investigators tried to interview him, he refused to answer questions and requested a lawyer.
Galligan, whose private practice is in nearby Belton, Texas, met with Hasan for the first time on Nov. 9. He has asked that his security clearance be reinstated so that he can review all the evidence against Hasan.
Hasan faces 13 counts of premeditated murder for the Nov. 5 shooting spree at Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Processing Center. He will be tried in a military court, and additional charges may be pending. Military prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.
Any mention of discussing molestation in the ultra-orthodox community isn't going to be addressed.
They are hypocrites who quite frankly care more about how to cover their tracks than facing the truth.
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This year’s Agudah convention takes place against a backdrop of serious communal challenges, many of which will be addressed in meaningful ways at various forums throughout the four-day gathering. The Sunday morning plenary sessions – the last on the convention program – will focus on two especially urgent concerns.
The first of the two sessions, “Sheep and Wolves: The Uneasy Jewish Presence in an Increasingly Hostile World” will take a hard look at Klal Yisroel’s perilous position bein ho’amim through the lens of frightening current events, here and around the world. Distinguished presenters Mr. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; and Moishe Zvi Reicher, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School and former Agudath Israel World Organization Director of International Affairs, will share their expert views on such issues as the growing threat from Iran’s overt and covert nuclear program and the implications of the United Nations’ blatant anti-Israel agenda..
The devastating impact of substance abuse and other kinds of addiction on individuals, families and the Orthodox community as a whole will be explored at the second session, entitled, “We are Not Immune: Facing Up to the Reality of Substance Abuse and Compulsive Behaviors.” Discussing the prevention and treatment of such maladies will be Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski MD, the founder of Gateway Rehabilitation Center and an internationally renowned expert in treating addictions.
Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rav, Agudath Israel of Madison will offer an hashkafic and practical overview of this extremely painful topic. Dr. Yosef Rosenshein, founder of P’Tach, will chair the session.
The convention is being held Thursday through Sunday, November 26-29 at the East Brunswick Hilton in East Brunswick New jersey. The Sunday morning sessions, like the Motzoei Shabbos keynote session and all weekday sessions, are open to the public free of charge.
http://theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/42189/Sunday+at+the+Agudah+Convention.html
THEY STILL ARE!
Society was reluctant to deal with child sexual abuse a few decades ago. Today, it is considered a serious issue.
It is difficult to determine how often child sexual abuse occurs, because it is more secret than physical abuse. Children are often scared to tell anyone about the abuse. Many cases of abuse are not reported.
Abusers are usually men. They tend to know the person they are abusing. The abuser violates the trust of the younger person, which makes the sexual abuse even more devastating.
Child sexual abuse occurs in all social and economic classes of people. It has the same type of risk factors as physical child abuse, including:
* Alcohol and drug abuse
* Family troubles
* Poverty
Abusers often have a history of physical or sexual abuse themselves.
A small group of repeated abusers have the psychiatric disorder, pedophilia. Their preferred sexual contact is with children.
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives/OLDagudah.htm
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Admor of Novominsk Appointed Head of Agudas Yisroel of America
76th Annual Convention of American Agudas Yisroel Conveys Strong Protest Against Recognition of the Reform
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
R' Elya Svei, rosh yeshiva of the Philadelphia yeshiva and a member of the American Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, announced the appointment of the Admor of Novominsk as the head of Agudas Yisroel in America in the name of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah during the main address he delivered on motzei Shabbos at the 76th annual convention of Agudas Yisroel of America. The main theme of the convention was the vision of the late Aguda leader Rav Moshe Sherer, z'l, and the void that his passing has left.
Thousands of people participated in this special event at which the country's prominent roshei yeshiva conveyed the messages of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America.
In his address, HaRav Elya Svei spoke at length about the ideological dangers facing Torah Jewry in the United States, and pointed to the list of issues which require strengthening. He warned the chareidi public to beware of the corrupt influence of America's environment, and of the media and secular literature, demanding that we vigilantly guard the chinuch of the younger generation. HaRav Svei also called upon the public to assist the organizations involved in Torah dissemination and kiruv work in the countries of the former Soviet Union. This aim, he stated, should be regarded as one of the most important of our times.
HaRav Svei pointed to the void which has been left in American Agudas Yisroel as a result of the petirah of Rabbi Moshe Sherer. "Many times during recent months, as I was contemplating various topics on the Jewish agenda, I would say to myself: `We must discuss this issue with Reb Moshe.' But he isn't with us any longer. Reb Moshe felt, with all his heart, that all public and individual problems were his own problems. He had a vigilant eye, which enabled him to observe well, to penetrate the depths of a problem and find its solution. Now we lack all this."
He then reminded the audience that throughout his life, Rabbi Moshe Sherer toiled to inculcate pure Torah outlooks and to oppose the uprooters of Torah, who seek to gain control of the Jewish nation. He did his utmost to effect the preeminence of gedolei Yisroel as leaders of the Jewish people, and to inspire the chareidi public to work together to achieve the important goals which face it.
HaRav Svei pointed to Rabbi Sherer's final mission, when he headed a delegation of prominent activists who came to Eretz Yisroel in order to warn its leaders about the danger of the Reform and the Conservative movements. As head of the delegation, Rabbi Sherer valiantly expressed the clear Torah outlook. Nonetheless, the problem still exists and is currently threatening the Jewish people in a most serious manner.
HaRav Svei added that all keenly feel Rabbi Sherer's absence, and sense the void formed due to his petirah. In this light, he was asked to announce in the name of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, with the consent of the presidium and of all of the institutions of Agudas Yisroel of the United States, that it has been decided to ask the Admor of Novominsk to preside as the head of American Agudas Yisroel.
"It was difficult for us to ask one who is a leader of an entire community, and the head of a yeshiva, to assume another heavy burden. Nonetheless, we are referring to the need of the klal, which is a dovor shebekedusha. To our great joy, the Admor of Novominsk has accepted our request, and has agreed to serve as the head of American Agudas Yisroel."
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives/OLDagudah.htm
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HaRav Svei noted the merit of the great forbears of the Admor of Novominsk, and his mesiras nefesh in public matters, as well as his keen awareness of all of the missions which Klal Yisroel faces. HaRav Svei said that all this will enable him to succeed in his new undertaking as the guardian and champion of Agudas Yisroel in the United States. "We are not referring to the daily administration of the practical and professional activities of Agudas Yisroel. Immediately after the petirah of Rabbi Sherer, an outstanding team of three of the administrators of Agudas Yisroel's offices were chosen for this task: Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel and Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin. From now on they will function under the direction and guidance of the Admor of Novominsk, and will benefit from his vigilance. By the same token, all questions on the agenda will continue to be posed to the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and decided by it," said HaRav Svei.
He concluded by reiterating his hope and his blessing that the new appointment will benefit the klal and will result in the strengthening of our faith.
The Admor of Novominsk, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in America, and new head of America's Agudas Yisroel, called on the participants of the convention to internalize the words of chizuk which they had heard throughout the three days of the convention, and to resolve to strengthen themselves for the remainder of their lives. He delivered a speech in memory of Rabbi Sherer, saying that at the convention all felt that had Rabbi Sherer been present, he would have contributed greatly to all of the issues on the agenda. "Now he whose approach and opinion we so anticipated hearing is absent, and over this we grieve," said the Admor of Novominsk.
The Admor then reminded his audience that all of Agudas Yisroel of America, and all of its merits, bear the name of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, for Chazal have said, "Because he was moser nefesh for it, it is named after him. Who like him," he cried out, "was moser nefesh for the goal of establishing Agudas Yisroel in America. This is his everlasting memorial."
The Admor also noted the many merits of Rabbi Sherer who in his dedication to Klal Yisroel, increased kevod Shomayim and gave impetus to the idea of Torah's dominance in our daily lives.
He then said that during recent years, the Jews of Eretz Yisroel have had to live with terrorism and killings, and that we must remember that our only source of succor is Ovinu SheBashomayim. It is to Shomer Yisroel that we must turn in prayer, beseeching Him to guard "shearis Yisroel, ho'omrim Shema Yisroel."
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives/OLDagudah.htm
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However, he noted sadly, there are hundreds of thousands of children in Eretz Yisroel who don't say Shema Yisroel. Speaking in a similar vein, he pointed to the grave problem of the penetration of hundreds of thousands of non-Jews into Eretz Yisroel, a trend which is liable to result in intermarriages. He also stressed the obligation to be mekarev those of our brethren who are distant from Torah, and to save as many Jews as possible, bringing them back to their roots.
"In the wake of the visit of R' Aharon Leib Steinman and the Admor of Gur to the United States, we have merited to establish a special Chinuch Fund. This fund has already succeeded in building many Torah schools for the children of Eretz Yisroel, and in expanding the activities of the Chinuch Atzmai," the Admor noted. He also noted that the organization dealing with this matter is named after Rabbi Moshe Sherer, a merit which surely stands in his stead in the World of Truth.
Throughout the remainder of his speech, the Admor of Novominsk pointed to the outstanding development of Torah Jewry in the United States. However, he also warned against the dangers posed by breaches in the fences of modesty, as well as by the Internet and other factors. At the end of his speech, he thanked the members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and especially HaRav Elya Svei. He closed with the prayer, "Yehi rotzon shetishreh Shechina bema'asei yodeinu."
Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, vice-president of Agudas Yisroel of America, called on the convention's participants to join hands, as one man with one heart, for the sake of implementing the missions of our generation. "Everyone must feel like a soldier in an army whose purpose is to bring about a kiddush sheim Shomayim," he said. He also stressed the vital need to continue Rabbi Moshe Sherer's battle against the heretical streams, in the spirit of the delegation which set out last year to Eretz Yisroel, under the slogan "Am Echod," and met with the heads of the state and of the parties in the Knesset.
Rabbi Bloom added that in the wake of the decision of Eretz Yisroel's gedolei haTorah the UTJ party must resign from the government coalition if Reform delegates are included in the religious councils, American Jewry must protest the act of according uprooters of Torah a foothold in the country, by sending protest letters and telegrams to the heads of the Israeli government. Throughout the convention, portions of speeches delivered by Rabbi Sherer at various conventions, in which he warns against the danger of the Reform and Conservative movements, were sounded.
During the evening, the convention chairmen, Rabbi Ellis Safdiye and Rabbi Reuven Dov Dessler, as well as Rabbi Yechezkel Besser, a member of the presidium of American Agudas Yisroel, and Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin, its vice- president, also spoke. Words of chizuk and his'orerus were delivered by R' Ephraim Wachsman, the rosh yeshiva of Adas Yerei'im of Monsey, and by R' Aharon Dovid Dunner, a dayan in the United Chareidi Kehilla of London.
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives/OLDagudah.htm
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At the opening session, as well as throughout the convention's deliberations, strong words of protest were expressed against the recent recognition granted to the Reform and Conservative movements by Israel's High Court through the precedent set by issuing a ruling requiring the inclusion of the delegates of these heretical movements in Israel's religious councils.
In the wake of the grave decision of Israel's High Court and the Israeli government to permit Conservative and Reform delegates to serve in the country's religious councils, it was decided to raise this topic on the convention's platform, and to warn the public against the serious spiritual danger imbedded in this development.
As is known, America's gedolei haTorah regard with utter gravity every attempt to grant backing and approval to the heretical streams, which have wreaked havoc on American Jewry and are now attempting to gain recognition in Eretz Hakodesh.
The 76th Annual Convention of American Agudas Yisroel opened on Thursday, the 7th of Kislev, in the presence of gedolei haTorah. It was attended by thousands of delegates and guests from all over the United States and Canada.
Early Thursday afternoon, a large thong filled the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey. Among the thousands in attendance were activists and senior public figures who occupy central positions in organized Torah Jewry in the United States.
The main theme of this year's convention was, "With Two Eyes: A View of the Past and a Vision for the Future." Its meetings and deliberations were dedicated to the memory of the illustrious leader of American Agudas Yisroel, Rabbi Moshe Sherer,zt'l, who was niftar last year.
The official opening of the convention, at which the gedolei haTorah delivered words of chizuk, took place early Thursday evening.
Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, vice-president of American Agudas Yisroel and the director of its Department for Governmental Affairs, led the opening session. In a heartfelt speech, he said that we are obligated to recall that Rabbi Moshe Sherer's main focus of activity was the battle to implant our faith in the tenet that "this Torah will not be replaced." He noted that this battle is especially crucial and vital in our times, when in Eretz Yisroel the Reform and Conservative are on the way to penetrating the religious councils, and in the United States, factors who called themselves "Modern Orthodox," are attempting to breach the halocho on the issue of agunos and on other issues.
HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiach ruchani of Lakewood, spoke about the obligation to instill our generation with the message of "ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders and they will say to you." He explained that the younger generation should be taught not to make decisions on its own, but rather to consult with the gedolei Torah on all matters. In this context, he referred to the great merit of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, who bequeathed the values of da'as Torah and emunas chachomim to the organized chareidi public of the United States.
HaRav Yissochor Frand, ram in Ner Yisroel of Baltimore and well-known speaker, stressed the obligation of every Jew to sanctify Hashem's Name at all times and in all situations, especially in our modern era, during which we are being called upon to prove how our sacred Torah guides the Jew in all aspects of his life.
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives/OLDagudah.htm
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HaRav Shimshon Sherer, the rav of the Zichron Mordechai community, delivered a stirring speech, filled with personal recollections of the intensive and colossal work of his father, the unforgettable leader of American Agudas Yisroel. He concluded by citing his father's will regarding public issues, saying that his father aspired to fortify the unanimity between all sectors of chareidi Jewry, and called upon it to join forces in accomplishing the important goals of our generation, and to unite in the struggle against the destroyers of our faith.
The convention's practical deliberations began Thursday afternoon, with a series of lectures and discussion groups which lasted for four consecutive days, and dealt with important topics on the agenda of chareidi Jewry in general and that of the United States in particular. Throughout the convention, gedolei haTorah conveyed their vital messages.
The annual convention of Agudas Yisroel, which has become a central event in the lives of the chareidi public of the United States, illustrates the organizational power of Agudas Yisroel of America, which has consolidated the entire American chareidi public, in all its various circles and strata, and promotes the ideal of a lifestyle conducted according to pure Torah outlook as guided by gedolei Yisroel. In light of Rabbi Sherer's many fruitful activities and his mesiras nefesh for the strengthening of Torah and the expansion of the borders of kedusha, this year's convention aspired to advance the plans and goals presented by him to organized chareidi Jewry in the United States.
Upon learning of the decision of maranan verabonon, the gedolei haTorah, to the effect that UTJ in Israel would resign from the coalition in the event that a Reform delegate is appointed to a religious council, American Agudas Yisroel decided to renew its broad public battle against the danger of the Reform.
As is recalled, last year a special delegation, headed by Rabbi Moshe Sherer, arrived in Israel in order to warn her heads of state about the danger of the heretical streams, especially in the wake of the deliberations taking place at that time in the Ne'eman Committee. The recent development on the matter of the religious councils has returned the topic to American Agudas Yisroel's agenda, and it was decided to continue the vital struggle against the destroyers of our faith with full force. It sees this as the fulfillment of Rabbi Moshe Sherer's public will.
Agudath Israel of America: Encyclopedia - Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. The term "ultra-Orthodox" is controversial, as it is often considered to be pejorative, and is rarely used by the Jews to whom it is applied; they generally prefer Haredi (חֲרֵדִי, a Hebrew term which is derived from Harada (fear, anxiety) and could be interperted as "one who trembles in awe of God")
Agudath Israel of America - Functions
Agudah in the United States has managed to retain its major Hasidic factions, with members from the Ger Hasidim in America working together within the organization and its Lithuanian mitnagdim partners. Agudah represents many members of the yeshiva world, known as mitnagdim, and sectors of Hasidic Judaism, commonly known as Haredim or "ultra-Orthodox" Jews. Not all Hasidic Jewish groups are affiliated with Agudath Israel. For example the anti-Zionist Hasidic group Satmar scorns Agudah's relatively moderate stance towards the State of Israel.
It has ideological connections with both the Agudat Israel party and with Degel HaTorah (Hebrew, "Flag of Torah"), two Israeli Orthodox Jewish political parties. In Israel, Degel and Agudah were in a political coalition called United Torah Judaism (UTJ) that is presently defunct.
AIA is also a part of the World Agudath Israel organization, which convenes international conferences
and religious conclaves.
Agudath Israel of America: Encyclopedia II - Agudath Israel of America - Structure
Agudah's policies and leadership are directed by its moetzes : Council of Torah Sages, comprised primarily of roshei yeshiva (the chief spiritual and scholarly authority in a yeshiva) and Hasidic rebbes (who head Hasidic dynasties and organizations).
The organization has a huge lay staff, many of whom are also ordained rabbis, but not of a calibre comparable to the roshei yeshiva and rebbes. After the passing of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, its last significant "lay" leader, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow who is also the Novominsker rebbe and a member of the Moetzet, was appointed as the Rosh Agudat Yisrael ("Head of Agudath Israel"). The past Noviminsker Rebbe, Rabbi Nochum Perlow was considered a key figure in the Agudah. The present head is now his son, also known as the Noviminsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Perlow.
There are AIA-affiliated synagogues across the United States and in Canada. Not every member of such a synagogue is necessarily a member of AIA; nor does he necessarily agree with AIA's stances on various issues.
Agudah has plenty of motive and reason for wanting to halt Mondrovitch's extradition, and also for
defending Kolko and Margulis.They have shown us so many times they have double standards, and how they don't really care about children the way they claim they do.
As I am gearing up for the agudas yisroel convention someone threw this book at me.
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Crocodiles Are the Best Animals of All! Sean Taylor, illus. by Hannah Shaw. Frances Lincoln (PGW, dist.), $16.95 (28p) ISBN 978-1-84507-904-8
The titular assertion of this lighthearted story gets put to the test when a donkey, seen lounging by the sea, reflects that “nothing is better than being a donkey!” This offends the honor of a nearby crocodile: “ 'I am better!' came a loud boast./ 'I could eat you for breakfast with buttered toast!' ” Animals gather to offer the crocodile challenges, but the reptile pulls off each task without a hitch—swinging through the trees like an orangutan, eating grass like rabbits (“I nibble grass and seedlings and shoots!/ I even chomp up Wellington boots!”), and besting a goat at mountain-climbing—before falling short in an unexpected area. Shaw's (Sneaky Weasel) anthropomorphized cartoon creatures have a hint of Steig about them. And while Taylor's (The Great Snake) goofy rhymes aren't strong on metric precision (“He bounced about like a basket ball,/ chuckling 'Crocodiles are the best animals of all!' ”) they make up for it with pure exuberance. The crocodile's braggadocio and the poke in the ribs he gets at the end make this an amusing entry in the bedtime reading pile. Ages 3–6. (Dec.)
Mandel, They probably would have thrown the book on us too.
Many Yeshivos who covered-up child molestation will be well represented this Thanksgiving weekend. They will be among the attendees of Agudas chazerim weekend. The 24 hour hour tea is getting ready for an invasion of perverts and scoundrels!
Baruch Lebovits's victims need to come forward and put this filth in Rikers. Otherwise he's going to walk scott free.
The fallacious "leadership" by Agudah must end. If you think about it, so many of their employees and subscribers speak out of both ends of their mouth. This quote can allude to them as well.
"He claims that it's important that we protect the unborn. But it's equally as important to protect those who have been born and those young children who have been raped and sodomized by clerics and priests. But yet he seems to protect those clerics," said Ruth Moore, of Hull, Mass.
I want to know who wrote such a goyish article.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/rabbis-speak-up-for-peace-in-fight-against-family-violence-20091124-jheo.html
Almost 40 per cent of Australian women report having experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, a 2006 survey by the Bureau of Statistics showed, and in 12 months one in 20 women, or more than 440,000, had been violence victims .
What right does Rabbi Horowitz have in giving advice to victims? This man REFUSED to support and WENT OUT OF HIS WAY to destroy the very bill that would have had a direct positive effect for such calamities he speaks of.
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Abuse Survivors: Please Do Not Suffer Alone
By: Dr. Benzion Twerski and Rabbi Yakov Horowitz
The Motti Borger tragedy haunts us all. I have devoted two blog posts to it. Much of what is written in the following essay I have either directly stated or alluded to. The issues this tragedy raises are of vital importance to the Jewish community. Therefore as a public service, without further comment, and with full permission from the Jewish Press and Rabbis Horowitz and Twersky- I present it in full. It will appear in next week’s Jewish Press.
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http://haemtza.blogspot.com/
YWN Sunday at the Agudah Convention
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2009/05/agudah-head-rabbi-criticizes-bloggers-activists-victims.html
Agudah Head Rabbi Criticizes Bloggers, Activists, Victims
But when asked to intercede to stop Rabbi Yehuda Kolko's child molestation, the Novominsker Rebbe allegedly declined saying, "It's a Flatbush matter." Perlow, who lives in nearby Borough Park, did not call police
This is nothing new. Rabbis have been stabbing victims in the back for years. I must have told dozens of them to get rid of this and that molester and they all promised and did nothing except betray those who confide or seek their assistance. So when Horowitz acts like a snake it's nothing new. The worst strategy is going to them, just go and make a police report and pursue the matter from there.
Chief Rabbi Metzger: Gilad will light Hanukkah candles with us
After Hamas says Israel undermining prisoner exchange deal, captive soldier's father meets chief rabbis to garner support for agreement. Chief Rabbi Metzger slams rabbis who say halacha forbids swap, while Rabbi Amar says, 'There is nothing more important than saving Gilad, but, on the other hand, it should not cause others, Heaven forbid, to be in trouble..
Continue reading here:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3810736,00.html
16. "Therapy" that includes cesnsorship? 11/20/09 - 2:06 PM
Dr. Asher Lipner, Ph.D.
It most certainly is pikuach nefesh.
But by stating that survivors are not welcome here to discuss their feelings until a later date, how can they possibly feel that we as a community really want to hear them? And so, it is circular reasoning to believe if we "convince" them to go to therapy that will solve their problems. Many survivors take years to open up in therapy about their abuse. In fact, I would not be surprised if Motty Borger WAS in therapy when he was niftar.
But if the message we continue to give survivors is to keep quiet about how they really feel, then survivors are being litteraly killed by our community. Silence kills.
All the therapy in the world is not going to save someone who is suicidal, who feels that the entire community has turned its back on him or her, and not only allowed the abuse, honored the abusers, and tried to shut them up in every way possible including calling them sick and vindictive (words not used to describe the molesters and their supporters)for trying to use the courts to stop their molesters. This person is continually "raped" day after day by the community he or she lives in.
Almost all the survivors of abuse I have worked with have stated that the need for secrecy, be it from rabbinic pressure, communal pressure, "compassion" for the molester's innocent family, or stigma about shidduchim, is much more traumatic than the actual abuse itself.
As long as all of us allow this, going to therapy is like being "Toyvel V'sheretz Byado", and we will have many more suicides, Hashem Yerachem.
I even know of molesters who are wealthy who have offered to pay for their victims' therapy, even as they continue to molest. This article does not even offer any practical ideas on how to do that...to help victims afford their therapy.
We care about Mumbai. Do we care about child abuse?
But men raping boys is okay.
Agudath says New York same-sex marriage is ‘dangerous,” threat to religious liberty
By Eric Fingerhut · November 11, 2009
Agudath Israel of America is urging the New York Senate to reject a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, saying it would be "dangerous" for society. Among its reasons are that it would weaken the link between marriage and children and would "convey the unmistakable moral message that homosexual union occupy the same moral plane as heterosexual ones."
The group also says that the legislation is a "direct threat" to religious liberty. From a memo the group sent to each member of the state Senate:
The bill under consideration in New York would pose a direct threat to religious liberty as well. Unlike similar measures passed in some other states, the bill does not contain any protections for religious individuals or organizations. Prominent legal scholars are therefore predicting that if the bill becomes law, religious organizations and institutions could be subject to legal attacks and severe penalties. As a group of distinguished law professors have written about similar legislation, “enacting [same-sex marriage] . . . without robust religious accommodations will lead to damaging, widespread, and unnecessary conflict between same-sex marriage and religious liberty.”
New York Senate leaders on Tuesday delayed a vote on the legislation, but said they planned to bring it to a vote before the end of the year. The full memo is after the jump:
November 9, 2009
M E M O R A N D U MTO: Honorable Members of the New York State Senate
FROM: David Zwiebel, Esq., Executive Vice President
Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, Vice President for Community Affairs
SUBJECT: Same-sex Marriage BillOn behalf of Agudath Israel of America, an 87-year-old Orthodox Jewish advocacy organization, we urge you to oppose and vote against legalizing same-sex marriage.
At the most basic level, our opposition to same-sex marriage is an expression of our religious tradition—as it is, no doubt, for millions of New Yorkers of all faiths. But there are compelling reasons that have nothing to do with religion to oppose legislation that seeks to fundamentally alter the time-honored definition of marriage. Proponents of same-sex marriage seek to change not only statutory law, but also the very nature of a social institution that throughout the millennia has proven its worth as an agent of social stability and historical continuity.
Watch a "master" pastrami slicer carve the world's best hot pastrami sandwich from Katz's Deli, NYC.
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