B"H
Issues facing Judaism today - the resurgence of Anti-Semitism and the Chaim Walder sexual abuse scandal
Life and death are in the power of tongue - Proverbs 18:21
I was recently speaking to my nephew who just completed an Honors Program at the illustrious Cambridge University in England. He is a politically liberal and has traveled to 193 out of 197 countries. He has been to North Korea, Syria, Egypt, and Libya and has heard opinions about Jews and Israel from a plethora of Anti-Semites. However, he came to the realization that more insidious than any of the Muslim countries is the animus and hatred of Jews and Israel from the people of Europe and the United Kingdom. Even in the halls of academia the venomous diatribes aimed at denigrating Israel and Judaism are a daily occurrence. Some detractors don’t even realize they are using anti-Semitic stereotypes and Nazi propaganda because for them it is considered mainstream thinking.
I won’t waste my time pacifying the pacifist or pandering to my detractors. Those who hate me and my people are indoctrinated from birth and inculcated with delusional theories to justify their beliefs. The allegations that Jews killed Jesus continue to this day, albeit without witnesses, trial, or jury. Our guilt was sufficient reason for the collective punishment of Jews over two millennia. We systematically had our properties expropriated, were unfairly taxed and exiled from almost every European country, and even murdered. I seriously doubt whether Europe can ever be re-educated.
The most observant of Jews who zealously observed the Torah and Jewish law were condemned and murdered for using the blood of Christian children for their Passover wine and matzah. The ludicrousness of Jews using blood in their rituals, which is strictly prohibited by Jewish law, is a contradiction that fell on deaf ears. Europeans didn’t feel a need to justify their animus as there were few if any who even questioned their behavior. I seriously doubt they can be re-educated.
Amnesty International is an organization founded by those who represent a reincarnation of European ideals. The State of Israel was found guilty merely because it exists. The criteria for their criticisms are limited to one country and are only an excuse to justify their premeditated animus. In 1947/8, immediately after the UN partition, Israel was already guilty of apartheid. Amnesty International refuses to allow facts to get in the way of their vicious diatribe. I seriously doubt they can be re-educated.
The famous commentator Rashi explains that the book of Genesis begins with the history of the world in order to dispel gentiles’ questioning of Jewry’s sovereign rights to the land of Israel. He explains that if God created the world, he has the right to choose who will ultimately be the recipient of his largesse. Rashi does not expect that gentiles will care what was written in the Torah. On the contrary, their religion is based upon their belief that Hashem revoked his promise to his chosen people. It was not other nations that concerned Rashi, it was the Jewish people. He wanted us to be confident that Israel’s right to exist could never be questioned.
I doubt whether the European Union, the United Kingdom, or Amnesty International will ever change their stripes and become philosemitic and supportive of Israel. However, keep in mind the words Hashem told Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse.” These are not my words, they come directly from God.
While Whoopi Goldberg may not be an anti-semite (with the surname Goldberg how could she be) she is part of a culture which promotes their personal agenda. Last week on Holocaust Day, in my daily zoom session, we had the privilege of listening intently to our dear friend Tova Friedman. As a survivor she recalled her experiences during and immediately after the Holocaust. She endured years of hell and returned to Munich only to face a weakened and defeated Germany, yet with the same pompous vitriol and animosity. She was allowed to go to school, but children refused to play with the Jewish girl. She triumphed in survival but faced an uphill battle for acceptance. Tova lectures and speaks to groups to ensure that what happened never repeats itself, but sadly with every passing day her confidence in man decreases. If Europe and international organizations continue to scapegoat the Jew and malign the State of Israel, how can a person who witnessed the horrors of yesteryear be optimistic?
Beyond all expectations, Tova has succeeded and flourished. She is a light unto her own nation, a woman who rose from the depth of despair to conquer her demons. However, she understands that regardless of how often she repeats her story, it’s impossible to portray the depths of her despair. The human mind doesn’t have the capacity to grasp a living hell. Mankind collectively may sympathize with victims, but they can never truly empathize.
The Holocaust happened as a result of the unabated anti-semetism that permeated and flourished in Europe in the 20th century. Many believe it can’t happen again, but I’m fearful that the seeds of hate are already deeply embedded in the minds of the European people. Jews continue to be targeted by hate crimes, new laws banning ritual slaughter and circumcision are on the rise, and the State of Israel continues to be vilified by groups that seek its demise. Of course, we have friends in Europe, but being a friend of Israel and the Jewish people often has dire consequences for politicians.
To switch gears, I want to address an issue within our community that can’t be attributed to anti-semetism. Below is a link to a letter written by Rena Solomon to Rabbi Eisenman in which she describes what her life has been like since she was molested and abused by Chaim Walder, a person she perceived as an honorable rabbi. She describes her torment and pain, both physical and mental. She explains that her religious worldview and indoctrination allowed the abuse to continue unabated. Her ultra-orthodox schooling (brainwashing) indoctrinated students with a belief that rabbis and leaders are beyond reproach. As a vulnerable 12-year-old girl she had no recourse; her parents, teachers, and rabbis would never accept her allegations. So, she kept quiet, and the abuse continued. She was an ultra-orthodox girl who was taught that modesty and silence were of paramount importance.
Thank God, much has changed for the better. Instead of protecting the abuser, some victims are finally being granted a voice to confront the abuser. They are no longer shunned into submission and are free to go public and share the crisis. Even ultra-orthodox communities are openly recognizing that their communities are not immune from sexual predators. There is still much room for improvement but it’s a start.
Although we are now confronting this reality it’s not enough. Rena Solomon conveys that as sympathetic as we may be, it’s nearly impossible to grasp the depth of her despair. Similar to a Holocaust survivor, the guilt, shame, and humiliation of an abuse victim never dissipates. They can mask the pain and fool people into believing that they have coped in the aftermath, but the stain is indelible. It never goes away; it’s ever present. Even if I share her words, I can’t really share her state of mind. Even if I shed a tear, in a moment or two I move on and they disappear. Rena’s tears are permanent; they will never dry up. Sadly, there are hundreds and thousands of victims whose voices are still muted and whose tears flow unabated.
Rina asks for no sympathy. She asks instead that her community reassess their portrayal of great rabbis as being infallible. She wants children to be taught to respect but suspect and to realize that people, including rabbis and teachers, are not always who they appear to be. Children must be told unequivocally that evil people exist, and no one ever has the right to touch them or abuse them. They must be assured that their voices will be heard, and their words believed. They must be confident that parents will stand by their child’s side as guardians and protectors. And perhaps most importantly every child must be made aware that abusers can be any age or sex and often appear as rabbis, teachers and respected family members.
Anti-semetism and sexual abuse will never completely be eradicated but as I was told many years ago, 6,000,000 Jews murdered has to be understood as one individual Jew murdered 6,000,000 times. Although we may never succeed in totally eradicating evil, we must be reminded that saving one child from going through the torment of abuse validates that every life is precious. While the power of the tongue certainly impacts on life and death, often the sound of silence is more dangerous and destructive. Six million Jews died during the Holocaust because the world kept silent, we can no longer accept keeping silent
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Jack Engel
Link to the letter written by Rena Solomon.
https://vinnews.com/2022/01/31/powerful-chaim-walder-abuse-victim-speaks-out-in-open-letter-to-community-and-leaders/
