Chief Rabbi Mirvis: I salute the bravery of sexual abuse victims who speak out
by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
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| Chief Rabbi Mirvis |
IT’S SEXUAL abuse and Sexual
Violence Awareness Week across the UK – the first of its kind, aiming to
generate a frank and necessary public conversation about a crime as old
as the taboo that has, shamefully, protected
it. It is a poor reflection on our society that such an awareness week
is necessary. Sadly, it is.
Sexual violence and abuse are among the most insidious of evils, with devastating lifelong consequences.
Let there be no illusions –
the campaign to end the scourge of sexual abuse is as pertinent for the
Jewish community as it is within all of our society.
The Torah links the way we
speak to others, to the prohibition of being an inactive bystander: “You
may not go about as a talebearer among your people; neither may you
stand idly by the blood of your neighbour” (Leviticus
19:16).
The inference here is that
just as harmful speech can sometimes be a killer, so too can silence. If
keeping quiet has the effect of allowing others to be victims of
cruelty, there is an obligation to speak out against
a perpetrator, regardless of the implications on his or her reputation.
The Talmud, based on this
verse, defines the role of the bystander in the following way: “One may
not stand idly by while others are in danger. One should exhaust all
means to rescue people from rape, drowning, attack
by criminals or attacks by animals. Until the victim has been fully
extricated from the dangerous predicament, the obligation still
obtains.” (Sanhedrin 73a). There is no doubt that this unequivocally
denotes a responsibility to prevent a child abuser from
destroying lives, now and in the future.
Our sages further teach us
that in such a situation, one should not wait until summoned. Rather, if
one is in possession of relevant evidence one must come forward
voluntarily in order to “destroy the evil from your
midst”.
In recent years, we have
achieved a great deal. Debate about whether to involve statutory
authorities where cases of abuse are identified, is all but over.
Support is now readily
available for victims of abuse. Training for rabbis and rebbetzens,
certainly for United Synagogue communities, is better than it has ever
been and our procedures and policy documents are constantly
under review. Yet, there is still so much more work to do.
Our community is blessed with
countless rabbis, teachers, leaders, parents and family members who
epitomise all that is good about Judaism and are forever deserving of
our reverence and veneration.
But in this context, when we
encounter shameful exceptions to the rule, we have a responsibility to
recognise how difficult it can be for victims of abuse to come forward
and share their experiences.
While all around you are
conferring praise and respect upon someone in (or close to) the family
or a prominent member of the community, how can you possibly even begin
to report them for committing such a terrible
crime? Even if you try to speak up, will anyone really be inclined to
hear your story?
Let the message go out that
we will receive victims of abuse with warmth and sensitivity and create a
culture of support for them right across our communities. Neither
stature nor reputation should be a barrier to
our willingness to report or comprehensive investigation.
Perpetrators of these crimes, particularly those who have sought to hide within the infrastructure of the Jewish community, have desecrated the name of God and destroyed lives. Their actions often steal innocence and betray trust and are among the very worst crimes that can be committed.
Perpetrators of these crimes, particularly those who have sought to hide within the infrastructure of the Jewish community, have desecrated the name of God and destroyed lives. Their actions often steal innocence and betray trust and are among the very worst crimes that can be committed.
I salute the bravery of those
victims who have found the courage to speak out and hope that their
example might give others the strength to do the same.
Many campaigners have made it their life’s mission to tackle this problem and we are indebted to them for that invaluable work.
We must not stand idly by the blood of our neighbours.