Recent allegations regarding improper behavior towards young women by Rabbi Aaron Ramati and Rabbi Elimelech Meisels highlights some of the difficulties parents face when choosing a seminary...

A Modest Year in Israel: When Young Women go to “Seminary”

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Eighteen year-old girls in New York, London and Paris are packing their suitcases. Slightly worried that their suitcases are overweight, they are even more worried that they will return overweight from their year abroad in Israel, in a religious seminary, or midrasha, in Hebrew.

 Across Israel (well, actually mainly across the affluent areas of Jerusalem) the doors of the academic Jewish year 5775 will open in the first week of September, 2014. 

A well-groomed cohort of young women will immerse themselves in an intense year of advanced Jewish studies complemented by extensive touring and volunteer work. I’d argue that ‘sem’ as these places are affectionately referred to, is a microcosm of contemporary Orthodox life and are a powerful tool for the socialization of young women. 

The competition to attract girls is fierce and for a seminary to succeed, it needs to have a strong brand, an effective marketing campaign and a strategic business plan. Parents who are paying an average of $20,000 USD for 10 months (this covers fees, accommodation and some food) need to be convinced that the seminary is going to cater to their daughter educational, social and emotional needs. Further, in Orthodox circles where gender relations are more circumscribed, some parents are often concerned that the choice of sem will influence the type of boy their daughters will be introduced to for potential marriage. Therefore, in loco parentis for the year, each seminary must establish its credibility to attract its clientele and online fora can be helpful. 

Recent allegations regarding improper behavior towards young women by Rabbi Aaron Ramati and Rabbi Elimelech Meisels highlights some of the difficulties parents face when choosing a seminary. Other than knowing students who went to a particular seminary, the first place to look is at their website. These sites consistently show groups of attractive, slim and smiling young women in certain poses – there’s the group hug on a tree top or during water sports, the girl poised with a pen over her notebook, girls helping in a range of charities and teachers with beatific grins. However, for a more pointed analysis, one must look to the curriculum.

As Torah and Talmud study is mandated for men, the male yeshivas have much less variety in the core curriculum, however, the seminaries are free to develop their own timetables as advanced Jewish women’s education for women is a relatively recent phenomena, largely in response to women’s advanced secular education. While all seminaries will structure their day around the study of Jewish texts, it is the selection of texts, the attitudes of the teachers and the approach to learning demonstrate the seminary’s Weltanschauung. The sem that is teaching Talmud will attract a different sort of young woman than a sem with a track record of girls getting married the year afterwards. A sem that engages these young women in rigorous Talmud study every morning, encouraging them to study ‘b’chevruta’ in pairs, has a very different view of women’s education and their role in the intellectual life of the community than a sem that shuns Talmud study and focuses more on Bible and personal development. 

Further, a small number of sems offer an integrated study/volunteering option; for example, one is closely affiliated with a Jerusalem hospital and offers volunteering opportunities within the hospital, another offers arts and music activities to complement their Torah studies while another is based in a foster home for disadvantaged Israeli children and the girls study and also help care for the children. Rather than look at these seminaries as ‘soft options,’ it’s wonderful that there are a range of opportunities to suit areas of interest and skills – it’s a much healthier approach than the male yeshivot which are generally much narrower in their selection of texts and opportunities for extra-curricular activity. 

Despite these variations, one thing is constant: notions of modesty permeate the sem experience, and with rare exception, girls are expected to wear knee-length skirts and loose-fitting tops. There are nuances to this code: in some places, sleeves must cover the elbow, while in others, the sleeves may fall shy of the elbow by a couple of inches. Some places require stockings be worn summer and winter while others allow bare legs but demand covered toes. A small number are more flexible when it comes to hikes, allowing the girls to wear loose baggy trousers to preserve their modesty. Peer pressure and social norms ensure that inappropriate text on T-shirts, excessive jewelry or outlandish hairstyles are discouraged.

This year of intense 24/7 communal living, away from one’s family, heightened by charismatic teachers and influenced by the seminary’s ideology, is also a harbinger of a life to come. A seminary offering opportunities for women to become religious leaders and arbiters of certain aspects of religious law is very different to a seminary focused on encouraging women to be dedicated homemakers supporting their future husbands who will continue to learn in a kollel, supported by their parents or charitable donations. Unfortunately, religious society is structured so that these two approaches are essentially mutually exclusive. A year in seminary is an expensive gamble and parents need to ensure that their eyes, as well as their wallets, are open before they send their daughter away.

- See more at: http://lilith.org/blog/2014/09/a-modest-year-in-israel-when-young-women-go-to-seminary/#sthash.rIKsS7tz.dpuf

Orthodox educator Rabbi Elimelech Meisels sued for sexual assault

Read more: http://www.jta.org/2014/08/08/news-opinion/united-states/orthodox-educator-rabbi-elimelech-meisels-sued-for-sexual-assault#ixzz3CI5pXd8s

WHEN RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE UNDERCUTS MANDATED REPORTING ON ABUSE!

THE UOJ ARCHIVES JUNE 1, 2011

http://www.psychologicalhelp.org/
http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/48483

by Michael J. Salamon, Ph.D.

The New York Times got it right. In an editorial published on Thursday May 19, the Times castigated the Vatican for issuing "flimsy guidelines" for combating the sexual abuse of children by the clerical hierarchy.

According to the Times, the Vatican "issued nonbinding guidance," giving authority to local bishops which in effect bypasses the need to report the criminal offense of sexual abuse, or for that matter any abuse performed by an official of the Church, to the proper legal authorities.

In essence the report places Church doctrine ahead of the law and allows the local diocese the religious right to shield abusive priests from prosecution. At about the same time the guidelines were released, a study, funded primarily by Church sources, was released. The study allegedly reviews the causes for the sexual abuse scandal in the Church and, in an interesting twist of propaganda, blames the social climate of the 1950s, 60s and 70s for priestly indiscretion.

Taken together, this bizarre approach to coming to grips with the depth of the problem and working to set up parameters to prevent further transgressions is not just counter-intuitive, it's absolutely backward.

The law is quite clear. Individuals who are mandated reporters must report any suspected abuse to the proper authorities. In most states mandated reporters are teachers, doctors, lawyers and child care workers. In many locales clerics are also mandated reporters. Apparently the Church feels that reports are not mandated by Church doctrine and that the best needs of society are secondary to religious doctrine. This could be humorous if it wasn't so sad. Unfortunately, the Church is not alone in this folly.

Last month Agudath Israel of America held a conference for professionals at which the topic of how and when to report suspected abusers was discussed. The presentation of the topic included a good deal of source review and explanation. The presenter was knowledgeable about the issue. But, shockingly, the position advocated by the Agudah sounds astoundingly similar to that promulgated by the Vatican.

The conclusion stated in the Agudah position is that you must first ask a senior rabbi with experience or "even better, you should ask a full beis din" before you can call the proper authorities to report suspected abuse.

As a mental health professional I am a mandated reporter. What this means is that if I am made aware of a situation that raises a reasonable a measure of suspicion that abuse of any type is taking place, I am obligated by law and my professional license to report the situation to the proper authorities.

Nowhere in my professional training are rabbis considered proper legal authorities in this matter. In fact, if I report only to a rabbi, I put not just my professional license in jeopardy but also the welfare of the individual who is being abused.

Rabbis are not generally trained in forensics or police work and simply have no authority to intercede in any legal capacity to aid the abused person or apprehend the abuser. In addition, I may be breaking certain HIPAA laws related to confidentiality if I discuss a situation related to someone I am treating with someone who has no legal standing.

It is important to understand that most professionals do not have to report often, and certainly they do not do so lightly when they feel the need to report. Further, the reporting system, at least in New York and several other states, allows for a discussion with the agency to which the professional reports in order to better determine if a particular case merits investigation.

A professional can discuss in total confidence what he or she sees as suspected abuse - without providing any identifying information - if there is any uncertainty about the situation being a reportable offense. The specialist helps the mandated reporter determine what is reportable. The system is not generally set up as an immediately reflexive and overwhelmingly reactive response - unless there is clear and obvious abuse.

By issuing the doctrine of rabbis as the first report, Agudath Israel has put my license, my parnassah, my professional integrity and the law of the land in jeopardy. And while that alone is sufficient cause to ignore the position, there is one even more imperative justification for not following the mandate. So manyposkim, from Rav Elyashiv to Rav Hershel Schachter, have declared that individuals who abuse children are in the category of a rodef (a pursuer) and should be reported to the police.

I will go by my legal mandate and the psak of my rav. When I suspect abuse, as a mandated reporter I will follow the law. So will most of my colleagues.

Dr. Michael Salamon, a fellow of the American Psychological Association, is the founder and director of ADC Psychological Services in Hewlett, New York and a board member of Ptach. He is the author of numerous articles and several psychological tests and books including "The Shidduch Crisis: Causes and Cures" (Urim Publications) and "Every Pot Has a Cover" (University Press of America). His new book on abuse will be available shortly.

Of Batei Din, Girls Seminaries, Vulnerable People and the Internet, Part 4

Guest post by RaP

 An open letter to Jewish parents of daughters in North America, continued: 

Dear parents, at this point you may be thinking about where to send your daughter next year after she graduates 12th grade. She is probably 17 or 18 and in the prime of her beauty and life as a young woman! Or perhaps your daughter already graduated 12th grade, finished with high school, and is about to get on a plane to go to Israel or maybe she has left already, if so bring her back NOW!

It is not too late to stop her and make other arrangements, just tell her to come home pronto. She could start shidduchim and dating ASAP and not waste her time getting brainwashed in seminary with useless ideas that you don't want her to have. You have raised her with solid moral and Torah values and she has learned a lot in a bais yaakov-type school or a good Jewish Orthodox day school until now, so what will seminary add besides big expenses and a brainwashed child? or as is now coming out, someone who has faced sexual assaults and emotional abuses at the hands of rabbis, teachers or "perfect strangers" in Israel.

There are seminaries and programs in major American cities that offer a variety of limudei kodesh classes that will also earn college credits at the same time. In the New York Metro area there is the "kosher" Touro College with separate classes for girls. You can be a pioneer and start new post-high school seminary programs for your daughters in the cities where you live. After all, not so long ago, all the Jewish day schools, yeshivas and bais yaakovs in America did not exist once upon a time until pioneering parents like yourselves saw the need and created and founded the new educational institutions and Torah mosdos.

In years gone by parents sent young boys to far-off yeshivas and girls to New York to bais yaakovs. All that has changed now that every major and not so major city in North America with a decent Orthodox Jewish population has built good local Torah-based communal educational infrastructures so that your children can attend local Jewish day schools, yeshivas and bais yaakovs as the case may be. So why then all of a sudden fall into a dumb craze (that's being charitable, it actually functions more like a criminal scam) by sending your young impressionable protected daughter/s to far-off Israel thousands of miles overseas, that now also provably also carries with it the potential for sexual abuse that has come into the open as a hot-button controversial issue reported by Blogs on the Internet and now reported about by major media such as the Jerusalem Post, the Chicago Tribune, JTA, the Forward, and others that are reporting about this disgusting "seminary scandal".

Until a few months ago sexual abuses by staff and others against its female student bodies was never openly discussed but now it has dragged an ever-increasing number of high-profile rabbis into this very public imbroglio. Count the power rabbis now hotly involved in this, and counting: First there is the guy who set off this radioactive bomb, Elimelech Meisels who was forced to resign in disgrace following allegations of sexual molestation of students at four seminaries that he owned and controlled. There are two other rabbis who as principals it is being alleged that they knew of the abuse and covered it up and covered for their boss's misdeeds, or turned a blind eye when they should have taken action to oust him and not support him. So that is three rabbis. Then there are the three notable rabbis of the special sex-abuse bais din in Chicago who have issued an advisory warning that the four seminaries are not safe. Then there are the three scholarly rabbis of the special ad hoc bais din that was set up to deal with this problem in Israel (IBD) now protecting the new status quo and at loggerheads with the original CBD over total jurisdiction over the case.

 That makes it nine rabbis stabbing viciously at each other, via proxy bloggers online, while dancing on hot coals of controversy. Then a few days ago, another five American Aguda rabbis (half of the American "Moetzes" but not on the Aguda stationary) came out saying that the situation at the seminaries is "fine" and that three more newly-named rabbis in Israel (not part of the IBD) have acceded to act as overseers of the four seminaries in question. Thus it's nine rabbis plus eight more rabbis squirming hither and thither making a total of SEVENTEEN  RABBIS as well as two Rebbetzins who have been mentioned as leaders of the seminaries, not to mention that supposedly each seminary has its "to'en" a rabbi (not publicly named so far) who argues on behalf of accused parties or to defend and make arguments on behalf of disputants in front of a bais din, so add four more such rabbis that makes it about TWENTY  ONE  RABBIS. At any rate, the names of all SEVENTEEN publicly named rabbis are known and it is not encouraging at all as to who they are, as they say "too many cooks spoils the broth"!

Dear parents, if you walked into a room, or a shul or a place supposed to be sacred, and saw for yourself that  SEVENTEEN  WELL-KNOWN  PROMINENT  AGUDA-TYPE  RABBIS that you knew of were having a huge brawl beating each other up or one group ganging up on another group and going at each other's throats OVER  THE  VERY SEMINARIES  OR  SIMILAR  ONES in Israel that you want to send your daughter/s to, then would you, let alone your daughter, want to go near such a scene???!!!

There is NO SHALOM  BAYIS in the very place you want your daughter to be shaped into a true Bas Yisrael and Aishes Chayil so what kind of person sends his flesh and blood loving child into such a toxic environment? A stupid or reckless one who then cannot turn around say that they were not warned of the problems and dangers that were staring them in the face!

Dear parents, it's hazardous to your life and health, to your pocket book and to the sexual safety of your precious daughters. Everything you worked for and wanted could, and is for some coming crashing down! Please be advised to keep your tender beautiful daughters away from sexual predators and Bluebeards in such a dangerous and harmful scenario.

The time to stop the seminary craze of going to Israel for a year of fun has come, at least to stop the idea and "divine right" of entitlement that kids think they have some sort "payment due" that since "P.H.D." ("Papa Has Dough"  -- while often-times he doesn't) they are automatically "entitled" to a one year tour of doing nothing or worse in Israel, maybe even getting groped or raped by some teacher or stranger sometimes as part of "hashkofa" training and there are sickos who use sex as a weapon to "teach victims a lesson" as sick as it sounds it's true, with no recourse to bais din or the police if something goes wrong as the "authorities" will just turn around and say "hey babe, you're over eighteen and you must have been a come-on bimbo or slut, why else did you have sex or neck or mess around, and you are of the 'age of consent' so get lost!" Yes, it's called "blame the victim" and you will not escape its harsh brutality!

Now coming back to the new crew of five Aguda rabbis who have gotten involved in this scandal, all in America with no handle on the situation in Israel, even though they claim that three new rabbis in Israel will be "supervising" the four controversial girls' seminaries now. The leader of the pack in America is an old Brooklyn rabbi Aron Schechter who has the worst track-record in this department, because, as examples, he has covered for and defended a student of his who was a child-kidnapper, another student he defended was committing incest with his own daughters and the rabbi helped him escape justice, and this rabbi also defends to this day the notorious Leib Tropper who extorted and blackmailed gentile women who wanted conversions and even male students into having sex with him and his wife.

 This old near-senile Brooklyn rabbi is now leading the group of five rabbis who are telling you that the "seminaries are safe" that should set off all the alarm bells like that old question "would you buy a second hand car from this senile old salesman?" Then another of this group of five rabbis is in Baltimore Aron Feldman has protected an accused pedophile on his own yeshiva's campus and refuses to oust him or bring him to justice. Would you trust such an arsonist like this to put out any fire? Then another lead rabbi Yaacov Perlow has served as the leader of the Aguda openly refusing to endorse the strong repudiation and expulsion of sex-molesters, such as the notorious Yehuda Kolko, from the Aguda world. Another rabbi Malkiel Kotler,  who couldn't get a divorce from his wife in Israel so he just married another one in America, and when molesters are found in his community of Lakewood will oust the accusers and protect the molesters. 

Would you trust such enablers to serve as references for a safe educational environment or as a "St. George saving the damsel from the dragon" in a school for teenage girls far from home with hormones exploding ready to be deflowered by cunning con men and manipulators in Israel acting as "men of God" and hiding behind pious words of Torah as they practice mind-control to get at the young bodies of your innocent or fun-loving adventure-seeking daughters? And on and on it goes. Scary isn't it?! If you are not scared by this real-life horror film there is something wrong with you!

It is frightening and mind-numbing to digest all this, but fact is stranger than fiction and the truth cannot be denied.

The blood of your daughters will be on your heads if you let them go to these stupid, useless and dangerous seminaries that nobody but the money-hungry owners need with the increasing likelihood that some of the students will be sexually abused and emotionally scarred and crippled for life!

Dear parents: PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Stop the madness and become part of the solution! Shut down all the seminaries FOR AMERICAN GIRLS in Israel. They can find their "salvation" at home in local institutions without the need of "extra-special" brainwashing in Israel! Save your money for better more important things. A girl at eighteen is ready to date from home. It will alleviate the so-called "shidduch crisis" in the Jewish Orthodox world with more younger Jewish Orthodox girls dating earlier! Otherwise you are part of the problem when it does not have to be that way! Hashem Yerachem! (May God have mercy!)

18 Rules For Combat From The Wise Men of Chelm So That Your Enemies Will Die Laughing:

Op-Ed: Ceasefire? 18 Rules for Fighting a Gaza War Chelm-Style

Chelm had nothing on us.

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Jack Engelhard

Jack Engelhard’s classic international bestselling novel Indecent Proposal,...

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It is a settled matter that the IDF are tops in bravery and ethical warfare. Give them any job, and it’s done. But when politicians run the war, Chelm is likely to happen – Chelm being the town inhabited by those fabled “wise men” loved by tradition for their well-meaning but bumbling ways, like the following rules for conducting combat.

Hence…

18 Rules For Combat From The Wise Men of Chelm So That Your Enemies Will Die Laughing:

1. Advise your enemies to get ready for a surprise attack. Make sure to remind them where the surprise will take place and precisely what time it is to begin.

2. Shower the place with cautionary leaflets to make sure that every single enemy combatant finds safety. We do not want terrorist barbarians getting hurt.

3. Wait till the coast is clear before striking. Kill as many buildings as you can to prove that you really mean business.

4. Tipping off your enemies when a “surprise” attack is about to come, this alone could kill them as they die laughing at your stupidity.

5. Make sure to remind the world that no other nation is so respectful towards its foes. The world admires you and adores you for this. Look around.

6. Always be ready to give up more Jewish territory. Judea and Samaria, for instance. See how well this worked in Gaza after 10,000 Jews were evicted.

7. As bombs keep falling on your people, keep supplying your enemies with food and water and gas and electricity.  

8. You do not want to inconvenience the people who keep trying to kill you.

9. Tell your citizens who suffer daily from incoming rocket attacks that it’s okay. It’s no big deal. Go home and get used to running to shelters. Stop complaining. Don’t make trouble.

10. Tell your enemies that THIS TIME! you’ve had enough and then beg them for a ceasefire.

11. Talk big. Act small.

12. Prove how wise you are at the bargaining table by agreeing to your enemies’ every demand.

13. Pay no attention to people within your own country who demand that you fight to win. This is so foolish and so old-fashioned. A tie is good enough.

14. Insist that “quiet for quiet” is fine and dandy…even as rockets keep slamming into your country.

15. If a ceasefire is agreed upon (as it was again today) but rockets keep coming in, that’s okay. This is peace in the Land of Israel.

16. Tell the world that Gaza must be demilitarized. You will not stand for anything less. Then go home and forget every part of this.

17. If Israeli residents along the border with Gaza flee by the thousands, truce or no truce, that’s simply too bad. Nothing can be done.

18. Repeat this: In the Land that God gave you but that you handed over to your enemies, War and Peace are the same thing.

Above all, talk big. Act small.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15570#.U_44YsWwIRk

Poll: 89 Percent of Palestinians Support Terror Attacks on Israel

Concludes ‘the Palestinian Resistance has increased’

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Palestinians take the streets in Gaza on August 26, 2014 to celebrate a long-term cease-fire with Israel / AP

      

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/poll-89-percent-of-palestinians-support-terror-attacks-on-israel/

Hamas Leader Haniyeh Reportedly Rushed To Hospital

By Staff Reporter

Posted on 08/27/14 | News Source Times of Israel |

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Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh has reportedly been hospitalized after feeling unwell, Channel 2 says.

http://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=80&ARTICLE_ID=52240