Today my book on sexual abuse enters the world -- not a moment too soon....

Every day it seems my news feed is filled with shocking stories of sexual abuse in the Jewish world. It's time for communal-wide action towards change.

JOIN ME for my book launch on Sunday, June 19, 1PM EST.
Featuring poetry reading by Devon Spier, rabbinical student, bestselling poet and liturgist.

Rabbinical student, bestselling poet and liturgist, Devon Spier (In the photo: facial portrait, short, wavy hair, black square framed glasses, wearing a blue shirt and long hanging colorful necklace, and bookshelves in the background) Photo courtesy of Devon Spier

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Here is the latest round-up about sexual abuse in our community:

• Convicted rapist (and former Israeli president) Moshe Katsav is on a publicity tour for his newly released memoir. As if it isn’t shocking enough that a man who served an 8-year prison sentence on multiple counts of rape is able to write a memoir that ignores all that and focuses only on his “public service”, there’s more. Retired Supreme Court Justice Aharon Barak is apparently a fan. He took a selfie with Katsav’s brother holding up the book. How can the man who supposedly represented justice take the side of the convicted rapist over that of the victims? Infuriating.

Photo from the Instagram account of Lior Katsav, Moshe’s brother. Right to left: Justice Aharon Barak holding the book, Lior Katsav also holding the book, and Mrs. Elisheva Barak, Aharon’s wife. Lior writes: “I was very happy to meet with Retired Supreme Court Justice Prof. Aharon Barak and his wife, Mrs. Elisheva Barak, and to give him the book of my big brother, Moshe Katsav, “Memoirs of the State President”, with a personal hand-written dedication. Prof Barak was very happy to receive the book, and warmly welcomed us with great open-heartedness…..” No mention of the fact that his said big brother is a convicted serial rapist who has yet to express any remorse for preying on women while he was president, and for decades before then….

• Ukrainian Chief Rabbi Yaakov Bleich has been accused of sexual abuse — which has been systematically covered up. According to an investigative report in Ha’aretz by reporter Sam Sokol, Britain's largest Jewish group cut ties with the European Jewish Congress over its failure to launch a formal probe into sexual misconduct allegations against its treasurer, Ukrainian Chief Rabbi Yaakov Bleich. Bleich, meanwhile, is gaining fans for boasting about his work in Ukraine. For the record, Yerachmiel Lopin has been covering this story for several years.

Ukrainian chief rabbi Bleich. (In the photo: smiling man with long white beard, black coat, glasses, and big yarmulka) Screen shot by Yerachmiel Lopin

• Is the Israeli Health Ministry protecting doctors accused of sexual abuse? Yael Sherer, who heads the lobby against sexual abuse in Israel, accused Prof Nachman Esh, director of the Health Ministry of blocking legislation that would suspend doctors who have been accused of sexual abuse. At a conference of the health ministry this week, Sherer said, “We have a bill about disciplining doctors accused of abuse. You refuse to support the bill.”

  Esh responded that punishments need to be “proportional”. As if to say, an accusation of abuse is not something to be too worked up about. Only a conviction merits attention. Does he have any idea how appallingly low reporting rates and convictions rates are in cases of sexual abuse? I’m guessing not. It seems he subscribes to the opinion that people reporting abuse are usually just making things up….. Kudos to Yael Sherer for fighting this fight.

Sexual Abuse lobbyist Yael Sherer (right; in the photo a woman with short brown hair, red lipstick, and wearing a maroon patterned dress. Health Ministry Director Nachman Esh (left, in photo, middle-aged man with short white hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue suit) Photos by Dana Koppel and Nadav Abbas.

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There is of course more news….

Kevin Spacey is going on trial for sexual abuse.

Former Ob/GYN Dr. Robert Hadden is finally FINALLY facing trial for sexual abuse that he did to his patients for decades, possibly up to 200 women, including Evelyn Yang, wife of the former presidential nominee Andrew Yang. He is, unfortunately, out on $1 million bond, a reminder of how different the justice is for people with money…

A 17-year old Ashkelon resident has been arrested for sexually assaulting several children using Fortnite, a story that has not made it into a single English-language news outlet.

The news seems endless…..

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This problem of rampant sexual abuse runs deep into our cultures — not only those who perpetuate it but also those who support the abusers.

So much to say about this.

My book, Rabbis who Abuse: Power, Gender, and Status in the Dynamics of Sexual Abuse in Jewish Culture is on sale today. If you choose to buy it and read it, please share your feedback with me. THANK YOU!

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