Thank you to all of you for your support of Rena and abuse victims all over!
Updates
· Two more women (not related to cw) called me today about how they were abused decades ago and now are talking about it- The letter from RS was the catalyst.
· Here are some answers to questions I have received
o Many victims call me. I am not a therapist; I listen and attempt to offer Chizuk.
o I never ask for names, addresses, social security numbers, or any other identification
o I always refer them to competent therapists, which I am not.
o RS was unique. She was abused by cw and desperately wanted her story out there now.
o She wanted to be heard now
o She also did not want her anonymity compromised.
o She wrote in Hebrew with the expectation it would go out in English
o She does not want it disseminated in Hebrew.
o She is positive that if her words appear in Hebrew, she will be identified, which is her greatest fear.
o She still has many family members (parents, siblings) in Bnei Brak.
o She left Bnei Brak behind and wants to keep it that way.
o After forwarding to her the many emails I have received of support, she asked me to stop sending them as she needs now to disconnect from the cw debacle and go back to life as a mother.
o She does not want to become a celebrity
o I don't know where she lives, and I don't want to know
o I don't know her last name, and I don't want to know.
o I wanted to help, which to her meant having her voice heard
o I tried my best to help
· Explanations
o The statement, "The molester's best friend is the Sefer Chofetz Chaim" means that molesters corrupt the purpose of the holy Sefer Chofetz Chaim to use for their own sinister needs.
o Chazal have pointed out that Torah learned properly is an elixir. However, when corrupted, Torah can become a toxin
o Molesters will intimidate their victims by telling them its Loshon Hora to repeat their molestation
o They, therefore, "befriend" the Sefer Chofetz Chaim and misuse it for their evil acts
o Also, There will always be some non-believers of abuse who will contend that speaking about it is Loshon Hora
· Request
o I have been inundated with emails. Thank you, I appreciate each one
o Please understand if I cannot answer each one
o I can only do my best
· Finally
o Thank you all for your support and encouragement
“If Not Now, Then When?”- Hillel
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
Rabbi
Congregation Ahavas Israel
Passaic, NJ
