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| The Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, R' Zalman Teitlebaum (JTA) |
I mentions to dispel thoughts by anyone reading my critical posts that I might have some sort of vendetta against them. I absolutely do not. I criticize because I want to help them even if they don’t recognize it a help. I am not patronizing them or being paternalistic. Just pragmatic about the possibilities they are missing out on, and to improve their image by teaching their young to be more literate. A situation that is lacking and they are not fully aware of due their mostly insular lifestyles.
In my view their defenders do them a giant disservice by defending their status quo – even though in the absence of any awareness by them of those benefits they might appreciate that defense.
Sadly, yet another troubling event occurred recently, at the hands of the Satmar Rebbe (of Williamsburg) himself. Something he did that he surely believes was the right thing to do in the eyes of God. But that in reality was in my view was absolutely wrong. Possibly even a Chilul HaShem. An ongoing one spanning several years. The following from JTA/New York Jewish Week is what I am talking about:
The Satmar “Grand Rebbe” Zalman Teitelbaum paid a visit to convicted sexual abuser Nechemya Weberman in prison last month, according to a Yiddish-language newspaper serving the Satmar Hasidic community that has published a series of favorable articles about the former therapist convicted of sexually abusing an adolescent girl starting from when the victim was 12 years old.
There is little doubt that Weberman is guilty of the crime he was convicted of. He was sentenced to 103 years in prison. His victim - who testified in court - was very convincing. The judge and jury believed her. As did one of the most respected activists against sex crimes in the Charedi world, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz. Lest anyone think he is some sort of reactionary rouge rabbi who does things on his own, Rabbi Horowitz frequently consults with members of the Agudah Moetzes before taking action on any controversial issues facing the Orthodox community. He spent many days attending Weberman’s trial in support of the victim and celebrated the verdict.
But Weberman is a practiced liar whose denials sound quite believable.. His public persona is that of a completely pious Chasid who could not possibly have done what he was accused of. I recall his attorney – who believed in his innocence - actually touting how his ‘pious’ client spent the entire trial saying Tehilim. Who does something like that?! Only someone truly devout that places his service to God above all else - including his own welfare.
The Satmar Rebbe believes him for that reason, too. And because he believes in doing so, he is faithfully following Halacha. If we were to follow his example, there would rarely if ever be anyone that would be arrested, let alone convicted of sexual abuse. Here’s how he sees it.
The victim is no longer observant, As such her testimony cannot be trusted. No matter how sincere she comes off - she is lying! The fact that she may have left observance precisely because she was sexually abused is irrelevant to this mindset. The accused on the other hand is observant - well beyond the letter of the law. So it is his denial that is believed. As such anyone that goes to the authorities with accusations like this is considered a ‘Moser’ – an informant to a government that they consider hostile to the Jewish people.
It was in that spirit that they held massive fundraisers to be used for his defense. before and during his trial. As is Satmar’s current determination get him out of prison as a function of ‘Pidyon Shevuyim’ - the Mitzvah of getting a Jew released from being imprisoned by a hostile government.
It doesn’t matter to them how much evidence there was against Weberman. They consider it all lies.
It is shameful for a leader of such prominence to ignore the obvious pain caused to the victim in honoring this monster by paying him a lengthy visit. As shameful - is the damage it does to the untold numbers actual victims who see one of the biggest rabbis of the Chasidic world honoring a convicted sex offender.
Unfortunately it is because of his stature within his own community that his Chasidim support – and even applaud what their Grand Rabbi does. They see their Rebbe trying to help an innocent and pious member of their community unjustly imprisoned by an antisemitic government - despite his ‘obvious innocence’. No one as pious as Weberman could ever do what he was accused and convicted of.
I’m sure that is how they see it.
Which is why this whole thing is so sad. As noted- barring this type of situation, they are truly some of the finest people I know. And because of their insularity, I don’t think there is any reasonable way to disabuse them of their belief in Weberman’s innocence. And that he is the real victim here.
But in truth, not only is the real victim revictimized, as all victims of abuse are by this, but in a sense all of Orthodox Jewry is victimized by it - in that one of the most prominent leaders in the Orthodox Jewish world is seen as caring only for his own - regardless of what he did.