A year-long exploration and investigation into the subtle but insidious form of abuse in some Haredi and Orthodox communities, especially among those who entered the community later in their lives.
This is great and important work, I'm proud to support you in doing it.
One direction for further work: I haven't found news reports on it (as search engines go to AI crap), but ALEPH, the Jewish Renewal org., has been dealing with "issues of sexual harassment, abuse of power, and bullying in Jewish Renewal communities" (per their newsletter). I can forward the newsletters I've gotten from them so you can follow up, if you like. On Dec. 11 they wrote:
"Recently, the ALEPH Board of Directors took an important step in its dialogue with a group of individuals who courageously came forward and published a “Call to Action” letter. That letter highlighted a range of concerns dealing with issues of sexual harassment, abuse of power, and bullying in Jewish Renewal communities. Informal discussions with the ALEPH Board and some of the signatories to that letter have taken place over the last three months. And the ALEPH Board and a majority of the Call to Action group met in early November to explore the full range of issues and considerations before us. We were joined by R. Susan Shamash and R. Karyn Berger, the Chairs of the Ethics Committees for ALEPH and OHALAH, respectively, who brought additional perspective into the discussion as well as an understanding of the history of handling formal ethics complaints within the Jewish Renewal community.
Our conversation was robust, candid, and far-ranging. These are ongoing, difficult and uncomfortable matters to wrestle with and confront. As the Call to Action pointed out, we are all harmed by abuses of power and sexual harassment: There are those who suffer directly, those who are witnesses, and those who serve as sacred confidants. Many in our community are in pain today, a pain that is very palpable. We spoke about how a lack of awareness is only part of the problem and that power structures without accountability, transparency, and oversight enable both bystanding and silencing. Our conversation touched on the importance of ethical requirements and boundaries in our sacred spaces; on the lack of consequences or enforcement mechanisms for ethical transgressions; on the importance of significant cultural change as well as revisions to policies and procedures; and on how we need to talk with one another in safety about these important matters, in order to move forward as a movement.
Commenting on this recent meeting, R. Juliet Elkind-Cruz, RP Nancy Shapiro, and R. Shulamit Sapir Thiede said: “When signatories of the Call to Action met with the ALEPH Board, we stressed that the concerns we expressed in our Call to Action are not only past ones. They are part and parcel of our present. For this reason, we stressed the need for independent evaluation and consultation regarding the pervasive climate of acceptance and enabling of sexual harassment, abuse of power, and bullying in our midst. We thank the ALEPH Board for taking these concerns seriously. We are eager for further conversations, and trust that the process will be honest, thoughtful, and kind.”
The ALEPH Board will be meeting again next week with members of the Call to Action group. A good process will lead to a good outcome here. We are mindful of the importance of exploring the full range of issues that are in front of us and of then moving to an exploration of long-term solutions. While we have recently implemented some stop-gap measures, particularly with regard to sexual harassment and third-party harassment in ALEPH and AOP, long-term fixes will not be easy. The ALEPH Board of Directors is committed to addressing these matters in collaboration with the Call to Action group and other knowledgeable parties. We realize there is much work ahead, and the path will not always be easy. While teshuvah is one goal, it alone fails to protect our communities. Genuine accountability gives rise to an obligation to take action to repair the harm done to others and to our communities. As commanded by Torah: We will listen, and we will do."
This is important to show a. Abuse is not just a Haredi problem; b. There are Jewish solutions.
However, I do NOT think there can be just solutions that do not center listening to victims, especially women. You'll be a better judge than me of whether that is even possible within Haredi or Orthodox circles generally, or whether "not listening to women's voices" is strongly felt as a feature, not a bug.
This is great and important work, I'm proud to support you in doing it.
One direction for further work: I haven't found news reports on it (as search engines go to AI crap), but ALEPH, the Jewish Renewal org., has been dealing with "issues of sexual harassment, abuse of power, and bullying in Jewish Renewal communities" (per their newsletter). I can forward the newsletters I've gotten from them so you can follow up, if you like. On Dec. 11 they wrote:
"Recently, the ALEPH Board of Directors took an important step in its dialogue with a group of individuals who courageously came forward and published a “Call to Action” letter. That letter highlighted a range of concerns dealing with issues of sexual harassment, abuse of power, and bullying in Jewish Renewal communities. Informal discussions with the ALEPH Board and some of the signatories to that letter have taken place over the last three months. And the ALEPH Board and a majority of the Call to Action group met in early November to explore the full range of issues and considerations before us. We were joined by R. Susan Shamash and R. Karyn Berger, the Chairs of the Ethics Committees for ALEPH and OHALAH, respectively, who brought additional perspective into the discussion as well as an understanding of the history of handling formal ethics complaints within the Jewish Renewal community.
Our conversation was robust, candid, and far-ranging. These are ongoing, difficult and uncomfortable matters to wrestle with and confront. As the Call to Action pointed out, we are all harmed by abuses of power and sexual harassment: There are those who suffer directly, those who are witnesses, and those who serve as sacred confidants. Many in our community are in pain today, a pain that is very palpable. We spoke about how a lack of awareness is only part of the problem and that power structures without accountability, transparency, and oversight enable both bystanding and silencing. Our conversation touched on the importance of ethical requirements and boundaries in our sacred spaces; on the lack of consequences or enforcement mechanisms for ethical transgressions; on the importance of significant cultural change as well as revisions to policies and procedures; and on how we need to talk with one another in safety about these important matters, in order to move forward as a movement.
Commenting on this recent meeting, R. Juliet Elkind-Cruz, RP Nancy Shapiro, and R. Shulamit Sapir Thiede said: “When signatories of the Call to Action met with the ALEPH Board, we stressed that the concerns we expressed in our Call to Action are not only past ones. They are part and parcel of our present. For this reason, we stressed the need for independent evaluation and consultation regarding the pervasive climate of acceptance and enabling of sexual harassment, abuse of power, and bullying in our midst. We thank the ALEPH Board for taking these concerns seriously. We are eager for further conversations, and trust that the process will be honest, thoughtful, and kind.”
The ALEPH Board will be meeting again next week with members of the Call to Action group. A good process will lead to a good outcome here. We are mindful of the importance of exploring the full range of issues that are in front of us and of then moving to an exploration of long-term solutions. While we have recently implemented some stop-gap measures, particularly with regard to sexual harassment and third-party harassment in ALEPH and AOP, long-term fixes will not be easy. The ALEPH Board of Directors is committed to addressing these matters in collaboration with the Call to Action group and other knowledgeable parties. We realize there is much work ahead, and the path will not always be easy. While teshuvah is one goal, it alone fails to protect our communities. Genuine accountability gives rise to an obligation to take action to repair the harm done to others and to our communities. As commanded by Torah: We will listen, and we will do."
This is important to show a. Abuse is not just a Haredi problem; b. There are Jewish solutions.
However, I do NOT think there can be just solutions that do not center listening to victims, especially women. You'll be a better judge than me of whether that is even possible within Haredi or Orthodox circles generally, or whether "not listening to women's voices" is strongly felt as a feature, not a bug.