In Defense of Their Silence

An Anonymous Guest Post

In Defense of Their Silence

There has been an uproar in recent weeks about the silence of the Charedi rabbonim in regard to mistreatment of and violence against women and children. Much of the complaining has actually emanated from within the Charedi community itself. Many of the “men (and women) on the street” in the Charedi community are appalled at the behavior of these select few and the reluctance of their own rabbis to condemn these actions.

As a resident of Ramat Bet Shemesh, a neighborhood in the thick of the action, I come in defense of the silence of the Rabbonim.

I clearly understand from where their reluctance to vocalize their opposition comes.

The Torah, when describing the behavior of the brothers of Yosef, teaches a valuable lesson. Sometimes from a negative action we can learn a positive trait about another. The brothers of Yosef are credited to have spoken “of equal heart and mouth”. They didn’t feign an external love for Yosef while harboring hate within. They spoke harshly to him because they felt animosity toward him. So while the Torah doesn’t condone hatred of others It does point out the consistency in their actions.

In this light I truly understand (and perhaps even respect in some little way) why the Rabbonim of Ramat Bet Shemesh are silent on the treatment of the Orot students by the “extremists”.

How could rabbonim of Ramat Bet Shemesh condemn the lack of respect for women when they themselves attempted to take total control of the mikve less than 2 years ago? Having 2 sides wasn't good enough..they wanted to take both. Their “grab” at the mikve was in a sense saying "we don’t respect your choice of rabbinic supervision and you must follow our way".

Could we expect rabbonim to issue a statement about loving all Jews when they themselves exclude certain tzedaka organizations from having a presence (to collect) in their shuls? The same rabbis have no issue with that organization assisting members of their kehilla.

And what would we say to a statement about respecting and loving ALL Jewish children from the very rabbis who formulate school policy contracts that forbid their students from interacting with other RELIGIOUS children just because they attend different schools?

Would it not be hypocritical to expect a rav to oppose vandalism of a school when these rabbonim are silent on the vandalism of signs and banners of worthy organizations in their community?

What shall we say when a rav says “it’s not my job to deal with the extremists…go to the police” when those same rabbonim forbid in no “uncertain terms” going to the police about child abuse.

These rabbonim clearly understand that to issue such loud condemnations would violate their standard of being of “one heart and one mouth”.

So while I may disagree with their stances on all of the above I must (silently) applaud their remaining consistent even while their own congregants are taking to the streets and the blogs.