Dear loyal readers,
If you have ever learned Hilchos Lashon Hara, you know that they are vast and complicated. The Chafetz Chaim makes a clear differentiation between acting on lashon hara to protect oneself (and no further) and believing and accepting it wholeheartedly to be true. The latter is what Rabbi Kahane was referring to in his letter.
If you want to twist this to claim that Rabbi Kahane was telling girls not to report abuse to authorities (although his letter was written after the whole Meisels scandal had gone public) that is your choice. But please do not do so on a public forum.
First of all Mr "anonymous" I think that you are R' Kahane himself. Having said that, I doubt that the Chofetz Chayim would have sent an email to the girls to keep a lid on the sexual shenanigans of Mr. Meisels. Hilchos Loshon Hara is not "complicated" at all. The Chofetz Chayim writes explicitly, that in a case like this, where a guy can't keep his zipper closed, it's a "mitzvah l'farseim" ..
The Chofetz Chayim is rolling in his grave and crying that guys like Kahane are cowering behind his sefer, telling innocent teenage girls not to disclose that someone who was supposed to be a mentor took advantage of them and sexually exploited them for his own sexual desires!
Second of all: Meisels admitted to the Chicago Bais Din that he molested the girls, he signed a statement to that effect. To say what Kahane wrote, that "even l'toeles, the halacha is that it's assur to believe it" makes no sense, since Meisels himself says it's true. So you want the girls not to believe that Meisels molested the girls when he says he did it? How crazy???
Second of all: Meisels admitted to the Chicago Bais Din that he molested the girls, he signed a statement to that effect. To say what Kahane wrote, that "even l'toeles, the halacha is that it's assur to believe it" makes no sense, since Meisels himself says it's true. So you want the girls not to believe that Meisels molested the girls when he says he did it? How crazy???
Why are men teaching teenage girls 5,000 miles away from the student's homes?
Why are these young guys teaching girls???
Don't tell me that this Kahane guy doesn't have illicit thoughts while he's teaching.
There aren't enough women around?
The gemarrah says clearly, "ein apatropos l'aryis" "there are no guardians when it comes to sexual matters.
This Anti Loshon Hara campaign is going too far.... if a guy is a predator his name should be revealed to the world, so we can keep our children and teenagers away! "Toeles! Shmoeles!
The Toeles is that he won't molest my children, Mr. anonymous!
Mr. Blogger: You are a rare breath of fresh air and truth. I admire your commitmentto stand up against the hypocrisy and phony rabbis. As you know, the so-called "rabbis" who commit evil acts do more to destroy respect of Torah than all the anti-Semitism of the world combined. Keep up the good work. How many young people have been turned away from Judaism due to the acts of irresponsible, selfish "rabbis" who are out for themselves and their own fun and pleasure at the expense of innocent girls and boys, contrary to everything the Torah stands for, utter hypocrites! How many Ba'al Tshuvas get turned off after they learn about these phony religious leaders who know how to make money off of Torah and then on top of it abuse the children that come to them for spiritual sustenance and learning? shame on them and praises to you for calling it like it is. We need more people like you and less, far less, of them.
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ReplyDeleteIt is because of supporters like you, that makes it all worthwhile.
Thank you