Leo Weingarten, who is Israel Weingarten’s younger brother, prepared a statement to be read at the end of Israel’s sentencing hearing, in support of his niece - the victim.
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Below you will find my victim impact statement, which on Friday I attempted to deliver in open courtroom, before the Court, however, as the Judge explained in open court that my molestation was far removed from this case; therefore, he ruled that I could not make the statement, regardless to the judges ruling please indulge me, and allow me to enlighten you as to why I did go in front of the Court to confront Yisroel Moshe (YM) and what I would have said to the court if the Judge ruled in the prosecutions favor.
Let me categorically state that I unconditionally love everyone in my family, regardless of their specific acts, or on which side of this disagreement they aligned themselves, for a long time I looked fondly on this quote by James Baldwin: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain”. In this unfortunate case, this quote fits like a glove and I know in my heart, and I believe with all my soul that some family members are petrified to deal with the real source of their pain.
Premise
Please allow me to explain my premise, that without having firsthand knowledge I certainly did not witness the litigated incestuous pedophiliac attacks. Nevertheless, without a doubt, I believe that YM molested this victim because of the incestuous pedophiliac attacks on me by YM he positively attacked me repeatedly. I am not going to argue the Halacha, nor am I putting myself forward as a Posik, or even a Ben Torah and I am not interested in Pilpul as this is not the place for Pilpul I am only paying attention to facts. Therefore, if you are going to debate my basis and attempt to crack my foundation- good luck your hardened views of YM was set in stone long before you even heard any whispers of the molestation. Moreover, if it does not matter to you, how much evidence the DA put forth during the trial, and you still cling to your assertion that you did not see any evidence, please do not expect any reply from me, it would be pointless to be nitpicking with you and seen picayune.
Now that I established my foundation, you need to understand what underpinning logic I used, in my decision to make the statement, the following principles, should help you understand why I actually traveled all the way to New York and made the statement before the court; the principles are not in any particular order.
Principles
One - the victim, who am I to deny justice for the victim? My inaction would provide the naysayers with one more attack on the victim, i.e. nobody came forward and testified that YM violated them too, furthermore, if I did not come forward, the family would construe my inaction as if I did not believe the victim I just cannot live with that burden for the rest of my life.
Two - the victim needs closure so the healing could begin, all the professionals who deal with victims of sexual molestation on a daily basis say that, to heal a victim, it is indispensable to get closure and part of closure is essentially to confront the attacker.
Three - it is not for the faint-hearted to go into Court and make a statement in front of a judge particularly, if, you have grown children who comprehend and are fully aware of the accusations and counter charges being heaped at each other. It is understood that unquestionably, this family schism is not the way you want to inspire human decency and family values into your children.
Four - in the future, what would I tell my own children or grandchildren - or even worse - on Judgment Day, what would I answer to God? Sorry, I did not sufficiently care about my own family that I deliberately decided to look the other way and just ignore what God, and I know is the truth, or even worst, God-forbid, align myself with the aggressor? Nor can I or will I shirk my parental responsibility. It is the responsibility of each parent to teach and guide his or her children how to behave and under no condition could I or should I be indifferent to my parental responsibilities.
Five - when we talk about molestation, we are talking about the deliberate destruction of the human soul for personal indulgences, and by God, let this conviction be a calling card to all the frum communities that we must stop hiding behind the curtain of religion and confront molestation, that we will not tolerate it, nor will we look the other way. Moreover, if by making a statement in court or posting this on the net, I help only one-victim to speak up or seek help they desperately need-Dayenu.
Six - what about my pain not only was I molested by YM, but the pain for each of the victims grows every day as YM’s defenders, facetiously claim that the only reason his children and I are accusing him, is, for some unexplained precarious reason. Alternatively, we just fabricated the charges because we differ with his theological interpretations and, somehow, I just want to get even with YM, it begs the question, even for what?, and why YM, why not my other brothers?, they have the same beliefs as YM, this pretext is the 21st century blood-libel, in the end of the day, YM is in this predicament only because of his own despicable actions for personal gratification.
Seven - any defender who are willing to espouse that the victims are not trustworthy in God eyes, due to religious divergences, need to look into their own heart and evaluate were he/she stands with God, and stop advancing the idea that you know what God wants and who is a good Jew, while simultaneously you turn a blind eye, while defending a child molester. It behooves us to judge Jews of any affiliation or no affiliation at all, what is in their heart, do they love another Jew, moreover do they hate another Jew so intensely, that they are willing to blatantly lie and commit perjury, (subject themselves to incarceration) and point a finger at their own family member, and accuse him with horrific crimes against minors? Defenders, you ought to learn from Daniel Pearl RIP who was not religious, how proud he was to say, “I am Jewish”, when he knew that would be his last words, what were Daniel’s last words, before Al-Qaeda butchered him? “My mother’s Jewish, my father’s Jewish, I’m Jewish”. (Copy link below and paste into your browser and hit enter)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5NRksR1trI or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Pearl you tell us that he did not die on Kiddush Hashem. I will state once more and for the last time, I love every Jew no matter what their affiliation is, and when I hear or read a story, which touches any Jew in a painful manner it hurts, as it would be a family member and most importantly, I never verify what their level of observance is.
Eight - any defender, no matter under what pen name you hide behind, when you write one of your brazen excuses you’re enabling another molester to continue his aggression on innocence’s. Furthermore, this minute in your community, numerous victims are watching these proceedings and wondering - if I speak up or seek help, will I be treated with the same contempt as the victim in this case? You ought to do some soul searching on what effect you have on theses broken souls, I will not evade my moral responsibility to speak up, and by this means, help other victims in need.
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