Abuse in the Jewish Community: Religious and Communal Factors that Undermine the Apprehension of Offenders and the Treatment of Victims

Abuse in the Jewish Community: Religious and Communal Factors that Undermine the Apprehension of Offenders and the Treatment of Victims
By Dr. Michael J. Salamon
Urim Publications
Jerusalem, 2011
141 pages

The past few years have seen a dizzying amount of revelations and publications about abuse in the Orthodox community. Dr. Michael J. Salamon’s Abuse in the Jewish Community is another important contribution that will effect lasting change. Dr. Salamon is a psychologist whose experience treating members of the Orthodox community in the Greater New York area offers him important insight into the extent and nature of the problems of abuse in our midst. He is at his best when describing the different ways abusers and their victims react, the need for training in recognizing and responding to abuse, and the treatments that do and don’t work. He is certainly correct that our community is progressing through an educational path on these issues that is not yet complete. However, Dr. Salamon steps out of his comfort zone, perhaps too far, when addressing historical, philosophical and halachic issues. Still, this book takes an important stride in educating our leaders and community members on how to prevent and properly respond to abuse.

Rabbi Gil Student writes frequently on Jewish issues and blogs at TorahMusings.com.