A Facebook Post on the Mikvah Scandal

My comment on The Forward's website today on the powerful words written by my colleague, R. Danya Ruttenberg: "The whole system of Orthodox self-policing is oxymoronic. From the kashrut scandal in Los Angeles to the ongoing sexual abuse of children by those who "look" Orthodox but act immorally, to this heinous act of violation of Judaism's most sacred precinct, the mikvah. To be violated sexually--whether physically or through "peeping--is profoundly annihilating. It undermines all that is holy and beautiful in Judaism, and makes it subject to the whims of those entrusted to lead our community.

This is not to say that the liberal streams of Judaism do not have their own entrenched problems (see, for example, Rabbi Starr, late of Sharon, MA) or the New York cantor convicted on sexual child abuse.

We who work so hard to become Jewish leaders should hold ourselves to a higher standard. We should seek counseling when our inner yetzer chara becomes overwhelming. We should not act-out unconsciously. We do not have the right to take the life of anyone, in anyway.

Yasher Koach, Danya, colleague, friend, modern day prophet."

Rabbi David Novak
Manchester Center, VT