AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND/ASIA
J-Wire
August 23, 2013 by J-Wire Staff
During last Shabbat, pluralistic Rabbis across Australia, New Zealand and Asia read out the Statement below as part of the Sabbath service.
It should be noted that the idea came about after a similar initiative was undertaken in the United Kingdom, where the Imams of all the mosques issued an identical sermon on this issue. It is unfortunate that the entire Australian Rabbinate could not unite for this important initiative.
Well done to the pluralistic leadership for responding in such a positive way and we hope that the Orthodox Rabbinate will follow suit.
RABBIS’ STATEMENT ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
The recent launch of the National Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse provides the opportunity for Rabbis across all denominations to declare our abhorrence of child sexual abuse and to state our commitment to assist in the work of preventing its occurrence in our communal institutions and organisations.
In Judaism human life is essential and so Pikuach Nefesh, the obligation to save a life in jeopardy, is considered a major value to uphold. The responsibility to act extends to the bystander, i.e., one who happens to find themselves in the presence of a person in peril or in danger of being victimized by a crime. The obligation to act is summarized by Maimonides (1135-1204) in his Code as follows: “If one person is able to save another and does not do so, they transgress the commandment “Neither shall thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor” (Leviticus 19:16).
We must not stand by and allow this evil to flourish because to do so would be Chillul HaShem, for “one honors The Eternal One and the Jewish people when one honors others; one dishonors the Eternal and desecrates the people of the Almighty when one abuses a human being created in the divine image.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.