UPDATED::Child Abuse Allegations Plague the Hasidic Community

This is another one of those stories that the overall narrative becomes lost in the minutiae.  Behind this narrative is also the issue of New York State's Statute of Limitations.

 UPDATE::  This article has sparked some interesting response.  Below are just a few,,,

Elite Chabad Yeshiva Says School Is Free of Abuse Despite Newsweek Expose

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement’s premier yeshiva is seeking to assure parents that no sexual or physical abuse is taking place within its walls following a detailed report on allegations of such abuse in the past.

“I categorically assure you that there is absolutely no abuse taking place in Oholei Torah that we know of,” Rabbi Sholom Rosenfeld, the school’s administrator, wrote parents in a March 8 letter on school letterhead, “neither sexual abuse, nor physical abuse, nor verbal abuse.”
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The school’s letter to the parents, dated March 8 and posted on community websites, neither addressed or denied any specific allegations or complaints, but described “many actions and precautions” that the school has instituted in recent years to prevent abuse. Among other things, the letter stated, Oholei Torah has, in recent years installed “windows on every classroom door” and has invited “numerous speakers” to address “child abuse and bullying.”

Focusing A Light on Abuse (Op-Ed)

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But no complaints were ever registered about the rabbi, nor were any criminal charges filed—in fact, a Freedom of Information Act request to the Brooklyn district attorney’s office turned up no evidence of his name ever appearing in its records. By now, the statute of limitations for most, if not all, of Reizes’s alleged crimes has expired, and the survivors are grown men, some with young boys in the Hasidic school system. Most are afraid to go public because they fear ruining the lives of their children. Reizes, now retired and in his 60s, lives across the street from the school where he used to teach.

While there is no evidence that child abuse is any more likely to occur in ultra-Orthodox schools than in public or secular institutions, stories like Reizes’s—an alleged abuser sheltered and victims unwilling to talk for fear of losing the only way of life they know—are common in the Hasidic school system. The many former students, advocates, sociologists, social workers and survivors interviewed by Newsweek, along with recordings, documents, public filings and personal emails that Newsweek obtained, place the blame on a confluence of factors: widespread sexual repression, a strong resistance to the secular world, and, most important, a power structure designed to keep people from speaking up about abuse.
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If children aren’t taught by their parents and teachers about appropriate sexual behavior, they have no way to sense when touching turns into something that is wrong. “You don’t even know what your body is,” says Lynn Davidman, a professor of sociology and religious studies at the University of Kansas who grew up in a religious Jewish family. “And you are not supposed to touch or know, and then all of a sudden you are introduced to forbidden knowledge in a most abusive way.” The abused have no way to make sense of what’s going on, to stop it or to tell anybody about it.
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In New York, survivors of most cases of child molestation have five years after they turn 18 to get the district attorney to prosecute. (In cases of sexual misconduct, legal proceedings must begin within two years after the offense was committed, regardless of the child’s age at the time of the alleged crime.) Many child abuse experts say that window is not nearly big enough for young men just starting to understand what happened to them. It’s no surprise that most of the abuse Newsweek uncovered happened long ago—no 10-year-old has the wherewithal to talk to the press about his abusive teacher. It takes a 25-year-old who has finally received a proper education to understand what was done to him 15 years ago.

Child Abuse Allegations Plague the Hasidic Community

See also: Investigating Abuse Allegations in the Chabad School System

Massachusetts Couple Takes Foster Parent Fight to State's Highest Court | NECN

This is just absurd, and it would be a safe bet they follow Michael and Debbie Pearl's To Train Up a Child.  The Same crap advocated by the Duggars and their use of blanket training.

According to WCVB 5,the parents are justifying their abuse as part of their religious beliefs and are asking for a religious accommodation. 

"Our hopes are the justices will see that just because a family believes that spanking is (a) legit form of child discipline doesn't preclude them from fostering and adopting children," said Gregory Magazu.

Their lawyer argues the state's policy conflicts with the family's religious beliefs.

"The Hebrew and Christian scriptures tell us whoever spares the rod hates his son, but whoever loves him is diligent to discipline him," said attorney David Bodanza. "DCF is saying that Christians and Jews need not apply."

In other words, 'because we are Christians, we are special.  We deserve special rights that no one else is allowed.'

A Massachusetts couple has taken their request to become foster parents to the state Supreme Judicial Court after being denied by a lower court.

Melanie and Gregory Magazu want to become foster parents, but so far their request has been denied because they refuse to refrain from spanking their own child at home.

"I don't think the fact that we spank our children should automatically preclude us," Gregory Magazu said.

"There's a big difference between spanking appropriately and abuse," Melanie Magazu said.

The state Supreme Judicial Court heard the case Thursday. The Fitchburg couple is challenging the decision by the Department of Children and Families to reject their application to become foster parents.

A DCF attorney for the agency told the justices that the agency has a practice of not putting foster kids in homes were corporal punishment is practiced.

"The department does not always know what that child has seen or experienced and does not know always if that child will be able to distinguish between lovingly administered physical discipline and abuse," assistant AG Annapurna Balakrishna said.

Massachusetts Couple Takes Foster Parent Fight to State's Highest Court | NECN

Arizona couple arrested on accusations of abusing adopted daughters | Reuters

Not mentioned in the article, although I would bet my last penny that these cretins are "Pearlites" and avid readers of To Train Up A Child. The abusive behavior is consistent with a corporal punishment style advocated by Debby and Michael Pearl, “spare the rod, spoil the child.”
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Police in Arizona have arrested a couple on suspicion of repeatedly abusing two of their adopted daughters, punishing them with beatings and leaving the girls severely malnourished, authorities said on Friday.

Johann Glenn Jorg, 61, and Kimery Lynn Jorg, 54, were taken into custody on Thursday in Peoria, a northern suburb of Phoenix, on suspicion of four counts each of felony child abuse involving two daughters, ages 11 and 13, court records show.

Police spokeswoman Amanda Jacinto said the elder girl remained in a local hospital due to her emaciated condition, and that the five-foot-tall (1.52-meter) teen had weighed just 60 pounds (27 kg) upon admission.

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The children were also forced to run in the heat for an hour each day, police said, as well as write down, recite and explain Bible phrases. If they made mistakes, they had to run further.

Arizona couple arrested on accusations of abusing adopted daughters | Reuters

The Satanic Temple Declares May 15th, “Protect Children Day”

The other day the following press release, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::The Satanic Temple Declares May 15th, “Protect Children Day”, came across my feed attached to this "commentary" (of sorts) from disinformation:

Could offerings to the devil in the classroom help close the test score gap between the United States and other developed nations? From the Satanic Temple’s press release,,,

What I find quite interesting, the contrast between disinformation's presentation of the news and RawStory's presentation:

According to the press release, the Project has set up a website where students can register that they “affirm that my deeply held beliefs acknowledge the inviolability of the human body and mind and being physically and psychologically harmed against my will violates these beliefs.” At that point, the Temple can then contact their school and school district to let them know that they are on notice.

“One of the fundamental tenets of The Satanic Temple is personal sovereignty and the inviolability of one’s body and mind. Hitting a child or placing them in solitary confinement goes entirely against our beliefs,” says Lucien Greaves, Temple spokesperson, in the press release.

“The documents we have made available not only provide students with a notice they can give to their principal that explains their beliefs, but also informs schools that if they refuse to acknowledge the deeply held beliefs of students, they would be violating their civil rights. School officials could potentially face criminal charges if they disregard a student’s convictions,” he continued.

“If students report to us that they have notified their principal of their religious views and they are physically or psychological abused despite that, it is our intention to intervene.”

The Temple is also providing parents with fact sheets about the dangers of both corporal punishment and solitary confinement, as well as a Satanic-themed activity book for students to help them understand their religious rights.

“We want children to know that they are permitted to pray to Satan in school and that they can even share their religious beliefs with others in accordance with certain guidelines,” Greaves said in the press release.

The 'Christian movement' that tells husbands to SPANK their wives 'to correct misbehavior' | Mail Online

This is a reader supplied article. I know I have a tendency to point out the more insane religious belief from time to time, but this one,,,is just WOW! My first thought was S & M (light) for religionists. (I still believe that is what it actually is, despite what the founders and some adherents say.) Then, my thoughts morphed to, why not stoning (or other biblical mandates for a disobedient wife)?

In the packet they describe CDD as a ‘practice between two consenting life partners in which the head of household (HoH) takes the necessary measures to achieve a healthy relationship dynamic.’

That translates to all methods of punishment, not exclusive to spanking. Clint and Chelsea advocate lecturing, removing privileges, corner and bedroom time – essentially the ways most people discipline their children.

For CDD enthusiasts, this type of punishment isn’t sexual in nature.

Vera (anonymous last name), who is in a CDD relationship with her husband told The Daily Beast that the practice is in no-way sexual.

'The pure CDD people don't go there. A lot of folks think of Fifty Shades of Grey - but this is not that.’

Spanking is clearly the bread and butter of this kind of relationship. Eighteen pages of the CDD manifesto are dedicated to spanking and how to properly go about administering spanks.

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Corporal punishment at home obviously leads to questions about whether or not this is domestic abuse. Clint and Chelsea stress in their packet that CDD should only practiced by consenting adults and that the HoH should never punish while angry.

‘If the HoH becomes angry, they must do whatever it takes to get themselves back to a calm, reasonable, rational, level-headed, and collected state before making any decision or carrying out any punishment.’

But as evidenced on many forums dedicated to CDD, the practice has turned violent in cases.


The 'Christian movement' that tells husbands to SPANK their wives 'to correct misbehavior' | Mail Online

See also: 
Christian Domestic Discipline Promotes Spanking Wives To Maintain Biblical Marriage

“No fool in his right mind would buy this as a legitimate way to have a relationship,” Jim Alsdurf, a forensic psychologist who is an expert on Christian domestic abuse, told the Daily Beast. “A relationship that infantilizes a woman is one that clearly draws a more pathological group of people.”

The community's stated basis in Christianity is also murky, according to some.

Bryan Fischer, a controversial conservative Christian radio host, has claimed in the past that the Bible teaches Christians that men are the breadwinners and heads of the household, but when reached by The Huffington Post, Fischer dismissed any connection between the Bible and the basic principles of CDD.

(I actually agree with the gist of Fischer's point, tho I think he should have thrown Proverbs 31 in for good measure.)

"This is a horrifying trend -- bizarre, twisted, unbiblical and un-Christian," Fischer, a former pastor, said in an email. "Christian husbands are taught to lay down their lives for their wives (Ephesians 5:25) and to treat them with honor as fellow-heirs of the gift of eternal life (1 Peter 3:7)."

"God in the New Testament clearly asks wives to arrange themselves under the leadership of their husbands (in Greek, the word “submit” means “to arrange under”)," Fischer continued. "But there is no place where husbands are instructed to make their wives do it or punish them if they don’t."

Jon Stewart Rips Kansas Rep's Insane Child-Beating Bill

Sometimes all it takes is a we bit o' John Stewart to put perspective on something so asinine as HB 2699:

Corporal punishment" means up to ten forceful applications in succession of a bare, open-hand palm against the clothed buttocks of a child and any such reasonable physical force on the child as may be necessary to hold, restrain or control the child in the course of maintaining authority over the child, acknowledging that redness or bruising may occur on the tender skin of a child as a result. As used in this subsection "child" includes a person over the age of 18 who is enrolled in high school.

Jon Stewart Rips Kansas Rep's Insane Child-Beating Bill

And in other news, Spanking bill dies in Kansas House committee

A bill intended to define corporal punishment and ease some restrictions on spanking in Kansas has died in committee.

An official with Rep. John Rubin’s office said Wednesday that the bill “will not get a hearing” in the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee. Rubin, R-Shawnee, is chairman of the committee.

House Bill 2699, introduced by Rep. Gail Finney, D-Wichita, would have allowed parents to hit children hard enough to leave redness or bruising. It also would have allowed parents to give permission to others, including caregivers or teachers, to spank their children.

In a statement posted on her website, Finney said the legislation “is not, as has been incorrectly reported, intended to legalize child abuse in Kansas.”

Kansas Bill Would Allow Spanking Children To Point Of Bruising

If you have to hit a child to make him or her obey you then sorry to say, you are a failure as a teacher, a parent and a caregiver.

How Sharia of them!! WTF people, all hitting a child does is make them angry and self-loathing. It destroys self-confidence and develops a mentality of us vs them, punishment and rewards. Yep, that sounds like the bile I knew of,,,

A Kansas lawmaker is proposing a bill that would allow teachers, caregivers and parents to spank children hard enough to leave marks.

Current Kansas law allows spanking that doesn't leave marks. Rep. Gail Finney, a Democrat from Wichita, says he wants to allow up to 10 strikes of the hand and that could leave redness and bruising. The bill also would allow parents to give permission to others to spank their children.

It would continue to ban hitting a child with fists, in the head or body, or with a belt or switch.

Kansas Bill Would Allow Spanking Children To Point Of Bruising

Devon cult canes children to 'cleanse their sins': Mother's testimony lifts lid on mysterious commune | Mail Online

The first mists of autumn have descended on the Blackdown Hills, and next weekend one of the alternative communities who have gravitated to this moody, legend-steeped part of the West Country will attempt to lighten the spirits by staging a seasonal festival.

The two-day event, at a rambling farmstead near the small Devon village of Dunkeswell, will feature such local traditions as circle-dancing and apple-pressing to make fresh juice, and it will end with a play — a homespun morality tale enacted by the group’s 20-odd children.

To many villagers, news of this performance has come as a surprise. For although members of the Twelve Tribes, a controversial, US-based cult, began squatting at abandoned Stentwood Farm 14 years ago, and have built it into an impressive smallholding, with a quaint tea-room serving home-baked food, their children are so seldom permitted to leave the commune — hidden down a little-used lane — that few outsiders knew so many live there.

While their baggy-smocked parents greet passing hikers and cyclists with a cautious wave as they do their chores, and the chosen few are permitted to sell their locally-renowned bread and cakes at markets and pop festivals (at the same time trying to recruit converts), for their sons and daughters, contact with non-believers is severely restricted.

Dressed puritanically in bonnets and canvas trousers, they are not permitted to attend local schools, join sports teams or clubs, watch TV or use the internet, much less make friends beyond their closed community. Indeed, they are forbidden from playing any game involving imagination or fantasy.

To most parents, this controlled upbringing alone would be cause for concern. Yet it is not the darkest trial facing the Twelve Tribes children, as they have to conform to the cult’s stultifying doctrine.

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Supposedly to cleanse them of sin and prepare them for salvation when the world ends (the cult insists it will, within the next century or so), they are repeatedly ordered to bend over to be thrashed on their bare bottoms with a willow rod soaked in resin to make it more pliable.

And as these so-called ‘correction’ sessions are central to the cult’s beliefs — a mishmash of Judaism and Christianity devised by its messianic leader Eugene Spriggs, a former carnival showman from Tennessee — the children are often thrashed several times a day.

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Had she known the dark secrets she has since learned about the Twelve Tribes and its dubious leader, Spriggs — or Yoneq, as he prefers (all members have ancient Israelite names) — she might have been less gullible.

Now a wizened 76-year-old with a straggly grey beard and shoulder-length hair, Spriggs was a high-school guidance counsellor as well as a carnival front-man before dropping out and living as a hippy in California, where he formed his own church.

Then, 40 years ago, reputedly declaring himself to be a reincarnation of the prophet Elijah, he decamped with 1,000 followers to Vermont and set up a commune, later sending missionaries to start 12 new ones in Europe, Australia and South America: each representing an original tribe of Israel.

They are run on the profits of a string of bakeries, delis and small factories, and it has been reported that the cult has a sizeable fortune, stashed in offshore accounts. Though it must be said that by comparison with other American religious cult leaders, Spriggs appears to live relatively modestly.

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Quoting Proverbs 13:24 — from which derives the adage ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’ — Spriggs stood defiant, hiring a slick lawyer (who later joined the cult) to persuade a judge the state had acted unconstitutionally and order the children’s release.

Since then, the U.S authorities have tolerated the cult’s child-rearing methodology, which is now enshrined in a 147-page manual, littered with Biblical references which supposedly justify ‘spanking’, as the group call it.

Entitled ‘Our Child Training Teachings’, the parental handbook is adorned with happy family photographs, glossing over another uncomfortable truth: that many Twelve Tribes families have been torn apart by their views over whacking their children.

Devon cult canes children to 'cleanse their sins': Mother's testimony lifts lid on mysterious commune | Mail Online