Tel-Chai Nation

A rabbi who's part of the Tzohar organization has voiced his appreciation for the conviction and sentencing of Haredi child molestor Malka Leifer received:

"The decision reached by the Australian court today handing down a heavy sentence on Malka Leifer should be recognized as an important milestone in the effort to defend victims of sexual abuse in our society," Rabbi Cherlow stated.

"A critical aspect of the rehabilitation process for any victims is knowing that their speaking out has not been in vain and, that their claims have been recognized and justified, and that the relevant authorities agree to the severity of the crimes committed against them. Most importantly, these judicial decisions provide the legal backing to show that the victims were indeed victimized and need to feel no sense of guilt or insecurity for speaking out," he added. [...]

This decision should also act as a wakeup call to all those who acted, either publicly or privately, to sabotage efforts to bring Leifer to justice, and all those individuals should be required to ask forgiveness of her victims. It is more imperative than ever that we use this painful episode to increase our efforts to stand in support of victims in a way that reflects Torah values and basic human morality."

I sure hope the Australian authorities arrest and prosecute the Adass school officials who aided her evasion. Let's also recall United Torah Judaism MK Yaakov Litzman was among the guilty of backing Leifer:

The victims of sexual predator Malka Leifer, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday in an Australian court, said that former Health Minister Yaakov Litzman added to their suffering and should apologize. [...]

During her fight to avoid facing justice, Leifer was aided by then Health Minister Litzman who was found guilty of pressuring the ministry's regional psychiatrist to determine that Leifer was unfit to stand trial. He was convicted of breach of trust, sentenced to eight months of probation and a NIS 3,000 fine as part of a plea deal and was forced to resign from his cabinet post and the Knesset. [...]

In an interview for Israeli radio, the sisters said Litzman's actions prolonged their suffering and he should apologize to them. Their sister told Ynet Litzman's involvement in protecting a sexual abuser was a betrayal of the victims and of anyone who trusted him and that he abused his position of power to cause so much more suffering.

The court that gave him a lenient sentence should also apologize. But it doesn't shock me at all that members of insular communities could get off with little more than a slap on the wrist for the repellent steps they took by extension. Like Islam and LGBT ideologues, Haredi cults like the Satmar are a protected class up to a point.

And then, let's consider how unrepentant Leifer apparently is all this time, as noted by the judge:

In a three-hour sentencing hearing, Judge Gamble detailed the grooming and abuse Leifer inflicted upon the sisters, who were struggling with a difficult home life.

She knew about their home life and took advantage of their vulnerabilities to abuse them for her own gratification, the judge said, adding that her important role at the school gave her the ability to foster a close relationship and make them believe she loved and cared for them.

He said the level of intimacy and duration of her crimes was disturbing and callous, and that her actions were predatory in nature and involved the exploitation and manipulation of two very vulnerable victims.

He said Leifer continued to strenuously maintain her innocence and had showed no insight or remorse for her actions.

"I am not convinced Mrs Leifer has in any way reformed," he said.

And that's exactly why she should've gotten a much longer sentence.

Outside court, Sapper described it as a momentous day.

"Today's ruling of 15 years recognises the harm and pain that Malka Leifer caused each one of us to suffer over so many years," she said.

"Trauma from sexual abuse is a lifelong sentence and while no amount of years will ever be sufficient we are relieved that Malka Leifer is now in prison for 15 years and cannot prey on anyone else."

The sisters hope they can now put this trauma behind them.

"I definitely in that courtroom today felt the pain of my younger self that went through that abuse, I could feel those emotions coming up as the judge was speaking," Erlich said outside court.

"Knowing that's not where we are anymore, we're not powerless anymore, that was a very felt sense today."

I hope they recover, and they should do whatever they can to get people out of the Adass community, one example of a Haredi society that's caused only so much pain for many people, no doubt.

Labels: Australia, haredi corruption, immigration, Israel, misogyny, Moonbattery, sexual violence