emesveyashar

This is a really important topic. If we could use it as an opportunity for a serious discussion we will be doing a great service to the tzibbur. Pls can we discuss it properly as mature adults and not let it ever off into side points or fall into the usual bickering of semantics. Moderators pls can you help with this.

We should look at the world around us. We may have our own way of life and draw our own conclusions, but we can still learn from others experiences.

For example: in the secular world, until recent decades, abuse was swept under the carpet. In recent years, with people being able to express themselves on social media freely, people are shocked by the abuse that others have suffered, primarily due to the much higher numbers then people suspected, but also due to who the alleged perpetrators were. People now understand that these can be anyone, family, friends, and yes, even famous and well liked people. For sure, there will be a number of these accusations which will be fake and will ruin lives unnecessarily.

So to what extent do we take these accusations seriously? Does there have to be a certain number of them? Does their have to be a certain bar of evidence? Does it have to be proven in court/beis din?

And what’s the alternative? Treat an accused person as innocent until proven guilty and potentially allow the abusive behaviours to continue?

Unfortunately there is no right or wrong answer. And whatever you do there will be victims.

But ignoring the problem and brushing it under the carpet is for sure NOT the way forward.