1.
It seems that there has never been an affair that has stirred up the Haredi public on matters that are better left silent than the sad story of the 'attacking supervisor'.
Even people who are not connected to the Internet or secular press were exposed to the case and learned its dark details.
So, true, we can regret exposing the complainants as being innocent of anything, and delving into disgusting details, but what is really important is to take advantage of the public awakening and internalize clear lessons.
2.
The Torah's attitude towards this type of harm is complex. On the one hand, there is no prohibition per se on rape and the like (apart from any ordinary harm to a person, which is forbidden), not even in the words of the Sages.
On the other hand, the Torah states that a man who comes to attack a girl, for example, can be killed on the spot. The Torah compares this to coming to kill you early in the morning to kill him - and according to the well-known words of Scripture: "But as for a boy, you shall do nothing; there is no sin worthy of death in the boy: for when a man rises up against his neighbor and murders a person - this is the case" [see Rashi, ibid.].
It should be noted that the spelling is 'boy' and the pronunciation is 'girl', showing you that the words also apply to harming a boy...
Apart from this, there is a fine for raping, although it is intended to compensate for the defect and not to punish.
3.
How is it possible, then, that the Torah would permit the blood of a person whose act is not defined as a prohibition that stands on its own?
The answer to this seems clear: assault or rape should be removed from society, not because of some religious prohibition, but rather because it is a value that predates the Torah, and therefore the Torah permits its bloodshed. There is no need for a special prohibition for this.
4.
I think we should also learn from the above regarding the attitude and education of our children.
There are many parents who do not talk to their children about the subject at all, for clearly unjustified reasons, but there are also others who are wrong and explain to their child how important it is to be modest from a religious perspective. As an important rabbi told me following the affair, the issue of modesty should be reinforced.
But in my opinion, it is a serious mistake to associate protection from harm with a religious matter and general modesty.
We need to explain to children, both boys and girls, that there are bad people who may harm In them (It's worth saying that this is rare so as not to stress you out), and they need to take care of their bodies because it's theirs alone and no one has the right to force them to do anything about it, under any justification in the world.
5.
If our education were conducted in this manner, even explanations and excuses from Rabbi Kanievsky's words would have no effect.
It should be remembered that all infertility experts of all kinds have always used spiritual and kabbalistic explanations (see Rabbi Sheinberg of Safed and others) to cover up the religious prohibition in practice.
All of this would be irrelevant if we educate the child that they should not be subjected to anything that is unpleasant to them, because it is their right and duty to protect their body and soul.
• It is clear and understandable that this column should not be considered halakha and is purely theoretical.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
