Thursday, December 21, 2017

After #MeToo, some congregations weigh changing their tune on Shlomo Carlebach

times of israel


Every day brings a new revelation. For the first time, in a massive, communal movement, hundreds of victims of sexual abuse are finding their voices to accuse perpetrators, even when the abuse happened decades ago. Formerly infallible icons have been falling like dominoes, and abuse previously written off as “just the way things are” is now being reexamined in a completely different light. The dramatic events of the past two months are also forcing the Jewish community to examine its own icons, including Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. Every day brings a new revelation. For the first time, in a massive, communal movement, hundreds of victims of sexual abuse are finding their voices to accuse perpetrators, even when the abuse happened decades ago. Formerly infallible icons have been falling like dominoes, and abuse previously written off as “just the way things are” is now being reexamined in a completely different light. The dramatic events of the past two months are also forcing the Jewish community to examine its own icons, including Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. In the 23 years since his death, at least eight women have publicly accused the “rock star rabbi,” who inspired millions with his dramatically different and inclusive Jewish music, of sexual misconduct in the 1960s and ’70s. One researcher said he had spoken to 15 different women claiming to be victims.

6 comments :

  1. Reb Moshe has a teshuva dealing with Mr. Shlomo Carlebach.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I call unfair.

    The Halacha is pretty clear. You shouldn't be having get togethers mixing men and women and music.

    Let's say the allegations are true, for the sake of argument. So, no less true, are the forbidden circumstances surrounding the allegations.

    And the circumstances are that, as I just said above, that the Halacha forbids get togethersa of men and women. Men: a Jewish male 13 and older. Women: a Jewish female 12 and older.

    Ok? So any Shul that may have hosted Solomon Carlbach for a concert is culpable. It seems to me. Any Rabbis who didn't speak out against Solomon Carlbach coming to town to perform. Guilty. So it seems to me. Girls who went to the concerts: bad. Maybe not intentionally bad, but bad nonetheless.

    Got it? It's the system. The community.

    And then, if the allegations are true, you can toss in Shlomo Carlbach's culpability too.

    Just so we're all straight here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2016/11/shlomo-carlebach-enigma-within-paradox.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. 2 or 3 tshuvot.
    Not accepted in any community (perhaps LES).

    ReplyDelete
  5. Did this episode have prompt follow-up such as restitution from his estate to victims? Is anyone available now to verify that they saw the episode happen?

    ReplyDelete
  6. unlike fat grobe rebbes; he he did not have resources..

    ReplyDelete

ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE POSTED!
please use either your real name or a pseudonym.