A Conservative cantor in the Chicago area was arrested over Thanksgiving weekend for alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. The Orthodox Union has just received a report investigating its handling of allegations that a New Jersey rabbi working for the movement's national youth group sexually harassed and molested teens. The report's findings and recommendations will not be made public until late this month. The wave of incidents is refocusing attention on an issue that has come into public view only in recent years. Many advocates for victims complained that rabbinical associations were more interested in protecting their members than the people they hurt.
Today there are stirrings of change.
It is unclear what overall impact such changes are having, since no one appears to be tracking the issue or monitoring how the new guidelines are affecting the number of complaints or the actions taken against rabbis. While some believe that recent high-profile cases may encourage victims to come forward, others worry that the pendulum may swing too far. They worry that fear of false accusations or misunderstandings are leading rabbis to become nervous about even innocently hugging congregants in need of comfort or counseling people behind closed doors. One result from all the publicity is a growing awareness of the issue, which many expect will lead to less tolerance for misconduct. In 1998, the magazine published an article about women who said they were sexually harassed by the late charismatic Orthodox leader Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.