Confronting Scandal: How Jews Can Respond When Jews Do Bad Things
Jews have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately: Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, the “unkosher” kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa, Syrian rabbis laundering money, and rabbis who have committed sex offenses. How should the Jewish community respond? Traditionally, dishonorable behavior was kept inside the community to avoid damage to reputations and reduce the chance of shame by association. Brown, a consultant for Jewish federations and organizations, says that it is time to  the unhealthy behavior. Using proof texts from religious works to make her case, Brown wants Jews to return to the high ethical standards of the Torah, conduct business honestly and openly, and do the right thing to preserve the community’s reputation. This  bookwill be particularly useful in synagogue classes and discussion groups and will find a place in Jewish studies collections. --Barbara Bibel