In the mid-19^th century, two Jewish teenagers charged that they had been sexually abused as children by their community’s melamed. We’ll read Rav Yosef Shaul Nathanson’s groundbreaking responsum about the case and consider whether it can or should guide our response to allegations of abuse within our communities. A shiur of approximately 45 minutes will be followed by a q and a including parallels to contemporary cases. 

Rabbi Aryeh Klapper is Dean of the Center for Modern Torah Leadership and Rosh Beit Midrash of its internationally renowned Summer Beit Midrash program.  Rabbi Klapper has published extensively on halakhot related to abuse. His writings and lectures influence communal policy on a broad range of issues such as the Chaim Walder case, day school tuition, and mental health during COVID. 

Trigger Warning: This shiur will endeavor to treat the issue of sexual abuse within the Orthodox Jewish community with both integrity and sensitivity. However, even a respectful analysis and discussion may negatively impact some. Discretion advised