"Many of these molesters are arrogant, narcissistic, deceptive, and downright evil. Even though some of them appear unable to control themselves, that is because of choices they repeatedly and intentionally made.
"As painful as it is for any community (all of which are afflicted by this, to one degree or another) to acknowledge the existence of this evil in their midst, exposing it is necessary to eradicate it. Additionally, the anti-Orthodox/ Chassidic orientation of SOME in the media must not impede us from addressing real problems in our own communities.
"We heartily commend the Ramapo Police for the superlative and sensitive work that they did on this case, as well as on numerous others. We thank them, as well as the highly-principled survivor who came forward here, and all of the people - within and outside of various Orthodox [including Chassidic] communities - who assisted in this landmark prosecution.
"This is truly a trail-blazing case - the first in which a survivor from within New-Square prosecuted a molester within the community.
"The prosecution proceeded with the encouragement of leading Rabbis from a cross-section of the broader Orthodox community.
"We pray that The Almighty will usher in a brighter future for hundreds in New-Square, many of whom have endured years of immense, silent suffering, at the hands of a number of molesters, intimidators, and enablers.* We hope that Square will eventually be restored to the ideals on which it was founded - i.e. to serve as oasis of holiness in a society steeped in moral decline.
"Hershel Taubenfeld's implicating himself in the sexual abuse of a teenager (not to mention its abominatory, homosexual nature) confirms how dangerous and deceptive he is. Among the steps that must be taken immediately are the following:
"1. We still have no idea of how many other victims may be suffering in silence. Taubenfeld must submit to an INDEPENDENTLY monitored lie-detector test to determine how many additional victims there are. Then, every one of them must be identified and helped.
"2. Moreover, everyone in the community must be fully educated and enabled to protect their children from this confessed, homosexual perpetrator.
"3. He must be denied access to minors, in the Yeshiva, Synagogue, or otherwise.
"4. The semicha this cunning pedophile brazenly obtained in the Holy Land, immediately prior to his arrest,** must be formally and publicly withdrawn, and those responsible for that travesty must be held accountable.
"5. He must be stripped of, and denied, all honors and educational positions.
"6. Above all, the crisis will not end until its causes are addressed: Taubenfeld's own admission to molestation charges confirms that current New Square leadership, including the 'Vaad'* - who clearly failed to stop this vile, manipulative "educator" - is unqualified to deal with the molestation crisis.
"Thus, New Square families need the leadership and assistance of those outside of New Square to adequately provide the type of protection that their innocent children need, so they may raise them in the spirit of holiness, on which the Village of New Square was originally founded."
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* For a sympathetic but eye-opening report on the New Square Vaad (a group that addresses molestation without prosecution), and on other molesters remaining at large, see TheJewishStar.com Apr.23,'10, "New Square appoints Vaad..." by Michael Orbach (www.thejewishstar.com/
** See the Monsey-based "Community Connection" (Dec.15-23, '11), issued the day after his arrest, with two full-page ads flaunting his "ordination" (link available on request).
Those who seek the help of select, qualified Rabbinic authorities in the process of prosecution of a molester, or in opposing intimidation or molester-enablers, may contact Help Rescue Our Children: 845-642-1679 (C/T).
Ramapo residents who seek to stop a molester or enabler may call the Ramapo Police directly at 357-2400.
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