Quite an astonishing investigation. This obscure Jewish sect denies its followers the right to have allegations investigated by the police or social services but wants to "deal" with them themselves.

Numerous cases too in the USA - where one Rabbi has recently been sentenced to 103 years in prison for abuse oif a 12 years old girl. The "community" tried to harass the witnesses by holding a fund-raiser (it raised $500,000) in a show of support for the accused.

I urge you to watch. It was on TV last night but should be available of C4 player.

C4 / Dispatches / Britains Hidden Child Abuse

In The Know wrote:
Quite an astonishing investigation. This obscure Jewish sect denies its followers the right to have allegations investigated by the police or social services but wants to "deal" with them themselves.

Numerous cases too in the USA - where one Rabbi has recently been sentenced to 103 years in prison for abuse oif a 12 years old girl. The "community" tried to harass the witnesses by holding a fund-raiser (it raised $500,000) in a show of support for the accused.

I urge you to watch. It was on TV last night but should be available of C4 player.

C4 / Dispatches / Britains Hidden Child Abuse

how can you harass someone by holding a benefit for someone else ?

Watch the programme - people who disobey Rabbi spat at. Frozen out of the community

Yes - an extraordinarily one sided programme with only one agenda; let's be aware; the law says there is no need for evidence to obtain convictions for historic sex offences. This is understandable but very dangerous. It presumes nobody ever lies or exaggerates. Which may be so although I think anybody would agree - in that case it is a unique area since people do lie and exaggerate in every other area of life. And it is an odd assumption - that only those claiming to have been abused never lie; those accused of doing the abuse always lie.

Why so many cases amongst such a tiny community?

Probably no more or less in ratio than any other community.

On another tack - why do Hassidic Jews have to make themselves as unattractive as possible? Is it a part of the religion?

JK2006 wrote:
On another tack - why do Hassidic Jews have to make themselves as unattractive as possible? Is it a part of the religion?

Is that what they were? I heard the name of the sect mentioned but didnt think it was Hassidic.

The problem here, JK, is that this sect (just like the Catholic church) wants to keep any complaints "in house" for publicity purposes, and that inevitably leads to corruption.

JK2006 wrote:
Probably no more or less in ratio than any other community.

On another tack - why do Hassidic Jews have to make themselves as unattractive as possible? Is it a part of the religion?

a branch of my family are Hassidic Jews (and made a fortune after WW2 selling VWs)...as I child I thought they were very exotic when we visited.

I love the outfits, the braided men's hair and so on but facial hair is a bit much (especially on women )and yes it's all part of the religion and they regard Israel as an illegal settlement.

JK2006 wrote:
Yes - an extraordinarily one sided programme with only one agenda; let's be aware; the law says there is no need for evidence to obtain convictions for historic sex offences. This is understandable but very dangerous. It presumes nobody ever lies or exaggerates. Which may be so although I think anybody would agree - in that case it is a unique area since people do lie and exaggerate in every other area of life. And it is an odd assumption - that only those claiming to have been abused never lie; those accused of doing the abuse always lie.

Mr King, I will adore you forever for saying that.

I am astounded that so many people (even barristers) think it is perfectly acceptable to convict without evidence.