A-vital Blog: Preempt domestic violence

In recent weeks it seems that a new and noxious wave of domestic violence has come to light. This deplorable phenomenon has existed, no doubt, before the recent media coverage. However, the new cases which were recently revealed have mostly occurred in the Ultra-Orthodox community. In one case, a so-called "Rabbi" encouraged brutal abuse of young children in order to "purify" them and "clear their bodies of demons".  The newfound public interest along with the shocking testimonies of the abused children has sparked a public debate on the issue, prompting us to ask ourselves: how can we deal with this?

A review of the law reveals harsh punishment for people who abuse minors. Paragraph 368 of the Israeli Penal Law states that a person who abuses a minor physically, emotionally or sexually is punishable by 7 years in prison. If the abuser is responsible for the minor (such as a parent), the punishment reaches 9 years. This paragraph seems to acknowledge the fact that a large part of these abuses occur within the home, a fact which is well documented in research. Statistics for the year 2006 show that approximately 30% of police files opened for child abuse were for offenses committed inside the family.

It seems, however, that the letter of the law is an insufficient deterrent against domestic violence. A report issued in 2007 by the National Council for the Child tells us that the years 1998-2005 marked a shocking increase of 80% in police files opened for domestic violence against children in Israel.

I believe that the issue of domestic violence must be dealt with on two levels, both proactively and reactively. 

Legislation is indeed an important factor in combating this phenomenon, as is implementing the severe punishments that these laws prescribe in court rulings. Punishment, however, is a measure only suitable for people who have already committed the crime.

 Effective punitive measures may serve as a deterrent to some parents who would otherwise harm their children, but I believe that these must come alongside other measures aimed at preventing the violence in the first place. The silence of Israel's chief Rabbis Metzger and Ammar in light of these horrifying occurrences, especially those perpetrated within religious families and often in the name of religion, is deafening. I have recently issued an appeal to the Chief Rabbis calling on them to show responsibility as spiritual leaders and publicly denounce domestic violence.

It is imperative for the Rabbis today, more than ever before, to sound their clear and authoritative voice against this horrible phenomenon. This simple but important declarative measure, along with continuing education against violence, could bring about real improvement in days to come.