Speaking about the unspeakable

An extraordinary ultra-Orthodox woman of short stature and large courage, Tzipora Gutman is making change in a sorely needed and often overlooked area of her community: Sexual abuse. 

Ultra-Orthodox society– insular by nature and often distrustful of Israel’s legal authorities– has traditionally shrouded in darkness this painful issue, as prevalent in its community as anywhere else.

But Gutman is trying to shine a light in the dark, taking upon herself the task of unmasking sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community and educating fellow members of the community about it.

“Deviant” behavior (which for them might include homosexuality) amongst the ultra-Orthodox almost always leads to far-reaching repercussions for the entire family, including potential ostracism of any siblings, who would be less likely to find proper shidduch (a marital match). 

In cases of sexual abuse, the community usually prefers to deal with the attacker through its rabbinic authorities, effectively sweeping the problem under the rug, and causing greater damage to the victim. In most cases, the community tends to care more for the culprit’s reputation than for the long-lasting, traumatic effect on the victim. 

Furthermore, because the issue of sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox world often lives in the shadows of its own, tight eco-system, many ultra-Orthodox rabbis called upon to counsel the victims don’t necessarily understand the scope of the problem and aren’t properly equipped to provide sufficient counsel on the subject.

In 2019, JUF’s Breakthrough Fund awarded a grant to the Noam non-profit organization for a project called “Safe Future,” designed to address sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community. The grant cited that one in four Israeli women in the ultra-Orthodox community is a victim of sexual abuse. If a case is reported-and many are not-it would be to the community rabbi and not to the welfare services or the Israeli police. 

Thanks to the grant, Gutman recently published a guide, tailored to the ultra-Orthodox community, to educating its rabbis about sexual abuse-with a focus on child victims–in a comprehensive way. The book cites the prevalence of child sexual abuse in the community, outlines the severe physical and psychological toll on its victims, and guides rabbis and other community leaders on channels for reporting abuse to the authorities. She has tirelessly to get notable rabbis in the ultra-Orthodox community to endorse the book. In addition, Gutman’s non-profit organization established a rabbinic advisory committee and launched a hotline for ultra-Orthodox victims, rabbis, professionals, and others. 

There is no question that this brave and groundbreaking book will save lives. Gutman, along with JUF, has been able to play a part in helping to spark a revolution in the ultra-Orthodox community, striving to support victims of sexual abuse and protecting others from ever falling prey to it.

It’s one more way JUF is making a difference for Israel’s people, including its most vulnerable and unseen. 

Ofer Bavly is a JUF Vice President and the Director General of the JUF Israel Office.