Jewish Community Rallies Around Alleged Abuser
The Associated Press’ Colleen Long reports that Brooklyn’s Jewish orthodox community continues to defend Nechemya Weberman, a man who is accused of molesting a girl. The “girl, now 17, was sent to Weberman at age 12 because she’d been asking theological questions and he had a reputation for helping people back on the spiritual path.” Since being accused, Weberman has pleaded not guilty; many Hasidic newspapers also assert his innocence. “Members are encouraged to first speak to a rabbi before going to secular authorities,” Long writes,” and as a result, cases rarely make it to outside law enforcement.”