Jewish Survivors of Spiritual Abuse

(Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Professional Sexual Misconduct)

DEFINED

Spiritual abuse is the misuse of a position of power, leadership, or influence to further the selfish interests of someone other than the individual who needs help. Sometimes abuse arises out of a doctrinal position. At other times it occurs because of legitimate personal needs of a leader that are being met by illegitimate means. Spiritually abusive religious systems are sometimes described as legalistic, mind controlling, religiously addictive, and authoritarian.

EFFECTS OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE

Spiritual abuse has a devastating effect on people. A very high level of trust is often placed in rabbis, cantor or any other individual who represents a spiritual leaders. It should be expected that learning to trust again is extremely difficult, and the victim/survivor extremely guarded. When trust is violated the wound is very deep. There are times that the wound is so deep that the wounded person cannot trust even a legitimate spiritual authority again.

An analogous situation exists with the victims of incest. The emotional and psychological symptoms exhibited by victims of incest parallel those of spiritual abuse to a remarkable degree. The main symptom is the inability to relate normally to people who represent the source of their emotional injury.

Besides an unhealthy fear of, and disillusionment with, spiritual authorities, the spiritually abused person may find it difficult to trust even God (HaShem). "How could (or why did) HaShem let this happen to me?" Anger is also deeply felt. Anger itself is not always wrong. However, even legitimate anger, if not properly channeled and dealt with, can degenerate into bitterness and cynicism toward everything jewish and spiritual.

RECOVERY FROM SPIRITUAL ABUSE

Healthy recovery from spiritual abuse must begin with understanding what has happened and how. A victim usually thinks he or she is the only one experiencing these problems. Just being able to give a name to the problem is important.

To recover, the victim/survivor of spiritual abuse needs to find a find help to work through the varies issues. Being able to have their voice heard and share the experience is very important. This could be done with a rabbi, therapist, trusted friend, and/or a support group made up of people with a similar experience.

Remember healing takes time.  It's important to take small steps and go at the victim/survivors own pace.  

Email Groups for the Awareness Center   This link will bring you to a list of different mailing lists offered by The Awareness Center.  We offers several different email groups,which include our general mailing list, press-releases, Jewish survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Parents of children who were molested, Family members of sex offenders, etc.

Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves whether the resources meet their own personal needs.

1. Jewish Resources

2. Secular Resources

1. General Information
   • Cults, Missionaries and the Jewish Community
   • The Awareness Center's Brochure  

   • Clergy Abuse: Rabbis, Cantors and Other Trusted Officials

   • Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak Of

   • Recidivism of Sex Offenders  (U.S. Department of Justice: Center for Sex Offender Management)

2. Cases of Spiritual Abuse and Alleged Spiritual Abuse
   • Case of Rabbi Yoram Aberjil (Netivot, Israel) (Accused of cult like practices and sexual harassment of young women and treatening the lives of the survivors and those who support them.)
   • Case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks (Winnipeg, Canada, New York, NY) (Accusations about sexual inappropriate behavior with children started surfacing in the 1980's. Rabbi Bryks is currently a member of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens. The Vaad is a Rabbinical committee that makes important decisions within an orthodox community.)
   • Case of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (Accused of several cases of child molestation, and sexual assault of young women)
   • Case of Rabbi Mordechai Gafni - AKA: Marc Winiarz, Marc Gafni, Mordechai Winiarz (New York, Florida, Israel) (Accused of cult like practices)
   • Case of Jacob Frank and the Frankist Movement  (Accused of cultic type practices and sexual offenses)
   • Case of Rabbi Michael Ozair - aka: Rabbi Michael Ezra, Rabbi Michael Ezra Ozair (Beverly Hills, CA)  (Convicted, pleaded no contest to oral copulation with a 14-year-old minor. )
   • Case of Rabbi Mordecai Tendler  (Monsey, NY)  (Accused of cultic type practices and manipulating women he was counseling into having sexual relations with him).
   • Case of Rabbi Isadore Trachtman (Chicago, IL and Jerusalem, Israel) (Accused of cultic type practices and sexual offenses)
   • Case of Rabbi Matis Weinberg (Baltimore, MD, Santa Clara, CA and Har Nof, Israel) (Accused of cultic type practices and sexual offenses)
   • Case of Rabbi Hershy Worch (Manchester, England; Mbale, Uganda; Melbourne, Australia; Pawtucket, RI; Chicago, IL; Istanbul, Turkey)  (Accused of cult like practice which include BDSM (Bondage, Domination, Sadism, Masochism). The alleged offender originially mmets his victims on line).
   • Case of Sabbatai Zevi (Accused of cultic type practices and sexual offenses.)
   • Case of Werner Erhard (AKA: John Paul Rosenberg) Founder EST (now called Landmark Forum) (Accused of incest, which were later recanted. Also accused of cult like practices)

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1. Organizations
   • Survivors of Spiritual Abuse (SOSA)

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Last Updated:  02/14/2007

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--Margaret Mead