In light of Leiby Kletzky’s murder I have a question: Where have all the brave Rabbis gone? The community leaders willing to stand before the media circus and demand the maximum possible punishment for Levi Aron? The Rabbis anxious to unapologetically declare to anyone willing to listen how unfortunate it is that we cannot legislate that this piece of human garbage suffer the same fate that he dealt to a defenseless little boy? Perhaps I’ve simply missed these venomous reactions and harsh condemnations in the plethora of web-based content in circulation, but I suspect it’s more likely because it doesn’t exist—and that’s a grave shame. Instead, we’re left with sheepish clichés like that of one Lincoln Square Synagogue Rabbi who wrote, “There are no words. There are only tears.” Really? No words? This is precisely the time for words. Harsh, unremorseful and ardently delivered words at that. Contrary to the sentiments of most community leaders, words and tears are not mutually exclusive. Eulogies and collective sadness should not trump expressions of disgust and outrage aimed squarely at a self-confessed child predator and murderer—regardless of him being a “fellow Jew”. What an empty phrase that is, “fellow Jew”. I for one refuse to curb an ounce of my disgust simply because of the coincidental fact that Mr. Aron and I were both born to Jewish mothers. If religion is indeed the cause for such mitigated rage than it serves to validate the atheists who contend that theology is a neurological disorder. It would certainly explain the bizarre and dangerous position held by Rabbi Shmuel Kamentizky, vice-president of the Supreme Council of Rabbinic Sages, who advocates banning ultra-Orthodox Jews from reporting child sexual abuse to police. To reinforce this absurd dictate, Kamentizky seems comfortable with victims and witnesses being threatened, forcing them to remain silent or report abuse to rabbis only, not the police. This manipulation of “Torah values” and ignorance to the irreparable damage caused by poisonous members of Jewish communities must stop—full stop. Silence regarding this matter is reprehensible as is any leniency afforded to these monsters simply because they look the part or grew up in the same close-knit communities they would later turn on.
Soon after his capture Levi Aron predictably declared that he “hears voices”. It's a pity that one of those voices isn’t from a high profile rabbi telling him that death would be too kind a punishment for his sins.
