Thread by @JoshuaCypess

1/ A thread to detail a way forward for JOFA, for their teshuva.

Disclosure: I am friends with some of the victims as well as some on the board. I've been tangentially connected to JOFA over decades. One of my first published pieces is in their journal
academia.edu/51009289/Priso…

https://twitter.com/JoshuaCypess/status/1513725781603663876

2/ Ironically, that piece was in reaction to the Lanner scandal at the OU and the founders of JOFA, who were in the congregation the Shabbat I delivered the original sermon in 2000, appreciated this line: "If we don’t listen to women, when are we going to listen to girls?"

3/ There are 2 principal wrongs in how these cases are treated: (1) the victim needs carry their case forward which is re-traumatizing and should be seen as perpetuating the alleged abuse; (2) Outside investigation is necessary but should be "zabla" (see:)
bethdin.org/zabla-panels-a…

4/ The "zabla" in this case would be that JOFA chooses an investigator, the victims choose one (altogether or each one chooses one) and the advocates of the 2 "sides" together choose a third. It can't just be the institution, e.g., choosing a whitewashing law firm.

5/ This format allows the victims to avoid the first problem of having to retraumatize themselves while the investigation is conducted. Once their advocate hears and confirms their testimony, their role in it should be DONE.

6/ Like any criminal case, their accusation becomes the responsibility of the "state", as it were - in this case, the whole community. The investigatory court, because it's endorsed by both parties, will have a high degree of validity and will allow victims to feel heard.

7/ I've been trying to establish best practices for decades and there's so much more to discuss - like a need for a sliding scale of accountability between "nothing" and "cherem" - but that will need to wait for another time.

8/ While I have certain repercussions in mind for those active perpetrators and their enablers (without whom this couldn't have gone on as long or been as damaging) ultimately I'm not in charge: that's what the Zabla would ultimately determine.

9/ We, the larger community, need to put pressure on JOFA - and the way too many other major orgs - to do teshuva. Power attracts abusers and so these cases are inevitable. We all must insist that what power we cede in our names is being used righteously.

10/ Background links, again, here at the end of the thread:

https://twitter.com/frumfollies/status/1513624710264901639

https://twitter.com/EladNehorai/status/1513646548533403653

#JOFA #Teshuva

11/ @threadreaderapp please unroll.