The OU was not always respected this way. They need Rabbi Belsky or someone like him to retain that respect in the now competitive world of Kashrus supervision. A billion dollar industry these days, if I am not mistaken.
I have also been told that Rabbi S asked his former bosses at BMG for his old job back. He was denied. Why he would want to go back there is beyond me. I would be running the other way and filing lawsuits for wrongful termination.
But that’s me. Rabbi S is a much kinder and braver person than I am and he is willing to overlook all that has been done to him and simply go back to work as a Marbitz Torah – a spreader of Torah. Here is a man whose son was violated in the worst way and by simply doing what was right in his eyes (and in the eyes of just about anybody with a sense of justice and compassion) and look what he got for it!
All this has been weighing very heavily on my mind recently. This man deserves a lot better than what he is getting. And there ought to be something done about it. If he wants his job back – he ought to get it. I don’t know how to put pressure on BMG to give it back to him. My impression is that they are impervious to pressure. And my guess is that they will push back strongly if it is applied.
But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be tried. There are a lot of people sitting this out for fear of repercussions. But that is not what courage is all about. I don’t know how many people in Lakewood read this blog. But I would love to see an uprising of protest by the very people that BMG serves. I’m talking about the students, Avreichim, and even faculty there. Petition the Roshei Yeshiva. Let them know that a great injustice is being done there and the world is watching. Let them know that their own students and faculty will not stand idly by and let it happen.
I realize that this will take a lot of courage since the likely response by BMG leaders will be to expel the protestors. I know that risk and fully understand if there are those who – fearing loss of livelihood – will not do it. But for those of you who have the courage to do it – it is the right thing to do.
I would also ask the OU to consider looking for another Posek of similar stature to Rabbi Beslky and replace him. I believe that Rabbi Beklsky’s intransigence in this issue – painting Rabbi S in evil terms is at least in part preventing BMG from rehiring Rabbi S. I would also ask the RCA many of whose rabbis work for the OU – to try and influence the OU to do the right thing.
I would also suggest that the survivor community stay out of this – since they are not going to influence BMG in any way – except to be further vilified by them.
I know that I am asking a lot of sacrifice from a lot of people. But something needs to be done or justice will remain perverted. If not now, when? If not me, who? If anyone has any other ideas please feel free to share them. Rabbi S needs to have both his job and reputation restored. That is the least BMG could do.
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