JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In light of the recent episode involving Chaim Walder, Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz emphasized how sensitive we must be to the victims at this time.
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He said, “The victims have to be a major priority….The suicide is a trauma for the victims. They might erroneously associate his death with their reporting [his actions]. The suicide was an extra act of abuse.” (See additional comments below.)
Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz is a world-renowned lecturer and rabbinic authority, who is the Rav of Kehillas Ohr Somayach, at Yeshiva Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. Rabbi Breitowitz’s scope of knowledge, brilliance, as well as a unique ability to grasp complicated material and communicate it clearly to others is legendary. He has lectured extensively on medical, business, and family ethics and has published numerous articles.
The full Shiur can be viewed below:
So much respect for VIN. Publishing these truths. Compare to other frum publications that ignore the story or chalilah, call him ZL or publish eulogies without mentioning what he did. These are not frum yidden. They dress like them but are not. A yid without rachmonis for a victim of sexual abuse is nisht kayn yid. I don’t care how much you daven or learn.
I agree. If he was innocent he would not have committed suicide. This is the last bullet he shot at his victims.
Having known Rav Breitowitz for over 30 years, and having listened to dozens of his lectures, I attest to his Gadlus B’Torah and especially his expertise in the Fifth Seder of Shulchan Aruch. The (primarily English speaking) Olam Hatorah would be doing itself a great favor to start widely listening to Rav Breitowitz and reading his brilliant writings, which reflect EXACTLY the Torah positions we need to encourage in our day and age.
People forget that the Torah forbids suicide and considers it a sin. The vast majority of suicides are the result of mental illness and are not considered a crime. But Walder’s suicide was premeditated and was a deliberate effort to further abuse his victims.