Heshy's story.
Setting: Machane Ohel Baruch d'Krasna, the Yeshiva's summer camp in upstate NY.
I was about 10 years old at the time. We would learn in the woods in little booths which we called budkeleach. Me and a friend (who was a bit slow and prone to being teased by the rest of his classmates but I nevertheless befriended) were talking behind the booths and we gradually began to walk away toward the forest. Before we knew it we were both lost; we couldn’t see the booths anymore and we both started to panic. All kinds of horrific thoughts began to flood my mind. Images of my dead body lying in the forest being ravaged by animals seemed vivid and real. Me -in my childhood naivete- seriously thought that this would be my end. We decided to continue walking nonetheless and see if there was a path to lead us back to the camp. We finally did find a path which took us us to the other side of camp and we both went to his bunk house (since I was a commuter)to rest and we both promised to give tzedaka etc.
Suddenly some kid appears telling us that the menahel (Nuchem Klein) is looking for us and that we are in major trouble. What happened next will forever be seared into my memory. This happened more than a decade ago but I still bear the emotional scars to this day.
I was brought into class along with my friend. We were both lain over 2 chairs and the menahel proceeded to beat us with a tree branch on our backs. Not a minor beating mind you; I was beaten and humiliated for about 2 hours if not more.. And to add insult to injury I was surrounded by those fucking accursed snot nosed little Chassidish kids in the class all clamoring to get a better view of our humiliation. I have never in my entire life felt so violated and humiliated. As I was being beaten the kids would constantly say other nasty things about me like how I skipped the learning class one day and went to the canteen instead etc. and for each of these "offenses" I would receive more beatings.
I came home that day and I was silent my back was bloodied and bruised for weeks afterwards. I hid my wounds , I don’t know why I didnt tell anyone, maybe like many victims of abuse I was blaming myself for what had happened , who knows? I didn’t go back to camp after that I just stayed home all day while my mother tried to convince me to go back. I remember one day my mother spotted my wounds and she asked me what happened and I gave some kind of evasive answer. she did not choose to investigate further.
I have come a long way from those days. I have since completely moved away from the Chassidic community and am currently enrolled as a full time student in College but the memories of the violent abuse that I was the recipient of- as well as the knowledge that this and worse has been (and continued to be) a commonplace occurence in this institution gives me no rest.
Apparently Stories of Klein's severe physical abuse as well as his manipulation and intimidation of both children and adults strech back several decades. When I first mentioned this story somewhere I received the following anonymous e-mail:
"I noticed on your blog your exposing 2 people of Krasna, i wonder if you have more info from people about krasna, because its the worst Talmud Torah in Boro park.
Nochim Klein is a ROTZAICH, Rosha Merisha, and he absolutely does not belong to be around kids, we must start a huge campaign to oust him.
I know many stories of him, but all parents are very scared of him, he is a manipulator and dictator, and continuously threatens parents if they complain. he has been at the helm of krasna for over 20 years, that is way to long. there isn't a single Rabbi in Krasna who has a good word on him. They all hate him with a passion.
In general Krasna runs a very shady education systems, in the last 3 years the Menhal Goshmi have changed 3 hands, and is about to change again".
Well it is clear that this man has no business being around kids. He must be brought down before he kills more yiddishe neshamas.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Have you considered taking this monster to court?
It sounds like you would be the ideal person to do so; you aren't concerned about the impact that such action would have on you within the community, since you've left it and you seem to have more sense (and are more eloquent in your writings and I'm therefore assuming, are more educated/intelligent than the average member of the Hasidic community).
Funny that of all places, this would happen in a camp, where you are supposed to be having fun, not being forced to learn torah all day.
I was in one of those types of camps once (though it doesn't sound like it was as bad) and I remembered getting into serious trouble for skipping learning groups. I remember thinking "this is supposed to be camp, not school".
I've thought of it but I'm not sure about the statute of limitation. Plus the odds are against me considering the political clout people like Krasna and their associates have with local politicians.
To be honest with you, I think that's a cop-out answer.
I respond to the last part of your statement first:
As someone who is not in any way shape or form in your community but once lived on the fringes of the "black hat" world, I can tell you that these individuals have a LOT less political clout than you think they have, if they have any at all.
I understand, having been in the fringes of the community (in a family where a post-university intellectual education was HIGHLY valued) that a Chasid might think that a Rosh HaYeshiva is omnipotent but these dudes are, for the most part, small fries.
Maybe they're close with a local councilman or some minor official like that but I find it very hard to believe that in the United States in 2007, a child abuser is going to be protected from someone with the courage to go to the public authorities and newspapers (which we know all too well eat this stuff up).
Now, the first part:
With respect to the statute of limitations, I am no expert. But if all you do is assume that nothing can be done, I assure you that nothing will.
I don't know how old you are, where you grew up, how your family would feel, or any of that jive and, quite frankly, it doesn't really matter. Perhaps you feel a sense of vindication by creating a blog and that's enough for you. Perhaps it is not. Again, it doesn't matter. But to pretend that there's some sort of invisible forcefield around this rabbi (who I've never heard of, though that means very litte) that's preventing you from doing anything is, to me, a cop-out answer.
I would imagine that there are scores and scores of legal professions, abuse counselors, and the sort that would give you some advice as to what your options are. But to create a blog that no one in your target community probably reads will likely do nothing.
Good luck!
anon,
would be able to contact me via e-mail?
Thanks.
It has been a long time since I thought about this distant (but still just as painful and raw) memory of childhood. A recent conversation with a friend brought back a flood of memories. The friend urged me not to let this go and so I won't. I am back in. Your advice and encouragement is most welcomed. Thanks.
Post a Comment