Rabbi Blau Lashes Out at Blog and Media Haters

In an amazing post on Emes Ve-Emunah, a Rabbi Blau email is reprinted — with his permission — in which Rabbi Blau defends the newspaper that took Rabbi Lanner down, noting,

I have been asked to comment on Gary Rosenblatt’s series of articles about Baruch Lanner June 2000. Knowing the background of the story and his willingness not to go to print if the OU would act decisively I can only applaud Gary Rosenblatt for his concern for survivors and potential victims. If the story had not appeared it is possible that Rabbi Lanner would be presently working for NCSY.

Rabbi Blau also writes,

The question that disturbs me is why the Orthodox community has learned so little many scandals and almost eight years later? It would be better if proper procedures would exist for responding to allegations of sexual abuse and newspaper reports would not be necessary. The Chilul HaShem is caused by the abusers, their enablers and those who cover up[...] Instead of blaming the reporters and the bloggers let us seriously confront the problem and protect our children.

That won’t happen. It won’t happen because the ultra-Orthodox community would have to 1) give up its sense of victimology, and 2) recognize that they have problems they pretend only others have.

Better to blame it on bloggers and the “Ortho-bashing” media.