Interview with Rabbi Yosef Blau on Sexual Abuse in the Orthodox Community
Olivia Wiznitzer & Estee Goldschmidt
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: Features
The Observer: Could you please explain who you are and what you do (aside from your activism regarding sexual abuse), your role as Mashgiach Ruchani, etc- basically so everyone has some idea of who you are at the university.
Rabbi Yosef Blau: You know what my title is [Mashgiach Ruchani: Spiritual Advisor]: how it plays out in Yeshiva is a good question. I do a lot of different things at Yeshiva. There's a traditional role of Mashgiach which I try to fulfill which involves periodically giving public talks and also being available and working on issues with students, religious or not, which are on their mind. This is the role I have played in Yeshiva over the years. Every situation evolves in its own way and one of the things it evolves into is because of my nature and my interest, I've become somewhat of a bridge between the Yeshiva and the College. And therefore there are issues that are brought to my attention, heated questions of when students don't know if they can take certain courses or don't know how to explain their religious concerns to a professor or vice versa where a professor doesn't understand where their students are coming from and needs someone to explain to the professor what our culture consists of, what the issues and concerns that a student has. In its most recent form, this has involved my literally giving tours to various people to the Beis Midrash to expose them to what we do since many of them have no idea as to what our students do in the morning. Obviously there are secular faculty who know of this, but for those who don't, you need someone to help explain. You could say this should go both ways, but once again, the Roshei Yeshiva have been to Yeshiva College themselves. I do a lot of things in between; I do a lot of different things representing and trying to be the glue in two parts of the institution to get it working well together. Whether that's the formal role of Mashigach: not necessarily. It happens to fit me, so I do it.
Rabbi Yosef Blau: You know what my title is [Mashgiach Ruchani: Spiritual Advisor]: how it plays out in Yeshiva is a good question. I do a lot of different things at Yeshiva. There's a traditional role of Mashgiach which I try to fulfill which involves periodically giving public talks and also being available and working on issues with students, religious or not, which are on their mind. This is the role I have played in Yeshiva over the years. Every situation evolves in its own way and one of the things it evolves into is because of my nature and my interest, I've become somewhat of a bridge between the Yeshiva and the College. And therefore there are issues that are brought to my attention, heated questions of when students don't know if they can take certain courses or don't know how to explain their religious concerns to a professor or vice versa where a professor doesn't understand where their students are coming from and needs someone to explain to the professor what our culture consists of, what the issues and concerns that a student has. In its most recent form, this has involved my literally giving tours to various people to the Beis Midrash to expose them to what we do since many of them have no idea as to what our students do in the morning. Obviously there are secular faculty who know of this, but for those who don't, you need someone to help explain. You could say this should go both ways, but once again, the Roshei Yeshiva have been to Yeshiva College themselves. I do a lot of things in between; I do a lot of different things representing and trying to be the glue in two parts of the institution to get it working well together. Whether that's the formal role of Mashigach: not necessarily. It happens to fit me, so I do it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 9
Elliot
posted 5/05/09 @ 7:10 PM EST
A fantastic interview!
Good job ladies!
Kol hakavod to Rabbi Blau for being active in this arena. He is not afraid to speak his mind and means what he says. (Continued…)
Joseph
posted 5/05/09 @ 10:42 PM EST
Has the writer ever heard of paragraphs?
Avi
posted 5/05/09 @ 11:39 PM EST
A pretty rare and well-done interview!
Olivia and Esti,great job!
yehudah
yehudah
posted 5/16/09 @ 11:25 PM EST
great job esti
believe it or not i read the whole article
Aron
posted 5/22/09 @ 3:26 PM EST
Thanks for this truly informative piece!
jschon
jacob schonfield
posted 10/13/09 @ 2:23 PM EST
I'm pleasantly surprised by the interview w. Rabbi Blau in the YC newspaper. In my day at YC, some 60yrs ago, the student newspaper was filled w.news of the successes of YC teams but didn't tackle important issues in the Jewish community. (Continued…)
AB
posted 10/14/09 @ 8:16 PM EST
Congrats!
You've been linked by NY Times!!!
Go Chana!!!
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