Yehudis Goldsobel, at The Blogs

Apply for a Blog

Feb 9, 2023, 3:27 PM

Spiritual abuse can be dressed up as halacha and guidance

‘A position of trust’ is a legal term which refers to a person who holds authority over another person and uses that position to harm or commit a crime against another. When we hear about abuse perpetrated by someone in a position of trust, whether...

Jul 14, 2022, 6:15 PM

Ten exhausting, frustrating years, working with Jewish victims of sexual abuse

In spring 2011, I reported my experiences of sexual abuse to the police. I was prepared for anger, hate and disappointment from my community, I wasn’t prepared for the endless amount of people who reached out to share their own experiences of abuse. They were...

Feb 11, 2022, 12:09 PM

Are we adequately safeguarding children from harm?

School children in a classroom. Photo credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Last month an independent panel of experts at the Teaching Regulation Authority heard evidence from two male victims, both active members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Manchester. The allegations against Yankel Shepherd – also an active member of the Orthodox Jewish community – involved...

Jan 12, 2022, 1:22 PM

To the leaders we don’t see – thank you

Chaim Wilder (Photo: YouTube)

Despite Charedi news sources great efforts in the past to avoid the issue of sexual abuse even entering Charedi homes via print or online sources, News sources who otherwise would never have published, were ultimately forced into publishing something, anything, in response to the allegations...

Jan 5, 2022, 3:28 PM

Inspect your child’s safety as you would food you eat

Child reading a book (Photo by Johnny McClung on Unsplash)

I have received countless messages over the last week. A large number of them are parents asking for book or video recommendations for their children. While there are some good books about consent, boundaries and saying no, these are NOT a substitute for you, nor...

Dec 1, 2021, 6:55 PM

Is this a turning point for victims of Charedi sexual abuse?

The author Chaim Walder (Photo: YouTube)

The strictly Orthodox community has responded to allegations of sexual abuse by one of its greatest authors, Chaim Walder. Walder, a therapist, known for his activism on behalf of children in the Charedi community as well as his popular children’s books Kids Speak, is being...

Mar 26, 2021, 5:40 PM

Pesach is a triggering time for many victims of sexual abuse

Jewish holiday Passover background with matzo, seder plate, wine and tulip flowers on wooden table. Top view from above. (Jewish News)

Every year at the start of Spring Jewish households across the world mark the holiday of Pesach, we spend hours recounting our ancestors liberation from Egypt, freedom from slavery and essentially the very survival of the Jewish nation. The level of detail my family and...

Feb 3, 2021, 2:22 PM

If Charedi rabbis banned broccoli, overnight no one would buy broccoli

Broccoli (Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

The government made allowances for houses of worship to remain open, provided they are COVID compliant. Many shuls made the tough decision to close, emphasising that congregant safety comes first. But, in some shuls, the only way you would know we are mid pandemic is...

Aug 19, 2020, 12:58 PM

We need reform for more effective child protection

Chair of the IICSA, Professor Alexis Jay. (Jewish News)

This past Friday we heard the closing statements to the governments Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) for the Religious Organisations and Settings strand. Chaired by Professor Alexis Jay OBE, the inquiry was set up because of serious concerns that some organisation had failed...

Apr 3, 2020, 1:00 PM

Supporting those being abused during the living nightmare of lockdown

Upset child (Jewish News)

Any other year, in the weeks leading up to Pesach we at Migdal Emunah would be preparing ourselves for the influx of new clients, as families reconvene to spend the festival together leading to genuine trauma for victims of sexual abuse. This year however, it...

Load more

About Me

Yehudis Goldsobel is the founder of Migdal Emunah and the UK's Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week.