A vital initiative

The Chief Rabbi has now been in office for over two years. He may have had a hard act to follow, but he has made an indelible and deeply personal stamp on the office — from his immediate decision to attend Limmud to the latest initiative, last week’s seminar on child abuse for 120 religious leaders. All too often, this is an issue that is swept under the carpet, as we pretend our community is free of such crimes. But the Chief Rabbi is clear that we must confront it and deal with it with the “greatest possible seriousness”. Doubtless his determination is influenced by his wife’s professional expertise as a social worker with years of experience in child protection. Some parts of our community still believe that abuse should be dealt with within the community. They could not be more wrong. Chief Rabbi Mirvis is absolutely right to bring attitudes, and our response to abuse, into the modern world.