It is 2:30am and I can’t sleep. I just finished watching Brave Miss World. It moved me inspired me, but most of all effected me to come forward and speak out after 40 years.
I am a Hasidic pop singer and I have carried this burden for a long time.
I grew up in a religious family and went to a religious school.
At the age of 9 I was sexually assaulted by my teacher. I was not the only boy. I mustered the courage to convince 2 other boys to come with me to the principal and maybe we would be believed as a group. The principal pulled out a stick and said he would break the stick on our backsides if we ever speak of this again. I felt guilt, shame and confused about religion.
It has taken me years to separate the beautiful teachings of my heritage from the teacher and develop a healthy connection to religion. It will never be perfect and the damage creeps up on you every so often.
This movie inspired me. You are living proof that a little light can chase away a lot of darkness. In these days of Chanukah my pledge to you is that I will do what I can in my community to help victims in any way I can and take the tourch of fire you ignited and kindle more tourches of light. Together we CAN change the world.
Thank you thank you!!
— Survivor, age 48
You are a brave man and I guess our faith we allows to accept our past experiences. Life is a gift, we Grew up and learn of our past. I’m proud of you and you can to be proud of yourself too. Thank you for sharing your story.
I am so proud of you for speaking out and coming forward to share your story here at Brave Miss World. Sexual assault can rock you to your core and when you add the layer of faith or religion to the mix, it can create profoundly complicated messages regarding where we stand. Brave Miss World offered a similar moving experience for me. I watched the film for the first time on a Friday afternoon. When the film ended I got up and went to Erev Shabbat services. It was the first time I had been to shul in almost 15 years. I tell you this because I want you to know how much your post resonated and inspired me in the same way Brave Miss World inspired you. You are very brave and I know you will help many many people in your community.