U.S Orthodox rabbis urge Israel to crack down on human trafficking

You can learn more about sex trafficking in Israel at www.TFHT.org

Now the Rabbis will hopefully show some good example and close down the Meah Shearim brothels above the Shuls. Once I actually asked a prostitute in T-A, WHY she, an elderly lady, too, was doing it. She told me that she had three kids and an unemployed husband at home, WHOSE idea(!) it was to have his wife be the bread-winner in this humiliating fashion. She told me that the money was so good that there was no point for her or her husband(?) to toil on "peanusts" and being exploited, for they were new immigrants from Russia. AS I later have learned, prostitution, especially among the Russian women, is regarded as an "ideal career" and the Russian husbands do not seem to mind; on the contrary. Maybe their attitudes are this open-minded, since religion was banned in the Soviet Union for 75 years!? The Rabbis need to know that in order to put an end to prostitution, attitudes and fast-money-greed need to be REPLACED with spiritual education,moral values,fulfilling physical work!

Dave, The RCA has taken a stand on the Gay parade and many other topics, too,as you can see at http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100809. Be careful to research a bit before criticizing...

Are you for real??? Mos are not there 'willingly' as you suggest, and furthermore even IF they were, those who would condone such a thing need imprisoned!! The idea that they might be there 'willingly' chnages anything is absurd! Human traffickers PREY on the weak, they promis money, safety etc etc. They LIE about, the women THINK they're going to freedom and opportunity. They are lied to.the very idea they could be to blame/reponsible/or done nothing about is ignorant1 Read some of the girl' dtories, might shed some light on the topic for you.

The RCA is to be commended for this statement and may it be the impetus to their future involvement in ending this form of slavery. If only there were no need for them to speak out.

Though you have a point that some women getting into the sex trade do so willingly. The idea behind trafficking often is against the will of the women participating. It leaves them vulnerable to enslavement in most, if not all cases, since their passports are taken from them and all the money is in the hands of the pimps. A horrible situation for anyone in a foreign country.

The real problem is with the men's demand for more and more sex . If they could see the damage that they are doing to the women , they just might change their ways . But I doubt it .The male sex is always demanding more . They say they'll die without it . What I say is ,,,,,I want to see the first man who dies because of lack of sex . That will be a real pleasure !!! Keep your pants zipped up fellows . You look a lot better that way .

Funny they protest human trafficking but don't criticize the worse sin, the "toeva," that's not only being allowed but being officially encouraged by the government.

Is it actual enslavement? Or a means to rise from poverty, or "get rich quick" Not good either way, but it does make a difference. Especially in how to solve the problem.

Very well said. It's important for the Diaspora to keep out of Israeli politics, but when it comes to moral, ethical and religious issues, we share a comon heritage and should feel able to speak out.

If so many Orthodox men stopped patronizing the brothels in Israel like they do in the U.S. lots of the customer base would disappear, partially solving the problem.