Talmudic commentary recognizes inappropriate behavior and conflicts of interest, but the Torah itself demands “justice, justice shall you pursue” — to deal with sexual abuse (“What The Talmud Can Teach Us About The #MeToo Moment,” Editor’s column, Feb. 23). And it prohibits talebearing, which destroys a reputation — so precious that it lives on even after death.
#MeToo violates both, as well as the U.S. Constitution and common decency by encouraging accusations against successful accomplished men and pressuring for dismissals, after secretive investigations without due process that would provide the fundamental right for the accused to defend themselves.
#MeToo is unwilling to acknowledge the complex workplace interplay of authority and sexual power and the obvious contradiction of liberated women as helpless victims with no power to defend themselves and no responsibility for their behavior. It ignores the obvious — that workplace harassment is a commonplace equal-opportunity form of adult bullying — in no way restricted to men on women.
If #MeToo were really concerned with the oppression of women, it would protest forced circumcision of women, honor killings of daughters and sisters seeking male companionship and women forced to completely cover themselves.
People, in this case men, accused of abuse and harassment need to be brought to justice, not subjected to witch hunts that subvert both the Torah and our precious American freedoms.
Gene Morganthau
