As Jewish women and professionals who study, teach about, and are survivors of sexual violence we have been listening to the conversations about teshuva following public disclosures about sexual harassment in the Jewish world. Some believe that it is neither the time nor place for this discussion while others, including survivors, want to discuss it but feel silenced. Since this month of Elul demands reflection on the impact of our actions, we would like to offer insights from the criminological field about a practice known as restorative justice and how it is aligned with, and goes further than, teshuva. We also recognize that restorative justice can be painful for survivors to consider or that they may be uninterested and it is understandable and acceptable if they never want to engage in it.
Despite popular belief, restorative justice is not soft on the wrongdoer and its purpose is neither rehabilitation nor the returning of wrongdoers to positions they once held. It is not a legal process or mediation and it is not about reconciliation. While the process may foster forgiveness, it is certainly not its goal because the decision to forgive is only and always up to survivors.
Restorative justice focuses on repairing the harm caused to individuals, families and friends, and communities. Any of the ways to engage the process must be survivor-centered and trauma-informed. A key component is that the person who was harmed has the opportunity to share their truth and the impact of their experience. The offender must listen, firsthand, about the pain they have caused to their victims and how their actions have permeated across time and relationships. Additionally, the person who caused harm must accept responsibility for their actions. In this way, victims are heard and also hear offenders answer for their actions.
The concept of teshuva is not new to the aftermath of wrongdoing. Like restorative justice, teshuva is not about forgiveness but it requires asking for forgiveness and making amends after one authentically owns their behavior. This is accomplished through specific steps including regretting, renouncing, and confessing one’s actions without justifications and resolving to do better in the future.
To read more of Alissa Ackerman and Guila Benchimol's article, visit: https://ejewishphilanthropy.co...g-sexual-misconduct/
Comments (0)