Deuteronomy 19:15

Question

Hi,

Jehovah’s Witness organization has applied Deuteronomy 19:15 to child sexual abuse, and their policy for many years has been to NOT call the police, or even look into the matter if only one parent or child reports that they have been abused. I see that some translations do not use the wording “rise up against”, rather, they use the wording “convict” on the basis of only one witness.

 

So, I was curious what has been the historic and modern day Jewish understanding and application of this?

 

Thanks, from Tucson, Arizona.

 

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    The verse is only referring to a Jewish court of law. It has nothing whatsoever to do with civil law.

    Please allow me to make a personal remark. Child abuse (in all of its many variations) is one of the most awful crimes possible. It is inconceivable to me that a belief system would imagine that taking a verse from the Torah out of context is a justification to turn a blind eye to such disgustingly reprehensible actions.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team