Orthodox Jewish Community In New Jersey Split Over Sex Abuse Charges In State Court

A lengthy article in today's Asbury Park (NJ) Press reports on the rift in Lakewood, New Jersey's Orthodox Jewish community over the process that led to criminal sexual assault and child endangerment charges being brought against Yosef Kolko, a former camp counselor and local yeshiva teacher. The father of the 12-year old child who was the victim of the abuse went directly to Ocean County prosecutors. A number of Orthodox rabbis though say that they favor such charges being handled initially by Jewish religious courts and that the father should have obtained permission from the rabbinical court before filing charges in a civil court against a fellow Jew.