What should I do if my Rabbi says I shouldn’t report my abuse?

A lot of rabbis may try to tell you that you’re not allowed to report child sexual abuse to the authorities or that you have to go through a based in. They’re absolutely wrong. Child sexual abuse can cause suicidal ideation, depression, self-harm, eating disorders as well as a host of other life-threatening conditions. There is no question that the only response to child sexual abuse is to report it immediately to authorities regardless of what any rabbi tells you. As always, make sure that your support network is ready to help you in the event that you face any backlash for that decision.