Leading progressive rabbi speaks out about receiving sexually-explicit abuse
Rabbi Charley Baginsky writes in Jewish News this week saying she's been sent remarks 'about my looks and graphic descriptions of sex'
One of the British Jewish community’s top female rabbis has spoken for the first time out about receiving sexually-explicit abuse after offering her opinion in a no-holds-barred account.
Writing in this week’s Jewish News, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships Rabbi Charley Baginsky said she had received comments “about my looks and graphic descriptions of sex”.
She added: “I’ve had these tweeted to me, emailed to me and posted on forums. Almost every female rabbi and faith leader I’ve spoken to has experienced the same thing… Sexist comments, inappropriate body language and the mild- mannered groping many of us have endured over the years.”
Baginsky’s explosive account follows news that a record number of female MPs are standing down from Parliament this month, citing the “new levels of abuse” which Baginsky said was “vile, prolific and without question focused on women”.
She also revealed that a female colleague from another branch of Judaism was collating sexist comments made towards female rabbis with a view to reflecting these back to male colleagues to raise awareness.
Last week Baginsky joined a chorus of condemnation after commentator Rod Liddle suggested that the election should be held on a day when “Muslims are forbidden to do anything on pain of hell” so the Conservatives could win more seats.
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