“Pray that we will be good messengers”: Ultra-orthodox educators’ responses to students’ disclosures of sexual abuse

Background: Culture clashes often occur when authorities formally intervene in child sexual abuse (CSA) cases in religious communities, which may cause additional harm to the survivors and their families. Objective: The current study is part of a larger project on educators from various cultural groups dealing with CSA. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Jewish ultra-Orthodox educators with mandatory reporting and their perceptions and encounters with formal authorities (e.g., social services) after CSA disclosures in their schools in Israel. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 28 ultra-Orthodox educators, which were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: The findings indicated that ultra-Orthodox educators perceived mandatory reporting and the relations with authorities on a continuum, from beneficial to harmful. Their experiences were impacted by their perceptions of the authorities’ professionalism, availability and efficiency, as well as their sensitivity towards the ultra-Orthodox community. Finally, the educators perceived ultra-Orthodox authority figures, such as rabbis, as having an essential role in the intervention after disclosure. Conclusions: The findings emphasized the complexity as well as the ability to bridge the gap between educators, in particular, and the ultra-Orthodox community, in general, with the formal authorities for the purpose of CSA interventions.