Two Blocks

This excellent letter reminded me of another one recently that I thought was a poignant read:

Abuse is more common in the Jewish community than most people think it is. How can I say that? Well, I am a survivor of abuse, and including myself, I know of five people who were abused within a two-block radius. That is five people too many.

Parents, especially as school has begun anew, please read pieces such as this one and make sure to properly educate your children. I believe most abuse is committed by people who the children know well; don't assume that "don't talk to strangers" is enough. They need to know what to tell you about and what to say no to. And don't think that kids can't stop abuse:

A child’s vulnerability to predators is dependent to a great extent on the manner in which he or she is treated by their parents, said Lipner. He recalled an incident in which a six-year-old girl scared off a would-be abuser by saying, “That’s stupid and I’m calling the police.”

Educate your kids.