“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.