I am sure that it took a lot of courage for Judy Brown to write Hush and even more courage to reveal her real name. Judy Brown grew up in an ultra-Orthodox community in Borough Park. She wrote her book Hush under the pseudonym of Eishes Chayil in order to protect her friends and family. Eishes Chayil translates to Woman of Valor. In the Orthodox community, a woman of valor is one who raises a family, keeps the laws and sustains the Jewish community. It represents a woman of strength.
Sexual abuse was not something people talked about in Judy Brown’s world, however when an 8 year old boy in Borough Park was sexually abused and murdered shortly after her book was published Judy Brown revealed her identity.
“I refuse to continue to allow that fear to force me into hiding over a book that should have been written long ago. I no longer want to be known only as Eishes Chayil when my name is Judy Brown. I must find the courage to stand with the victims who carry the burden of our silence for the rest of their lives.”
Bravo Judy Brown!
http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/140820/#ixzz1dLlxeQpT
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eishes-chayil/orthodox-jewish-child-abuse_b_915557.html
http://www.womanofvalor.org/woman-of-valor,-the-hebrew-meaning.aspx
Friday Morning Bookclub 
The 8 year old boy, Leiby Kletsky, was not sexually abused. He was murdered by a schizophrenic, which is bad enough.
Comment by Evelyn — March 6, 2012 @ 11:22 am |
Hi Evelyn, Thanks for the clarification. Murdered and dismembered is certainly bad enough.
Comment by susanbright — March 6, 2012 @ 6:23 pm |