Tomorrow: Crown Heights Asifa To Combat Child Abuse
Hundreds of Orthodox Jews are expected Monday, September 15 at an event in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to relaunch Jewish Community Watch (JCW) and to raise awareness for child abuse (CSA) in the Orthodox Jewish community ● Survivors, rabbis, therapists, educators and JCW directors are scheduled to address the crowd on the issue of CSA while covering details of JCW’s relaunch including policy discussion and project introduction ● Details
Source: Press Release
Hundreds of Orthodox Jews are expected Monday, September 15 at an event in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to relaunch Jewish Community Watch (JCW) and to raise awareness for child abuse (CSA) in the Orthodox Jewish community. A crowd-funding campaign in July helped raise $150,000 in 24 hours to cover a major portion of JCW’s annual budget enabling it to recommence its services. Survivors, rabbis, therapists, educators and JCW directors are scheduled to address the crowd on the issue of CSA while covering details of JCW’s relaunch including policy discussion and project introduction. A short film, entitled Speak Up which explores the stories of seven Jewish abuse survivors from the orthodox community, will also be screened.
Jewish Community Watch was founded in 2011 by Meyer Seewald, himself a victim of sexual abuse, with the stated goal of breaking the silence and shame that surrounded CSA in the Orthodox Jewish community. Meyer worked with Crown Heights community rabbis to release the first rabbinic mandate calling for abuse to be reported directly to the police. JCW’s first website was launched featuring the Wall of Shame where, after taking testimony from victims followed by extensive investigation, alleged molesters had their pictures posted to warn communities of their actions. JCW collected testimony from victims and worked with many of them to file reports with the police and to pursue justice through the legal system. In addition, the services offered by JCW began to increase to include education on CSA, awareness events and other activities. Despite its success, JCW was forced to close down in February 2014 due to an enormous caseload which lead to a lack of funding.
After receiving hundreds of calls and messages protesting its closure and commitments to donate towards the reopening of JCW, a relaunch plan was strategically formulated. The plan significantly expanded its activities to incorporate a number of services including: therapy for survivors, education, private investigations headed by licensed PIs to investigate allegations of abuse, and an improved Wall of Shame. At the Monday event, JCW will detail those expanded activities as well as bring more transparency to the organization by introducing their board and defining their policies and procedures.
Founder of Jewish Community Watch, Meyer Seewald “As a community, we are coming together and by doing so are making a tremendous Kiddush Hashem (bringing honor to God and the Jewish people). Finally, we are admitting we have a problem and facing it head on and declaring that we will no longer ignore or cover it up. Survivors are coming forward with a reinforced dedication, with their heads held high – no longer ashamed. Our communities must follow their lead and even though it may be an uncomfortable topic we must ‘blush for a few moments so others don’t have to bleed.’
This event being endorsed by organizations and community leaders demonstrates just how far we’ve come, but there is still so much work to be done and that’s what this event is all about.”
566
Join ChabadInfo's News Roundup and alerts for the HOTTEST Chabad news and updates!
Related Posts:
Most Popular
New Videos
Editor's Picks
Is Chabadinfo.com promoting this event?
I’m very surprised…
Let me just ask one of the many questions: Is it ok, is it proper for a woman to stand up and give a talk in front of a male audience? Does she really have such important information that no man can share? There are many other questions about this event that I would be careful before promoting it.
I am very surprised, that you have chosen to focus on a trivial matter, when on the line are many children who were abused and more abusers on the loose, who will use any opportunity to destroy the life of another Jew.
I think it’s inappropriate that so many of our residents are busy protecting the criminals, and attacking those who do something against it.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
I am actually VERY PROUD that ChabadInfo.com took the stance of promoting such an important event, in line with the directive of the Crown Heights Beis Din, that CSA is tantamount to murder, and the abusers are considered Rodfim.