National Jewish Child Abuse Prevention Week

For the first time ever in American Jewish history, a long list of national community organizations are coming together to fight child abuse and create safety and protection for children. Cosponsoring the National Week are Jewish Board of Child Advocates (JBAC), Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), Union of Orthodox Congregations (OU) , Rabbinical Alliance of America (Iggud Harrabanim),and The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment (JSafe).

The Jewish Board of Advocates for Children is proud to announce that we are declaring October 17-24th:
“National Jewish Child Abuse Prevention Week.”

For the first time ever in American Jewish history, a long list of national community organizations are coming together to fight child abuse and create safety and protection for children.  Co-sponsoring the National Week are Jewish Board of Child Advocates (JBAC), Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), Union of Orthodox Congregations (OU) , Rabbinical Alliance of America (Iggud Harrabanim),and The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment (JSafe).   This is not only newsworthy in the Jewish community, but it also marks the first time any faith community has supplemented the government’s official National Child Abuse Prevention Month that has taken place each year in April since1983. We are hopeful that the government will endorse our plan and will encourage other faith communities to hold similar national events for child safety.

Please find enclosed a memo being sent by these organizations all around the country to Jewish schools and synagogues, offering several ways that communities can get involved in educating themselves on child sexual abuse, ways to prevent it, and ways to offer support to victims and families who have endured this traumatic experience.

The Jewish community of Chicago, led by the Chicago Rabbinical Council and the Associated Talmud Torahs, has been chosen to host our kick-off event on October 17th.   The Chicago event planning committee is being led by the JBAC’s Dr. Skolnik and Dorron Katzin.  Please find enclosed a press release for that event in which you will see that  speakers will include Chicago’s own Rabbi Gedalia Dov Shwartz, Shlita, and Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik Shlita, (on JBAC’s rabbinic committee) as well as respected psychoanalyst Vivian Skolnik, Ph.D.,(on our executive committee).  They will be joined by national lecturers Rabbi Marc Dratch of JSAFE (and JBAC), Elliot Pasik, Esq. and Asher Lipner, Ph.D, (President and Executive VP of JBAC) in presenting the latest cutting edge information on how parents and community members can act responsibly to protect our children.

We are fortunate to be able to present courageous adult survivors of abuse, Mark Weiss and Ester Malka Reich who can inform the community in a way nobody else can about what the experience of abuse is like, how the abusers manipulate children into it, and what parents and community members need to know to prevent it.  Secondly, there will also be a presentation from a detective from the Chicago Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit, Linda Paraday, who will describe how law enforcement works with the community to stop molesters.

Please be informed that the JBAC will make available its officers and members of its executive and rabbinic committees for interviews.  The adult survivors who are speaking, as well as many others who have spoken or volunteered to speak at JBAC events in the past and future, are also available.

The JBAC would like to express our deep appreciation to the following individuals for making this happen:

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Ph.D,  and Rabbi Steven Weil of the OU, Rabbi Basil Herring and Rabbi Moshe Kletenik of the RCA, Rabbi Gershon Tennenbaum of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, Rabbi Moshe Kushner of the Chicago Rabbinical Committee and Rabbi Shimon Moller of the Associated Talmud Torahs.


NATIONAL JEWISH CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION WEEK
 
Synagogues, Yeshivas, Day Schools and communities across the country are invited to join the Jewish Board of Advocates for Children, the Union of Orthodox Synagogues, the Rabbinical Council of America, the Rabbinical Alliance of America, and JSafe, in declaring the week of October 17- October 24, 2010 a week focused on spreading awareness of the problem of the sexual, physical and emotional abuse of children in our community. To participate, communities can choose to do some or all of the following:

1. Publicize:  Use websites, mailing lists and email lists to get the word out about your participation in Child Abuse Prevention Week and what it is all about.

2. Disseminate: Make available published materials about abuse prevention and intervention.   This may include the JBAC Position Paper available at www.jewishadvocates.org, the Torah Umesorah Guidelines for school principals on sexual abuse, the open letter of the Vaad HaRabbanim of Baltimore from April 2007, the Resolutions of the Rabbinical Council of America from 2005 through 2010, Tshuvot from Gedolim published in the 2005 and the 2010 editions of Yeshurun, information available from advocacy websites like RAINN, JSAFE, The Awareness Center, etc.

3. Inform: Create a list of local and national resources for victims of abuse and their families to get emotional support, psychological services and legal help.

4.  Educate:

a) A Shiur from a Rabbi on the halachas of Pikuach Nefesh and Rodef as well as the issues of Mesirah, Lashon Harah and Chillul Hashem.

b) A lecture from a psychologist, or mental health professional who specializes in treating abuse survivors about the way the community can support survivors and their families, and about how to talk to your children about abuse in the most effective manner

c) A lecture from a lawyer on legal prevention techniques, remedies, and how the civil and criminal justice systems handle child abuse.

d) A presentation by crime prevention experts teaching parents how to keep their children safe

e) Testimonials from adult survivors of abuse are a most effective tool in educating the public about the danger of abuse, and also help shatter the stigma that often hurts the survivors even more than the abuse itself.

5. Inspire:  Rabbis can devote their weekly Drasha to the problem of sexual abuse in the community, the need for safety precautions and the need to stand up for and support victims.

6. Support:  Create local support groups for survivors of abuse run by mental health professionals with confidentiality and safety.  For help setting up a support group contact the Jewish Board of Advocates for Children, at www.jewishadvocates.org.  


NATIONAL JEWISH CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION WEEK
OCTOBER 17-24, 2010

JEWISH BOARD OF ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN
IN COOPERATION WITH
RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA
UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA
IGGUD HARABONNIM - RABBINICAL ALLIANCE OF AMERICA
J-SAFE - THE JEWISH INSTITUTE SUPPORTING AN ABUSE-FREE ENVIRONMENT
CHICAGO RABBINICAL COUNCIL
ASSOCIATED TALMUD TORAHS OF CHICAGO
PRESENTS A SEMINAR:

“PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN FROM MOLESTERS”

The goal of the seminar is to help parents, schools, clergy, and all concerned community members to:
•    become more aware of the incidents of molestation and their impact on individuals and our community.
•    learn how we can better recognize and report knowledge about such incidents.
•    hear first-hand what survivors of abuse feel the community and parents need to do to support victims of abuse.

Sunday, October 17, 2010
Registration -- 1:00 PM
Mincha at Conclusion of Program – 4:30 PM
Associated Talmud Torahs
Ida Crown Jewish Academy
2828 W. Pratt Blvd., Chicago, IL  60645

Speakers:
Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, Av Beth Din, Beth Din of America and Chicago Rabbinical Council

Rabbi Mark Dratch, founder of JSafe and JBAC Rabbinical Committee member:
Jewish Law and the Prevention of Sexual Abuse

Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Brisk, and JBAC Rabbinical Committee member:
The Issue in the Local Community and Where Parents Should Turn for Help

Vivian Skolnick, Ph.D., psychoanalyst and JBAC Executive Committee Member:
Profile of a Pedophile

Asher Lipner, Ph.D., psychologist and JBAC Executive Vice President:
The Psychological Struggle of the Victim of Abuse

Elliot Pasik, Attorney and JBAC President:
Legal History of Child Abuse;  We're Winning the Battle;  What We Need to Do for the Future

Mark Weiss, JBAC Executive Committee Member:
The Personal Story of One Survivor of Abuse and Thoughts on What Parents Need to Know

Esther Malka Reich:
The Personal Story of One Survivor of Abuse and Thoughts on What the Community as a Whole Needs To Do

Detective Linda Paraday, Chicago Police Department Special Victims Unit:
Procedures for Reporting and Investigating Sexual Abuse of Children

No Admission Fee

For more information, contact:  chicago.awareness@gmail.com

Jewish Board of Advocates for Children, Inc. (JBAC) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation
52 East Olive Street, Long Beach, NY 11561  www.jewishadvocates.org

Elliot Pasik, Esq., President: efpasik@aol.com    Asher Lipner, PhD, Exec. Vice President: lipnera@gmail.com
Child Advocates, With A Jewish Heart

About the Jewish Board of Advocates for Children

The Jewish Board of Advocates for Children, a nonprofit, IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation based in New York, was founded three years ago by a group of lawyers, doctors, rabbis, other professionals, and activists who recognize the need for a new voice to be heard that addresses the painful problem of the sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of children.

JBAC was born out of the recognition that existing efforts to curb child abuse are inadequate, and new solutions need to be pursued.

Our seminal document, Position Paper to the New York State Legislature, issued in February 2009, can be found on our web site at www.jewishadvocates.org.  We strongly advocate for new laws that will better protect the children who attend religious and other nonpublic schools.

JBAC has already achieved great success.  We were the original and successful proponent of a new law in New York State which authorizes yeshivas and all nonpublic schools to fingerprint and background check their employees.  In this manner, our schools can avoid hiring registered sex offenders and other dangerous persons who should not work near children.

Additional legislation we seek, both state and federal, are mandatory employee background checks; the strengthening of mandatory reporting laws; a national registry of abusive educators; no silent resignations; banning of religious school corporal punishment.

We have advertised this summer on billboards in the Catskill Mountains where Jewish children go to summer camp.  The billboards carried public service announcements about steps parents and children should take to have a safe abuse free summer.

Our members have been quoted in many general and Jewish media.

We have successfully been involved in several criminal and civil prosecutions of deviant sex offenders.

We have accompanied sex abuse survivors to court, and referred them to treatment.

JBAC has also been involved in several conferences addressing the sex abuse problem in the Jewish community, held at Young Israel of Flatbush (Brooklyn); Congregation Ohab Zedek (Manhattan), Congregation Ahavas Israel (Passaic, N.J.), and elsewhere.

Comments

[P]

Why are they teaming up with Gershon Tannenbaum, a crooked man with a criminal record? Just because someone claims that his organization represents 850 clergymen doesn't mean that it is the case. Tannenbaum inflates the size of his organization and fools some gullible people who are not aware of his background, but people in the know know better.

To get an idea of the true size and importance of the RAA, attend one of their gatherings and see the meager display.

[Hometown Postville]

Baby steps, but they are still steps in the right direction. Kudos!

[Adam Neira]

Kudos to the Jewish Board of Child Advocates. Another good organisation is "The Awareness Centre". If the truth was revealed for all to see the results would be interesting. Moses went so far up the mountain that he could see all the evil and all the good. When he came down no-one wanted to share his awareness level. People weren’t interested in heavy spiritual lifting. G-d gave him the toolkit to help guide his people, but many ignored these instructions over the following centuries. Evil thrives where there is denial.

[A. Nuran]

The sponsorship of the OU rings very hollow in light of yesterday's post.

[chaim1]

a) A Shiur from a Rabbi on the halachas of Pikuach Nefesh and Rodef as well as the issues of Mesirah, Lashon Harah and Chillul Hashem

We dont need shiurim on this. Everyone knows the correct halacha.
What we need is to know how it is adapted to todays climate.
Most rabbis are out of their depth on this, and have no idea how to apply it, we need a consensus that every one will know most of all the predating molester what the rabbis intend to do.

1 will they shield him and keep him anonymous or will they post his face in every mikva.

2 will they allow to go to the police or will they find any excuse 'al pee halacha' naturally not to.

3 will they ban him from all mikvaot.

4 how long will they take over it and in the meantime let him carry on.

5 will he now be promoted to get shishi

i am sure you can find more things.
but knowing these conferences they are all hot air and no proper advice for the rabbis will emerge and certainly not put into the public domain.

i think this blog can do more good than all these conferences. and the posters here more common sense than all these rabbis.
It is known that someone stole from the kotsker. when told about it he said 'impossible' it says thou shalt not steal. that is the attitude today of these rabbis.

[Dorron Katzin]

To Chaim1:

I helping to organize the program which will take place, iy"h, in Chicago on October 17.

You may not need to attend a shiur to know what needs to be done. Unfortunately, not everyone is as well informed.

There are recordings available online of Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz and Rabbi Mark Dratch saying that the appropriate action in a case of child molestation is to call the police. Rabbi Moshe Soloveichik has the same opinion; I do not know if there is a recording available online of him.

It is our intention to record the October 17 program and make it available online very shortly therafter. We would like to live stream the event as well, but that may not be technically feasible.

[The Other DK]

A. Nuran 08/26/2010 1211am:

I don't agree what R. Belsky was quoted as having said.

In my opinion, this is an issue similar to the one with R. Dovid Cohen and his relationship with the RCA which arose last year (http://haemtza.blogspot.com/2009/06/when-mighty-fall.html).

Assuming that R. Belsky was accurately quoted, it may be appropriate for the OU to evaluate whether they wish to continue taking advice from someone who holds these kinds of views on reporting cases of molestation to the police.

If you wish to communicate your opinion directly with the leadership of the OU, you can find direct dial telephone numbers and email addresses at http://www.ou.org/contact/C390.

[chaim1]

"""You may not need to attend a shiur to know what needs to be done. Unfortunately, not everyone is as well informed."""

Can you tell me apart from going to the police what has to be done as you yourself state.

For what purpose is a shiur necessary.

I agree it is very laudable to teach people what will have to be done when moshiach comes, who to kill, how to kill, when to kill. When to starve him out, if you you need beth din for that.
I bet you dont know the answer to most of these questions neither do many rabbis.

Are you seriously suggesting that you mention rodef that you will tell people to kill before the act which is the halacha even today?

So i ask you respectfully can you tell me exactly what purpose this shiur is for.

[Shmarya]

As I've told you before and as many others have pointed out, you couldn't pasken your way out of a paper bag.

You are totally delusional.

I hope the people running this are able to ferret you out and either remove you or put you under a very careful watch.

[chaim1]

well that takes care of messiro

Now to loshon hora. That means you will teach chofets chaim. Also very laudable.
Perhaps you can tell us in advance how it applies here. Will you be able to tell people about it to warn them, or better still will the rav put posters out about him or not. I dont think its necessary to learn the whole chofets chaim for the answer. i can tell it you in advance, and it may surprise you, that even if your not sure and only suspect you can, no must warn people but tell them that it may not be true. In this kind of case it can be too late till you find out the real truth.
the example is Gedalia who was killed for not heeding a warning.
Now to chillul hashem, there you have me. what sefer or rambam talks about something similar to this. What i can say is, with all the Jewish blogs who think these things are natural, most goyim dont. And for all we hear about the money swindles this is a bigger chillul hashem than anything else. Even if its with consent which i suppose the molesters will say.
Those blogs are also a big chillul hashem i hope this also comes up.

[mark meyer appel]

a great and important event kudos to dr lippner elliot passick rabbi tannenbaum ou rca all all supporters the voice of justice

[chaim1]

Thanks shmarya
As usual you resort to insults without ever debating my points.

But i must agree with you that most rabbis will agree with you and not with me.

[Dorron Katzin]

Chaim1,

There are several aspects to a molestation case.

One is preventing the molester from hurting anyone in the future, either this victim or others. This is the job of the police.

Another is helping the victim. Therapy, for example. Also, the victim knowing that s/he is believed and supported by others in the community. If you have not already done so, I suggest you listen to the recording of the program which took place last September in Passaic, NJ. Some of the victims who spoke mentioned how important the opportunity to tell their stories and be believe was to them. You can either listen to it or download the file from:
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2009/09/audio-passaic-conference-on-child-sexual-abuse-456.html

I cannot speak for anyone else. I am not a rabbi, nor am I an attorney. I do not give advice to other people on these issues, other than to suggest sometimes that someone in need might consider seeking appropriate professional advice, be that a police officer, a therapist, an attorney, a rabbi, or others.

I am aware that under civil law, there are circumstances under which it is permissible to use deadly force in order to protect one's own life or the lives of others from an imminent threat. However, those instances are hopefully rare.

The goal of the October 17 seminar is to help parents, schools, clergy, and all concerned community members to:
1. become more aware of the incidents of molestation and their impact on individuals and our community
2. learn how we can better recognize and report knowledge about such incidents
3. hear first hand what survivors of abuse feel the community and parents need to do to support victims of abuse.

[chaim1]

Thanks
a) A Shiur from a Rabbi on the halachas of Pikuach Nefesh and Rodef as well as the issues of Mesirah, Lashon Harah and Chillul Hashem

My post was really what you expected to teach.

[A. Nuran]

I just called the OU's Communications Officer. He very kindly took the time to explain the organization's position.

Rabbi Belsky was speaking for himself. He is a respected posek on kosher food matters and works for the OU in that capacity. He does not speak for them officially on other matters.

The OU's position is that the police should be contacted immediately in cases of suspected child abuse.

I would like to thank Mr. Olivestone for his clear, patient clarification in this matter. It puts my mind greatly at ease.

[Shmarya]

I would like to thank Mr. Olivestone for his clear, patient clarification in this matter. It puts my mind greatly at ease.

I sent emails to Olivestone and several other OU leaders yesterday asking them if Rabbi Belsky's statement represented the OU's position on this matter.

None of them responded.

I sent a followup email to Olivestone's boss today.

Also no answer.

I don't think you can rely on what Olivestone told you until the OU makes a public statement – and so far they have refused to do so.