A really important and moving video
Last night, I received the email and video below along with several other Israel-related blogs and news sites. My first reaction was that it had nothing to do with the normal fare of my blog, but I was curious to see it. Having now watched it, I think it's really important to spread it around.15 years ago, I represented two investors who walked away from a business transaction because the Chief Executive Officer of the company turned out to be a child molester. The company's founders had no idea of that when they hired him. I was proud of the two clients for walking away on principle - they wouldn't do business with someone who molested children. Too many people in Israel would have said 'but we invested so much in the deal already' (or stiffed the lawyer on the bill). They did neither of those things. They paid their bill and walked away. Then I found out that one of the clients had a child who had been abused by an educator....
Here's the email I got last night:
And here's the video. Let's go to the videotape.Survivors from Orthodox Jewish Community break the silence on abuse in short film by Jewish Community WatchBrooklyn NY, November 26, 2014 - Jewish Community Watch, an organization dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) and assisting survivors within the Orthodox Jewish community has announced the release of a new short film called Speak Up, telling the stories of seven young adults from the Orthodox Jewish community who suffered the horrors of child sexual abuse and have journeyed from being victims to survivors.
“This video was produced in order to raise awareness of abuse and to send a message of solidarity to survivors, that they are not alone,” said Meyer Seewald, Founder and CEO of Jewish Community Watch. “If you are a survivor, please know that you have nothing to be ashamed of! You can come forward and speak up,either by contact us or publicly, because when you do, JCW will be there to support you!”Speak up was produced and directed by Daniel Finkelman of Sparks Next ProductionsAbout Jewish Community Watch.Jewish Community Watch was founded in 2011 with the stated goal of breaking the silence and shame that surrounds CSA in the Orthodox Jewish community. JCW prevents further abuse by notifying the public of the threat of the abusers in their vicinity, educates the public about what to look out for, and helps survivors of abuse heal by reminding them that they are not alone and by supporting them through their battles.JCW recently re-launched JewishCommunityWatch.org which represents the most extensive Jewish website combating child sexual abuse. It hosts extensive content, including a vast education center, the Wall of Shame with 93 profiles of alleged abusers, information for survivors to get help, relevant laws with regards to each state, myths and facts on CSA and much more.
More information at http://jewishcommunitywatch.org/ Connect with JCW:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JewishCommunityWatch.Org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCWatch
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jewish_community_watch
Labels: personal stuff, sexual assault
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:04 PM
2 Comments:
REally important topic, but it should stay within our community. Publicizing this is a chillul hashem.
Every community organization, every religion, every school, etc. face this issue. Step one is to conclude that it is an infraction (which, even in 2014, does not seem to be a 100% conclusion). The Boy Scouts of America, who have had these issues in the past, just like everyone else, developed a Youth Protection Program, which is the best one I've ever seen. Check it out and incorporate the two deep leader system, etc... I'm realizing that at the top of the right column at their website, it says that anybody can go through their online training, even non-members, so anyone can get the info:
http://www.scouting.org/Training/youthprotection.aspx
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