By COLlive reporter
An activist who has been sounding the alarm against the existence and dangers of abuse against children in frum Jewish communities says he’s too tired to continue.
Meyer Seewald has announced this week that he is closing down the Jewish Community Watch organization (JCW, or formerly known as Crown Heights Watch) which he founded in June 2011, due to lack of financial support.
“Disappointingly, the time has come where we are no longer able to rely solely on the words of support we have so frequently received,” he wrote in a statement. “Very few individuals have transformed those words into action and donated time and funds to help keep our operation going.”
Seewald said that what began as an anonymous blog to expose the names of abusers has turned into a full-fledged support center for abuse victims which included, besides for their website, therapy referrals, footing medical bills and investigative expenses for each case, “reaching tens of thousands of dollars.”
“As the organization has grown and more and more professionals have been recruited to work with us, the costs of operating have increased substantially,” he wrote. “It is true that the cost of keeping the JCW website on the internet is only a few dollars; however, as long as it is up, we will continue to receive requests for assistance that we would be unable to fulfill.”
“Meyer is only 25 years old,” Yitzchak, a volunteer for Jewish Community Watch, told COLlive.com on Thursday. “Hundreds have been reaching out to him. He spends his days crying on the phone with victims. He can’t go anywhere without people telling him horrifying stories about abuse, molestation and worse. He has dedicated his entire life to this. He’s feeling burnt out.”
Seewald told COLlive that he and the organization’s volunteers have reached out to potential donors but have not been supported.
“I feel like the majority of the people are behind us, but people aren’t giving money. The only way to do this properly is to create a full scale infrastructure, with staff, management and fundraising personnel – and we can’t do it without money,” he said.
Seewald told Tablet magazine in the past that he has a database containing over 225 suspected offenders and a confidential 8-member advisory “board” made up of mental-health professionals, legal experts, and rabbis who refuse to acknowledge their roles publicly for fear of backlash.
In the statement, he said he dreaded the outcome of the organization closing. “Today, there is still nothing set up in our community to help victims of the devastating and heinous crime” of child abuse.
While Seewald has been criticized for his combative approach and lack of transparency, parents have praised him for raising the issue and creating better awareness of the dangers of abuse that can happen – and are happening – in many Jewish communities.
Meyer knows who I am, and he is well of aware of my objections to his Preffered prevention-tactics.
-Zalman K
Even if you disagree with meyer’s tactics (of hurting new people in the name of carring for us), still we must not see this as all-or-nothing. We can still commend Meyer for doing his best he knew how at the time. Let’s be dan Lekaf zechus that any refusal by Meyer to use the more proven tactics was done with the guidance of people who never really trained in the field of prevention and compulsive addictive disorders. My belief is that all people try their best with what they know! So let’s unite to continue spreading awareness of this incideous… Read more »
I hope you can read!!! I am a crown heights resident and awareness Abuot CSA never but NEVER existed before!!! And thanks for Meir there is awareness on the subject !! About money .. Do you really think Is about money ?! Do you think a 25 years old guy will risk is emotional health for money while he can work in real state and make much much more …. So all your comment make me us see that you are speaking out of hate!! And if you are speaking out of justice and yddishkit you shouldn’t hate or be… Read more »
I am not exactly sure why there is so much hate written here…
Please STAY STONG we WIll get through this!
Sending much love to y’all <3
Take care fellow brothers and sisters.
it really comes down to whats your real goal prevention? or revenge? if the goal was prevention, then he would have not fought against using far more effective prevention tactics if however the goal is money and hate, then he will shut down as soon as he stops getting money and he will use tactics which show zero sensitivity to families of sickos a family should have the option to eliminate the threat while (which is the goal) and not be destroyed, most families would gladly cooperate to see to it that their relative (verifiably) takes the pill 2x or… Read more »
correlation does equal causality! even without seewwald, awareness was rapidly growing via the Nshei Newsletter, Summer camps training! (yes non of the abuse in the last ten years involved summer camps who imployed the abuse prevention seminar my point is, awareness and focuss was growing quickly, with or without seewald, seewald only managed to stigmatize and distance those who were doing it, who dont want to be associated with seewald’s sleezy and unaccountable methods of destroying and traumatizing more families after Kletzky, awareness surged! and it reached a tipping point, which is why i was at first pleased with chwatch,… Read more »
To all the haters of JCW!!! Lets start from the beginning; from Our Torah’ The Halacha says: 1.בצדק תשפוט את אמיתך 2.אל תישנא אחיך בלבך 3.לא תעמוד אל דם רעיך #1.בצדק תשפוט את אמיתך : For all of you whom are judging the Sweealds: You don’t know the process they had to go through before posting a MOLESTER on the wall of shame so you CANNOT judge! I know for a fact that prior to making such accusations they did all that is necessary halachically to stop them (trying to get them help emotionally or medically etc.) But guess What … They… Read more »
Has his /her head correctly on his/her shoulders…
Molestation has been going on in this community for decades. However, the schools and the rabbonim have always ignored this issue as they are to involved. They further rationalize that the institutions are more important than the individual child.
By definition, they cannot be charged with handling these issues. The same way the church cannot be in charge of governing its priests. You need people who don’t have individual skin in the game. Yeshivos, Camps and BDATZ has been covering up this issue for decades. We all know someone who was affected and how the system failed them.
there has to be more from the Rebbe on that. so are you saying that you can try and “fix” these evil sick people and that these sweet little girls and boys can sit in their classes and be with them until we figure out how to get them “fixed?”. doesnt really sound practical to me. If you think it is, then please tell us your plan, we want to know. And the little innocent children and teenagers are depending on you, the rights to their bodies and their minds are depending on ….who….to protect them. Do they wait??????????? or… Read more »
From reading the comments there are 2 kinds of people:
1-Those who love JCW
2-Those who say it’s necessary but Meyer did it the wrong way.
Ok good, so now he is out (or this is a publicity stunt). So now step up, and do it the “right,” way.
Now it’s your turn to do it right.
Frum people cannot be so naive that they will just continue to ignore this huge problem.
Get real! Its much easier to sling mud and vilify, than to to do the right thing
He got enough simple minded folks believing thatc he is a hero, looking out for our community
Unless you know that he rejected the Rebbe’s more effective approach, its easy to think he’s sincerely trying to solve then problem
Meyer’s refusal to do the more effective taftics exposeses his real motives
I think the Rebbe’s guidance about how to view and deal with compulsive disorders and deviant attractions is more useful
Given that treating the problem on a “causal” level works better, it’s wrong to insist on the punitive (less effective) tactics!
Especially that the less effective method causes ire suffering than molestation itself!
Having your family’s reputation slaughtered on a sleazy website is a far worse trauma for most people than most forms of touch… (Just think for yourself which is more traumatizing and unrepeatable)
Don’t listen to the haters
Today is a great day for child molesters and rapists!
LOL!
That genius has got the solution.
Sounds pretty uneducated!
If there’s a real mental aberration and compulsive disorder of any kind, punishing in and of itself is a very naive and narrow minded model to solve the such a problem
Better parenting
Better mental health intervention
Less not more stigma around brain disorders and the need for treatment!
That’s a far more mature and practical approach to solving a menace of this magnitude
Anyone familiar with AA or Gambahilics etc knows that legitimate brain disorders won’t be solved by threats and vigilantism
the Rebbe’s approach is more sesible! your goal has to be treating the disorder so it stops! even if it means, rreaching out to would-be molseters who need to know how bad it is and how to get help, instead of stigmatizing and destroying, get theses sickos to get their problems into proffessional treatment! all this is if your goal is truly first and formost about stopping future abuse! but if your desire to “get even” is more important to you than stopping future abuse, future suffering to families, and doing what what works, then continue vilifying and creating a… Read more »
i would hope your primary priority is Prevention of future harm and suffering! isent that more important to you than revenge against a sick person with a sick (really sick demented compulsion)??
never ever let hate and and revenge cause you to become indifferent to the suffering of New victims, (the family) dont create a new wave of victims “in the name of compassion”
a past victim doesnt gain, by the destruction of new victims!
your goal should always be! to stop the problem! (if at all possible) in a manner which causes least amount of new victims and torment!
The website was a reminder to all molesters out there that they will be held accountable. Now what?
So you can rape and molest a child and get a free pass? Just take a pill? What about the victim? Why no justice for him or her?
And seewalss are not to blame.
The person that touched a child is the one to blame he destroyed his family. Next time think of his wife and kids before he does something.
even if punishing and vilifying prevented (at least) some incidents,
how much more suffering has he caused to the families??
as long as there are more sensible and sensitive approaches which work better (at prevention) than shaming and paining soo many innocent family members
why choose Davka the option which needlessly creates more suffering and more victims, (the family) when other methods are more effective and more in alignment with The Rebbe’s approach to (treating) such deviation
when he started he probally ad good intenions 2 years ago,and then sawit cud be a moneymaker,and thats when all the truoble started
i hear what you’re saying, but even if he is not 100 percent doing this out of pure motives, he is still trying to make things right, and it has helped prevent things and stop ongoing issues. HaShem yerachem…if it even prevents one incident….and it has done more than that. Please understand that this is bringing a new awareness to the Jewish world. WHO will do it? HE was doing it. It will not regress because he’s been subdued. it has opened up somethign which cannot go away. NOBODY SHOULD BE TOUCHED INAPPROPRIATELY. Its worse than drugs, its worse than… Read more »
Just lookup how effective the secular system of jailing and s-registry is at prevention Then lookup the methods which seeald refused to offer to cooperative families, I’m referring to a method soo effective that the ACLU caught against that pill because it was soo effective! Just google: “ACLU’s opposition to the chemical castration pill” My point is, that there are far more powerful tools out there which treat the root cause and not just the symptom, and plenty of families would gladly spare the shame and cooperate to see to it that their sick relative take the pill once in… Read more »
More power to you!
“ABUSE ISN’T FROM THR TORAH EITHER.. ”
Yes it is. Parshas Mishpotim (22. 15.) states clearly -“One who convinces a young girl into an act… must pay 50 shekel to her father”.
Well said! I know a full Lubavitch family which suffers until today because of what this site did, %100 False!! It is definitely very important that there should be something that will cause that people should be scared and watch their actions but there needs to be a safe and true way to do it and not one that will torcher individuals full families!! Lets hear of a way to get the point across but in a safe way! And there needs to be a way for the falsely accused individuals should be able to prove themselves clear their names!… Read more »
BSD
Comment #128 is right on the money!
Ruining someone’s reputation is also abuse and can be even more difficult to recover from. It doesn’t make sense to fight against one abuse while engaging in another one.
Another thing is that from Seewald’s letter, you would think that the NYPD just closed down and that there’s absolutely nobody left to bring abusors to justice. Ridiculous.
to those who are blaming “poor parenting” for why certain children are abused. Shame on you. Molesters choose their victims very carefully. Children with a parent who is ill, single-parent families, families living in poverty or under severe stress. They have absolutely no qualms about targeting children growing up under these circumstances. Yes, by all means, blame the parents for not giving enough attention when the mother is sick in the hospital for YEARS with a large family of small children at home.
ABUSE ISN’T FROM THR TORAH EITHER..
did not show sellective compassion or revenege The Rebbe’s approach focussed only on solution not on vilifying the sick person vilifying sick people creates more stigma more fear of comming out and getting proffessional help! thsi is best solved by treating the disease as disorder requiring treatemnt! just vilifying and stigmatizing will scare sick people from from comming forward to admit they need help Halevai, this cause get taken up by the righ people such as the schools, camps and Nshei Journal to educate all parts of the equation to prevent future abuse educate past abusers educate would-be abusers (before… Read more »
this שפיחות דמים site never had any basis of halacha at all. just to name a few: 1) no ודרשת וחקרת ושאלת היטב! if there would have been some testimony to it why was it not brought to court? simple, because its all based on people with rumors with an agenda to take נקמה on this family that person ect. chasidus speaks about the deference between a אויב and a נוקם: a אויב is an open enemy who fights front to front, a נוקם however avenges in secret. This site was the perfect place for a נוקם to take his… Read more »
proper parenting prevents both;
1. teenage hormonal “identity” confusion vdal
2. children’s susceptibility to falling for a predator in the first place,
children with absent or unchinuchdike parents are far more likely to be abused or an bauser
instead of vilifying and hurting more people, those who claim to care need to prove it by using methods that work just as well and dont require traumatizing and publicly shaming families of the accused
you cud say most of seewlads site is flawed,and it looks like it is,but wat do we do about the few real bad guys on his site,who were infamous before seewald was born
These commentators (obviously family of molesters) are not only not ashamed of their disgrace of a family member, but are also haters. Denial isn’t the solution. The first step for any cure is knowing the illness.
JCW brought an awareness to an issue plaguing our communities. I sure hope there will be some donors coming out soon.
All the families that were ruined because of that site.
In the long term – it will not help the molestation problem. Just the opposite, It will just cause other communities and Rabbonim to think it over 1000 times before issuing any stance or decree allowing victims to go to authority.
you may be right, that the Secular system’s solution fails at preventing recidivism… true, and yes the Rebbe’s discrete approach of identifying/treating the underlying factors as a Disease of the Brain… makes sense as well, if the only goal was to do what works to prevent future abuse. i may add, another good preventive measure not emphasized is (instead of stigmatizing those who discover in themselves such compulsions) to proactively reach out to young bochurim -one on one- and guide them to be aware of A. the harm inappropriate contact can have… (many are probably too sheltered and clueless) B.… Read more »
Bingo. It’s is as simple as that.
raise ur kids normally and we wont have such problems…
what most people are saying is: does it have to be taken care of? yes! in seewalds way? no!
Even after having just been redeemed from a long and hard exile… They still complained
The camps, the neshei, etc
He just hijacked the cause and stigmatized those who need the help the most
Not to be hiding but to be helped to get help!!
That’s how u really save this at the core
The Rebbe’s way works far better!
Those who really claim to care, do what works! Especially if that approach doesn’t require hurting numerous more ppl ie the family and grandchildren of the accused
There is a person who was put up on JCW and Meyer seewald was very engaged in coaching the accusing family. That alleged abuser was cleared through court of law! That person still has yet to find a shidduch and finding jobs is extremely difficult even today. So yes, JCW Has completely wrecked innocent people’s lives as well as entire families. By pushing their agenda they really did tremendous damage. Did he bring awareness to an important topic, YES. Was it done in a way that Seewald ended up falesely accusing and therby messing up their lives and their families… Read more »
YES to #8. and others too….including BRILLIANTLY stated # 126.
Meyer will never be fully “over”, he started an IMMENSE mitzva and it will keep going.
MITZVA GORERES MITZVA. #125 also, YES. Where are you people who dont’ agree? In the dark?? Meyer brought safety for kinderlach into the open….totally Moshiach times.
Rabbis are fired for being part of a “cult” but not for being a molester?
Rabbis are holding big special meetings about cults- but not about child molestation?
There were numerous articles about cults but were are the many articles about a serious issue that effects our children! !!!
The comments on here are disgusting and everyone bashing Meyer should be ashamed. Imagine he was on COL right now reading this? the community he was trying to help bashing him! WAKE UP! there are molesters in our communities and we need to out them to save others. Meyer gave people a way to tell others and protect them. think about how many horror stories that he had to listen to and sift through every single day… honestly Meyer at the age of 25 people should be saying how amazing you are! I will always be a fan of the… Read more »
S— abuse of children is the worst and most twisted. So easily denied by the abuser…and for the victim, an inability to trust and many other dark issues arise, and without the ability to shed light and understanding on the issue, the pain of victims of abuse will go unhealed. It’s very tricky, but if a victim talks…you need to believe them, because they have been taught to be silenced and shamed.
you obviously dont know the situation. you should have a better sense of what is really going on. these thugs are dropping like flies
this guy for sure got sued, why would he just take down the site like that, he said it himself only cost a few bucks to keep the hosting. looks to fishy to me, and these types of organizations need to be run by pros not a kid who said he has some scared rabbis backing him up.
hope fully a real organization will come and take over. It is a real problem just this was the wrong solution.
Use your money in good health. If you want to give Tzedakah
there are too many worthy causes to give to which deserve
to be called Tzedakah.
The site ruined many lives and families. We live in a country where “innocent until proven guilty” yet, they posted and claimed individuals guilty before they appeared in court. They blackmailed and threatened individuals to admit their wrongdoing, when they had done nothing wrong.
Reading the comments here are shocking. The lack of education and the lack of torah learning depicted by the commentators is unbelievable. To Seewald. May Gd bless you. You are a shining light in this pit of stupidity.
maybe this is a wake up call for all parents to raise healthy children,our kids with levery professional will tell ypu a preadator hurts the weak.The message is raise your kids ,you guessed it,with love and be there for them and you probably wont have to worry ,whether seewald is right or wrong is not the issue,we ignored this problem for many years,so somebody came to do something, qualified or not.
I will be donating as much as I can afford as soon as meyer comes out and says how much is needed and where to send it.
He IS being sued BIG TIME
Thank you for exposing the true facts. Your comment says it
all. People should read it again and again. He was getting away with murder.
You might think that no one is behind you in your org but youre definitly wrong we love and we will support you till the end to #62 his name is Meyer not mendel
we find ways to raise money every other day for hundreds of causes, and this effort couldnt be supported? this is unbelievable. Why do people not think this is a worthy cause?? I f I had money, I would be the first to donate.
To meyer seawald, dont give up! The people are behind you!
sounds like you’re name was posted on the website. Sorry that you got ousted.
I honestly don’t know if it was the right way to handle this community’s problem, but one thing is certain – it took a brave caring person to step up where no one else had the guts to do so. Something had to be done to raise awareness – and he accomplished this. Too many want to brush it under the rug, or pretend it doesn’t happen as long as it isn’t happening in their own small circle. The fact is, abuse of any kind harms everyone, the victims, the families of everyone on both sides, the community at large… Read more »
What you did will have a lasting impact I believe. You gave victims a voice and a place, and you uncovered the eyes of our community. You are our hero, and will always be!
oh really? the Rebbe said that ? hmm,i know several lubavitchers in this field and have never heard that . site your sources!!!
agree with 50 guys step up and give him money and keep this going – enough abuse – My husband is a victim of — abuse and yes it messes up initmacy for the rest of his life! Healing is hard road! Talk to any victim or find out what their marriage is like – support this -give him money! Keep it going!
You are a very brave young man yourself and a hero in your own right.
Perhaps you could start a crowd funding drive on Kickstarter and raise a large amount of money so that JCW doesn’t have to close.
Either way, I’m behind you.
As I read through the hateful comments directed towards Seewald, I truly believe that each of your are either pedophiles yourselves or family members of abusers which were exposed by JCW.
THat does not mean to say that critics of JCW are abusers. JCW used some tough tactics which many had (legitimate) criticism of.
But for someone to have such a burning hate towards Meyer, they must be a pedophile or someone who was affected by his brave work.
We need to protect our children!!!!!!!
I understand where you are coming from. But even a rodef if you can stop him short of killing him example shoot him in the hand you are not supposed to kill him. When you are talking of destroying whole families I think this is a great responsibility and a psak din from a Rov is required. Add to this that when clearly the person who did it twenty years ago and is no longer a threat to children then certainly destroying him and whole family should require the approval of a rov. Don’t get me wrong I have verry… Read more »
Please dont shut down, the community needs you!
JCW is the first and only time anyone made an effort to get these sick perverts away from our kids!~!!! How can we not support this!!!!!????
People in Crown Heights and for that matter the rest of the USA, catch a wake up and help keep this very important and vital programe going. I live in South Africa and know first hand about the abuse that goes on, many Rabbis brush this under the carpet and what Meyer Seewald did is something many wish they could do but don’t have the gits to do. Every single CH member should be making an effort to get financial support for this very important initiative. Meyer NEVER give up, go out there and find the sponsorship our children need… Read more »
and i hope you are not, I just want to say as a parent I appreciate what you did.
If you would consider re-opening the org I would be happy to donate as much as I can.
I wish that our community, our rabbis and our schools would pretend that predators were COTS people and call urgent asifas, fire people, make an uproar. Is this any less important?
I am very grateful to meyer seewald and all his efforts. Because of his work, I myself was brought to awareness of the severity of the problem our kids face, and have made sure to educate my kids properly of the dangers, which I had not really understood or done before.
whether we approve of his ‘methods’ or not, we should all be giving him much hakoras hatov for likely saving my kids and all of yours from harm.
Once a person breaks the rules and molests a child, there are no rules that have to be followed. If you have a problem with the site you either are a molestor yourself or have a family member or close friend on the wall of shame. Simple as that!
I am no hater nor am i oblivious to abuse and that something needs to be done. I apreceate and acknowledge that meyer seewald has taken initiative. However i cannot ignore the case of the man who was innocently accused and only when you found out of your grave mistake all you gave was a little apology letter? this persons life is actually ruined! would you ever date someone who has been on jcw watch?? even if you heard it wasnt true afterward.. so i am saying that this area needs help because its not the official legal way will… Read more »
For all those defending the work of JCW, now is your chance to open a site that will be properly operated, publishing names of convicted violators (in court or a real Beis Din, not some anonymous “Board”) and not resorting to bribes and extortion to get things done. To all those who think I’m a molester since I didn’t support JCW, it might be time to get your heads out of the sand and realize that the person who ran this site did it with malice and found a way to make regular folks like me just laugh every time… Read more »
Doesn’t mean that this method is appropriate or most effective!!
Especially that there are far more effective methods available today! Which do not involve causing trauma to entire families!!
They all hide behind a (politically correct) platform of “compassion for victims” yet what they are really about is Hate, Making religious people look bad, Hurting Israel and Jews! Oh and making a buck!! Of course they use very worthy causes to hide behind, however, they really don’t care one iota about “compassion” or suffering of “victims”. If they cared, they would not fight against methods which stop the problem at its root!! …They would not relish the public destruction of entire families! Especially when there are far more effective approaches the Rebbe directed! Approaches which are considerate to the… Read more »
A name if a serious 61 year old molester was brought up to the web site with full supporting encounters but due to the fact that this molester is connected with the web sites lawyers his name was never put on the list. In other words the web site can pick and choose who goes on the list. There I’m happy to see this dispicable site close diwn
may be they had good intentions
but done wrong
Meyer would have focused primarily on solving the underlying issues and factors causing s—- deviancy, obsessive disturbances etc He would have focused more on helping sick people get early help, rather than vilifying them and tabooing their mental diseases as Evil wicked sinister monsters out to destroy victims Sick ppl are sick ppl! It hardly solves any problem to vilify, punish and destroy entire families (new victims of shame) in the name of “compassion”. If one really seeks to prevent this disease from hurting more victims, you choose routs which work and focus on treating the problem at its root,… Read more »
For the amount of people who say they are against molestation and abuse but this isn’t the way to do it – where are you? no one else has done a single thing. For the people concerned about the public shame of molesters – the double standard is frighteningly blatant, when the intense shame victims suffer is completely ignored. And then to go to police, press charges, go through the legal system – how many victims and their families have the tremendous multiple levels of support necessary to find the courage to pursue justice? The fact that there is no… Read more »
Even though he is clearly untrustworthy, he should still recieve credit for doing what he thaught is gonna pay back the molrsters and their families As for the fact that Jailing and registry (the secular solution) doesn’t really work all that well at prevention, at least it punishes the sick people and punishes them more bec it embarrasses their family too. You can’t expect Mayer (someone angry and hostile to Halacha observance) to respect the Rebbe’s approach re how to prevent abuse. He doesn’t trust Torah sources for guidance, he refused to use (more effective) methods which treat the root… Read more »
WE NEED TO PUT PICS OF THESE DISGUSTING PPLE TARGETTING THEIR PREY!!!
The site ruined innocent lives this deserves to be said for every positive comment again and again for every positive comment
Dear Mayer you have done a great job up until now and i hope you find a way do continue and grow even stronger with Hashems Help. as for all the people that are saying that the site is bad and they shamed families, and even those hung by the sanhedrin, were immediately taken down etc…… lets first take a look at who caused all the shame hurt and pain in the first place, it was the molester who could not control his sick urges and violated an innocent child and did not think about the consequences to his family.… Read more »
Attention molesters there will be another JCW.
Whether or not this site is up or not, the awareness he created is monumental and positive. Abuse exists and existed. Have zero tolerance and go straight to the police. Don’t play psychiatrist, judge, jury, rachmonus… Child abuse of this sort demands extreme vigilant merciless exposure and justice.
Everyone agrees that molesters MUST be stopped (and whoever says that anyone who objects to the website is a child molester is simply immature). On the other hand it’s a fact that being accused falsely is just as bad if not worse than being molested. Imagine waking up one morning only to find your name posted on the website. Then you arrive at Shul and you’re thrown out by all the people that you were always friendly with. No one believes your story, besides a few close friends and family members. It’s horror. Why should anyone believe you? A reliable… Read more »
I am ready to donate and i sent you an email.
Im prying we can save JCW
But the chances of slandering an innocent person is a huge risk with an undertaking like this. So much care has to be taken not to rely on the unsubstantiated testimony of various individuals that it is difficult to know whether the good outweighs the potential for evil.
You are absolutely right! To have JCW is a pikuach nefesh for saving our children’s life. It was teaching us how to keep eye on our kids, to stay away from criminals who force kids to be molested. This kind Pikuach Nefesh is very very important as buying sefer Torah!. The community must act and bring the JWC back asap! Our kids future depend on it, ant those criminals should be ashamed publically so much that they will go for therapy. Now without publisizing them, they wont have ashame, and they will continue rapping kids as many as possible because… Read more »
Imagine you were you a pedophile, (that shouldn’t be too hard to imagine for many of the above commentators) would you be happy or sad about this news?
To all the bashers of JCW: I don’t know Meyer, but I do know that he followed what pirkei avos says, “b’makom she’ain ish, hishtadel lihyos ish.” He “manned up” and started this site to get something done in our community that should have been done decades ago!! I read many of the educational articles on the site and implement with my kids what the professionals recommend. At the end of the day, we can’t rely on a website to save our children. The awareness is out there, thanks to JCW. Now we have to educate our children and ourselves,… Read more »
Believe me, if one of the molesters is successfully suing JCW to take down the site, he would be very public about it.
Think about it. If you were on the site and you sued Meyer to take it down, you would put massive banners on Kingston ave with the information. This would be your chance to clear your name.
Think about it. He’s not being sued.
Don’t read negative comments!
U got me thru hard times! U are my hero!
You believed me and helped me tell my parents about
my horrors- WE NEED YOU!!!!!!!!
When you expose 40+ molesters you’re gonna have a lot of very angry family members just wating to anonymously pour hate on you.
Meyer, if this it’s indeed the end, and I pray to god it isn’t, you should take each hateful comment as a badge of honor, a source of pride, a testament to the amazing work you did.
After 120, take every last hateful comment in front of the heavenly judge, place them on the scale of merits and I promise you they will place you with the greatest tzadikim of all times.
I see about 15 comments stating as a fact that many people were falsely accused. NAME ONE!!
name one person was posted on the wall of shame after a JCW investigation who turned out to be innocent.
This is all thanks to 1 family that took them down! Now they can all get real jobs!
You are worried who will protect your children??? If you can’t then no one will!!
You got a problem you go to the police! What are u stupid?
and I can bet that every comment pro seewald is being posted by his clan. How’s that?
The only we have is the facts: fight abuse yes but seewalds wall of shame no
We have to do whats correct and his methods are not from our holy torah
It deserves to be said again and For every negative comment posted
You don’t find that sad. It’s pathetic to me.
Keep the fire burning. When there’s this much resistance you are obviously doing something right!
I can GUARANTEE that the reason isn’t lack of funding.
He got pressured to put out this statement but there are other reasons why he closed.
Thank you for all your work and dedication. Please reconsider. Your work was a positive one for our children a d or our community.
The safety of all members of the community are affected.
Thank you Meyer Seewald and all those who support him. Let the professionals on abuse help us learn what to do to prevent the future abuse. Let the people who need help be given all the resources they need in the way of Chabad. Everyone needs to be involved. Hundreds of lives have been affected already. Action is the main thing.
Concerned Mother
You blame Meyer for false accusations etc, but whos fault is it, Meyers or the community which covered up abuses which led to the creation of a site like this?
Two and a half years late.
of molestors! obviously properly researched- and spare the details of what actually transpired. but this definitely will stop molestors from carrying out their evil.
it is surprising/disappointing that jacobson endorsed this, but everyone makes mistakes and im sure (hopefully? ) by now he realizes what can be wrong with it – that they are not being run according to halachic and chabad standards.
Any intelligent person understands that we have to fight abuse but don’t confuse it with that disgusting website. Thats a different discussion. Its run with no transparency and alot of wickedness. Picking and choosing which family to destroy. Another point is that most of the people you see on the site are losers who cant defend themselves.what about the big fish that we know about from the streets? Others did something (supposedly) with no proof over 35 years ago and are retired and all seewald caused was trama for their whole families. The wall of shame does not protect our… Read more »
Im a fifteen yr old girl and till today i always felt protected by your community watch even though sometimes i felt that the ppl being accused were innocent but most were guilty You have saved so many lives you will never know and to quit a job that saves so many lives lets down hundreds of ppl who will they turn to now? There will be no one there for them I am a teenager and for me to understand if something is good or not is difficult but i know that your community watch is amazing and great… Read more »
The rabbonim don’t have the courage to endorse these types of organizations. Their lack of support means nothing in this matter!
Are you joking to rub it in more, these people didn’t do anything and were destroyed by this man and you want to torture them more, have you no shame
There is NO delicate way to address this issue!
One thing I can tell u that because of Meyer Sewald lots of potential victims have been saved – this site had been a real deterrent .
Having said that if it has indeed ruined innocent lives then it is imperative that shiuld it remain open , new strategy and proper management and a full time fundraiser on a payroll is the only way it will work!
you have ruined people’s lives
lack of transparency
and bullying and dishonest techniques used to “accuse” and masser a lot of innocent people
I know 2 people that were destroyed by him, we later find out they did nothing wrong, 2 poor fathers and husbands destroyed
awareness should be raised and if there is a suspect, they should be prosecuted….but an organisation ?!
slander was more like what resulted from this organisation, ruined families etc…
Kids aged 25, and under pay the highest car insurance rates, because it’s scientifically known that they are simply not responsible at that age.
Ceratinly CH can not allow a 25 year old punk to be the judge jury and executioner, all alone.
While he claims to have others with him, they take no personal responsibility, to sign their name to his his policy of “guilty until proven innocent”.
Did JCW ever do anything good? Sure he did! Nevertheless, every single one of the Rabbonim of the Badataz, have stated many times that they did not approve of JCW and they told him to shut down but he refused to listen, for the past few years and he was in open defiance of the Badataz of CH. Why would anyone trust anything at all, said by someone who is in open defiance of all of the Rabbonim of the Badataz of CH? There is no reason in the world, why anyone should trust anything at all which JCW, ever… Read more »
Any organization that has the potential to harm innocent people without any accountability should not be allowed to exist for any period of time. This site has caused more harm than good.
Who can’t hide their pleasure that he can’t keep doing what he was doing (at least in its current format) I don’t know enough about his work but I know that it takes a lot of currage to openly go after the molesters of children those who are well connected and in position of power I don’t know that his style was the best for the cause but I know that he is fighting the fight of those who had and still have no voice, something the leaders of the community should have done openly and transparently but day after… Read more »
I do not believe how many post lament that children were not going to be protected now…you should be protecting your own kinder not leaving it to some 25 yo!
Actually I don’t believe its an aveira. Its an aveira to close your mouth when someone has status of rodef and can hurt people. Go back to basic halacha reb yid, its all in there. As for the rabbaoim, just because their rabbaiom doesent mean they are flawless, they have free will
For all those people who believe that this website was damaging to peoples lives, and for all those people who are now celebrating that this site has TEMPORARILY closed its doors, Big Shame on you. Big shame on the fact that lubavitch and crown heights has at least ONE good thing to show its accomplishments to the jewish world, and to the secular world as well, attempting to save a young child’s life from this kind of abuse, and have its own fellow ‘lubavitchers’ rejoice now that this great program has been halted. It can be a couple things; Either… Read more »
People seem to feel either you support him and therefore the victims, or you are against him and therefore do not want to expose molesters or help victims. He is not the only recourse that victims have!!! He is not even a professional, trained, or able to really help. He himself says he has to ‘get professionals’ so why not skip him and go to the professionals? if someone is chas v’shalom molested, it is first to the police, and 2nd to a psychologist/therapist. There are many support groups, even anonymous online support options. Run by professionals. NONE of us… Read more »
but there were no rabonim or community leaders endorsing the web site,DUH! That’s exactly why JCW is necessary! Those who taka should have been taking care of this all along,didn’t!!!
This idea was much needed.
This community needs much healing.
The victims need a hero.
The hero needs followers.
The hero has admirers.
The system needs funding.
The funding doesn’t come.
The admirers don’t become followers.
The followers loose faith.
The hero looses courage.
The community gets sicker.
The infestation of the vermin gets stronger
The community deteriorates.
Which were untrue? I suppose if their totally innocent we can say their names?
But a few that were untrue…were very damaging to families…and maybe he finally told an untruth about the wrong guy and that will make her run out of funds…..Law suits…. Let another guy step up and do what needs to be done without ruining and shaming innocent victims….
Lets start a campain to reopen the only jewish org that openly does not tolerate abuse and ill donate. Any ideas
I hope funds are raised! Thanks for all you do!
And he could have continued with much support. Unfortunately he was NOT WILLING to go the proper route rather the vile, blackmailing route that came with his OWN FEELING that this is the way to stop this epidemic.
If he would climb down from his tree and let real people with real experience BE THE FACE OF THIS ORGANIZATION instead of just being a bully, he could have had more support and continue his important work.
Sad day he chose to go the black way. Too bad for all the victims. Act responsibly.
If they want to reopen it should have a board of elected ppl all over 35 years old. 5 ppl in total. Including at least one rov of the community.
I think he is scared and running before he gets served papers and this makes more sense.
THis is a stupid idea. GO TO NYPD if you dont shut up and dont complain.
If someone robs you u go to the NYPD go if someone touches you
Wait until one of your loved ones is brutally violated and raped of their innocence and then let’s see how you will respond. Just because rape and molestation isn’t directly affecting u or your family, it doesn’t mean it does not happen in our community of CH
You could also ruin someones life by wrongfully accusing him of something he never did
We dont need you anymore. You ran your Dirty Harry and Vigilante web site long enough.
Unauthorized run by Unknowns and with no real person taking responsibility..
We need stronger rabbnomim and someone with a PHD or credentials to run it and that will never happen.
Is life fair no but again OJ Simpson got off.
If you get touched run to the NYPD if you dont file then dont expect anyone to believe you.
Signed with a Blessing of Leave us and disappear
I hope people step up now and save it before it’s too late! It’s so important!
There are many of us out there who have been violated and it’s only be of ppl like Meyer Seewald that we feel like we can fight back and don’t have to hide the pain and shame. BH, thank u for all your work and I pray that this blog stays strong and continues to help others as it helped me BEZH
If it is a kosher Organization let him elicit a letter of recommendation from one of our Rabonim that this is a worthy cause and any money donated is considered as tzedoko.
If he can’t get a letter from one of our CH Rabonim in my humble opinion this means that they don’t consider this a worthy cause and to the contrary this is Klipa that spreads Loshan Hora and Moitzi Shem Ra and giving one penny to this org is an avaira.
Meir is a bold, courages, hero for exposing the problem, less so for the way he did it.
Do I have a solution to the problem? No. But JCW was not a good solution and detrimental in many ways.
The time is ripe for someone with strength, courage, vision and wisdom to tackle the problem. I think there are some of you out there who are fit for the job. Now is the chance.
Those of you who are thrilled that this website is closed and curse the man who is responsible for it are cowards. You bury your head in the sand like ostriches to avoid problems going on in the community that affect lives and ruin people. You know why it took so long for the problems to come to light? Because people like you look down upon victims as if its their fault. No one chooses to be molested, abused or —- harassed, but sick people do choose to act upon their urges. So bravo to all of you who are… Read more »
His work and his website saved lives.
Anonymous board of Rabbis and professionals = no accountability! On what basis can you ruin the lives of people with zero accountability? Either you do it with accountability and transparency, or you don’t do it! Another issue is, he posted names of people who have done a one time thing while young and stupid, more than 20 years ago! These people are obviously not a threat to children today, why ruin their lives? Is Mayer Seewald the Dayan Ho’Emes who is meant to execute judgement? I understand the need to expose those who are a danger to children, but to… Read more »
Indiscriminate is a better way to characterize the well meaning but sometimes irresponsible approach of Mr. Seewald. Calling the shots of whose profile should appear on this website requires wisdom, fair and accurate background research.
You have done a great, great deal. Abusers who once thought they could get away with their crimes, know today that they can’t. Now is the time for others to step up to the plate and work on this. I wish I had money for the cause. All I can do is to offer moral support to you and all who work on this vital project, and daven. May Moshiach come now and finish the job.
Hats off to this man who exposed the horrors that was being shoved under the rug for so many years. I’m appalled at the lack of support this community has shown for all he has done! Especially since he was one of the few who have stood up for victims who have remained silent and quietly suffering for so many years (to scared to come out in the open). He has been their voice and awareness, but has been slammed for doing what no one else would/has attempted to do. Hope you find another way to help all the victims… Read more »
Bieng a molester this is great news:) now I don’t have to worry about being cought, ruining my family, or worry about my victims coming forward cause there’s no one there to support them anymore (cause Rabbonim don’t care, right?!)
Being sarcastic obviously. Seriously who’s going to look out for our children now?
Thank you Meyer for the courage you have, not many would be willing to go through what you have. I can only imagine the countless threats/enemies you’ve gotten for doing whats right. Thank you!
Thank you for all your tireless work and dedication, may you have much success in all you do.
Guess he needs more attention so he’s trying this.
For your sorry site to have been shut down. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that funding wasn’t the issue. Perhaps you’re being threatened to be sued and then you’re worries funding might become an issue. Now that makes more sense
Anyone interested in running the organization can contact district attorney forr or rabbi jackobson. They will put you in touch with the right people, so that YOU can do the right thing!!!
many kids will suffer ! this is a tragedy evil won over goodness
What a shame.
If only there was a way to have the site continue, but with the public endorsement of known and respected Rabbis/Community leaders, which would lay out the criteria for publicizing the name of a predator.
Regardless, our community must wake up and create a proper organization to deal with the poor victims. Meir, I know that you got enough words of encouragement, but I thank you for courageously doing what have untill now.
This organization is way too important to give up on. We can not return to the darkness that was before JCW started.
I want to start a massive fundraising campaign to save JCW.
Email me if you have any suggestions or you would like to help: @[email protected]
Boorey Deutsch
Now the community council and the Rabbanim have to make sure that innocent people are not accused and guilty people don’t get away with it.
This is not a job for a layman with an agenda.
For the sake of our children. You must continue. Who will speak for the victims?
Burn out, lack of funding…or maybe possibly being sued?
A real shud!!!!!!
Less mevayish chavero borabim. Less loshon horo.
The abuse and molestation MUST end. But who was matir the blood of the people and families who were shamed berabim?
The Chumash tells is that even someone who was put to death by hanging through the Sanhedrin, the body was not allowed to remain hanging.
There must be a better way. But the blog had too many halachic issues to it.
People gotta step up big time. Somehow we have to create a committee which can raise a large some to save Jewish Community watch. Maybe someone like Rabbi Jacobson can head it.
As I told people yesterday. of course it doesn’t cost the $15 for a website hosting to run JCW.
How do people expect Meyer to eat? if he’s doing this full time he needs a salary.
There are of course a million other expenses..
lack of transparency
and bullying and dishonest techniques used to “accuse” and masser a lot of innocent people
awareness should be raised and if there is a suspect, they should be prosecuted….but an organisation ?!
slander was more like what resulted from this organisation, ruined families etc…
מפני שהקליפות כלה ונפסד ורק התורה היא נצחי
To all those who criticized JCW and its tactics, well now they are gone. lets see you open an organization which fights abuse and implement all the brilliant solutions you always had.
If there is not enough funds to support this organization the community should sell the Sifrei Torah!
How can we raise $3 million for a Mikvah but we can’t support the only organization which protects our children??
its a great day in lubavitch to hear that they have finally called it quits,
all they did was take out their personal revenge on people and try extroting them for wtvr they can
this is brings great joy to me and my family
NOT TO STARE YOU WRONG this idea is great for our community but NOT TO BE RUN BY THEM
Meyer you can;t quit. You are doing G-d’s work!
About time this site has caused way to much damage to to many lives ….. was a good idea but poorly executed …
We can’t let this vital resource close! there must be a way to solicit donors on a larger scale..
How many people were sad to see Charles Hynes, Go? How many people celebrated and said “Good Ridden’s” to finally get rid of Charles Hynes? Was Charles Hynes corrupt to the core? as many had alleged? Or was Charles Hynes a real and just DA? Remember that this alleged, “innocent” Charles Hynes is the very same one, ironically, who had only “praise” to speak of the founder of JCW, which should help everyone “understand” that the founder of JCW was just as much “not-corrupt”, just as Charles Hynes himself, allegedly was or still is…. Remember that all sane people, recently… Read more »
Evidently you weren’t worthy of support
This site has harmed hundreds of victims and our entire community. Shame on them and good riddens.