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Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

Founder Exits Anti-Abuse Group

Meyer Seewald is leaving the Jewish Community Watch 5 years after founding the combative anti-abuse organization. Full Story

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thank you
May 21, 2016 11:16 pm

You are a wonderful man, a brav and outspoken man, and you have changed the jewsh world. I too am outspoken, because the community think its ok to hide abusers and bullies. lubuvitch is famous for cheering the abuser and hurting the viictims. I have never been a bystander, and hav always opend my mouth and told the truth. This is a trait to be proud of. it saves ives.
Have a very happy marriage dear brave man.
From a mum you telephoned and helped.

just saying...
May 17, 2016 9:24 pm

It is very difficult to prove S. abuse in a court of law, so even if not convicted people may have been abused but simply could not find all the ‘evidence’ needed for a conviction.

Hats of to Meyer for standing up with the abused and exposing the abusers, this was and is a huge service to vindicate people that were hurt and to our community

best comment from very experienced person
May 17, 2016 4:14 pm

mportant Work As a social worker who has worked for many years with s abused children I can attest that this is a needed organization. Three things to mention. 1. Deeply religious people find it very hard to believe such things happen because it is beyond their experience. 2. People who molest children are very secretive about it, are very devious in how they go about it, and have a very difficult time stopping their behavior. 3. False accusations made by children are extremely rare, and in my decades of working in the field I have seen very few of… Read more »

To #34
May 17, 2016 1:22 am

There is a general principal in the Torah that when something is the truth it stands for ever from the beginning to the middle to the end and it doesn’t change and you don’t move on from the truth

To Meyer
May 16, 2016 9:00 pm

Dear Meyer, thank you for protecting my kids

HATZLACHA MEYER AND YOUR VERY LUCKY WIFE
May 16, 2016 12:13 pm

As a parent of an abused child, words do not suffice to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for what Meyer has done single handedly! He is the bravest person I have ever met! To stand up for the children who have unfortunately have had to withstand horrible situations, he is a true hero and deserves a life of true peace, tranquility and happiness filled with much prosperity and the best of health with which to enjoy it all. And, as for all the critics…. I can tell you first hand that Meyer personally handled our case with such delicacy… Read more »

Thank you Meyer
May 16, 2016 8:10 am

We keep hearing about the lives of those who were ‘destroyed’ by JCW. What does that mean? Yes, they have been shamed. Who shames them? We do! We who create an environment where no one can ever do anything wrong, where no compassion is ever shown, were no suffering person is ever given sympathy, were the family members of all perpetrators children are punished (by us) for the sins of their parents and parents for the sins of their children. As long as WE don’t stand up to abuse we have no right to denounce the work of JCW. If… Read more »

Kudos to Bronya
May 16, 2016 7:18 am

Bronya Shafer lives quietly in her home where without any fanfare has made a huge change in the lives of so many women children and couples
May Hashem reward her with kol tov and nachas

As a mother , thank you!
May 16, 2016 12:56 am

I thank you for protecting the innocent , seems like a lot of people would like to protect the Guilty. That’s a real shame , Meyer and Nash bro’s and everyone else who worked and continuous to work on this cause, you are saving lives, we are indebted to you!!!

Thankful mother
May 15, 2016 11:28 pm

Thank you !
Thanks for all your hard work for the past 5 years .
Our world is safer thanks to you!

to 48
May 15, 2016 11:26 pm

My question to you is, why hasn’t anyone “innocently accused” cleared their name publicly? I’ve heard about a book written, which I did not read yet, but wouldn’t you shout it out to the world if you were innocently accused??

To # 57
May 15, 2016 11:23 pm

I totally agree that children should not have to go through the torture of being abused but I know for a fact that while JCW did try to help many molested people they did not do the proper investigation before they accused innocent people. They ruined their lives literally!!!!!!!!! I hope the one that takes over will work better to be there and help molested children but not destroy the lives of INNOCENT people!!!! Or a person that did something minor and is being accused of molestation. Of course it would be best if molestation doesn’t happen to begin with… Read more »

Thank You Meir!
May 15, 2016 9:50 pm

Mazal Tov and Hatzlacha Rabbah

It is beyond me....
May 15, 2016 3:18 pm

It is beyond me why some people want to negate the hard and important work of this organization. If your child were touched inappropriately (or worse), I doubt you would react with disdain for the organization’s work. One thought I have is that maybe you do not know what that kind of abuse really means. Maybe you think touching children in such ways is appropriate. Or maybe you are entrenched in a set of behaviors that you can not stoop and will not take an honest look at. Or maybe something else. Bottom line for many of us is this:… Read more »

Thank you Meir for actualizing your potential
May 15, 2016 3:05 pm

But from all the scary comments it looks like jcw is still very much needed. I shudder to think if any of these commenters would protect my children GD forbid in a dNgerous situation, as Meir has vehemently protected all children.

How great it is that Hashem gave you the fire to fight for children! How great that Hashem bestowed great wealth to the Nash family to fund a much needed organization.

The brave and the righteous usually stand alone against a sea of cowardly commenters

THANK YOU
May 15, 2016 2:16 pm

Meyer, you are a Nachshon ben Aminodov.

Thank you. You have brought peace and hope to soooo
many. hatzlocah rabbah

Mazal Tov and Thank You
May 15, 2016 11:20 am

Mayer,
A man knows when to “fold up.” You are a man. You stepped forward to change the landscape of a world of secrets, and you stepped back to nurture your own life. Blessings for great success in building an everlasting home in Yisroel. Be happy. Be free. Be loved and loving.

More work to do
May 15, 2016 9:13 am

Just from reading the comments it is apparent that we are in dire need of JCW and that there is a lot more work to do educating the Jewish community about abuse.

Thank you!!!
May 15, 2016 7:46 am

I am happy to hear about you moving forward toward building ur own family! You have saved more than one life and Hashem should bless u with only revealed good!
Thank you for demonstrating what ahavas yisroel really looks like!

To #48
May 15, 2016 7:39 am

Civil court does not say a person is innocent. They rule “Not Guilty” which means: “we don’t have evidence to say whether there is offense or not so we cannot determine either way”. Therefore, to claim that an innocent person’s life was destroyed as proven by civil court is not an accurate statement. Perhaps a person was innocent, perhaps not. I don’t know of JCW victims that everyone seems to write about. However, I do know that when a person makes such accusations, they are often very difficult to prove. In fact, if someone would look at my specific case… Read more »

to #13 and 47
May 15, 2016 6:57 am

Anonymity and giving credit where it’s due: one of the behind the scenes person and an unsung hero is Mrs. Bronya Schaffer who was the first person to bring programs of awareness of CSA to Crown Heights, to the rabbonim and principles at a time before it was ‘popular’. When JCW set foot on this scene it was a Crown Heights already with awareness of this ‘sensitive’ issue and all the rabbonim and principles of Crown Heights already had training by Dr. Pelcovitz in the Schaffers house. I was part of helping to call the participants so I know it… Read more »

Please Stop
May 15, 2016 5:37 am

Being a victim of abuse and then seeing people write it off in comments is unbearable. Those of you saying things like, “they’re wrong” and “it’s just hearsay” and that the victims are liars, is incredibly hurtful to those of us that have gone through abuse. How can you say that we’re liars when the memories are etched permanently in our minds for eternity???
Please stop the hateful comments. Thank you.

Levi
May 15, 2016 4:37 am

Q. Does the torah allow to kill one jew in order to save the life of 100 or more jews (even a entire city)?! A. The torah says: absolutely NOT! (rambam, hilchos yesodei hatorah perek 5 halcoho 17) JCW has prevented alot of child abuse (by exposing abusers that are destroying innocent kid’s life), however, is it all worth when destroying an innocent person’s life with false accusations (as was proven by civil court!!) moshiach now!

Give Credit Where Due
May 15, 2016 4:06 am

Thank you, Meyer Seewald for giving your all to protect and heal our children. May you be an inspiration to all of us to fight for our convictions and to ignore the nay-sayers.

Important Work
May 15, 2016 2:46 am

As a social worker who has worked for many years with s abused children I can attest that this is a needed organization. Three things to mention. 1. Deeply religious people find it very hard to believe such things happen because it is beyond their experience. 2. People who molest children are very secretive about it, are very devious in how they go about it, and have a very difficult time stopping their behavior. 3. False accusations made by children are extremely rare, and in my decades of working in the field I have seen very few of them. The… Read more »

#39
May 15, 2016 1:51 am

Berry Nash is a shliach in Montana. He is a brother of Eli and Chaim. No doubt shluchim too receive their support. The vocal stand in support of JCW was to show support for an organization and a cause that many found controversial and definitely not excluding other causes.

Meyer is amazing
May 15, 2016 1:02 am

Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do

To #39
May 15, 2016 12:24 am

I’m guessing you would get further by contacting the Nash brothers directly rather than addressing them in capital letters in a public forum. May Hashem bless you with abundant wealth, and may you always enjoy the free choice to support all the mosdos that speak to your heart.

Thank you
May 14, 2016 11:37 pm

Because of Meyer and this organization we are all more aware to speak to our children about abuse!!
Unfortunately it’s not pretty but very much necessary. Preventative medicine is the best!
Wishing you and your kallah only happiness and may you build a binyan adei ad!

Meyer made the voice of the victims heard
May 14, 2016 11:25 pm

Yaasher koach for creating a awareness that abuse happens in our community. Thanks to people like you I can talk about my abuse and people don’t look at me like I’m an ape. They understand more now. We have to work together to stop the obsession with pushing s abuse under the carpet. Hatzlacha Meyer in you’re new stage of life. You took you’re life’s lemons and made lemonade:)

thanks
May 14, 2016 11:22 pm

from a grateful mother

ELIAND BEN NASH
May 14, 2016 11:06 pm

THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR ELI AND BEN NASH.
ALMIGHTY G-D BLESSED YOU WITH WEALTH.
PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING THE SHLUCHIM AS ONE OF YOUR PRIORITIES IN SHLICHUS.
THE REBBES KINDER DESPERATLY NEED ASSISTANCE.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH RABBI KOTLARSKY AND CHOOSE TO HELP PAY TUITION OR HEALTH BENEFITS FOR THE SHLUCHIM.
MANY OF THEM ARE REALLY STRUGGLING AND STAY ON TO HELP ANOTHER JEW.

Names of JCW board
May 14, 2016 9:14 pm

They are all on the website.

I was one of them
May 14, 2016 3:41 pm

You know, the people who went head-to-head with Meyer Seewald in the early days, when JCW seemed nothing more than out of control vigilantism. I was strongly opposed to their methods, which seemed to have no checks & balances. Today, I am a huge fan. While I always knew the need for JCW was colossal, I saw how the organization became more stringent in its review process. There is full accountability, intensive due diligence, and as it developed, my admiration and support grew. Meyer’s departure, while a great loss as he is “Mr. JCW”, is understandable. I am certain the… Read more »

80% is not enough
May 14, 2016 2:55 pm

When I read that you only started with 10% approval I was shocked but not so shocked as when I read you only have 80% now…until I read these comments. Seeing is believing! Some of these comments are appalling!! Meyer, you truly are the Pinchas of our generation and I hope we all learn from your holy chutzpa and become a little more like you everyday! Hatzlacha in all your future endeavors, but most importantly, I commend you for thawing a brave step away from such a burden and heavy day to day dealings in order to healthfully cultivate what… Read more »

Congrats meir
May 14, 2016 5:15 am

Thank you for your selfless devotion to our kids. As with every public role in life, you will have people who criticize and take issue. Yet you have served our community and made it a safer place and we are grateful for that!

To # 18
May 13, 2016 10:39 pm

That comment did not make sense to me. One can leave something they believe in and go to something else they believe in ! I’m sure you know that, but you seem to be angry about something. There are many examples of people moving on from something they believe in to another journey that is right for them at a particular time in their life! Many!

Thank You Meir
May 13, 2016 7:48 pm

You put the shame where it belongs on the abusers instead of the victims.
Thank You!

Much good...
May 13, 2016 7:22 pm

… and some bad.

Both abusers, and some innocent victims of JCW, will be sleeping easier.

Meyer, you have helped, and you have harmed, collateral damage is ok in your book.

Hatzlacha in your next step in life. With a wife and iyh family, you will be a in more responsible and hopefully reasonable position to make better judgement calls.

Hatzlacha, and thank you for your work.

Thank you
May 13, 2016 7:10 pm

for saving many lives. Only Hashem can reward you to the extent you deserve! A million thanks!
And to all those working behind the scenes, if you even saved one child, your Gan Eiden is great!

To all you fools
May 13, 2016 6:57 pm

I’m not a seewald or related to one but this man deserves a huge yasherkoach for the change that happened due to him standing up and speaking out we all know good and well what used to go on in our yeshivas it’s sick to think back how I sat thrue a class with a teacher doing terrible things. so who ever is bashing your father brother or uncle is most likely up on the JCM site so your obviously upset Didint think it would catch up to them one day now think of the changes implemented tx to JCW… Read more »

Thank you Meyer
May 13, 2016 6:37 pm

For all your dedication and hard work. A Fan with less courage than you.

i agree with # 14
May 13, 2016 6:19 pm

shaming a person, especially with no proof, other then the person saying it really happened, and family support, isn’t only shaming the person but his family. and the worst part is, street judgers, people tend to take sides without first hearing both sides, and its against the Torah period.

To #10 and #16
May 13, 2016 6:11 pm

You just proved my point about accusing people falsely.

No wonder you support JCW.

law? or a ordained Rov?
May 13, 2016 6:09 pm

Isn’t it time a great time to from now and on: to put things right and the jewish way
And before posting any name on JCW every spasfic name should be aouthrized by an ordaind Rov?

Glad to hear..
May 13, 2016 6:06 pm

Im glad he decided to step down on his own.
He worked without any sources and with out proof. He was a nobody who tried to become a somebody.
The concept was brilliant the actions and accusations and approach should be on the wall shame .

Thank you for the amazing awareness you have brought
May 13, 2016 6:04 pm
There is a boss
May 13, 2016 5:58 pm

As a 501c3 all board members need to be named in the annual 990 so i doubt any board members aren’t being named.

Best news
May 13, 2016 5:54 pm

Maybe now our community can stop being bullied

# 10
May 13, 2016 5:53 pm

if your very worried about your children talk to them and make sure everything is all right

Rabonim¡!!!!!!!!!
May 13, 2016 5:48 pm

Where are you are you???
Is there “any” Rov who authorized every specific name posted on JCW?? Isn’t it time!!! It’s just an attorney??? What a joke

Thank you!
May 13, 2016 5:46 pm

Thank you Meyer for starting this wonderful organization and protecting our children. I’m sure many children have been saved from those who fear retribution from JCW. In addition thanks for supporting all those survivors out there!

Pathetic
May 13, 2016 5:45 pm

When you believe in something you don’t leave it

Great work -l
May 13, 2016 5:43 pm

This guy shook our world with…THE TRUTH. Can’t think of anyone else in his generation that has done the same. Excited to see your future endevours Meyer (and hope JCW can survive without you).

#10
May 13, 2016 5:39 pm

Totally correct – agreed..I bet that’s the case!

Meyer thanks.

Actually thanks for COL who seems to have taken a more active role in talking, posting and reporting truly important issues in our lives lately.
It is being done none maliciously, and with class so its a welcome site (no pun intended)

Thank you Meyer
May 13, 2016 5:37 pm

Meyer, you are the Pinchas Ha’Kohen of our generation. He too was maligned. He too was questioned by the old-guard. He too stood up when the leaders stood frozen and incapable of protecting our society.

You changed the world; you saved lives; and you saved the Jewish people.

Thank you.

to #10
May 13, 2016 5:37 pm

He has no business shaming people without any source of proof other than hearsay.

In response to #5- There are many unnamed individuals...
May 13, 2016 5:36 pm

…who work tirelessly behind the scenes. It’s their anonymity that allows them to be as affective as they are. (Consider: every intelligence gathering agency in the world uses anonymity as a tool.) Along with the amazing men and women who represent JCW publicly, there are many unsung heroes who do more for victims than the public will ever know.

A modern day hero
May 13, 2016 5:30 pm

Keep up the great work JCW – unfortunately very much needed. Meyer is a hero to our children!

Mazal tov
May 13, 2016 5:25 pm

May you build a bayis Neeman b’yisroel

To #3 and #5
May 13, 2016 5:03 pm

I hear sour grapes, i think you both either the same person or have the same reason to be angry that he exposed you or your family members
It’s finally time to step out of the shadows, and confront those who harm our children

Thank you Meir.
May 13, 2016 4:48 pm

you are a hero

you amazing
May 13, 2016 4:27 pm

hero

Names of JCW board
May 13, 2016 4:22 pm

They are all on the website.

yasher koach and thanks for all
May 13, 2016 3:51 pm

Thank your for taking on what noone else would. Your work will live on and has and will save many children. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication.

Self appointed police
May 13, 2016 3:40 pm

If you have no problem publicly “shaming” individuals who were never even convicted, at the very least you should publicly state all board members and Rabonim who approve each name that goes up (and if you have no Rabonim that’s a bigger issue).

It’s ironic how you call it unfortunate that leaders of the community only support behind the scenes and not publicly, while members of your OWN board don’t “wish to be named”.

Yitzchok
May 13, 2016 3:40 pm

I say yasher koach to Mayer Seewwald for bringing this shame in our community to the light of day and helping us heal together, medicine is not always pleasant but it makes us better. Wishing you a lot of Hatzlacha and maazal on your new life..

B"H
May 13, 2016 3:38 pm

Finally he is leaving, he did a lot of damage too!!!

A parent
May 13, 2016 3:33 pm

Your work is greatly appreciated! Much success with your next step in life!

we are so thankful
May 13, 2016 3:21 pm

Mayer you do / did amazing work tnx for everything.
Thank you to the Nash brothers for there support we need more ppl like Mayer and the Nash boys!

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