The survivors of child abuse who receive countless support and assistance from JCW often refer to it as a family, one in which a special unspeakable bond is shared.
On that note, Sunday night’s Gala at the Rok Family Shul in Miami was somewhat of a family reunion as dozens of survivors, along with their families and hundreds of supporters, gathered to look back at the impact that JCW has made within the four short years since its creation. They also gathered to further commit themselves to JCW’s mission of protecting children from abuse and helping survivors heal.
Award-winning reporter for the Fox affiliate in Miami and probably the only Shabbat observant TV reporter in the country, Rosh Lowe, emceed the evening. He introduced the founder of JCW, Meyer Seewald, who started the organization as a blog in 2011 in order to expose a predator that he knew were abusing young teens in a Jewish community in Brooklyn.
Meyer Seewald listed all of the work that JCW has done over the past year to prevent abuse and help survivors heal. Among the impressive list were the many educational events that JCW had made that informed thousands of people within the orthodox Jewish community about the danger and prevalence of child sexual abuse while offering tips to prevent it. He also mentioned JCW’s work of subsidizing therapy for over one hundred survivors, of logging hundreds of reports of abuse, and offering a wealth of information about the topic to the one million visitors their website has received. But Seewald made sure to caution the crowd, “How can we celebrate when there is still so much more to do? How can we celebrate when there are still thousands of victims in pain?”.
Awards were then handed out to the honorees. Receiving awards were Ben Nash, a philanthropist and major supporter of JCW; Eli Nash, Ben’s brother and a survivor who has since become an active supporter of JCW; Benny Forer, a rabbi, professor and assistant district attorney from Los Angeles who was acknowledged for his counsel and assistance to JCW since the beginning; Doctor Mark Horowitz from Los Angeles; Abe Pasternak, the COO of PCS Wireless and Director of the Arora Nash Foundation; and Rabbi Yosef Blau, the Mashgiach Ruchani at YU and an invaluable member of the advisory board.
An emotional moment during the award presentation served to highlight the effect that CSA has, not just on the victim, but on the family as well. When Ben Nash was asked to say a few words, he tearfully apologized to his younger brother, Eli, for not being there for him in the past. He declared: “I failed you as a child, but I will not fail our children again.”
As each speaker took their turn at the podium it became clear that JCW does not only act to help survivors heal, but also empowers them to become advocates themselves. Despite suffering deeply from abuse, courageous survivors Sima Yarmush, Rivka Joseph, Baruch Sandhaus, David Schottenstein, and Eli Nash have each used their stories to help raise awareness and inspire others to work together to help prevent abuse within the community.
When Executive Director David Schapiro asked for pledges from the crowd, Mark Horowitz immediately pledged $50,000 on condition that he is listed on JewishCommunityWatch.org as a proud supporter of JCW.
A young father was the last speaker of the event, revealing publicly for the first time that he too was abused. He also related that a friend of his was recently exposed on JCW’s Wall of Shame, as an abuser. When he asked this individual, who is currently in jail for his crimes, what his feeling are towards JCW, the man surprisingly replied that he is grateful to JCW for exposing him and allowing him to now get the help he desperately needs.
The Gala Chairwoman was Dinie Shapiro and the committee members were Freida Bindell, Raizel Kahn, Devorah Kaplan, Nicole Kavana, Chani Laber, Dini Leeds, Henya Mizrahi, Eda Schottenstein, and Gabriella Shapiro.
Sima yarmush your courage is so inspiring!
even though I was abused myself its very simple, I focus on the big pic & separate the 2 unrelated messages. in other words ladies & gentleman, lets focus on JCW’s message, vs the messengers. don’t connect the 2. love their message, even if you don’t love it’s originators. its inconsequential who/what says it. if a OTD person screams “fire” will you NOT run outside!? lets HELP jcw spread their holy message vs knocking the messengers. who cares what they look/don’t look like, or what they wear/don’t wear, its all “backround noise” & detracts from the real urgent painful reality… Read more »
That is precisely the point, and why we have to protect children! This is what abuse does to them when they are not protected from their rebbis and the ones they trust the most IT TURNS THEM OFF OF YIDDISHKEIT! cuz If that is what a frum bearded man can do to them, of course they will run far in the other direction! You want more People staying on the frum chassidish path have more rabbis supporting this cause openly and not protect the beards just because they have a beard!!! Thank you JCW!!!
There are other organizations that educate on csa. Look at Magenu in Flatbush run by two tznius women. They go to schools and train teachers, parents and the students all in a kosher manner about csa. They have frum male volunteers as well. So the excuse that schools won’t be educated because of lack of beards is pretty lame. There’s plenty of sources to go to for education, but there is just not enough of caring parents or administrators willing to make half an effort to look into it. How many years have all of you been complaining about jcw… Read more »
The Frum therapist told me, it’s not up to me to dictate how someone chooses to have a relationship with Hashem. That is a private matter. If it guests so much for these survivors to live a frum life, it’s not our responsibility to judge, just be there for our fellow Jews and respect their relationship, with Hashem, however unorthodox it may be
unless you have personally watched someone you love suffer from abuse, you can have no understanding of how much is at stake, how much heartbreak is involved . The person relives their abuse and can hardly function- it affects all aspects of their very being. The family involved is suffering as they see their loved one going through this and are unable to relieve their suffering or even their own. Getting through each hour or day is the most they can focus on. It literally becomes a nightmare . Be very careful how you judge and criticize from your podium.… Read more »
I am sure down the line they will be more outwardly Frum, let them grow and heal.
Check the organization’s website http://www.jewishcommunitywatch.org. They list there their advisory board, among its members is Rabbi Chaim Itche Drizin. Why don’t you reach out to him with your concerns and questions instead of trolling the comments on the Internet. If you really cared about the kids and had legitamate concerns about the organization, I’m sure he can answer your questions.
Friends, you are missing the point. #8 is not judging anyone’s frumkeit, or small-mindedly criticizing their dress, or taking away from the important work they are doing. He is merely saying that JCW will be more effective as an organization, and save more children, if they had a frum, chassidishe face to the organization. Isn’t is all about preventing abuse and protecting our children? Do you think JCW leadership does not draw a salary? To save even one more child, how difficult is it to hire a frum, chassidishe director to liason with the community and local schools? Let a… Read more »
Who are you to judge their way of dress? They are protecting our children and we should all be thankful. No man with a beard had the guts or passion to take a stand! I commend JCW for commiting their lives to helping frum Jewish children!
My husband was abused and when he remembered his abuse he completely lashed out yiddishkeit. It has been a very hard thing for me. The reason this happened, was due to the circumstances of his abuse. Through JCW I’ve met other family members of victims and its a hard process for the victims family as well. That is one thing I think JCW should talk more about. One mother who’s son had a similar experience to his recovery process as my husband also went OTD. I asked this mother how could she watch her son, the same age as me… Read more »
they do wonderful work, unfortunately the way they conduct themselves in their personal lives is not an example for our children. the message they send without words is that the only way to recover is to go off the derech. in order for them to truly do the work needed for our community they need to speak with respect to our leaders and rabbonim. until they can do that they will be limited as to which crowd of people will listen to them and assist them.
So what you are saying is that it is more important to look visually “normal/frum” but have an unhealthy mind then look like you are “otd” but actually be safe, mentally sound and happy?
Hmm nice message to send to your kids, your safety is not worth the risk of you loosing the black hat and jacket.
Because we have seen so many of those courageous and brave bearded men step up and take a stance against abuse and protect children!! In actuality, in the 5 years JCW has existed, barely anyone has. Those clean-shaven outsiders (although, most are Chabad and their reach is not only to Chabad but to all Orthodoxy) have done more than your bearded idols.
On a further note, look at the wall of shame, thats where many beards go.
They need to be more representative of the communities they purport to represent. Time and again their event speakers are individuals who are no longer orthodox observant Jews. Why not have a chabad rabbi speak? A chabad principal of an elementary school? Why the same faces over and over again?
Even though the issue of what people at JCW and their supporters wear or don’t wear really has absolutely nothing to do with their mission and incredible accomplishments in helping and saving our youth: (and of course we wish they would dress differently, but they get the job done and are not afraid to do what needs to be done!) I will say that I know way too many people who continue to use their positions and masquerade the whole 9 yards worth, with beard, payos, kapotoh (even during the week), continue to farbreng and promote alcohol to our kids,… Read more »
Someone with a beard and tzitzis by no means the person is honest and kind. No connection whatsoever!
I see there are some like minded souls here. To reiterate the point, I think that JCW does great work, but just like you don’t appoint a Japanese-American as US ambassador to China, the folks at JCW should realize that they need a frum, chassidishe voice to make the most headway with the frum community and local schools. Again, the gentlemen do great work, but they dressed for this event like they are going clubbing instead of raising money to combat pedophilia in the frum world. I don’t see Bnos Menachem or OT ever bringing them in (where they are… Read more »
was also abused and is involved in helping with JCW. Thank you Mayer for leading, and using your experience to help us all be whole. Hatzlacha Rabo
Socially acceptable ? That’s the idea behind a beard /no beard ..social?? Ask the rebbe if that’s what it’s about !
To #8
Totally agree with you!
It’s to our benefit that they don’t have the pressure from the heads of chabad. They are revolutionaries on a mission and will do what’s morally right, not what is socially acceptable.
Perhaps you will consider the fact that the reason they don’t have beards may very well be because the people with beards who feel too self conscious to put their reputation at risk – to do what’s unpopular, at the risk of being outcasted or threatened by others with beards who don’t have the backbone to do the right thing etc..were not there for them – and rather than self destruct, they have channeled their pain into positive action – so that others many not have to get to the point that they no longer wish to wear beards?? And… Read more »
1. Beards and tzitzis are not the definition of frum. 2. They are doing an amazing job at accomolishing their goals 3. Exactly what community are they not a part of? 4. If u feel that their mission is important, but an organization like that should have different leaders, then start an organization, hire the leader you see fit and get to work cleaning up the streets and putting an end to csa. If you’re not prepared to do that, then u better start appreciating them for who they are and what they do and get over your ridiculous and… Read more »
To # 8
I’m with you. If they want the schools in the neighborhood to take them seriously in a good way. They need to make it look more palatable to the people in the area. That said any organization who’s mission statement is to save our children, I say G-D bless you and thank you for keeping our kids safe..
please continue your work b’hatzlocha. one issue i find in the community i live in (midwest chabad/modern community) is that people have a difficult time believing survivors, those which have unfortunately been abused. Please address this issue, I am not sure how to combat it, but it definitely needs attention. thank you!
Meyer you called me when i was worried about my daughter. You were brilliant. Im so pleased you have support from everyone now
Thank you
Gd bless you always
A mum
Thank you to the JCW team for your hard work. I know how hard some of you worked to make this world a better place. In LA, we are lucky to have heros like Benny Forer, who stood up to the powers and challenged them. His friends abandoned him but he kept on going to save children. He’s a true light to us.
A true hero
Really Holy work!
after attending the montreal event I contacted Meyer because I too was abused. Within a week, someone called me to put into place any and every possible action in order to help me in the process of healing. Its so hurtful and raw but at least now I am dealing with it rather than suppressing it. The portrayal of a survivor rather than a victim is so helpful in overcoming the shame. I wish we wouldn’t need JCW but until Moshiach comes, i wish only success in this groundbreaking mission
Keep up the great work you two!! You are amazing and Jewish youth around the world admire what you guys are doing for this cause and many many others. Hashem should continue to bless you!!
Keep doing your amazing work!!
So pro it keep up the awesome work your saveing life’s!
I know that JCW does necessary work, but something about the leadership of the organization has always bothered me – namely, that the organizers are not really part of our community – that is, they are not frum yidden – no beards or Tzitsis, and I expect the Yamulkas come off after they leave the premises. As a result, I feel like the message is that “we survived our terrible ideal and escaped from an unhealthy place and found our peace” – all outside the Torah and Chassidishkite with which they were originally raised and which was the poisonous place… Read more »
saving victims, and innocent children, but they even have resources for help for the abusers. Fantastic!
As a community member I enjoy most of the work that the JCW does and I am sure that they mean very well. What I have a hard time understanding it seems like they do a very good job rehabilitating more modern abuse victims. And not so much victims who follow a more classification path in life. That bothers me because it seems that they aren’t able to network in as classification crown and to me that translates that those in the community who were abused will continue abusing. Maybe I’m totally off, and I really hope I am, however… Read more »
so thankful for this organization
i can confidently say my kids are growing up in a safer enviroment than i did!
thanx jcw!
it was a heartfelt event with a lot of emotions. G-D bless you and stay strong.
כל המציל נפש אחת מישראל כאילו הציל עולם מלא,
ישר כח גדול לאירגון ,השם ימלא. משאלות ליבכם לטובה.
וכולנו נזכה לראות משיח עכשיו.
I went to the event JCW does amazing work.
Great job.
Keep up the good work.
Please keep up your amazing work! JCW is, sadly, SO NEEDED.
Hatzlacha Rabbah!!!!