Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman (PICTURED ABOVE) is Rav Congregation Ahavas Israel in Passaic NJ. He sent out the following email immediately after finding out that convicted sex offender Stefan Colmer had moved back to Passaic. From: R. Y. Eisenman <rabbi@ahavasisrael.org Subject: Important Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2016, 10:02 PM Please be aware that Stefan […]
Category Archives: media
Camp JEM Summer Experience Rebrands as Camp One Lev
The JEM Summer Camp in Beverly Hills, which has come under scrutiny in recent years for its affiliation with convicted child sex abuser Mendel Tevel, has rebranded as Camp One Lev. Rabbi Hertzel Illulian, the founder and director of the JEM Youth Center in Beverly Hills, hired his son-in-law, Mendel Tevel, as youth director in […]
“Is Silence Always Golden?” – Reflections on the Maklev Case
By Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman. I am very hesitant to write what I am about to say. There is no doubt that some will feel that ‘sweeping the dirt under the rug’ is the best policy. And there are those who will question my decision to write by claiming, “Why discuss uncomfortable issues? Those who […]
Daddy, I hate you and I hate that I hate you!
You can’t be who I want you to be. No matter what I tell myself, no matter what I try so hard to believe, no matter what I see or don’t see, you can’t be the daddy of my dreams. You can’t be the man who comforts me in the middle of the night when […]
Petition Presses Agudath Israel on New York Statute of Limitation for Child Sex Abuse
An online petition which calls on the Orthodox umbrella group to support ending the statute of limitation has gathered almost 800 signatures in three days. With a long-delayed bill to eliminate the statute of limitation in New York gaining momentum, Jewish Community Watch (JCW) an Orthodox child advocacy group has circulated a petition demanding that […]
Safety Alert: Seattle
Stephen Ruskin, a Seattle resident, was charged with child molestation and sentenced to 90 days in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of “Communication with minor for immoral purposes”. Ruskin’s attorney was able to influence a judge that because of his religious piety, his sentence should be postponed till after pesach. Ruskin […]
Have You Seen Chisdai Ben-Porat?
Canadian citizen Chisdai Ben-Porat pleaded guilty to indecent assault without the consent of others (18 Pa. C.S. § 3126) in 2014. His passport was taken from him and he was escorted to the Canadian border by U.S. Immigration upon his release. He was required to register as a sex offender in Pennsylvania under Megan’s Law […]
Safety Alert Toronto – Dovid Leib Chaikin
Rabbi Dovid Leib Chaikin was posted several years ago to the wall of Shame after a thorough investigation revealed that he allegedly molested numerous children. It has come to our attention that Chaikin is lecturing in the Toronto area. Chaikin remains an extreme danger to children and it goes without saying that this man should […]
JCW Responds To Rabbi Rosenfeld
On March 8th in response to a Newsweek article that details multiple incidents of alleged physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by certain staff members of Oholei Torah, including two who currently teach there, Rabbi Sholom Rosenfeld addressed a letter to Oholei Torah parents promising and giving his word that the yeshiva is safe. He stated […]
Israel Safety Alert – Chaim Gajer
Chaim Gajer, who was added to the JCW wall of shame after a lengthy investigation for allegedly molesting a number of minors, has been seen in Israel. It is unclear if Gajer is there for a visit or if he moved to Israel permanently. If you or someone you know were abused by Chaim Gajer […]
A survivor writes about the horrors of incest – an expert tells you how to save other children
Your father only has one memory of the day of your birth. He tells of his disappointment. He had learned lessons from the birth of your brother and sister. Their births took hours and he was not prepared. He had no food and couldn’t leave the hospital to get something. When it was time for […]
When I needed help and support there was only one place to turn
By Menachem Schoenes I will never forget sitting in that nice office lined with religious books being told it never happened. I had come to a religious community leader to ask for help. I had been fondled inappropriately. “Religious people do not do such things,” he said. “Don’t you know what God has said about […]
Fugitive Jewish school principal Malka Leifer sued for sex abuse
The Australian Reports Fugitive Jewish headmistress Malka Leifer will now battle authorities in two countries after a former student and teacher at a Melbourne girls’ school last week launched legal action against the former principal for serial sexual abuse. The woman is the sister of another victim who was last year awarded $1.27 million for […]
5 Things You Should Never Say To A Survivor, And What To Say Instead
I am extremely blessed to say I have had incredible support from someone close to me who held me tight when I was falling, raised me up when I felt dead inside, and was there for me in extraordinary ways. For this I will forever be grateful. It is this person who showed me what […]
Camp Shoresh sent out a message to parents, JCW has some important questions
Here is an email Camp Shoresh sent out to parents, below that you will see a number of important questions JCW has for Shoresh Here is JCW’s response to the special message from Shoresh: Camp Shoresh of Baltimore recently sent out a “special message” regarding reports of child sexual abuse this past summer to all […]
Sydney Beth Din: Mesirah not applicable in Australia
Published on J-Wire Sydney’s Beth Din has stated that the practice of banning Jews from informing on a fellow Jew is not applicable in matters relating to criminal law in Western democracies. Rabbi Moshe Gutnick, The Sydney’s Beth Din statement issued by Rabbo Moshe Gutnick states: “In response to recent media reports suggesting otherwise, and in […]
Seeing You In An Orange Jumpsuit
Seeing you in orange is the last image in my head Replacing the ones where you control my life instead Keeping me silent for over a decade and then some Holding me hostage to the fear, all numb Well I’m not a bad person for outing you You are cruel for having done what you […]
Focusing A Light On Abuse
By: Dr. Michael J. Salamon. Published in the Jewish Press. March 3 marked a turning point. On that day, Newsweek magazine published an article titled Child Abuse Allegations Plague the Hasidic community. (True, there have been other articles in major media outlets about abuse in Orthodox communities but this is the first time the problem […]
An Open Letter From Eli Nash To Rabbi Herschel Lustig
Rabbi Lustig, it’s been over a year since JCW publicly demanded that you step down from your position as Principal of Ohelei Torah. You have not stepped down nor have you responded to their accusations. It’s time you do one or the other. I know that there are many students who love and respect you. […]
‘Everyone’s complicit’: Why sexual abuse survivors need your support
By Chloe Booker for THE AGE. Warning – this story contains material which may distress some readers Most school mornings Di Elderton spent in dread as she waited for her father, Alfred Zammit, to knock on the wall between their bedrooms. Rat-a-tat-tat. Time to come in. But when she finally worked up the courage to […]
15 Unmeasurably Painful Things Said To Me and Other Victims Of Abuse
“I don’t believe you” “Just get over it” “i don’t know why you are so caught up with this. It happened so many years ago” “Let it go. The past is in the past” “He/she was too young to have abused you” “Do you even know what abuse is?” “Shhhh… It’s Loshon Hara” “That isn’t […]
How to respond to abuse in Jewish schools
By Guila Benchimol, published in the Canadian Jewish News In the last few weeks, two men currently and formerly living in Toronto’s Jewish community have been arrested and charged with crimes of a sexual nature. Stephen Joseph Schacter, who taught at Eitz Chaim Schools between 1986 and 2004 as well as at United Synagogue Day […]
A survivor Writes To Her Therapist
Over and over you ask me what I’m feeling. I want to scream in frustration, “I don’t know!” I don’t know how to describe what’s going on inside. There is turbulence, my stomach rolls, everything shakes. My head is full of things that I want to say, but I can’t seem to get my mouth […]
Boro Park Alert: Mendy (Shmuel) Israel arrested for child sexual abuse.
Boro Park resident Mendy Israel was arrested yesterday, March 2nd, on numerous charges related to sexual abuse, including two counts of Course Sex Conduct against a child in the first degree. Under New York State law, a person is guilty of Course of Sexual Conduct against a child in the first degree when, over a […]
Eitz Chaim didn’t report teacher sexual assault allegations, say police
Staff at a group of Jewish private schools in Toronto did not notify authorities of allegations of sexual assaults dating back to the 80s, police say after an investigation that has now led to sexual assault charges being laid against a 55-year-old former Toronto elementary school teacher . Stephen Schacter is now facing gross indecency, sexual assault and exploitation charges that […]