Saturday, January 30, 2010

Look What They've Done To Our People Ma . . .

Look What They've Done To Our People Mamma
By Vicki Polin
The Awareness Center's Daily News Letter - January 30, 2010
 

It's been a zillion years since I heard the following song. While listening to it I couldn't help but think about the advocacy work I've been doing with Jewish survivors of sexual violence for the last 10 years.  

The movement has become so explosive in the Jewish orthodox world and definitely has not gone in the direction I've hoped for.

The question now is how do we take the insanity and change it into something that is healing and empowering for survivors, their families and the entire world? 


At times it feels as if it's the "War of the Worlds".  It's so sad because when I first got started all I really wanted to do was educate our rabbonim, help those who have been sexually victimized find ways to heal; and join forces in hopes of preventing one more person (adult or child) from becoming the next victim of a sex crime.  Instead all we seem to get is game playing from those who are supposed to be our rabbinic and community leaders.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great Vicki

The movement must never end only a strong woman as your self could fight rapist and human rights abusers?

Zissa

Anonymous said...

Vicki

This is what we can be called!

A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement. Making a change for the best of all who suffer.

LV

Anonymous said...

You mean cases like Rabbis Leib Tropper, Mordecai Tendler, Ephraim Bryks, etc.?

Anonymous said...

You should add in there Rabbis Yaakov Menken, Eliezer Eisgrau, Moshe Eisemann, Aryeh Blaut, Matis Weinberg, Ben Zion Sobel, Stanley Levitt, Lewis Furman and David Kedmi.

And don't forget Michael Segelstein who's the hazan in he Las Vegas Chabad.

Anonymous said...

I think the rabbis should be held responsible for the loss of Motty Borger. They knew there was a problem and did nothing. If only his parents would have gotten him help long ago, he would still be here with us today.

Anonymous said...

Well, if the rabbis did something years ago, the Daniel Levin would be alive today too and his "offender" would be locked up with the key thrown away.

Anonymous said...

How many suicides do you think could have been prevented if our rabbonim didn't play the games? If only they cared about our people as much as they do their status and "reputations".

amdur family said...

I think that the Rabbis are too scared to do anything. If they admit that they have a huge problem with pedophilia then people will stop sending their children to cheder and yeshivahs and secular school where there are male teachers. Many married women are not going to turn their husbands in because they don't want to loose their meal ticket. So its up to us to protect our children by keeping them away from cheders, yeshivahs, men teachers and to educate our children never to be alone with another man evn if its their own father.

Leah Amdur
Leah Amdur

Anonymous said...

Vicki,

Why are you refusung to post about Ramat Bet Shemesh?
This is a haven for molesters and for some reason you're keeping quiet.
I intend to find out why.

Vicki Polin said...

The Awareness Center is not refusing to publish articles about Ramat Bet Shemesh, we just haven't received any. Why not e-mail them to us.

Vicki Polin said...

Ramat Bet Shemesh has problems and so does Emanuel. That's another town that alleged and convicted sex offenders from other countries seem to migrate to.

Just look at the case of Malka Leifer
http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/Leifer_Malka.html