REMINDER: Rally in support of crime victims - Tuesday in Crown Heights (Brooklyn, NY)

Mark This Date: March 8 – Peaceful Rally for Justice in Crown Heights

Crime Victims in Brooklyn’s Jewish Community Need Your Support!

Please  join us in a peaceful rally for justice in Crown Heights

When: Tuesday, March 8, 2011  -  8:00 PM – Midnight 
Where: Bais Rivka, 310 Crown Street, Brooklyn, NY 
Sponsor: Coalition Against Legal Abuse  (dedicated to offer to support crime victims).

For more information: Call 1-800-958-2904 or send an e-mail to: coalitioncalany@gmail.com

An educational seminar on sexual abuse will be taking place March 8th, 2011, at 8:00 PM, at Bais Rivka.  Unfortunately, there have been serious accusations made against both Henna White and those associated withOhel Family Services, including Dr. David Pelcovitz — regarding mishandling of cases which include child abuse (emotional, physical and sexual) and domestic violence.

Mrs. Bronya Shaffer who is internationally known for her involvement with cases of child abuse in the Chabad community will be emceeing the evening.  Other presenters for the evening include Dr. David Pelcovitz, Rabbi Shloime Sternberg, Professor Gavriel Fagin and Henna White, who is employed as the liaison between theBrooklyn District Attorney’s office and the Jewish community.

It is the belief of several advocacy organizations that community members should be warned that Henna White, Dr. David Pelcovitz and anyone associated with Ohel should not be trusted, and should not be considered experts in the field of abuse and neglect.  Speaking at events like this give possible victims of crimes the impression that these individuals are trustworthy and have their best interest in mind.

Please show your support by letting us know that you plan on coming to this rally.  You can do this by either calling:   1-800-958-2904 Or by sending an e-mail to:  coalitioncalany@gmail.com

Background information:

• Conflict of interest? Asher White representing offenders of Henna’s DV clients
• NYPD refuses to investigate allegations of assault of rallying women
• Crimes Against Women – Obstruction of Justice

NYPD refuses to investigate allegations of assault against rallying women

by Vicki Polin

Examiner - 02/19/2011 

Feb. 15, 2011 -- A group of ultra orthodox Jewish women connected to the Coalition Against Legal Abuse (CALA)in New York City, were rallying outside of a fundraising event in hopes of warning community members of alleged corruption within the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and at Ohel Family Services.  CALA members stated the problem has been with Henna White, who is the liaison to the Jewish community when it comes to sex crimes and domestic violence.

CALA was also warning their community to go directly to the New York Police Department to file charges of of alleged sexual abuse and domestic violence and not utilize the services of Ohel Family Services, which is the largest Jewish orthodox mental health agency in the United States.  Ohel is not only a powerful source in New York City, it often influences the Chicago Rabbinical Counsel’s Jewish Legal Court regarding issues pertaining to mental health, including abuse and neglect allegations.

Steve Zakheim

During the rally it has been reported that Steve Zackheim (AKA: Shlomo Zakheim) and his brother Moshe Zackheim started shouting at the women and allegedly grabbing their posters and both physically and sexually assaulted them.  A video of the rally and attack can be seen on youtube.  Moshe Zakheim is an executive board member of Ohel Family Services and also the director of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation.  

Steve Zakheim was convicted of misdemeanor sexual abuse and settled a sexual harassment claim out of court, which was made by one of his employees back in 2004.

Det. Dominick Scotto

On Feb. 16, 2011 several of the women who were assaulted attempted to file a criminal complaint against their offenders. Several community members assembled to support the alleged victim making their reports at the 70th precinct in New York City.  Det. Dominick Scotto assured the women that case would be investigated and there would be follow through within 24 hours.  

Yesterday the coalition was notified that the case against the Zakheim brothers had been closed, prior to any type of an investigation, even though none of the women who had been assaulted were interviewed by police officers. 

CALA is urging anyone who cares about women, families or children to immediately contact Debuty Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Captain Peter Venice, Captain Michael Giovanelli and Det. Dominick Scotto to reopen the assault and harassment case against Steve and Moshe Zakheim immediately.  The coalition is also asking individuals to contact the New York Police Department’s Commission to Combat Police Corruption (CCPC) - internal affairs director, Charles V. Campisi and refer to complaint number 1264, dated Feb. 16, 2011.  


For more information on this case read: Religious Women Protest Against Henna White and Ohel Family Services

Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte



Captain Michael Giovanelli

• Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Captain Peter Venice, Captain Michael Giovanelli and Det. Dominick Scotto - (718) 851-5511
• 
  
• Charles V. Campisi, Internal Affairs - (212) 741-8401

(Brooklyn, NY) Religious Women Protest Against Henna White and Ohel Family Services

Henna White 

(Brooklyn, NY) February 15, 2011 -- Several ultra orthodox women were protesting outside a fundraising event in front of Agudas Israel Bais Binyomin Hall in Flatbush.  The Coalition Against Legal Abuse in New York's message was to warned the attendees of the dangers of reporting cases of sexual abuse/assault or domestic violence to professionals at Ohel Family Services or to Henna White.   The protesters believe that both Ms. White and Ohel will do anything in their power to cover up these sorts of crimes.

Steve Zackheim

During the protest a few of the women were assaulted by Steve Zackheim  (AKA: Shlomo Zackheim, Steve Zakheim), who grabbed their bodies and ripped their signs out of their hands (see below).  It is encouraged that these women go directly to the police and file charges against Zacheim.

The protesters stated that Henna White will gather information from those claiming they were victimized, under the guise of providing them with information and referrals.  The protesters claim that the information obtained by Ms. White will then be shared with her husband -- who then advises the alleged offenders "off the record".  

Allegedly, the confidential information obtained by Henna White, will be then used against the victims.  In the past when complaints were made by the victims and or their family members, the alleged victims were bullied and mocked into silence.

The Awareness Center has heard many rumors regarding both Henna White and Ohel over the years.  The complaints have always been about the allegations of mishandling of cases in which allegations of both sex crimes and domestic violence were made. 

The women protesting outside the fundraising event noted that Henna White arrived in an Ambulance which was supplied by the wife of Steve (Shlomo) Zackhein. Back in 2004,  Mr. Zackheim was convicted of misdemeanor sexual abuse and settled a sexual harassment claim out of court, which was made by one of his employees.

Ohel is the largest orthodox mental health agency in world, who's director is David Mandel.  There have been numerous allegations made against the agency for the last several years of covering up sex crimes and for other indiscretions.  

Henna White is the Kings County liaison for the orthodox community. The allegations against Ms. White is that she does not advocate for those who make allegations of abuse, instead she works with the ultra orthodox rabbonim to cover up both sex crimes and cases of alleged domestic violence.

David Mandel, CEO of Ohel

A few years ago The Awareness Center captured Ohel’s CEO, David Mandel on film telling a Baltimore audience NOT to report suspicions of sex crimes to the police, he went on to say that it was much better to bring the allegations to rabbis to determine if a hot-line or police report should be made first.  

Back in 2008, following Isaac Hersh’s escape from Tranquility Bay, Isaac was placed in the home of Steve Zackheim.  This was arranged by rabbi Aharon Schechter and Isaac’s father, Michael Hersh. 

Steve Zacheim's brother Morris Zackhein, has served on the board of directors of Ohel for several years. 


For more information about The Coalition Against Legal Abuse in New York call: 
1-800-958-2904

Posters from the rally

Resources:

• Nochem Rosenberg's Blog
• Failed Messiah
• Women Assaulted while peacefully protesting

  

Rabbis Must Report Acts of Child Abuse: Local Leaders Agree Upon an Amendment to the Abuse Reporting Bill

Jewish Advocate, May 9, 2002 -  V.193; N.18 3

By Jason Nielsen

BOSTON -- Naming clergy members as mandatory reporters of suspected acts of child abuse, local lawmakers along with social and religious leaders drafted the final version of an amendment to the Abuse Reporting Bill last Tuesday, April 23, sending it to the desk of Acting Governor Jane Swift to sign into law.

Co-sponsored by Sen. Susan Tucker (D-Andover), Sen. Cheryl Jacques (D-Needham), Reps. Byron Rushing (D-Boston) and Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford), the amended statute responds to the current situation involving the sexual abuse of children by members of the Catholic Church.

"The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) was certainly comfortable to the notion that clergy be held to the same standards as everyone else," expressed Sheila Decter, executive director of JALSA and participant in the drafting of the amendment.

One of the main concerns in naming additional reporters to the bill was to not define those associated or affiliated with religious organizations as so broad as to place unnecessary burden on those unconstitutionally required to report like the head of the janitorial department at the Maimonides School, explains lawyer Joel Eigerman, one of the architects of the amendment. "It's not constitutionally permissible to put a burden on somebody, just because he has a religious affiliation."

Yet there remains a discrepancy. Eigerman notes how a little league coach sponsored by a religious organization would become liable, while one sponsored by a pizzeria may not be required to report.

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston's Executive Director Nancy Kaufman added, "While we realize that there may be gray areas that present ethical and legal dilemmas for Jewish and non-Jewish clergy alike, on the whole I think that this legislation is a positive development."

Another worry held by both Jewish community and religious leaders was that the amended law would impede upon the unique role clergy plays in people's lives.

"The subtlety of the issue has to do with the role the clergy play in people's lives, which the state can't really understand: People don't come to their senator for counseling, they come for legal matters and help in social endeavors; it is not forgiveness and counseling," explained Rabbi Barry Starr of Temple Israel in Sharon.

Hoping to subdue concerns, the amendment states that the clergy member shall be required to report all cases of abuse, "but need not report information solely gained in confession or similarly confidential communication in other religious faiths. Nothing in the general laws shall be construed to modify or limit the duty."

Rabbi Meir Sendor of Young Israel in Sharon asserts that this may be closer to the Jewish perspective rather than the Catholic one, which comes from the vantage point of a privileged relationship -- such as the clergy-penitent one -- whose integrity must be protected.

"The Jewish perspective starts from the opposite direction. In truth, we should maintain confidentiality in all of our communication with other people. In other words we are not permitted to gossip. Yet, when there is an issue where someone may be in physical, emotional or financial harm, one must break that confidentiality in a controlled manner, informing only those who may be in harm's way or those who may be able to remedy the situation."