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Jewish Community Watch: Mission Report

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The Jewish Community Watch is an organization that has changed the way the Orthodox Jewish community looks at and deals with internal sexual predators and allegations of such behavior. According to the mission statement on their website, "Jewish Community Watch protects our children from child sexual abuse, and helps victims heal. We Educate the public to promote child safety, increase awareness, and eliminate stigma. We actively Prevent abuse of children by warning about suspected predators and working to put them behind bars. We help victims Heal by getting them the support they need" (“Jewish Community Watch Homepage,” n.d.). According to a Newsweek article on child sexual abuse in the Hasidic community, there is no evidence that child …show more content…

His speakers are usually a combination of prominent local Rabbis and law enforcement officials, as well as national and international experts in child abuse related fields. A Brooklyn event in 2014 drew as many as one thousand people and respected leaders from across the spectrum in the Jewish community pushed the same unanimous message. As Arutz Sheva News reported, "Survivors (JCW makes a point of rejecting the term "victim"), Rabbis, politicians, mental health professionals and others repeated a dual message: that the Orthodox Jewish community will no longer sweep abuse under the rug, and that survivors who step forward will be embraced" (Dvorin, …show more content…

For example, he posted an alleged child abuser who was later completely cleared of any wrongdoing and publicized that JCW had destroyed his life ("Mosrim Watch a Victims Plea," n.d.). In February of 2014, citing a lack of funding, but likely also due to inability to gather community support, JCW closed its doors (“Jewish community watch ceases operations,” 2014). Some hoped for good, like author of the first response to the Chabadinfo.org blog post reporting on the closure, who commented "This man has caused so much destruction to our community and ruined so many lives – of victims and perpetrators. Thank G-d he’s gone!" (“Jewish community watch ceases operations,”

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