The Awareness Center, Inc.

The Awareness Center's Mission Statement

2013-05-24T22:29:00.000-05:00

Our Mission:

The history of the Jewish People is one filled with a series of traumatic experiences. Included is one topic that up until now has been taboo to discuss: Sexual Victimization (incest, childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, clergy sexual abuse, professional sexual misconduct and sexual harassment).

Contrary to what we might want to assume sexual violence is not limited to the gentile population it is also a Jewish issue and one that needs to be addressed. In the United States one of every three to five women, and one out of every five to seven men have been sexually abused by the time they reach their eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately, due to the fact there has been little research on this issue in the Jewish Community we do not know how prevalent it is. Most mental health providers around the world who are based in Jewish Communities will admit that they have survivors (of sexual violence) of Jewish origins as part of their caseload.

One of the major problems in discussing the issue of sex crimes within Jewish Communities is that doing so threatens the cultural perception of the wholesomeness of the Jewish family. The time has come to break the taboo and allow the Jewish Community to face reality and to begin the healing journey. While this process is taking place we will also be able to compile valuable statistics on the prevalence of sexual violence in our community. It is important to note that when we refer to the Jewish Community we are including everyone from the unaffiliated, Jewish Renewal, Reform, Conservative, through the Orthodox, "Charedi" and "Chasidic" communities.

Vicki Polin and Michael J. Salamon

It may be surprising that, despite Israel's world-leading status in treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress, the study of sexual violence in Jewish Communities around the world is still in its infancy. For over a decade the founder of our organization, Vicki Polin and Micheal J. Salamon has been dedicated to creating The Awareness Center, Inc. "Our dream is to create an international organization to address the issue and ramifications of sexual victimization to both adults and children in Jewish Communities".

Our current goals include the continued development of our international data base/web page; continued growth of our international speakers bureau and the development of our educational certification program for rabbis, cantors and other Jewish community leaders.

The second phase goals include the development of self-help groups for Jewish survivors to be held in communities worldwide; and the development and implementation of our international conference on sexual violence. The third phase includes developing a healing/retreat center and on-going educational programming in Israel, the United States, and throughout the world. A long-term goal is to develop an international network of researchers.

The Awareness Center, Inc. is a tax exempt - nonprofit organization. We have an international board of directors and an advisory board made up of individuals from a variety of backgrounds all dedicated to ending sexual violence in Jewish Communities around the globe and providing help to survivors.

We are currently searching for funding for our certification program for rabbis, cantors and other religions leaders, our first International Conference, and the development of a healing retreat center. We also look forward to developing a research team, so that we can better serve Jewish communities around the world.

Our goal is to make the impossible dream, possible. But we can not do it alone. Please take the time now and become one of our financial supporters.

The Awareness Center was founded in 1999 and was incorporated as a non-profit by the internal revenue service in 2003.

Also see:

FAIR USE NOTICE

For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

--Margaret Mead

People You Should Know: History of the Anti Rape Movement

2013-05-24T22:01:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

History of the Anti Rape Movement - People You Should Know

Here's a brief history lesson in the movers and shakers within the Anti-Rape Movement. We all need to be grateful to people like Susan B. Anthonly, Laura X, and the other individuals listed below.

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People

Susan B. Anthony
Feige Aufscher
Ellen Bass
Lucy Berliner
E. Sue Blume
Michael Brecher
Neil Brick
Susan Brownmiller
Ann Wolbert Burgess
Sandra Butler
Diana Carson
Irene Deschenes
Andrea Dworkin
Toni Cavanagh Johnson
Sophia Chamys
Laurieann Chutis
Marcia Cohn-Spiegel
Letty Cottin Pogrebin
Christine A. Courtois
Laura Davis
Peter Dimock
Tom Economus
Barbara Engel
Beverly Engel
Dale English
Anne Marie Erikkson
Erik Erikkson
Hank Estrada
David Finkelhor
Frank L. Fitzpatrick
Yvonne Fedderson
Ken Followell
Howard Fradkin
Renée Fredrickson
Rebecca Freedman
William N. Friedrich
Sandi Gallant
James Garbarino
Eliana Gil
Chezi Goldberg (Scott Goldberg)
Jean Goodwin
Steven Hassan
Judith Herman
Jan Hindman
Beverly Holman
Lynda Lytle Holmstrom
Jim Hopper
Mic Hunter
Marc Klaas
Alicia Kozakiewicz
Laura X
Murray Levin
Mike Lew
Rachel Liberman
Sharon L. Lowenstein
Wendy Maltz
Leah Marinelli
Nancy Mayer
Helen McGonigle
Alice Miller
Ellen Mugmon
Toby Myers
Sara O'Meara
Peter Parker (AKA: Spider-Man)
Vicki Polin
Eugene Porter
Polly Poskin
Sally Jesse Raphael
Florence Rush
Diana Russell
Margaret Sanger
Michael J. Salamon
Judge Charles B. Schudson
Bob Schwiderski
Kathy Shaw
Ken Singer
Rick Springer
Rachel Steamer
Gloria Steinham
Lucy Stone
Jim Struve
Roland C. Summit
Marlo Thomas
Debby Tucker
Tim Walsh
Lynn Wasnak
Charles Whitfield
Jan Wohlberg

Historic Organizations You Should Know

National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape
S4OS - Speaking for Our Selves
VOICES In Action (Victims Of Incest Can Emerge Survivors)

Also See:

Famous Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse / Assault

2013-05-23T23:59:00.000-05:00

Famous Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse / Assault

Who are Jewish survivors of sex crimes? What do we look like?

We are your mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandparents, neighbors, friends, teacher, psychotherapist, attorney, doctor, dentist, scout leader, camp counselor, rabbi, cantor, co-workers and legislators.

Just as in any other faith or group, we make up at least a quarter of the population of our communities.

The Awareness Center needs your help in compiling a list of names of Jewish survivors of sexual abuse/assault who have gone public. If you know of any that are missing from the following picture, please let us know right away so they can be included. If you are a Jewish survivor of a sex crime and want to be included, please forward your name and photograph to: VickiPolin @ aol.com

The purpose of this is photograph is to help Jewish survivors of sex crimes to feel empowered. It's vitally important to remember you are not to blame for being sexually victimized. Both the blame and shame belongs solely to the perpetrator(s) and those who might have assisted in covering up the crime.

As survivors when we stand together we become a very powerful voice and political force to be reckoned with. Remember according to statistics just about 1/4 of the worlds population are survivors. Can you imagine what would happen if our voices became united?

Row 1: Laura Davis, Ellen Bass, Betsy Salkind, Barbra Streisand, Vicki Polin, Susan Brownmiller, Andrea Dworkin, Eve Ensler, Betty Friedan, Alice Miller.

Row 2: Chezi Goldberg, Murray Levin, Manny Waks, Chaim Levin, Tamir Weissberg, Phil Jacobs, David Framowitz, Joel Engleman, Luzer Twersky, Motie Weiss

Row 3: Judy Mitzner, Jo Bruck, Judy Klitsner, Hinda Schryber, Simonne Levi-Jameson, Anne Frank, Monica Lewinsky, Debbie Feldman, Rachel Liberman,

Row 4: Mark Weiss, Michael Brecher, Motty Borger, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Shua Finkelstein, Daniel Levin, Gabriel Kirshner, Mike Gondelman, Tzali Fortgang

Row 5: Fran Drescher, Goldie Milgram, Penina Taylor, Theodosia Goodman, Tamar Dermer, Dassi Herszberg, Rebecca Freedman, Naomi Wolf, Marcie Lenk, Sophia Chamys

Row 6: Lillian Roth, Rafi Daugherty, Shari Storm, Bob Glickstein, Sheldon T. Bruck, Ben Unger, Yacov Margolese, Kal Holczer, Asher Lipner, Pinny Taub

Case of Munib Farhat

2013-05-22T01:35:00.000-05:00

Case of Munib Farhat

Galilee, Israel

Alleged Muslim cult leader, Munib Farhat has been accused of imposing strict disciplinary code on 11 adults, 25 children. According to reports he allegedly forced parents to beat their children, withhold food and smear them with fecal matter.

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Table of Contents

2013

Police detain man suspected of running abusive sect (05/21/2013)
Cult member: I was locked in storeroom with mice (05/21/2013)
Alleged Galilee cult leader suspected of abusing children for decade (05/22/2013)

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Police detain man suspected of running abusive sect

By Ahiya Raved

YNET News - May 21, 2013

56-year-old resident of Majd al-Krum allegedly subjugated 6 families to his will, forced parents to treat children violently

A resident of northern Israel is suspected of having instilled a regime of terror within a sect of his own making, and subjecting minors and adults to endless acts of torture, humiliation and sexual abuse.

Six families, including 11 parents and 25 children, were allegedly victims to the violent whims of the dictatorial figure, who, among other things, ordered parents to lock their children in bathrooms for hours and smear their faces with feces.

The suspect, a 56-year-old Arab resident of Majd al-Krum, was set for remand Tuesday. He is suspected of physical and mental abuse of minors, as well as attempted physical and psychological abuse of minors and sodomy.

Police heard the suspect was running the lives of the families that he subjected to his will, including their economic affairs, and forced the adults to behave violently towards their children for the purposes of instilling "proper education." The investigation began last month after one of the women, 46, left the sect and filed a complaint with the police. 

According to police investigators, the families "developed total dependence of and blind faith in their despot and deposited their money in his hands for fear of making any mistakes." They added that "women worked for him and did cleaning work. When he wasn't happy with their work he used to imprison them for several days as punishment." The police said that the suspect allegedly committed offenses of a sexual nature against some of the women.

The suspect forced the parents to behave violently towards their children, including beating them with belts and shoes, in a way that "does not leave marks on the body of the children," according to the plaintiff. He also demanded that the parents provide him with detailed accounts on their sex lives in order to "provide solutions to their problems."

he suspect referred to himself as "Khalifa," a Muslim religious title, but the sect he created had no religious characteristics. After his arrest, the children were assigned social workers "in order to soothe, contain, and find out the needs of families that are perceived as victims of an abusive cult with all that entails," read the statement by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services.

Police added that only after all the adults and the children involved are investigated will they decide whether to press charges against any of the other adults as well.

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Cult member: I was locked in storeroom with mice

By Hassan Shaalan

YNET News - May 21, 2013

Woman who left cult in Galilee community of Majd al-Krum says leader sexually assaulted members, smeared feces on kids. 'When I screamed he threatened to murder me,' she tells Ynet

"He attacked the women and children, kept women locked in the shower for hours and took our paychecks," said a woman who was a member of a violent cult allegedly led by 56-year-old Munib Farhat in the Galilee community of Majd al-Krum.

Farhat was arrested on Tuesday by Northern District Police after a month-long investigation following a complaint by a 46 year-old member of the cult who managed to escape. He was remanded for eight days.

Police suspect the leader had ordered his followers to act violently toward their children, in the name of "proper" education. The violent cult consisted of 11 adults and 25 children.

The man is also accused of sexually assaulting several of the women in the group and abusing both the women and children. Among other things, the cult leader allegedly locked the children in the bathroom, smeared feces on their mouths and rationed their food. Farhat has denied the allegations.

"Farhat told us he was a religious man and could solve any financial, social and family-related problem," the woman who filed the complaint told Ynet. "He also convinced us to turn over our paychecks at the end of each month and said if we wanted to purchase anything we should ask him (for money)."

According to the woman, the cult leader opened a small store in his home "and he forced us to shop only there. Sometimes we would ask him for money to buy food for the house, and he would give us 50 shekels ($14) and tell us that was enough. He also never agreed to give the children any money. He stole our all of our funds."

The complainant's brother said she told him the abuse, assault and sexual exploitation went on for years.

The woman further told Ynet that "at first we believed (Farhat) and thought he wanted to help us, but everything changed over the past few years. He attacked women and children; forced them to clean the house and cultivate the land without any compensation. Any woman who objected was attacked and locked in the shower or stockroom for more than seven hours.

"He brutally attacked me several times – stepped on my neck, hit me all over by body and locked me up in the stockroom with the mice. When I screamed he threatened to murder me. I did not seek medical care because I was afraid he would hurt me if he found out," she recalled.

The woman said that as soon as she left the cult and complained against Farhat, he turned her family against her. "My husband and three children are no longer in touch with me and believe that the cult leader's way is the right one. I hope we will live together again – far away from this horrific story," the woman said.

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Alleged Galilee cult leader suspected of abusing children for decade

By Daniel Siryoti

Israel Hayom - May 22, 2013

Munib Farhat, 56, suspected of imposing strict disciplinary code on 11 adults, 25 children • Cult leader allegedly forced parents to beat their children, withhold food and smear them with fecal matter • Affair exposed after woman files police complaint.

The details of a shocking child abuse scandal began to emerge on Tuesday in the Galilee town of Majd al-Krum when a Nazareth court lifted the gag order on the affair, which apparently has been going on for ten years.

Munib Farhat, a 56-year-old resident of Majd al-Krum, is suspected of heading a cult and enforcing his will on six families in his community, including dozens of children. The police suspect Farhat of forcing the members of his cult to beat their children, humiliate them, withhold food, lock them in bathrooms and smear them with fecal matter. The cult leader is also suspected of abusing the women in the cult, committing sexual assault and sodomizing them.

The affair was exposed when a woman who belonged to the cult filed a police complaint several weeks ago. A team of investigators consequently launched an undercover probe into the woman's allegations, in cooperation with Welfare Ministry social workers and Interior Ministry officials. The investigation, which was accompanied by the Haifa District Prosecutor's Office, revealed that Farhat, who refers to himself as a caliph, allegedly imposed a very strict disciplinary code on 11 adults and 25 children.

In his remand hearing, Farhat denied the allegations and argued that the complainant was seeking revenge against him for being kicked out of the compound.

The chief investigator, Superintendent Eyal Harari, said that the cult did not share a house, but instead lived in houses scattered across the town. "His method was to cozy up to weak, poor families and strike a relationship based on support and fear, to the point of complete dependence and a real fear of leaving the cult," Harari explained.

The police said further that the suspect habitually locked women up when he was not satisfied with their cleaning duties.

Harari called on anyone who had previously been in the cult and had left to come in and testify. "When the suspect was apprehended, many people applauded us and said that it was about time that someone put a stop to what was happening within this group."

The Welfare Ministry reported that "with the suspect's arrest, the children have been transferred to the care of investigators who specialize in children, and each family has been assigned an intervention and support team, which includes social workers. This was done to calm fears and to determine the families' specific needs."

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Support Illinois HB 1063 to Remove the Criminal Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes Against Children

2013-05-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

Action Alert!

We need your help!

Support HB 1063 to Remove the Criminal Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes Against Children

The Bill:

HB 1063 eliminates the criminal statute of limitations for sex crimes committed against children, giving prosecutors an unlimited amount of time to try these cases. This bill reflects the reality of childhood sexual abuse, and the fact that many survivors of childhood sexual abuse are not able to come forward until later in life.

The bill is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, May 15 in subcommittee at 8:55 a.m. and in the Senate Criminal Law Committee at 9:00 a.m. ICASA staff and a fabulous survivor will be providing testimony in support of the bill.

The bill passed the House 109-0 but has been substantially slowed in the Senate because the Illinois States Attorneys' Association opposes it. We need your help!

How You Can Help:

You can do two things to help move this bill along - each of them will only take a few minutes.

1. Before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, submit an electronic witness slip on behalf of your organization in support of the bill.

Here's how to fill out the slip online:

A. Click here to go to the Senate Criminal Law Hearing page. B. Scroll down to HB 1063, and click on "Create Witness Slip."C. Fill out your information, identify yourself as a "proponent" for the bill, and check "Record of Appearance Only."D. When you receive a confirmation email, please forward it to Lshawgo@icasa.org

2. The bill will be heard first in a subcommittee of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and then in the Criminal Law Committee. If your Senator is on the Criminal Law Committee, please call their office before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, and ask them to "Please vote yes on HB 1063." It is perfectly fine to tell their assistant why you personally feel that prosecutors should have more time to prosecute these cases.

Tim Bivins -(R) 45th District (217) 782-0180
Michael Connelly -(R) 21st District (217) 782-8192
Bill Cunningham -(D) 18th District (217) 782-5145
William R. Haine -(D) 56th District (also serves on Special Issues Subcommittee) (217) 782-5247
Dan Kotowski -(D) 28th District (also serves on Special Issues Subcommittee) (217) 782-3875
John Mulroe -(D) 10th District (217) 782-1035
Michael Noland -(D) 22nd District
(217) 782-7746
Kwame Raoul -(D) 13th District (217) 782-5338
Dale Righter -(R) 55th District (also serves on Special Issues Subcommittee) (217) 782-6674
Patricia Van Pelt -(D) 5th District (217) 782-6252

A copy of the fact sheet in support of the bill is below for you to review.

Please forward this email widely! If you have any questions, please contact the ICASA office at 217-753-4117.

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Support HB 1063

Removes Criminal Statute of Limitations for

Sex Crimes Against Children

Status: Senate Subcommittee on Special Issues

Sponsors: Representative Jefferson (D-67); Senators Collins (D-16), Hunter (D-3)

What Does the Bill Do?

HB 1063 removes the criminal statute of limitations for any sex offense when the victim was under 18 years at the time of the offense.

Why Does the Statute of Limitations Need to be Changed?

Most child victims are not ready to report the abuse to law enforcement until after the

criminal statute of limitations has expired.

 Most child victims are abused by family members or family acquaintances. Offenders often use coercion/guilt tactics to prevent the reporting of abuse. Some of the effects of sexual abuse do not become apparent until the victim is an adult and a major life event, such as marriage or birth of a child, takes place. This law would protect other children from victimization by giving prosecutors a better chance to prosecute and convict sex offenders.

Case of Rabbi Yaakov Murray

2013-05-13T14:11:00.001-05:00

Case of Rabbi Yaakov Murray

(AKA: Jordan E. Murray)

THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Teacher, Torah Day School - Seattle, WA

Rabbi Yaakov Murray (AKA: Jordan Murray) has been accused of molesting grade school aged girls in the classroom at the Torah Day School in Seattle, WA.

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Disclaimer: Inclusion in this website does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Individuals must decide for themselves if the resources meet their own personal needs.

Table of Contents:

2013

Torah Day School's Home Page (05/10/2013)
Private School Teacher Arrested For Molesting 6 & 7 Year Old Students In Front Of Classroom (05/10/2013)
Seattle private school teacher charged with child molestation (05/10/2013)
Molestation charges filed against ex-teacher at private school (05/10/2013)
Ex-teacher at Seattle private school charged (05/10/2013)
Charge: Seattle grade school teacher molested girls in front of class (05/10/2013)
Private school teacher charged with child molestation (05/10/2013)

Also see:

The Awareness Center: Policies Addressing Victimization and Offenders

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Torah Day School's Home Page
May 10, 2013

click on image to enlarge

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Private School Teacher Arrested For Molesting 6 & 7 Year Old Students In Front Of Classroom

MOX News - Channel 4 News - May 10, 2013

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Seattle private school teacher charged with child molestation

By Kiro Radio

My Northwest.com - May 10, 2013

Rabbi Yaakov Murray - AKA: Jordan Murray

A private school teacher in Seattle has been charged with four counts of child molestation after two students said he groped them during class, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Jordan E. Murray, 32, is accused of fondling two girls, ages 6 and 7, on several occasions between September 2012 and April 2013.

Murray, also known as Rabbi Yaakov Murray, has taught first and second grade at Torah Day School since the beginning of the 2011 school year, according to charging documents.

He was arrested after the Seattle Police Department was notified by Child Protective Services of the alleged abuse.

The 6-year-old victim told investigators Murray put her on his lap and "has put his hands down her pants" and shirt on multiple occasions. She said other students were in the room at the time, but said Murray's desk blocked their view.

The 7-year-old victim said Murray touched her while she was standing at his desk. Other students were in the classroom when the abuse occurred, according to the documents.

"She stated the touching always occurred in class," the documents read. "Other children were present but they couldn't see because of Murray's desk. Murray does the same thing every time."

Prosecutors say the victims reported the abuse to one of their sisters, who works as a receptionist at the school.

Murray, who was released on bail, could face a minimum of 25 years in prison.

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Molestation charges filed against ex-teacher at private school
By Sara Jean Green
Seattle Times - May 10, 2013

A former teacher at a Seattle private religious school has been charged with four counts of first-degree child molestation, accused of sexually touching two of his young students during classes when other children were present.

A former teacher at a Seattle private school was charged this week with four counts of first-degree child molestation for allegedly touching two of his students during classes when other children were present, according to King County prosecutors.

Jordan Eareckson Murray — who went by the honorary title of “Rabbi Yaakov Murray” at the Torah Day School in Columbia City — was arrested May 3 and spent less than 48 hours in the King County Jail before posting a $100,000 bond, according to jail and court records.

Murray, 32, a married father of three, does not have a criminal history, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.

Formal charges were filed Tuesday, accusing Murray of touching the girls under their clothes numerous times since the middle of the school year. Other students in Murray’s first- and second-grade classes were apparently unaware of the behavior because Murray’s desk blocked their view, charging papers say.

The two alleged victims, a 6- and 7-year-old, were playing together at the younger girl’s house and told the girl’s 12-year-old sister — who is also a student at the school — that “Rabbi Murray puts his hands in their pants,” charging papers say. The girls “were scared” and confused and didn’t know why it was happening, the papers say.

The sister brought the girls to her mother, and they disclosed the alleged abuse, according to the charges.

The 12-year-old had baby-sat Murray’s children in the past, the papers say.

Another 6-year-old also described sitting on Murray’s lap or standing between his legs, and said other girls in her class also sat on his lap, according to the charging papers. The girl said Murray often hugged her from behind and touched her over her clothing, the papers say.

The two alleged victims and at least four other students in Murray’s classes, all ages 6 and 7, routinely complained of anxiety, headaches and stomach aches, but the girls’ parents said the children were fine and acted normally after being sent home early, the papers say.

The Seattle Police Department received two referrals from Child Protective Services on April 23 and launched an investigation, the papers say.

Murray, who has since been fired by the school, declined to provide a statement to police, charging papers say.

“The defendant is a clear danger to children given the circumstances of this crime where he abused his position of trust as a first- and second-grade teacher, secretly molesting these girls in class in front of others,” Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor wrote in the charging documents.

Murray is scheduled to be arraigned May 20.

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Ex-teacher at Seattle private school charged

Associated Press - Saturday, May 11, 2013

SEATTLE (AP) — A former teacher at a Seattle private religious school has been charged with four counts of first-degree child molestation.

The Seattle Times reports Jordan Murray went by the honorary title of "Rabbi Yaakov Murray" at the Jewish Orthodox Torah Day School in south Seattle.

King County prosecutors say the 32-year-old is accused of sexually touching two of his young students during classes when other children were present.

A spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg says Murray is a married father of three and does not have a criminal history.

Formal charges were filed Tuesday. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 20.

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Charge: Seattle grade school teacher molested girls in front of class
By Levi Pulkkinen
Seatle PI - May 11, 2013

Torah Day School - Seattle, WA

A Seattle grade school teacher accused of sexually assaulting two girls in front of other students has been charged with child molestation.

Torah Day School teacher Jordan E. Murray was teaching first- and second-graders at the private religious school in South Seattle late last month when he is alleged to have groped the girls. Murray has since been fired.

Known to students as Rabbi Yaakov Murray, the father of three is alleged to have groped girl students after lifting them onto his lap.

Writing the court, King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor noted Murray recently arrived in Washington. Murray could face a 25-year minimum term in prison if convicted as charged.

“The defendant is a clear danger to children given the circumstances of this crime,” Spoor told the court. “He abused his position of trust as a firs-t and second-grade teacher, secretly molesting these girls in class in front of others.”

Seattle police responded to the South Ferdinand Street school after they were notified of the allegations on April 23.

Speaking with investigators, a 6-year-old girl said Murray put her on his lap and shoved his hands down her pants while he was seated behind his desk, Seattle Detective Michael Moore told the court. The girl had approached Murray to show him her school work.

As he did so, Murray stared at the girls school work as though he was reading it, Moore continued. The detective added that the rest of the first-grade class was unaware Murray was groping the child.

Moore went on to claim Murray molested the girl behind his desk on several other occasions. The girl’s family notified authorities after she reported the apparent abuse.

A 7-year-old girl made similar allegations against Murray, claiming he molested her several times in recent weeks, Moore continued. Like the other girl, she said Murray molested her behind his desk in the classroom.

A third girl said Murray often hugged her and lifted her onto his lap at his desk at his desk. He is not alleged to have molested that girl, though investigators suggest he touched the girl over her clothing.

Murray declined to speak with investigators, according to charging papers.

Investigators note Murray is not actually an ordained rabbi; students at the school called him by that title out of respect. He has no criminal history.

Murray has been charged with four counts of first-degree child molestation. He was briefly jailed on May 3 but was released after posting bond on $100,000 bail.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story contained allegations that Murray was previously convicted of crimes outside Washington state. Those inaccurate allegation were wrongly included in charging papers. Murray has no criminal history.

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Private school teacher charged with child molestation

NWCN News - May 10, 2013

A Seattle elementary school teacher has been charged with four counts of child molestation after two female students reported that he sexually assaulted them in front of the class.

Jordan E. Murray, 32, was teaching first and second graders when he allegedly groped the girls in class at the private religious school.

The two girls reported that they were touched sexually by their teacher, who was called Rabbi Yaakov Murray at the school.

A 6-year-old student told detectives that Murray put her on his lap and put his hand down her pants on more than one occasion. He was seated behind his desk and looked over her work, which she had brought up to show him, while touching her. The student also said he put his hand under her shirt on one occasion.

The second student, a 7-year-old, said that Murray touched her while she stood at his desk. She had Murray as a teacher the previous year, but told investigators he hadn't touched her until this year.

Murray was released on $100,000 bail and could face at least 25 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors say Murray is considered a clear danger to children because of the circumstances of these crimes.

Murray has lived in Washington state for less than two years.

A spokesperson for the prosecutors office clarified that Murray does not have any out-of-state convictions. They had previously said he was convicted of a domestic violence charge in New Hampshire in 2007.

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FAIR USE NOTICE

For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

_________________________________________________________________________________

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." –– Margaret Mead

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Case of Rabbi Tully Bryks

2013-05-03T22:30:00.001-05:00

Case of Rabbi Tully Bryks

Bet Shemesh, Israel

Director, The Israel Experience Program, Bar-Ilan University - Ramat Efal, Israel

Former Regional Director, National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) - Florida

(Finance Degree) Touro College - New York, NY

Westchester Hebrew High School - Mamaroneck, NY

Rabbi Tully Bryks was relieved of his duties after it was discovered that he had secretly installed surveillance cameras in the girls' dormitory associated with his program.

If you attended any program that Rabbi Tully Bryks was involved and you feel he abused or violated your privacy, please contact The Awareness Center immediately. We want to make sure you get the help you need to heal and also help you connect with individuals who could help you explore any possible legal recourses with you have.

If you are a journalist using any of the materials provided on this web page, we ask that you mention The Awareness Center in your article.

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Table of Contents

2008

Bar Ilan University Makes Key Stop In South Florida (12/05/2008)
NCSY and Bar Ilan Team Up to Offer Israel Experience (12/24/2008)

2009

NCSY's Bar Ilan One Year Program Staffed By Haredi Kiruv Workers (12/29/2009)
The Kvetcher's report - JSU’s Bar Ilan Program All Aish’d Up (12/29/2009)

2011

"Not Every Experience is a Good Experience..." (05/11/2011)

2013

Resignation Letter (05/02/2013)
Director of Orthodox gap-year program at Bar-Ilan fired for installing cameras in girls' dorms - See Below (05/02/2013)
The Israel Experience program, Bar-Ilan University - See Below (05/02/2013)
Women's Schools in Israel - See Below (05/02/2013)
Israel Experience Staff - See Below (05/03/2013)
Rabbi Plants Cameras in Girls Dorm at Bar Ilan University (05/03/2013)

Also see:

The Awareness Center: Policies Addressing Victimization and Offenders
Case of rabbi Marc Gafni
Case of rabbi Benzion Sobel
Case of rabbi Baruch Lanner (NCSY)
Cases involving Yeshiva University and the RCA (Rabbinical Council of America)

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Bar Ilan University Makes Key Stop In South Florida
By Shelley Benveniste
Jewish Press - December 5, 2008

The founder and director of a new gap year program at Bar Ilan University has made South Florida a key stop on a tour of North America promoting the new program that is intended to buck the trend in falling gap year numbers.

Rabbi Tully Bryks visited high school students across South Florida on November 17 to 20, making stops in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach as part of a tour of North America that will take him to more than 20 cities.

Rabbi Bryks was formerly regional director for NCSY in South Florida for 15 years, leaving the post in 2008 to open ‘Israel XP’ at Bar Ilan University’s Ramat Gan campus near Tel Aviv.

“The new program Israel XP is designed to appeal specifically to students looking for more of a balanced year in Israel, where students can embrace Jewish studies in a relaxed campus setting,” Rabbi Bryks explains. There are regular tours around the country as well as professional internship options accessing different sectors of society. To address financial and career pressures, students can also earn around a year’s worth of academic credits that can be transferred to most universities across North America.

“An inspiring year in Israel strengthens Jewish values ahead of college years and helps unlock a young person’s potential. We don’t want any Jewish students to have to miss out. The idea for this program was really born in South Florida and I’m excited to promote it to students in the area."

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NCSY and Bar Ilan Team Up to Offer Israel Experience
Orthodox Union - December 24, 2008

Those teens have a virtual cornucopia of choices to choose from: the number of seminaries, yeshivas, and national-service/learning programs that exist in Israel increase every year, yet some still cannot find a program tailored to meet their needs. Some teens may not want to spend the entire day learning Torah, while others may want fully-accredited courses to transfer over to schools back home. In response to this need, NCSY and Bar-Ilan University will offer a new and unique co-ed program for those students, “Israel Experience,” which will combine classes in one of Israel’s top universities with an extracurricular program incorporating popular NCSY style trips and activities.

Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY, declared, “When Bar-Ilan approached NCSY to discuss a jointly-run program for North American teens, I knew that many NCSY members would benefit from its unique aspects. There’s a real need for a post-high school university program in Israel under Orthodox auspices, and NCSY is proud to help fill that need.”

Rabbi Ari Kahn, Director of Foreign Student Programs at Bar-Ilan, explained, “My first choice for this partnership was the Orthodox Union. It is one of the largest, most influential organizations on the American Jewish scene today.”

Rabbi Tully Bryks, currently the NCSY Director of the South Florida Region, will make aliyah this summer and serve as the Director and Dean of the program. Rabbi Burg said of Rabbi Bryks, “He has a powerful combination of creative talents and a warm personality which has drawn thousands of students to him.”

Rabbi Bryks stated, “This program is a great opportunity for those students who wish to continue their academic pursuits in a university but also have a strong desire to explore their Jewish roots and connect to their homeland. I am pleased to be a part of this initiative as these students make their mark on the Jewish people.”

Participants in the “Israel Experience” program will have a complete university experience studying in Bar-Ilan, a world-respected institution located in Ramat Gan, just outside of Tel Aviv, where they can take classes taught strictly in English or combine English courses with Hebrew-taught classes. Credits earned at Bar-Ilan will be easily transferable back home in American colleges. Participants will live in student dorms on campus; have a choice of internships and participating in community service activities; and participate in NCSY Shabbatons and trips throughout the school year.

Bar-Ilan is ranked among the top universities in the world. It houses the Middle East’s largest English-language library; over 30,000 students from countries across the world; a large Jewish Studies curriculum with over 1,500 different courses; and of course, the added benefit of being in Israel.

Participants in Israel Experience will go on trips and Shabbatons throughout the school year. The trips will range from historical and religious sites, and include activities such as skiing, ATVing, camel riding, and rappelling. “As we explore Israel and enjoy these activities, we’re also going to be learning about the Jewish significance behind each location we visit. This will truly help make the year in Israel a living experience,” explained Rabbi Bryk.

“Israel Experience” is limited to 100 students, and while there is rolling admission, the program is already 60 percent filled.

The cost will be $18-20,000, comparable to the current tuition rate of Israeli seminaries and yeshivas and less than half the price of a year’s tuition at most American private universities. Financial aid is available to those who qualify; there will be both need-based and academic-based grants, as well as an early registration discount.

For more information on financial aid and details about program components, visit Israelxp.com or e-mailinfo@israelxp.com.

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NCSY's Bar Ilan One Year Program Staffed By Haredi Kiruv Workers
By Shmarya Rosenberg
Failed Messiah Blog - December 29, 2009

[UPDATED] Teachers' affiliations appear hidden by NCSY.

Please see the two updates and the retraction posted below.

Here's the background:

• NCSY has a stealth sister organization called JSU – the Jewish Student Union. It has chapters in hundreds of public high schools in America.

• NCSY and the JSU 'teamed up' with Bar Ilan University to offer what appears to be a one year program in Israel for high school graduates. I write "appears to be" because the Israel Experience website is light on academic details like class schedules and courses offered, but is heavy on pictures of 18 year olds having fun.

• The program's faculty page skips the Aish or Ohr Somayach affiliations of most of the teachers. Most of the faculty are, however, Aish and Ohr Somayach related. (David Kelsey exposes some, but not all, of them.)

• Perhaps the most egregious of these stealth haredi kiruv workers is Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky. Orlovsky teaches at Ohr Somayach and Neve Yerushalayim.

Orlofsky is also an unrepentant major force behind the attacks and ban against Rabbi Natan Slifkin four years ago.

Slifkin and his books were banned because he argued two things: 1) the universe is far older than 6000 years and, 2) the sages of the Talmud made errors with regard to science. Both points had previously been made by Rishonim (great medieval rabbis) and by a few Achronim (great post-medieval rabbis).

That did not stop Orlofsky and his fellow travelers – including Rabbi Leib Tropper, who is now enmeshed in a sex and abuse of power scandal – from getting "the gedolim" (current elderly haredi rabbinic leaders) to ban Slifkin for "heresy."

In other words, the OU's youth arm and its stealth 'student union' hired a haredi rabbi who viciously attacked Modern Orthodox belief teaching secular and newly religious kids.

Rabbi Slifkin is not listed as faculty, even though he lives in Israel, only a 45 minute ride from Bar Ilan.

Why so few actual Modern Orthodox teachers?

As I told Kelsey last night, the reason goes beyond a slimy attempt to trick secular kids into becoming haredi or right wing Modern Orthodox.

Because of terrible decisions made by the OU, NCSY, and Yeshiva University in the years following Rabbi Joseph B. Soleveichik's final illness, Modern Orthodoxy doesn't really have many of its own kiruv workers. It also does not have a beginner's ba'al teshuva yeshiva or seminary.

The rabbinic leaders of YU were happy to let Chabad, Aish and Ohr Somayach handle outreach and, for similar reasons, they did almost the same thing with day school teachers for Modern Orthodox schools.

Barring a palace coup or a RICO investigation, we'll probably never really know what the OU does with its money. One thing, though, is clear – none of it went into beginner's level ba'al teshuva education programs, a Modern Orthodox Aish HaTorah, for example.

YU suffered through bad economic times, recovered, and grew. It's beginner's program was cancelled many years ago and only recently reinstated.

Throughout the long gap without a beginner's program, YU, its yeshiva faculty and its students did little to fill gap.

At any rate, NCSY has again opted for deceit over honesty – something especially troubling for an organization that covered up Rabbi Baruch Lanner's abuse for almost 30 years. And that is something that should give parents – Modern Orthodox or non-Orthodox – pause.

The Kvetcher's report (see Below).

Program Staff List as a PDF file:

Download NCSY-JSU Israel Experience Faculty

UPDATE 12-30-09 7:10 am CST –

Rabbi Ari Kahn writes:

A couple of issues regarding Bar Ilan.

As of this year Bar Ilan University has a working relationship with "Israel Experience" which is a new independent organization, which has received the blessings of the OU.

The director is Rabbi Tully Bryks who has a great deal of experience working with NCSY and JSU.

The idea of this relationship was to create a strategic partnership between Bar Ilan and the Israel Experience. The OU gave their "blessing" to the creation of the Israel experience, but this new entity does have complete independence.

When the program was first created and various speakers were included on the website, this list included people who were asked to speak.

Rabbi Orlofsky does not teach on the program. At one point there was a discussion of him giving an informal lecture, this has not happened.

The Lecturers on the program are a diverse group of individuals including:

Dr Gil Ariel

Professor Yosef Berstein

Rabbi Tully Bryks

Dr Mike Cohen

Dr Gabriel Danzig

Dr Adam Ferziger

Dr Sy Gottleib

Professor Guttman

Rabbi Ari Kahn

Dr Daniel Kahn

Rabbi Mordichai Machils

Devorah Mantel

Rabbi Tom (Yosef Chaim) Meyer

Rabbi Adam Siegel

Dr Zvi Shimon

Dr.Eliezer Shore

Dr Chana Tannenbaum

Tamar Weissman

Dr Francis Shalit

The idea is to provide a diverse experience; these individuals come from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

Additionally the Israel Experience runs informal evening programming and weekends. Again the staff here is diverse.

I believe the combination of the formal and informal programs and the various aspects of the program will give students a broad wholesome experience.

As far as myself, I am amused about the discussion of what I am – if someone figures it out then please let me know. In the meantime I suggest buying my books, if possible multiple copies and read them from cover to cover. (Or look at my website where the material is freehttp://rabbiarikahn.com/)

Rabbi Ari Kahn

UPDATE 12-30-09 3:25 pm CST –

David Kelsey writes:

Despite a website that does little to induce confidence or detail the NCSY/JSU’s Israel Experience Program at Bar Ilan University, the reality appears to be quite different than I reported.

…[t]he curriculum schedule sent by Kahn appears to be a real Judaic studies program, and a far more serious program than anything offered at the ultra-Orthodox institutions that have been favored by NCSY for decades for public school graduates (and they continue to quietly send students to these institutions). Most importantly, Hebrew is emphasized and mandatory. This is itself a major indicator if a program seeks general Jewish education and literacy for public school grads, or whether it seeks specific ultra-Orthodox indoctrination.…

I was wrong. This program is indeed nothing the likes of the Hashkafa intensive “fluff” of Aish HaTorah.

The NCSY-JSU-Bar Ilan program seems to be the kind of program I would support.

Just clean up your website, gentleman, and stop placing stumbling blocks before the visually impaired.

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The Kvetcher's report - JSU’s Bar Ilan Program All Aish’d Up

The Kvetcher - December 29, 2009

December 29, 2009 Kiruv

by DK

New program, but mostly same Kiruv clowns

NCSY has been touting their Bar Ilan program as proof of their newly Big Tent Orthodoxy to include Modern Orthodox (albeit, right-wing Modern Orthodox) options, and not just ultra-Orthodox and haredi options, as was the case for DECADES until blogs exposed their favored path for public school teens.

But on a closer look, it’s the usual fahfrumpteh suspects. The staff at Israel Experience is seriously Aish’d up. Though JSU/NCSY has been oh-so-careful not to reveal that in their resumes.

Why not? Why would they whitewash that? Why would NCSY ever not reveal something in the name of transparency? How unlike NCSY.

Faculty and featured lecturers include these fine frum folks:

Lawrence Keleman, author of “Permission to Believe,” which is ripped to shreds here.

Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky: He’s not from Aish. He’s from Ohr Somayach! Still there too. Why wouldn’t they mention that? After all, nothing quite says “Modern” Orthodox like the Dark Light does. There was some controversy as well when an email surfaced with him jumping on the anti-Slifkin bandwagon.

Meir Balovsky: He’s an Aish dude, but again, not mentioned on the resume.

Gila Manolson: She’s from Aish. I guess there wasn’t anything else to put in the bio, so they mentioned that about Manolson.

Gerald Schroeder: He’s an Aish guy and a physicist who tries to reconcile creationist literalism and science. Most are not impressed. Not impressed at all.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim (Thomas) Meyer: He’s not an Aish guy! He just got his smicha from Rabbi Weinberg, and made a few tapes. Funny how he didn’t use the name “Thomas” on those…

You don’t say…

UPDATE: This post turned out to be wrong in significant ways. Please see retraction.

Retraction on JSU’s Israel Experience ProgramThe Kevtch - December 30, 2009

by DK

Despite a website that does little to induce confidence or detail the NCSY/JSU’s Israel Experience Program at Bar Ilan University, the reality appears to be quite different than I reported.

As Rabbi Ari Kahn, the Academic Dean of Israel Experience and the Director of Foreign Student Programs at Bar Ilan University noted,

My having a MA in Talmud – which is a real degree, allows me to teach courses which are academic and approved by the Talmud department (and based on peer review I am a senior lecturer in the University), if you wish I can send you syllabus and sources covered, this is not “fluff.”

Indeed, the curriculum schedule sent by Kahn appears to be a real Judaic studies program, and a far more serious program than anything offered at the ultra-Orthodox institutions that have been favored by NCSY for decades for public school graduates (and they continue to quietly send students to these institutions). Most importantly, Hebrew is emphasized and mandatory. This is itself a major indicator if a program seeks general Jewish education and literacy for public school grads, or whether it seeks specific ultra-Orthodox indoctrination.

Our most bitter point of contention over haredi influence was drawn from the Israel Experience website’s promotion of Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky, a long-time NCSY advisor now at the haredi Ohr Somayach. Orlofsky denigrated Rabbi Slifkin over the controversial idea that the earth isn’t really less than 6,000 years old, a concept perceived as heresy and an act of defiance in the face of the haredi rabbinical leaders. His inclusion was a red flag. But Rabbi Kahn as noted in his comment,

Rabbi Orlofsky does not teach on the program. At one point there was a discussion of him giving an informal lecture, this has not happened.

That’s good. Why he was considered in the first place is beyond me.
Kahn wrote,

And though I have taught in Aish – find out who I am before you attack, my classes are my own – I do not teach “Aish” material.

I concede that accusing someone of teaching “Aish material” when he is actually a bonafide educator was a raw move on my part, and inaccurate. I should have done more due diligence. I will edit my previous post. I would like to apologize to Rabbi Ari Kahn and to NCSY/JSU. I will try to reach out more to NCSY and the JSU in the future on issues like this before publishing.

Overall, this program does appear to be very different than those of Aish HaTorah, which boasts of a heavy emphasis on “Aish Hashkafa,” and whose classes even in their sample schedule for their intermediate Israel program include “Being Real with Yourself ” and “Topics in Jewish Thought.”

I was wrong. This program is indeed nothing like the Hashkafa-intensive “fluff” of Aish HaTorah.

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Resignation Letter
May 2, 2013

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Director of Orthodox gap-year program at Bar-Ilan fired for installing cameras in girls' dorms

By Judy Maltz

Haaretz - May 2, 2013

Rabbi Tully Bryks, director of The Israel Experience, claimed hidden cameras were installed due to complaints about maintenance staff; he apologized for his 'lack of judgment.'

The director of an Orthodox gap-year program at Bar-Ilan University was relieved of his duties this week, after it was discovered that he had secretly installed surveillance cameras in the girls' dormitory. Police are investigating the affair.

Rabbi Tully Bryks, director of The Israel Experience, a program that serves mainly high-school graduates from the United States, had installed two surveillance cameras in clocks hung in the hallway of the girls' dormitory.

The surveillance cameras were discovered within hours by several stunned students living in adjacent rooms, who immediately lodged a complaint with program administrators citing severe invasion of privacy and who demanded police intervention.

Bryks was soon thereafter relieved of all his responsibilities at the program and barred from any contact with students.

In a letter addressed to staff, students and their parents, Bryks apologized for what he termed his "poor judgment," saying the reason he had installed the cameras was because of complaints lodged against maintenance staff working in the dormitory.

The board of directors of The Israel Experience program is expected to convene within the next day and, as one source close to the matter said, will "give him the option to resign."

Haaretz contacted Bryks for a response but none was forthcoming by press time.

Meanwhile, Bryks has been replaced by three new acting directors, all fellow administrators at the program: Rabbi Ari Yablok, Rabbi Eli Menaged and Meir Balovsky.

"Whatever reason he had for doing this, it was inappropriate," said Yablok, campus director of The Israel Experience. "That is the reason we took action as soon as we found out about this."

Yablok said the surveillance cameras were not found in the bathrooms or the bedrooms, but only in the hallways. They were not found in the boys' dormitory either.

He said administrators were in full support of student demands to launch a police probe into the matter. Police are being assisted by a private investigations company. In addition, Yablok said that The Israel Experience is conducting its own internal investigation by board members in order to better understand what happened.

He said that the surveillance cameras were removed as soon as they were discovered and that "we are taking every step possible to ensure the survival of this program and the comfort of our students."

The Israel Experience is a program started four years ago and run by Masa, a joint project of the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency. There are currently 90 students studying in the program. Although they take courses for college credit at Bar-Ilan University, Israel Experience students live in dormitories in a separate campus in Ramat Efal, not far from the main Bar-Ilan University campus.

Before assuming leadership of the program, Bryks served as regional director of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth in Florida. Yablok said this was the first complaint lodged against him "on a matter like this."

In a letter addressed to parents of students on the program, the new acting directors wrote: "We understand that you have entrusted us with the care, supervision and education of your children. We take this responsibility as seriously as possible. We feel the immediate actions that we have taken will ensure that this matter is dealt with in an efficient, professional and responsible way."

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The Israel Experience program, Bar-Ilan University

Bar-Ilan University - May 2, 2013

Left to right: Rabbi Tully Bryks, Dean and Founding Director, Israel Experience, YU President Richard Joel and Rabbi Ari Kahn, Dean, Israel Experience, and Director of Foreign Student Programs at Bar-Ilan University

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Women's Schools in Israel

Ida Crown Jewish Academy - May 3, 2013

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Israel Experience Staff

Israel Experience - May 3, 2013

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Some of the information on The Awareness Center's web pages may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead

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Honoring Jim Hopper

2013-04-29T00:43:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Jim Hopper, PhD

Jim Hopper is a highly respected clinical psychologist, researcher and forensic consultant who has dedicated his life to helping survivors of child abuse for the last twenty years.

Jim has intensively studied the psychological and biological aspects of trauma and addiction and their treatment. He provides training on the neurobiology of sexual assault and traumatic memories for victim advocates, investigators and prosecutors in the military and civilian agencies in states around the U.S.

Dr. Hopper was a founding board member of "1 in 6", a non-profit organization dedicated to helping men who've had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences as boys live happier, healthier lives, and since 2010 has been a board member of the organization "Stop It Now!

In the mid 1990s Jim developed an amazing web page which includes all sorts of information in hopes of educating the public about child abuse, and he wrote most of the content on 1in6.org, a comprehensive website that also showcases Jim's sensitive use of language when reaching out to men who have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences.

Honoring S4OS (Speaking for Our Selves)

2013-04-25T21:25:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring S4OS

Speaking for Our Selves

S4OS (Speaking for Our Selves) was the first newsletter created by and for survivors of child abuse who developed a multiple personality disorder. It was formed in the early 1980s and closed in 1989.

According to reports back in 1987 the organization had 691 members.

The groups headquarters was out of Long Beach, CA.

Jewish Survivors' Network Formed back in the 1980s

2013-04-25T18:03:00.000-05:00

Back in the 1980s, there were a few self-help group was formed for Jewish survivors of child sexual abuse, primarily made up of incest survivors. The organizations also offered a monthly newsletter. If you have any more information about these groups please forward it to Vicki Polin. The organization shut down many years ago, yet it deserves a place in our history books.

Jewish Survivors Network: A Network for Jewish Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

P.O. Box 1566

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Jewish Adult Survivor's of Childhood Abuse Newsletter

P.O. Box 15242

Fremont, CA 94539

A newsletter focusing on issues specific to Jewish survivors.

V.O.I.C.E.S. in Action, Inc. (Victims of Incest Can Emerge Survivors)

P.O. Box 1488309

Chicago, IL 60614

Was an international non-profit organization which provides information, referrals and resource. The group had a special interest group for Jewish Survivors of incest and childhood sexual abuse, which operated as a pen pal group; and for many years was ran by Vicki POlin

In Memory and Honor of Lynn Wasnak

2013-04-25T12:56:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

In Memory and in Honor of Lynn Wasnak
(AKA: Lynn Iverne Koehler - Wasnak)

1945 - May 14, 2013

Lynn Wasnak (AKA: Lynn W.) has been a pioneer in self-help / anti-rape movement since 1989. After a group called Speaking For Ourselves closed (which was the first newsletter for individuals with dissociative disorders) –– Lynn Wasnak picked up where they left off and she founded the organization "Many Voices", which offers a bi-monthly newsletter, information and resources for survivors with dissociative disorders.

Lynn was a phenomenal writer and author of several books on dissociation. Her books include "Mending Ourselves: expressions of healing & self-integration" and "Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out".

Lynn has been a loved and cherished friend to many for over a quarter of a century.

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“Lynn Wasnak died May 14, 2013 in her home in Cincinnati.” Lynn would have approved of that factual lead, believing it was better to come out and write what you mean rather than dance around a subject or doll it up. The problem is, that those who are her friends know that Lynn left a legacy that is truly alive, and will be as long as those who need her wisdom and help choose it to be, as long as there is a community of survivors willing to share.

The last few decades of Lynn’s life were focused on the organization for which she became executive director (and every other title at Many Voices Press). Certainly she continued her successful freelance writing career, but even the money earned from that went to subsidize her advocacy for those who suffer from abuse and trauma. At one point she decided to master the complicated world of nonprofits, and struggled to keep the organization financially afloat by using her own funds and those of special friends. A post office box full of reader submissions, and email overflowing with expressions of thanks and a need for information kept her going because it was confirmation that her efforts were needed.

Later, when Lynn was stunned to discover she had stage four breast cancer, she fought harder and more self-sacrificingly than anyone should be asked to do. But, she did so because Lynn really was the embodiment of “many voices.” When a friend commented that she couldn’t understand why Lynn fought so hard to live when she was suffering so much, daughter Diane had the answer: “She was unselfish.”

Lynn was a voice for living life with passion. She was a voice for the oppressed and suffering. She was an advocate for Alzheimer’s research after losing both her mother and sister to the disease. (Following her mother’s death, Diane was determined to navigate a complicated research donor process to honor Lynn’s desire to have her brain donated to Alzheimer’s research.)

While she was in the throes of a particularly difficult physical and mental period, Lynn amazed everyone by taking on the cause of a senior center that was closing in her area. (This was an organization she had no connection with previously.) She was tireless in her giving.

Lynn’s voices – all of them— resonated with both brilliance and passion. She tackled each challenge armed with reams of research and documentation. What must her oncologist have thought when she would arrive at each appointment armed with the latest studies and knowledge of all the intricacies of what she was experiencing!

Now Lynn’s voice has been silenced by a body that simply could not keep up with her mind and her epic efforts. That is where the rest of the world must take up the songs she sung so eloquently and the debates she fought so well. While there will be no more newsletters, books or postings from this prolific writer, the issue of dissociative disorders and abuse remains. The suffering remains. Lynn was a conduit for disseminating information from those who survived abuse. It was her wish that someone would continue that role; but even without it, each and every one of those she touched can keep Lynn’s voice for healing alive. ManyVoicesPress.com will remain online. We hope you will write and create and share through this and the Many Voices Press Facebook page. The greatest gift to Lynn would be to know that she created a community that is united and able to sustain itself.

Even if you are not comfortable posting anything, please visit these pages periodically to read messages from others and to see if Many Voices Press has found a new conduit leader. It’s the most meaningful way to honor the voice she used for so many so passionately.

A special note: Lynn died without a will, believing her body would be disposed of after her brain was removed. Unfortunately, the way things work is that the body of the deceased research victim is returned to the family. Diane, who is struggling with the loss of her mother and financial shortages herself, asks anyone who would like to contribute to these arrangements to please send a check to her at Many Voices Press, Many Voices, PO Box 2639, Cincinnati Oh 45201

Honoring Bob Schwiderski

2013-04-24T23:23:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Bob Schwiderski

Since 1992, Bob Schwiderski has been an relentless and outspoken powerhouse when it comes advocating for the civil rights of adult survivors of sexual abuse.

Besides being a Veteran of the Vietnam war, Bob is also a survivor of clergy sexual abuse by a priest.

Back in 1994, Bob was one of three former altar boys, who came forward and filed a civil suit against St. John's Catholic Church in Hector, MN along with the Dioceses of New Ulm, after accusing Rev. Wm. J. Marks of sexually abusing them. Robert stated that his abuse began back in 1956 when he was 7 years-old and lasted until he was 13.

Honoring Jan Wohlberg

2013-04-24T22:43:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Jan Wohlberg

For nearly twenty-five years Jan Wohlberg has dedicated a great portion of her life to helping others who have been sexually exploited by mental health professionals.

Back in 1989, the Boston Globe publicized two cases in which two prominent psychiatrists in the Boston area were allegedly sexually exploiting their patients. After the exposé was published the survivors along with three other women who were also abused by therapists joined forces and formed the organization TELL (Therapy Exploitation Link Line). Jan Wohlberg was one of these five brave women.

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Sex With Therapist: Silence is Broken
Associated Press - April 27 1992

BOSTON (AP) Jan Wohlberg said she was vulnerable after her husband was killed in 1973, and turned to a psychiatrist who later lured her into a 10-month sexual relationship. As word spreads about such cases, more patients are going public with stories of having been coerced into affairs by therapists.

The man had impressive credentials and Wohlberg's husband, a Boston psychiatrist, had spoken highly of him.

Eventually she fought back by drawing attention to her case and to an issue that has dogged the medical community ever since, most recently with allegations that a Harvard psychiatrist had sex with a patient who later killed himself.

No one knows how widespread the problem is. But a nationwide survey conducted by psychiatrist Nanette Gartrell in 1986 found 7 percent of male psychiatrists and 3 percent of female psychiatrists admitted having sexual relationships with their patients. Other studies have found similar results.

Since some psychiatrists refused to fill out the annoymous survey, fearing they would somehow be identified, Gartrell, a psychiatry professor at the University of California-San Francisco, believes there may be far more offenders.

Gartrell also found that nearly 90 percent of therapist-patient sexual encounters were between male psychiatrist ad female patients. But the latest Boston case is the reverse.

The family of Paul Lozano, a Harvard medical student, claims that Dr. Margaret Bean-Baylog had a sadomasochistic sexual relationship with him, and that he killed himself with an overdose of cocaine after she ended therapy.

Ben-Bayog flatly denied the claims.

Honoring Diana Carson

2013-04-24T18:12:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Diana Carson

Founder of VOICES In Action, Inc.
(Victims of Incest Can Emerge Survivors)

Back in the late 1970s Diana Carson was watching the first episode of The Phil Donahue Show, in which an adult survivor of child sexual abuse was speaking out about her abuse as a child. The woman was sharing her story of incest.

After several phone calls and letters to Phil Donahue, Diana gathered a group of women founded one of the first survivor based organizations called VOICE in 1980, which name was later changed to VOICES In Action, Inc. (Victims Of Incest Can Emerge Survivors).

VOICES was in operation for nearly 30 years and helped hundreds of thousands of survivors internationally. The organization offered Special Interest Groups (SIGS), an annual international conference along with a newsletter.

Click on images below to enlarge

Honoring Rick Springer

2013-04-24T17:14:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Rick Springer

Back in 1992, at the age of 55, Rick Springer joined forces with LinkUp, (which was originally called VOCAL - an acronym for Victims of Clergy Abuse Linkup) started speaking out as a Catholic survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

According to the Chicago Tribune article "Silence is Broken", Rick Springer was quoted as stating: "I knew that what he (his offender) was doing was wrong". . . "But I couldn't tell my family, which was alcoholic dysfunctional. I told leaders of my church, who said the archbishop of Chicago would be informed. At the time Springer was studying to become a priest. "But nothing happened. I was told to leave the seminary because I was not a good candidate for priesthood. That's the way it stayed for 31 years."

Since 1992, Rick has become a strong activist for hundreds of other adults survivors of sex crimes, and has been co-leading a self-help group with the Chicago based group called LinkUp ever since.

Honoring Laurieann Chutis

2013-04-24T11:42:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Laurieann Chutis

Laurieann Chutis is a Licensed Certified Social Worker who was pioneer in the anti-rape movement when it came to the creation of self-help groups for adult survivors of sex crimes. Laurieann was the long time Director of Consultation and Education Services

Ravenswood Community Mental Health Center.

Back in the early 1980s Laurieann saw the need for survivors to network and share their personal experiences with each other in a safe manor. She got to work and created the first train volunteers in how to run safe self-help groups for those dealing with all sorts of issues out of Ravenswood Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago; which lead to her authoring a booklet entitled "How To Start A Self-Help Group". Her work was internationally known and was highly respected.

Laurieann is also the author of numerous articles, including her most famous guide sheet entitled "FLASHBACK", which was also developed back in the early 1980s.

ALSO SEE:

FLASHBACK (1984)
FLASHBACK Trauma signals the start of healing (10/08/1989)

Honoring Roland C. Summit, MD

2013-04-24T10:38:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Roland C. Summit, MD

Dr. Roland Summit was a blazing pioneer in the anti-rape movement when it came to protecting children, along with adult survivors of child abuse. He was both highly respected and shunned for speaking out for both child and adult survivors when no one else was willing to put their reputations out on the line.

Roland C. Summit was the medical director of the Community Consultation Service, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA; along with being the author of the historic document: "The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome", along with being the author of numerous articles and books on the topic of child abuse. Dr. Summit was a founding member of the boards of directors of Parents Anonymous and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Dr. Summit founded the Los Angeles County Child Sexual Abuse Project and the UCLA Family Support Program.

Back in 1981 Roland Summit was quoted as saying "As much money must be spent on the victims of child abuse as is spent by society to incriminate and punish those who abuse the youngsters", at a conference in California.

He also stated that "For centuries, sexual abuse of children was treated as a myth, said to be exaggerated or even blamed in some cases on the children themselves".

Dr. Summit continued by saying ''We are seeing sexual child abuse in a radically different light than we did 10 short years ago. In a way, we're discovering it now - we believe it now.''

''The difference is that a few years ago children would encounter sexual abuse and would find nobody in the adult world who understood them when they attempted to make their problems known.'' He said "statistics show that most adults who abuse children sexually are neither mentally nor emotionally ill".

Also see:

1980s

Spend same on abused, abuser, MD says (11/17/1982)
The Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (1983)
A Mute Girl's Story: Child Abuse and the System (05/02/1984)
Experts on sexual child abuse try to defuse the time (01/27/1985)
The Stigma Being Wrongly Accused of Child Sex Abuse (02/02/1985)
No One Invented McMartin `Secret' Techniques Were Right Ones to Get at Facts, Help Victims (02/25/1986)
Study Focuses on Sexual Abuse of Boys Males May Be Victims in Up to 25% of Cases (10/28/1986)
Sex offenders often victims of abuse (07/18/1987)
Youth Groups Fear Specter of Sexual Abuse (09/28/1988)

1990s

New Puzzle: High-Tech Pedophilia Technology: Computer disks confiscated in Glendora arrest contain sexually explicit material involving young boys. Police say the greater use of such equipment is more difficult to track down (03/05/1993)

2000s

Scientific studies dispute writer's claim (11/08/2004)
New Rule For Priests Avoids Facing Problem (12/12/2005)

Honoring Barbara Engel

2013-04-24T07:37:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Barbara Engel

Barbara Engel is a pioneering hero in both the anti-rape movement and in the domestic violence field.

Over thirty-five year she was the director of one of the first rape crisis center, battered women’s program and child sexual abuse treatment and advocacy center in the Chicagoland area.

Ms. Engel initiated counseling and healing work with survivors, created the first sexual assault prevention programs for the Chicago public schools, while challenging institutional responses by law enforcement, the courts, and the medical and mental health systems. She co-authored protocols for the treatment of rape survivors and battered women in hospital emergency rooms and developed a protocol for Chicago police department response to rape survivors that is now promulgated as a national model.

Barbara embraced the importance of working in coalitions and was co-founder of the Chicago Sexual Assault Services Network and the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network and was active in the early development of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Illinois Coalition of Women Against Rape (later renamed Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault) and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

In 1983 Barbara co-authored the Illinois sexual assault legislation and assisted in a statewide public education and action strategy that led to the model legislation’s passage. Since 1991 Barbara has been re-appointed by every Illinois Governor to the board of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority where she serves as a public voice for victim services issues helping distribute federal funds and coordinate criminal justice policy and program initiatives.

In 1993 Barbara was asked by Mayor Daley to chair the task force that wrote the innovative sexual harassment policy for the city of Chicago and developed an implementation strategy and office to work towards harassment free workplaces.

Barbara has also been involved at The Chicago Foundation for Women and as board member for the National Network of Women’s Funds/ Women’s Funding Network.

Barbara graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 1975, received a Masters in Public Health and an honor citation from the University of Illinois School of Public Health in 1976. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her many decades of service.

Honoring Lucy Berliner

2013-04-24T00:19:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Lucy Berliner

Lucy Berliner, MSW is an internationally recognized for her pioneering work in the assessment and treatment of sexually abused children. Dating back to the 1980s, Lucy Berliner has written numerous books and articles on the topic along with consultant with various organizations and governmental agencies.

Currently, Berliner is the director of the Sexual Assault Program at Harborview Hospital in Seattle, WA; and is also a clinical associate professor, at the University of Washington School of Social Work and Department of Psychiatry ad Behavioral Sciences.

Honoring Beverly Engel

2013-04-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Beverly Engel

Beverly Engel has been a psychotherapist specializing in working survivors of sexual abuse and women's issues for over thirty years. She is the author of over twenty self-help books and has been a keynote speaker at conferences in the United States and Canada.

Honoring Nancy Mayer

2013-04-23T07:03:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring Nancy Mayer, RSW

Nancy Mayer is a registered social worker based out of Toronto, Canada; who has dedicated her life to assisting both and adults and child survivors of sex crimes to heal.

Over thirty years ago, Nancy started working in the anti-rape field working as a child and youth worker –– after being a foster parent for several years. Nancy is highly regarded as an expert witness in cases involving both adult and child survivors of sex crimes, including those who were sexually manipulated by members of the clergy from various religions.

Mary Poppins On Protecting Kids

2013-04-23T00:52:00.003-05:00

APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

Mary Poppins On Protecting Kids

Honoring Sophia Chamys

2013-04-22T01:09:00.000-05:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Honoring and in Memory of Sophia Chamys

Lodz, Poland

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sophia Chamys was an extremely brave teenager, and someone who should never be forgotten. Sophia was one of four women back in the late 1800s who were fighting for the civil rights of teenage girls and women who were kidnapped and prostituted in an international human trafficking ring back called the Zwi Migdal Society.

Sophia was from an extremely poor Jewish family, living in small shtetl outside of Warsaw, Poland. In the early 1890s her father "sold" his thirteen-year old child to Isaac Boorosky for eight rubles –– under he pretense of working as a maid in his widowed mother's kitchen. Instead of working as a maid, Boorosky transported her along with several other teenage girls to Buenos Aries Argentina where they were prostituted. At one point Boorosky married Chamys. The marriage was one in which she was subjected to extreme forms of domestic violence. Back in the 1880s, a woman was considered property, needless to say being married to a pimp, meant she was brutally raped by several men along with money exchanging hands.

Sophia Chamys lost her life five years later, at the young age of eighteen from Yellow Fever. Reports stated there were scares al over her body, where her husband Isaac had harmed her during his fits of rage.

Prior to her death, Sophia shared her story with the local police. Many knew she wanted it documented.

Stop blaming parents, survivors and children

2013-04-21T19:05:00.000-05:00

Stop blaming parents, survivors and children

The Awareness Center, Inc.

Directory

The Awareness Center's Mission Statement

People You Should Know: History of the Anti Rape Movement

Famous Jewish Survivors of Sexual Abuse / Assault

Case of Munib Farhat

Support Illinois HB 1063 to Remove the Criminal Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes Against Children

Case of Rabbi Yaakov Murray

Case of Rabbi Tully Bryks

Honoring Jim Hopper

Honoring S4OS (Speaking for Our Selves)

Jewish Survivors' Network Formed back in the 1980s

In Memory and Honor of Lynn Wasnak

Honoring Bob Schwiderski

Honoring Jan Wohlberg

Honoring Diana Carson

Honoring Rick Springer

Honoring Laurieann Chutis

Honoring Roland C. Summit, MD

Honoring Barbara Engel

Honoring Lucy Berliner

Honoring Beverly Engel

Honoring Nancy Mayer

Mary Poppins On Protecting Kids

Honoring Sophia Chamys

Stop blaming parents, survivors and children