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Monday, April 30, 2012

Brooklyn D.A. Hynes "Plays Sex Abuse Politics" With The Lives Of Haredi Children



                                                       

April 30, 2012

Monday, April 16, 2012

HUNDREDS GATHER TO CELEBRATE A PRE- PASSOVER FREEDOM SEDER FOR ADVOCATES AND SURVIVORS OF SEX ABUSE




Sunday, April 15, 2012

   MACHBERES  APRIL 9 2012;
                                                 AS APPEARED IN THE            
                                                 
                                                 A  CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND HOPE
                                                               
 BY  RABBI GERSHON TANNENBAUM




                     

(L-R) Mark Meyer Appel, Rabbi Yosef Blau, and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum at model Seder.
Voice Of Justice Model Seder: Event With A Message
On Thursday evening, March 29 a model Seder was held at B’nai Israel of Linden Heights in Boro Park. The special event was conducted by the Voice of Justice, directed by Mark Meyer Appel. The organization gives moral, psychological, financial and safety support to victims of child abuse. Attendees at the event included victims, advocates, and supporters.

Chaim Kiss Singing at the Seder.



Chaim Kiss, renownedchazzan and singer, filled the air with a mood of celebration. Delicious foods were served, and the atmosphere reflected the Pesach mood of liberation and freedom. Rabbi Yosef Blaumashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchanan, and this writer, as rav of the host shul and Igud director, sat at the dais. Dr. Asher Lipner, a psychologist and leader in the fight against child abuse, read aloud a proclamation from the Assembly of the State of New York extolling the event and its sponsors, which included Met Council (Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty)The Jewish Press, Maimonides Medical Center, the Vos Iz Neias website, Zev Brenner and TalkLine Communications, the Rabbinical Alliance of America-Igud Horabbonim, and the Coalition of Jewish Advocates for Children.

Spirited dancing and camaraderie.
The camaraderie and singing reached emotional heights and the participants, swaying with the music, rose from their seats and joined in communal dancing. Young men, some in modern garb and others inchassidishe attire, rhythmically ran back and forth. A feeling of freedom and security permeated, as though massive burdens were lifted off the shoulders of a newly freed people.
Just a few years ago, reports of child abuse were routinely covered up. No one wanted to even think about it, much less discuss or report it. If the authorities investigated or arrested someone from our community for child abuse, the authorities were condemned for, in effect, embarrassing the entire community.
Today, we are light years beyond that Neanderthal way of thinking. Today, there are shouts condemning the authorities for not doing enough to keep molesters off the streets and our children safe. Books are published for children, on their level of understanding, concerning what to watch out for and how to act in threatening circumstances at home or outside. Today, our leading organizations have child safety on their agendas. Meetings on how our institutions must protect children are held behind both closed and open doors and fully reported. Of course, more has to be done. One case of abuse is one case too much.
The Voice of Justice Model Seder was another step in the effort to combat child abuse. It followed last year’s Seder, as well as numerous conferences held throughout the five boroughs of New York City and in cities with observant communities across the United States.
The list of names of those who have given of themselves in this successful battle is too long for this space. The names will be published and honored in future columns. As the battle continues, we must focus on winning the war, something that is within our grasp. That day, we all pray, will be very soon.
            FOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
                  CALL THE VOICE OF JUSTICE AT 1 800 621 8551

Sunday, April 15, 2012

HUNDREDS GATHER TO CELEBRATE A PRE- PASSOVER FREEDOM SEDER FOR ADVOCATES AND SURVIVORS OF SEX ABUSE

                                                                 

 BY  RABBI GERSHON TANNENBAUM



                     
   

(L-R) Mark Meyer Appel, Rabbi Yosef Blau, and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum at model Seder.
Voice Of Justice Model Seder: Event With A Message
On Thursday evening, March 29 a model Seder was held at B’nai Israel of Linden Heights in Boro Park. The special event was conducted by the Voice of Justice, directed by Mark Meyer Appel. The organization gives moral, psychological, financial and safety support to victims of child abuse. Attendees at the event included victims, advocates, and supporters.

Chaim Kiss Singing at the Seder.
Chaim Kiss, renownedchazzan and singer, filled the air with a mood of celebration. Delicious foods were served, and the atmosphere reflected the Pesach mood of liberation and freedom. Rabbi Yosef Blaumashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchanan, and this writer, as rav of the host shul and Igud director, sat at the dais. Dr. Asher Lipner, a psychologist and leader in the fight against child abuse, read aloud a proclamation from the Assembly of the State of New York extolling the event and its sponsors, which included Met Council (Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty), The Jewish Press, Maimonides Medical Center, the Vos Iz Neias website, Zev Brenner and TalkLine Communications, the Rabbinical Alliance of America-Igud Horabbonim, and the Coalition of Jewish Advocates for Children.

Spirited dancing and camaraderie.
The camaraderie and singing reached emotional heights and the participants, swaying with the music, rose from their seats and joined in communal dancing. Young men, some in modern garb and others inchassidishe attire, rhythmically ran back and forth. A feeling of freedom and security permeated, as though massive burdens were lifted off the shoulders of a newly freed people.
Just a few years ago, reports of child abuse were routinely covered up. No one wanted to even think about it, much less discuss or report it. If the authorities investigated or arrested someone from our community for child abuse, the authorities were condemned for, in effect, embarrassing the entire community.
Today, we are light years beyond that Neanderthal way of thinking. Today, there are shouts condemning the authorities for not doing enough to keep molesters off the streets and our children safe. Books are published for children, on their level of understanding, concerning what to watch out for and how to act in threatening circumstances at home or outside. Today, our leading organizations have child safety on their agendas. Meetings on how our institutions must protect children are held behind both closed and open doors and fully reported. Of course, more has to be done. One case of abuse is one case too much.
The Voice of Justice Model Seder was another step in the effort to combat child abuse. It followed last year’s Seder, as well as numerous conferences held throughout the five boroughs of New York City and in cities with observant communities across the United States.
The list of names of those who have given of themselves in this successful battle is too long for this space. The names will be published and honored in future columns. As the battle continues, we must focus on winning the war, something that is within our grasp. That day, we all pray, will be very soon.
            FOR INFORMATION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
                  CALL THE VOICE OF JUSTICE AT 1 800 621 8551



Sunday, April 1, 2012

HUNDREDS OF ADVOCATES AND SURVIVORS OF ABUSE JOIN TOGETHER FOR THE PRE- PASSOVER MODEL SEDER IN A STRONG MESSAGE OF UNITY. THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY HAILS THE SEDER AS A HISTORIC DAY FOR SURVIVORS


MARK MEYER APPEL,RABBI YOSEF BLAU,RABBI GERSHON TANNENBAUM

PROCLAMATION BY
THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
PROCLAIMING PASSOVER 2O12
"FREEDOM SEDER DAY FOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE_
                                                                       


HUNDREDS OF SURVIVORS OF ABUSE ATTENDED A EMOTIONAL SEDER WHICH WAS HELD THIS  PRE -PASSOVER IN BROOKLYN WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITY WHO JOINED IN ALONG WITH THE SURVIVORS IN GIVING STRENGTH AND LOVE IN A HISTORIC   UNTY SEDER.THE SEDER WAS PREEMPTED BY A PRAYER SERVICE IN THE HISTORIC BNEI ISRAEAL OF LINDEN HEIGHTS SHUL RABBI GERSHON TANNENBAUM WHO HOSTED THIS EVENT WITH OPEN HANDS AND WITH  COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT THAT HAS EMPOWERED THEM TO OVERCOME THEIR SUFFERING WITH A NEW RENEWAL.
THE BALLROOM WAS PACKED WITH .ADVOCATES,SURVIVORS AND A CROSS SECTION OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE TRI STATE AREA
THE TENSION AND ENERGY IN THE ROOM WAS EVIDENT AS
CHAIM KISS BEGAN THE SEDER WITH THE SINGING OF LEMAN ACHI VEREA.





 TEARS OF JOY WAS FLOWING AS ALL THE ATTENDEES HELD HANDS AND DECLARED THAT FREEDOM  FROM PAIN HAS ARRIVED. IN A DECLARATION OF HOPE ALL ATTENDEES PLEDGED THAT AS A UNITED COMMUNITY WE WILL DO MORE TO HELP ALL THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING TO ENGAGE IN A A NEW LIFE OF HAPPINESS SUCCESS AND FINALLY BE FREE.DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY HELPED PREPARE AND ORGANIZE THESE SEDERS, IZZY APPEL, YANKI LIEDER,MINDY LOWY, RIVKI K, ZALMIN RIGEL, SAMMY PERL, NYC POLICE DEPT,  MAIMONDIES HOSPITAL HELPED ENSURE THE SUCESS OF THE PROGRAM
CHAIM KISS

RABBI BLAU,MARK WEISS


NOVIMINSKER REBBITZEN 





CHAIM KISS AT HIS BEST

                                                     

                                                                                      
A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SPONSORS 
THE VOICE OF JUSTICE , AND OUR CO-SPONSORS

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON JEWISH POVERTY, MAIMONIDIES HOSPITAL.RABBINICAL ALLIANCE OF AMERICA,COALITION OF  JEWISH ADVOCATES  ,VOS IS NEIS
,TALKLININE COMMUNICATIONS,THE JEWISH PRESS
                                                     
AND THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF 

JEWISH POVERTY 
                                                                              
FOR SUPPLING ALL THE DELICIOUS FOOD AND FOOD SUPPLIED TO SURVIVORS FOR PESACH     THE VOICE OF JUSTICE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND THESE SERVICES TO THIS UNDERSERVED  POULATION AND WILL BEGIN  A YEAR ROUND  SUPPORT NETWORK WITH A  WHOLE RANGE OF SERVICES IN THE COMMING MONTHS . WE LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW ERA WHEN  THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED WILL NEVER BE ABANDONED AND  BECOME PART OF THE EXTENDED JEWISH COMMUNITY SAID,MARK MEYER APPEL PRESIDENT OF THE VOICE OF JUSTICE         FOR INFORMATION    CALL    1  800  621  8551