TEARS OF JOY AT CHANUKAH CELEBRATION FOR SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES OF DOMESTIC AND SEX ABUSE



RABBI YOEF BLAU MINGLING WITH GUESTS

                                                                                                                             

The candles flicker at the window casting a warm glow of light that reaches out into the darkness of the night.

Inside, the room is filled with people who have come together to share the warmth and light of Chanukah. This is no ordinary Chanukah party- many of the people who are in attendance are survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence within the Orthodox Jewish community. 

                                                             

This is the first time a gathering of this sort has been allowed to happen. The Voice Of Justice an organization whose goal is to reach out and help victims of sexual abuse in the community sponsored this event. Sexual abuse is a taboo subject within the Jewish community and many are afraid to speak out and share their experiences.  It is unfortunate that victims of abuse go unrecognized and sometimes are even ostracized within their own  community. 

Chanukah parties are held all over the United States sponsored by many different organizations,

There has been no such offer of support  from any major organizations like AGUDAH AND OHEL  towards  victims of sexual abuse. The pain and emotional suffering a victim of  rape or molestation experiences, often continues throughout their lives. Their suffering is exacerbated by the secrecy and deafening silence surrounding abuse in the religious community. 

The gathering of survivors this Chanukah of 2011 has broken this silence. The party took  place in Brooklyn on the 7th night of Chanukah. The atmosphere was one of warmth and closeness. With everyone present understanding the pain of his fellow Jew.  RABBI YOSEF BLAU Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva University was in attendance and in his calm and reassuring manner delivered powerful  words of inspiration. MARK MEYER APPEL spoke about the struggles survivors face and then led the service of the lighting of the Menorah. RABBI KAGANOFF from Passaic also attended the party as did other advocates for victims of abuse.

DR ASHER LIPNER SINGING

                              A SPECIAL THANKS TO RIVKY , DR ASHER  LIPNER \                   AND HOST     ABIGAEL    FOR MAKING THIS EVENT SO SPECIAL

The Voice Of Justice will continue promoting awareness and supporting victims and survivors alike. This is only the beginning as we  plan to sponsor many more events in the future. We all hope that our community leaders will begin to understand the enormity of the liability that they as Rabbis of the largest Jewish community in the world own. They need to step up to the plate, own up to their mistakes and allow the voices of the abused to be heard.