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Jacobson Endorses ‘Community Watch’, Decries CSA Silence

In an impassioned letter Rabbi Yossi Jacobson strongly endorsed the efforts of the Jewish Community Watch, a website which exposes predators and child molesters. In his letter he endorses their tactics and guidelines for posting names of predators, and he also decries the “blood has been shed on the altar of silence”.

B”H. The month of liberation, 5773. March 2013.

Dear Jewish Community Watch,

In response to your request—as well as to the many other inquiries and requests for my reaction to the issue of child abuse.

First, I want to express my sincere gratitude and accolades for all the hard work you and various other organizations and individuals are doing to put an end to the devastating crime of CSA, which has wreaked utter havoc in scores of innocent lives over so many years.

Sadly, many people, including some in leadership positions, are ill-informed of the detrimental effects of child molestation. The average person who has not suffered through CSA doesn’t realize how so many of the abused suffer for years or decades from feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, shame, guilt, and pain. Many of the victims—due to their profound pain and skewed sense of self—find temporary relief in all forms of destructive behavior, including molesting a new generation of children. Many of them fall prey to terrible addictions in order to escape their agony. Untold numbers of these innocent souls are haunted by unbearable nightmares that won’t allow them to lead a normal life internally. Most of them struggle to maintain functional marriages, since their sexual boundaries have been brutally violated.

Though recovery is surely possible—for the soul is more powerful than all else, and the Divine infinite power within each of us can overcome all darkness—the pain they must endure is heart-wrenching.

Many people are equally ill-informed of how rampant the problem is, and of the great number of our youth that have been victimized over the years.

But, thankfully, a new dawn has arrived.

Ever since dedicated volunteers have taken action and established organizations to combat this ugly malady, the issue of child molestation has been brought to the forefront of the community’s attention. It is no longer possible to ignore the seriousness of this epidemic. At last, we have begun—and only begun—to take the necessary steps to eradicate this black stain for good.

Initially, when the efforts began to expose predators’ names and photos, I was concerned that some activists would become obsessed with “witch hunting” and would inadvertently accuse innocent people of committing these terrible crimes—forever tainting their reputation. I was afraid that these investigations might not be thoroughly reviewed and vetted with the hyper-sensitivity and professionalism that this issue calls for. (I still shudder at the thought of an individual’s life being ruined by some mean-spirited person who has an axe to grind.) However, after much scrutiny I have learned that these investigations are thorough and honest. I have also learned that in cases where a past abuser is ready to be fully accountable and to do what it takes to help the victim through the healing-process (and, obviously, with experts testifying that he/she no longer poses a danger to the public), the abuser’s identity is not exposed. Additionally, I am also aware of dozens of cases presented to Jewish Community Watch that are not brought to light due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

Given the above, it is my heartfelt hope that all parents, rabbis, leaders, community activists, educators, principals, spiritual mentors, therapists, social workers and counselors will begin educating themselves regarding the lifelong effects of child molestation. They will then come to understand the untold suffering brought upon victims of CSA. Just as we would do anything to stop a gunman from walking our streets and taking lives, heaven forbid (what Jewish law calls a “rodef”), so must we do anything and everything to stop the people who are murdering the psyches and emotional innocence of our children.

We must also begin educating every single one of our young adults about two critical factors: 1) If they have been molested, help is available. They must know that if they will break the silence and reveal their story, they will be embraced rather than shunned, and will be guided with loving care towards a life of wholesomeness and happiness. We must give all of them the names and contact information of approved professionals, so they can reach out to them if necessary. 2) Preventive medicine: If they might ever be prone to engage in these terrible acts themselves, they must know: A) the horrific impact of such actions, and B) that there are things they can do to help them avoid becoming potential monsters who will surely destroy lives. They must all know that help is readily available for people with an inclination toward touching children inappropriately.

Parents and educators must discuss these dangers with their children and students—both the danger of becoming a victim, as well as the danger of becoming an abuser. Every—and I mean every—Yeshiva bachur must be educated about these two items.

We must also educate the community—both children and adults—on how important it is to talk to someone if they are privy to any sort of abuse being perpetrated in the community. To withhold this kind of information is essentially akin to being an accomplice and an enabler of the unthinkable crime of destroying lives in this vicious cycle. Most victims are too afraid or ashamed to speak up—and surely it is not their fault. They are terrified of being shunned, not believed, and of the possibility of being rejected forever. That is where our community stands today. We must change that and teach all of our youngsters that they will be heard, listened to, believed, and embraced with a loving heart and open arms. They will not be judged or ridiculed. We will treat their pain with the deepest respect and empathy.

***

Lest you think that the above information is based on speculation, I must tell you that unfortunately that is not the case. I come here today after many years of learning firsthand about the tragic plight of victims, and the ugly plight of abusers—who in the process of murdering others, murder themselves, too. It is now abundantly clear to me that by educating every boy and girl in our educational institutions about the horrors of CSA as outlined above, we will literally rescue countless precious souls from untold years of misery.

One case in point: A young man asked to meet with me some time ago. His story is not uncommon: He had been sexually molested in a particular Yeshiva by an older student who had been studying in this Yeshiva and was serving as a spiritual mentor of sorts to younger students. As the victim grew older, he in turn began to molest children himself, including his own siblings. (One of the facts about CSA is that it is often committed by close relatives or friends, and sometimes by very religious-looking people.) Concurrently, he had also become addicted to viewing unmentionable smut, which became part of his daily routine. He completely lost his boundaries for intimacy. Though he was—and still is—an extremely good-hearted young man, he was trapped in the disease of addiction and paralyzed by endless shame and guilt. He got married, but his marriage inevitably soon became dysfunctional. Floundering to survive, he discovered addictive drugs and was soon using them every day—including Yom Kippur. Finally, after hitting “rock-bottom,” this shattered “abused-abuser” shared his story with me. It was the first time that he had shared his true story with anyone, and it took him more than twenty years for to open up! He broke down and wept uncontrollably.

So many lives were destroyed from the actions of that older student. And so many lives could have been spared if the young man, the initial victim, would have known as a young adult that help is available and that he didn’t have to suffer all alone.

The brokenness and utter despondency I observed in this young man—and in many others with similar stories–is typical of victims of CSA. Many of them feel broken and crushed to the very core of their existence. Having been violated in the most vulnerable, holiest, and most sensitive part of their being—the part within us that most reflects G-d, possessing the ability to create new life—makes them feel like their lives are worthless.

Too much blood has been shed on the altar of silence and fear without anyone uttering even a cry. Victims have lived far too long by the code of shame and silence, always blaming themselves for the cruelty of their perpetrators. The devil of abuse has been allowed to grow strong and rampant because of our silence. It is time to declare all-out war—a war of information and education—against the silent bullets that have claimed thousands of our holiest and most beautiful souls.

We as a community must—and will—come forward publicly to support every effort being made on behalf of our innocent and precious youth. With Hashem’s help, we will succeed.

For such is the nature of light: it dispels even the densest of darkness.

Sincerely and thankfully,
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson

 

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127 Comments

  • not impressed by the adjectives

    While I agree that molesters are monsters,I also feel you are lacking some very crucial information,Do more research on the people behind the website.Hop to it,Yossi.I don’t think you would want your eighteen year old son on there.

  • ED

    ATT R’ YYJ while I have always had a great respect for you based on your Torah knowledge and your ability to speak well in public, on this topic you have seem to go off base. While your intentions are good you didn’t do all the research on all the individuals listed on this dirty site. While it is a worthy position to make a strong stand against this tragic ongoing you have neglected sensitivity by endorsing this website.

    • George Costanza

      How do you know that YY neglected Sensitivity by endorsing this site, do you think he randomly decided to endorse without looking at the facts on the ground? don’t you think he would look at All the details in “detail” before putting his name on such a controversial site?

      Why don’t you look at future lives that could be saved instead of trying to unknowingly protect guilty people

    • Tipshim

      To all the idiots who “know” that someone on the site is not a abuser: What do you have to make that claim? Do you realize your own brother could be an abuser, and you would never realize a thing? People who become abusers develop incredible survival instincts, and this is something I know from experience (a person close to my family was found to be an abuser, the abused people -some of who I know very well- testified in court and he was indicted. We never dreamed he was a molester, and we didn’t believe it until he confessed -after the indictment) and police officers told me as well: you will never believe that the abuser is a abuser. Being that this is the case, there is know way at all that you could know whether or not this is a abuser. And besides, how do you know that he’s not a abuser? He told you? Ridiculous. He’s too nice? He’s not Shayich to it? See above.
      I’m certainly for having CHW watched by reliable people, but who is reliable for this?
      Food for thought.

  • No mention on police

    Great endorsement yasher koach but why no urging people who have info or victims themselves to go to police and report this crime ?? R Jacobson u have the chance to send a string clear message please endorse sharing information about crimes with police

    • let's be careful not harmful

      I agree with #1 and #2. There is a Torah approach of 1-st going to Beis Din. ACS is not interested in truth but rather in their agenda. I know it! ACS became tool of revenge. Thank G-d Rabbi YYJ and probably you #3 were not ran over by ACS and don’t know it. So please do reseach!

    • gil

      Agree.

      He is clearly not wise. We all agree that Sexual Abuse Is Bad. I happen to be aware of more than one case where JCW is way out of bounds and while protecting no one are causing incalculable harm to people and their families.

      What needs to be spoken clearly is that this is not about protecting children as much as promoting an agenda and as with all agendas there is money to be made promoting this agenda as well.

    • Careful

      What are you talking about? Its lacking in wisdom to protect children? Its lacking in wisdom to condemn predators? Youre nuts.

  • Dov

    That website defames people without proper proof. If just one person accuses another person, is that enough to have a person and his family labeled forever? Maybe the accuser is the one with problems.

  • a chossid

    Rabbi Jacobson! as a respected member of the community you have double achrayus in your words. I agree with you regarding csa I just want to know have you personally double checked every single name on the website and made sure it really belongs there?

    Otherwise you can not rely just on the website administrators and a few stories. Cuz if even one person on there does not belong there you have helped spill the blood of that person and their entire family.

    I am fully for helping victims and NOT hiding the info but also for being triple careful before spilling an additional persons blood.

  • ed

    while nobody is sure about each individual in an organization or any group, the thrust here is to save a life….YYJ did, and is doing, as the story goes about when the Rebbitzen Chaya Mushka pushed someone to save his life, and said that sometimes one has to do teshuva in such in instance. It may not be the “cleanest”, not perfect, but this is how we save lives and save another yid, another human being. He is stepping out. The Crown Heights Watch may not be PERFECT…..SO who and what is perfect?? Crown Heights watch is saving lives and suffering…..ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT?? If you are doing something that is pro-active and saving from such a MACHLA, then LET US KNOW ABOUT IT and hatzlacha rabba. IF NOT, then you should give YYJ and CHW a huge yashar koach which is not enough for what they are doing. If it was G-d forbid your loved one, you might understand. If it is not yours, I hope it never is, but I can see how it is SO terrifying that many of us out there who are either cheering on YYJ and those who step up to save the innocent, are just sitting in the “audience”. We don’t know how fortunate we are to live in times when there are efforts to stop what has been an age-old machla.
    As someone said….when someone is killed, it is horrible. When someone is abused, they are almost killed, but LIVE with the horror. Who wants that, who could let that happen?? It is the time for the revelation of Mental Health, rights and safety for all. NEVER was there a movement for rights which was perfect. There were mistakes, misunderstandings, lack of foresight, etc. YET, don’t fool yourself, the IKKAR is what you look at. Look at the Ikkar here, what is the main point? Can you say it? If you can find the point, then you will get it.

  • Right and Wrong

    We all know people who have been victims of abuse, and we all know the horrors that it perpetuates.

    However that does not leave an open slate for anyone to blog – no matter how well intended they are – and to anonymously destroy the lives of all these “possible” molesters.

    There are cases on that website that are very, VERY, dubious, according to experts on CSA. Although Rabbi YJ is a wonderful man, I don’t know how much he knows about CSA – and he has certainly not investigated all the cases.

    It only takes ONE case of mistaken identity, which has already happened, to destroy the credibility of the website.

  • CH Resident

    Though I b”h have no family members or relatives on the site, I can imagine the horror of having a family member on the site, how it would destroy shidduchim, self esteem etc. etc. of those that have nothing to do with molestation. I don’t beleve the website would have the Rebbe’s blessings… nuff said.

    • Imagine

      Try to imagine the horror of countless victims having their lives destroyed by these abusers about whom you worry so much.

  • Hello

    I’m sure he did his research. You nay sayers are typical CH’ers. You lack any logic and critical thinking. Do you think that he is endorsing it without doing through research. Believe me he knows more then you, and the majority of commentators, on the workings on that website.

  • Meir

    Give me a call and I’ll explain you why your endorsement is based on ignorance. Abusers are terrible people but so are the ones running that site. Making threats, blackmailing, not keeping their side of their own “deals”.

    If they wanted to help the ones abused they would do something for them, ratting out old stories which have been dealt with many times over already doesn’t help the cause.

  • A Wandering Soul

    Unfortunately, our community has a terrible void for leadership. This action by Rabbi Jacobson is a small glimmer of hope that perhaps the most influential Rabbi in our community is finally taking a stand.
    Is this a one time thing, or is this a sign that somebody is finally standing up to the plate?

    • huh?

      Since when is ryy the most important rabbi in this community?
      He is definitely not mine.
      He is an excellent speaker – that I do agree, and has a way with words that’s most people cannot even try to emulate.

      I do however agree with many posters. Ryy, while I usually enjoy hearing your shiurim, you have just totally put me off. Seawald may be doing good things on his site, but it is innocent till proven guilty and one too many lives were ruined from the site.
      We all agree that molestation is evil. No one has to be convinced of that. But the way seawald is doing it is wrong.

  • Chochma!

    There’s absolutely NO WAY that this can ever, ever go wrong.

    NO ONE would ever try to smear an enemy or rival on this website, which has no achrayus to anyone…

    ESPECIALLY because the CH chevre that run the site have backgrounds in law-enforcement, psychology and are experts in the legal repercussions of criminal defamation.

    I have TOTAL TRUST that this website is BETTER than going to professionals and law-enforcement to combat abuse.

    ***denotes sarcasm

    • Im shocked

      Yes…that is correct. Many are secret supporters of the site. Im in law enforcement, and I completely support the site. They are doing things correctly.

  • ayl

    did you tell the police where the abuser (who was abused) told you of his crimes?

  • community resident

    Before I say what I have to say, I want to be very clear that I’m a huge believer in prosecuting these molesters and perverts & getting them away from our children. I don’t want anyone to think I protect frum molesters, far from it.

    I agree completely with the things Rabbi Jacobson writes. The case he describes really is tragic and horrific and he’s right, victims usually go on to lead terrible lives and compound the problem by molesting other people, but that isn’t the reason I’m responding.

    This is what bothers me. I’m very surprised Rabbi Jacobson endorsed a group that seems to be a bunch of vigilantes who expose people just on the word of their accusers.

    Many people have asked CH Watch for details of how they research & make sure that the people they expose really are involved in CSA. But they never answer, the discussion ends there. We aren’t interested in details of the crimes we just want to know how they check that what they write is true to their knowledge.

    I personally know people (not relatives, not even friends) whose lives are ruined because CH Watch put their names online. One man I know lost his home because of it even though the landlord later found out the accusation was false. It was too late and even though he went to ask mechila the damage was done and the man had moved out of town with this hanging over his head, waiting for the next person to believe the rumors.These are people who have never been indicted or even arrested! Yet CH Watch stands by their postings and basically calls for these guys’ blood.

    If they really are 100% certain they are right in what they post, they need to explain HOW they clarify everything. Then they need to explain why these “terrible men” have never been questioned by the police or the DA or brought to court. But they keep quiet once the names are out there for everyone all over the world to see.

    I repeat: I’m not personally involved in any way with any of the men they have named but I feel very strongly that they could pick on anyone and there isn’t anyone to stop them. If they are so sure they are right in every case, tells us why nothing was ever done to most of the people on their list. They say they have Haskama from the Beis Din but when people approach the Beis Din with other information the Haskama is revoked. The names are still online, though.

    I’d also like to know why some names are put up, sometimes for only a few hours, then suddenly, they’re off the list. It seems to me that the people who run CH Watch aren’t too worried about accuracy but they respond immediately to persuasive methods. Again, if they are so sure they’re right nothing would get them to take the names down.

    I don’t know if the general public realizes the danger of this group. We are all at risk. A disgruntled employee, neighbor, student, or anyone can just make these accusations and there you are, your name is posted. All of us are at risk of being exposed for something we didn’t do.

    Of course, CSA is a terrible thing. I’m sure there are many creeps living here in CH as well as in every other frum neighborhood. Personally, I think they should be paraded through the street with signs on then put up against a wall and shot. I certainly don’t believe they should be protected or have the community raise money like in Weberman’s case. They deserve everything they should get, but what about the people who are really innocent? That’s my concern.

    I wonder if Rabbi Jacobson really thought this through before he endorsed these young guys who must have some sort of agenda. They shouldn’t accuse without real proof. They say they have it, so again, just explain the methods you used to get it. We never hear anything from the DA about the men they identify so that makes us question how accurate their information is or why there isn’t any follow up by the authorities if these men really committed these terrible crimes.

    The idea of CH Watch is a good one and can really help protect our children but like many really good ideas there are some dangerous possibilities. Yes, we all know some names turned out to be true but does that make it OK for the others? It’s like hanging 20 men for a crime, finding out only 3 did it & then just saying oh well, we made a mistake. Ooops.

    The people they’ve named without any proof (at least none that the DA thinks is true) are ruined. They lost their parnassah, they can’t make shidduchim, their kids are hounded in school, no one wants to socialize with anybody in the home, they don’t have guests, they aren’t invited to simchas and like the case I personally know of, they lose their homes and are run out of town. The list of consequences goes on and on. I’d like to see Rabbi Jacobson write about these innocent people whose lives are destroyed on the accusation of someone with an ax to grind. Where is THEIR endorsement?

    I completely agree with publicizing perverts names, I just want to be sure every name on the list really belongs there and isn’t there because he’s a bit slow, or strange, or someone doesn’t like him. Just do careful research and then we’ll see most if not all of the people on the list in court. I certainly won’t be there to support them!

    I must be anonymous because I expect some kind of threats or harrasment for what I said here, based on past experience. I’m not against exposing perverts, I just want there to be careful checking. Let’s all work together to keep our children safe.

    • A freind

      Every alleged predator listed on JCW’s Wall of Shame has been thoroughly investigated. Your insinuation that the allegations made are false are irrational and idiotic. Wouldn’t you think that if this case you know of “personally” was false, there would have been a lawsuit against JCW??

      Your suggestion that names were posted and taken down immediately afterwards is outlandish lie. The only case removed was done so due to the exposition by the predator on his own website of all the victims he had abused. He is back up on the Wall of Shame now.

      Take a look at the statute of limitations in NY and perhaps you may discover why it is that many of these predators are never arrested.

      Your mindset is exactly the problem in this community. Maybe instead of proclaiming that their organization is based on lies, contact them and inquire as to the issues you have.

    • Meshugana

      Can you give ONE example of JCW publishing someone because they had an axe to grind?? ONE? Its easy to say, but there is no person that is on there because of a personal vendetta. Im yet to see any poster give a single explanation.

    • Ridiculous!

      Do you really believe JCW/CHW is really going to share all the details of their policies with the general public so each idiot can argue their opinion on it? Many people have pointed out that if, at least, leaders in the community were made aware of the details, they could relax. You can be sure that Rabbi Jacobson did not endorse this site without that information. In fact, he makes it clear that he has enough information to understand that they do not list people willy nilly. Why would you imagine that YYJ would put his name on the line if he hadn’t looked into it, and why is that not enough?

  • V"I know first hand "

    First off while i truly respect and hold R.Y.Y.J. in the highest regard i have never really been a fan, for no apparent reason.

    I will proudly say I AM your new #1 fan.

    You have more love fore your fellow man as is at the core of our Rebbe’s request of us and certainly the example the Rebbe Showed us unlike most all of Rabbonim, Principle’s Roshei Yeshiva Etc. who remain silent and is guilty of ” LO sammod al dam reiecha”

    I know first hand that what is written in the letters is “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me g-d”
    the story he tells is so similar to mine, only as i approach middle age this is the closest i will ever come to talking about it.

    i still haven’t told a soul even my Lovely wife of 22 years my story and I wont, EVER !!! because once out there regardless of intentions it will change forever how people see you and will affect my kids yet to be married
    uneatable thats how it works in our society today

    WE NEED TO GET AND GIVE FINANCIAL BACKING TO JCW THEY ARE INVOLVED IN PIDYON SHVUYIM MAMMOSH !!!!

    the baal shemtov and all our nessi’em would want no less

    I will give 5,000.00 over this year with a 1000.00 deposit today it is all the money i have but thats what chassidem do in cases of Pikuach neffesh and Pidyon Shvuyim

    JOIN ME AN DONATE !!!

    I am not affiliated nor do i know any thing about those that run JCW but after seeingthere site and this letter i feel i must lead this call to action and save a life

    HEY !!! IT COULD BE YOUR KID YOUR BROTHER, HUSBAND OR COUSIN, CV”S Save their life !!

  • Powerful

    To all those like #s 1 and 2, who are decrying this website; I believe that you are either a molester yourself or protecting and or denying a molester. To think that Rabbi Jacobson has not done his research is laughable. Those whose names are on the website have committed murder of the soul. They don’t deserve to have our Rachmonus.. As Rabbi Jacobson so powerfully states get yourself educated. Thanks again to Rabbi Jacobson and of course to the community watch group

    • CH

      If someone disagrees with website he is automatically a child molester. A very mature argument.

    • let's be careful not harmful

      whoever is “Powerful”, the ONE Above is more Powerful. Your best place and time would have been in 1937 in Stalin’s NKVD, but it’s over.

  • Sholom Dovber

    I see people on the list who have never been charged by the police,is that both Halachically and legally correct?.

    • Chani

      You probably will NEVER see most of them charged, as the statute of limitations is only 2 years after they turn 18 years old (the victim), and if there lacks significant evidence, it gets swept under the carpet. Rabbi Osdoba poskined that it is halachically permissible to turn to the police for these matters, but more often than not, victims will not see their day in court.

  • Moral Support

    1. Not to defend anyone or any community, but since this site is run by people in this community it seems almost skewed in the amount of such abusers there are specifically in our community, where in fact it so unfortunately exists in other communities more than it represented in the site. Perhaps the research should be more extensive…
    2. Why do we continue to glorify known criminals once they are publicized? Perhaps additional efforts are required to publicize and make the public aware, and communities should practice and preach.

  • Interesting

    12 out of 22 comments are negative about the integrity of the people who own the site and them not checking before posting names. I bet that changes after this comment goes up

    Over 50% of people who commented so far have concerns about what they’re doing and how theyre doing it. That says a lot about how good the site is. I don’t think the people who commented here are all the same person, I only wrote one comment!!

  • Powerful

    to all those speaking of molesters who have been posted to the site who were never being charged by the authorities…….by the time most victims come to terms with what happened to them as children or young adults, the statue of limitations has run out. New York has a very short statue of limitations for abuse crimes. Hopefully this will change soon, like in California. Just because a perpetrator has not been formally charged does not mean they didn’t do it. Don’t be naive.

  • Zerach

    The website is in clear violation of Makeh Riehu baseser. Some of the people there are just speculative. There is no due process and the people who run the site are not accountable to ANYONE. Not even Rabbi Jacobson.

    Shocked on Rabbi Jacobson’s blanket endorsement.
    It behooves Rabbi J to answer some of the heartfelt comments from victims (don’t we care for them too?) of this website.

  • common sense

    To many of the commenter’s and detractors; I must hurt terribly when a person you know or related to shows up on the site. As Rabbi YYJ explained in his letter Abusers are notified and if they agree to some conditions and help the victims they ARE NOT placed on the site!

    One more thing if anyone is accused falsely, you can easily without too much cost sue for libel and a judge would shut the site down in a heartbeat. The people who run the site are known and are in the USA so don’t tell me it’s some anonymous people in some foreign country that can’t be found. So tell me why has this never happened? I know of a victim that was paid to change his story, unfortunately the abuser had other victims who came forward and this person is on the site. If he was innocent he should sue (his father-in-law who paid has deep pockets).

  • Perplexed

    I give credit to those that help victims and are out there protecting our kids, I am completely perplexed by those that get all emotional crying for the rights of the perpetrators ?????? Maybe you are trying to protect yourself

  • # To NUmber 5

    The Torah approach is to kill the predator but we don’t have today available. Therefore this is not a dispute of monetary matters or etc… if you Kill someone there is no Bais Din USA to take care of such thing, this is MURDERING YES POLICE needs to get involved with accurate evidence.
    The guy needs to get his 15 years of jail or 25 and be forever happy raping prisoners so in some degree is a big rewards because that his tanug.
    Is win win for all , the guy cn molest other guys on prison and leave alone inoccent kids…..

  • Jewish Watchman

    To #21: I think YOU are a molester, and a hypocrite, and a coward. I know people personally on that website who have been falsely accused and their names and lives absolutely shattered and destroyed. How would you like it if you were falsely accused? You can’t even imagine it, because you are pathological, and you are not even frum; you don’t believe in Hashem and His Torah.

  • why not sue

    Has anyone named ever sued the web site for slander ?
    If I was listed as a molester and its not true, one of the first things I would do is start a law suit. This can be done in small claims court very cheaply without a lawyer. The people behind the web site would have to prove the allegations are true.
    Of course since it is in open court, if the web site can bring proof such as witnesses, the molester would lose his deniability,
    The only reason I can think of why the people named on the site are not suing is they are guilty!

    • The Website

      You would not sue him b/c he threatens to hang signs up and picket your home and work place. people did try to sue but we’re told that defamation is a very difficult if not impossible thing to prove because by American law you have to provide that the defendant positively knows they are defaming/lying. So the cost of suing is much more than the gain.

  • This website is not careful or thorough enough

    I am 100 % against the cover ups that the frum community has tolerated for way too long, and have experienced it personally, when someone close to me was molested, the school hanhala handled it terribly,

    BUT I know for a fact of a life and reputation of a young man who was falsely accused and posted on the website– it turns out the whole thing was the product of the imagination of an unstable mother– but it will take years for this young man to be able to reclaim his reputation that was callously destroyed. Action must be taken but it must be most carefully and thoughtfully taken.

  • Al Yaivosh Mipnei Hamaligim!

    I am so proud of you Rabbi Jacobson!
    I know it takes guts to come out publicly and do what all others are afraid to.
    Of course you knew that the molesters and those who harbor them will try to neutralize your true words.
    We are privileged to have you in Lubavitch.
    Thanks for being brave and doing the right thing.

  • Awesome!!

    People persistently claim that CHWatch fabricates stories or just exposes molesters with no proof. I have one simple question; why have there been no lawsuits against them?? If the men/women exposed are innocent, why haven’t any of them seeken legal recourse? Just filing a lawsuit would immediately result in an injuction forcing them to at least remove the faces of those filing….

    Haveing dealt personally with CHW in the past, I personally know that they are incredulous in their research and investigations sometimes not exposing people for months!

    Props to YY Jacobson for boldly backing their cause. Every rabbi in the Jewish community should follow his lead.

  • READ!

    I wonder if people saw this,

    “Additionally, I am also aware of dozens of cases presented to Jewish Community Watch that are not brought to light due to a lack of sufficient evidence.”

    • Dont Wonder

      I think one example is Yossi Jacobson in exchange for an endorsement.

    • TO #47

      You are an extrodinarily terrible person. How dare you make such an accusation! You should be ashamed for ever and ever.

  • Hashem listen to our cry

    Yossi Jacobson I stand with you one hundred percent. I have seen firsthand of your caring and love for a fellow yid out of the kindness of your heart. Hashem should bless you and your family always. You are an emesdikeh chosid. There should be more people like you in crownheights,

  • This also

    While we are on this topic. How about also mentioning how many children are damaged each year by violent Rebbes or teachers, in our community and there is silence coming out of the administration.

  • Proud of Rabbi Jacobson

    It could not have been easy to write this article knowing how much abuse the good Rabbi would receive. Kudos to Rabbi Jacobson for stepping up to the plate. The time has come to do everything in our power to expose the molesters. Perhaps this website will serve as a deterrent to all would be a abusers. If anyone on the site is on there erroneously they can bring a suit for libel.. Not one on that site has done so. Rabbi Jacobson is a man of truth and compassion. May he go from strength to strength.

  • A normal person

    Every person I know who has seen the site, secular or religious, Jew or non-Jew, has the same common-decency comment to make about it: “Disgusting.”

    A site teaching and helping kids about how to prevent being molested is great. But this site is a vicious one and clearly has agendas behind it that have nothing to do with “protecting children.” Rabbi Jacobson, to endorse such a site is irresponsible. You were right in the first place when you thought it was a witch hunt.

    • Seriously?

      The site has MANY links and MUCH detail designed to help children. It also (key, also) exposes predators. Youre either an idiot or illiterate…which one is it?

  • Good for the Rabbi

    This is why over and over we read and see how frum communities hush the truth and ENABLE molestors to continue to roam and thrive in seminaries and in yeshivas and in homes. To all those who KNOW the perp is innocent- fools, do u think they are going to act in front of witnesses??? As if YOU know the truth? Children do not come forward for years and years and guess what? YOU think they’ll do this and ruin their own lives just to get someone in trouble??????THINK!!
    Are you blind and don’t see a thing?This is different than the church (lehavdil)because of why? No, it is all about covering up.Yes, you need a site to help pritect the innocent victims.If I’m put up, then I file a lawsuit.That will bring more investigations.PERPS always claim innocence. Did u ever meet one who proudly said “yeah I’m guilty”????????

  • Crown Heights Watch needs to be watched also

    The CHW is a free organization and has no one double checking them. This is a very dangerous setting. They once asked some well known Rabbonim to endorse their site. The Rabbonim stipulated that they – the Rabbonim – have to have a veto power over who should be and should not be posted on the CHW. Otherwise they cannot carry the responsibility of endorsing their site.

    Now , steps up Rabbi Jacobson and endorses the web site. Does Rabbi Jacobson take responsibility for everything that will be posted on this site in the future with his endorsement? I don’t think so.

    Again the site may be doing a good job, but they need to be supervised by intelligent and responsible people. We all know that the current board of the CHW are not exactly shomer shabbos and eat anything they choose to eat. and now these are the people that will be passing judgement on the rights and wrongs of our community. This is a dangerous precedent.

    Jewish Community Watch needs to have Rabbinical
    supervision. Or at least supervision by people of a good name and good character.

  • declasse' intellectual

    What ever one thinks about Rabbi Jacobsen’s opinion, there are several important items here that need to be exposed and discussed. First, there is a problem and it is not combated–it seems that the perp has more rights then the victium. Second, the code of silence and denial by the community of the wrong doing is just as destructive as the criminal act itself. Our neighbors in Rome are and still will be feeling the effects of the explosion and implosion from the consequences of these horrifice acts. Then again, these acts can rip apart the fabric of a community; i.e., what occurred in Williamsburg. Third, there is no easy way to handle this situation and every effort must be made to contain the impact of the fall out on both sides. If steps are not taken, then this problem will not e either reduced or eliminated.

  • to 8

    There are molestors who are not listed on the site because of such lack of proof. Enough with the denial they don’t molest kids in front of a camera

  • gil

    Yossi Jacobson,

    This was not a smart move. These people literally destroy nefashos while protecting virtually no one. I speak as one who is painfully aware of the consequences of sexual abuse.

    No one is helped by this site. For every positive email they post, there are likely many more imploring them to stop.

    Two wrongs does not make a right. These people are destroying children no less than a child molester.

    I implore you to please remove your endorsement and not paint yourself into a corner while there still is time

  • To the Skeptics

    Rabbi Jacobson clearly addresses the issue of false accusations in his letter, perhaps this is why he did not come out in support of this organization right away, he wanted to make sure that he would not support an organization that destroys peoples lives. He writes clearly

    “Initially, when the efforts began to expose predators’ names and photos, I was concerned that some activists would become obsessed with “witch hunting” and would inadvertently accuse innocent people of committing these terrible crimes—forever tainting their reputation. I was afraid that these investigations might not be thoroughly reviewed and vetted with the hyper-sensitivity and professionalism that this issue calls for.”

    And he claims that: “After much scrutiny I have learned that these investigations are thorough and honest.”

  • David

    Even in cases where the allegations are true, they are often times decades old and the result of youthful ignorance and experimentation.

    While the act committed is nothing short of terrible, both the victim and the perpetrator have moved on and while no one benefits from the exposure both the victim and the perpetrator and especially the perpetrators family are hurt beyond repair. The damage this is causing is unfathomable.

    They do not bother saying that so and so who is in his forties today did something bad decades ago and has since atoned, was forgiven by his victims (who were almost his age at the time – themselves not children), went for extensive therapy and has since been a stellar member of the community who would never dream of committing these acts.

    No. All they is that Ploni is alleged to have molested. Thereby giving the impression as though Ploni is a clear and present danger. In the process they destroy Ploni’s reputation, livelihood and most tragically they destroy Ploni’s children.

    This is the often the case when the allegations are true already. They operate with an agenda, their victims be damned. their psychiatrist was fired from Ohel for being an agenda driven zealot and in the process they are causing untold damage.

  • FACTS

    Anyone who knows the REAL facts, knows that the website is run by a bunch of people who use mafia-like scare tactics and do NOT only post REAL offenders.

    How does R.Y.Y. say he knows for a fact that they investigate every case and only post those that are 100% accurate?
    Was he involved in reviewing and discussions on every case??
    obviously not.
    I happen to know for a FACT that there are names of people on there who’s lives were ruined by wrong and malicious rumors!

    These slanderers who run the website are guilty of EXACTLY the what they are so self-righteously accusing others of – ruining the lives of countless innocent people!!

  • Leah

    I don’t know how accurate everything on the site is- but I have a Question for all of you.

    Would you let your children stay at any of the people who are listed on the site’s house for a Shabbos? Or go there to play w/ a child/grandchild without you being there?

    So while you may believe or not believe, rumors only stick to people that they can stick to. If you smell poop, it’s because there is poop…..

    And the reason that there is no police record for these people, is because of the statute of limitations. Plus, a lot of victims are still too afraid to come and testify against their abusers.

    • to leah

      First of all, a rumor can stick to anyone as long as you do not provide details that can be refuted. and what you say in the beginning is exactly the tragedy. These people will have people distance themselves from them even if they are innocent.

  • Not much support is there?

    By an overwhelming majority most posters think this blog is disgusting and dangerous at worst and irresponsible at best. A few say they are hoodlums (my word) who threaten and do their own kind of abuse to protesters. So are we supposed to believe what the site publishes? Um, I don’t think so. It really does sound like a witch hunt which is a great shame because it really could help victims and it doesn’t seem to do this.

    I’m older than most of you, this reminds me of McCarthy-ism in the ’50’s when everyone was ratting out their family & friends & colleagues for being Communists, even if they weren’t. Reds under the beds – it looks like the same thing is happening here over this issue.

    • let's be careful not harmful

      this reminds me of McCarthy-ism in the ’50′s OR Stalinism of the 30’s

  • Reuvy

    I lost tremendous respect for YY. Is there a Vaad who safeguards this site? Who are you to recommend it did you do research did you hear both sides the side who claims some names are up there wrongly?

    BY BY YY

  • Kol HaKavod Rabbi Jacobson

    These molesters in Crown Heights must be exposed!

    This website will make sure everyone in Crown Heights knows who these molesters are.

  • The Website

    If I accuse you and posted it on the web I guarantee you there will be a lot of people that won’t want to send their kids to your house unsupervised. That’s exactly why it’s such a bad thing to do. Your reasoning is very foolish.

  • Been There

    I think the website is a step in the right direction. This entire community needs to be educated about sexual abuse- both parents and children.

    Instead of taking potshots at the ‘type of people’ running the website in question, I personally wondered why they are still there, still involved with the community that screwed them up and betrayed them. Because I guarantee that on that board, there’s at least one if not several victims of abuse.

    I’m impressed with what they’re doing and with the fact that they care enough to stick around and try to protect others from going through the same hell.

    For my part, I want nothing to do with a community that demonizes child victims. There’s something seriously wrong with people who worry about reputation and shidduchim more than what could happen or is happening to their own child or grandchild. I wouldn’t ever raise my kids in CH… If you want to stick around, good for you. Just make sure your kids are protected, that they know what the difference is between OK and not OK touching, and that they know to come to you if they aren’t sure.

    In this community, parents assume their children know nothing about sex and are complete innocents even when they are teenagers. I think they’d be surprised to find out how many of their bar-mitzvah boy’s friends have sexually abused little siblings/cousins/nieces/nephews and caused those innocent children to grow up damaged. They’d completely deny that their own precious child could have done anything like that. And by the time the accusations fly the same parents somehow know for 100% certain that there’s no way that could have happened.

    But it did. And it does. All the time. How many of those kids who ‘unfortunately went off the derech’ but you’re ‘hoping will one day see the light’ were pushed off and broken by people they trusted? You don’t know their stories, because they’re not interested in trusting someone else like you anymore.

    Maybe get off your high horses for a couple of minutes and think about the benefits of having a website like this and a push for sexual education.

    Call it smut if you want. But this type of education could save more and more kids from going through hell and dealing with its aftereffects for the rest of their lives.

    And seriously, you’re OK with 12-13-14 year old boys learning Gemaras that detail the female body and genitalia, but sex ed is smut?

    Get your priorities straight, people.

  • Intentions

    Hizharu chachomim b’devoreichem. While Rabbi YY Jacobson’s comments may be accurate, did he write this endorsement to help anyone or to capture a headline for himself, and pandering to get attention and accolades (as he is wont of doing)?

    The good rabbi could have just easily written this without making reference to any sites and it would have achieve the same objective. Alas, now that he mixed it in with an endorsement (or the appearance of one), he undermined the positive benefits of alerting the public and leadership to the terrible epidemic of child abuse, by allowing the conversation to be hijacked with all these negative comments regarding the Jewish Community Watch website.

    Ditto to Rabbi Jacobson’s use of sexually and otherwise provocative terms to get attention. It appears that instead of thinking what the listeners need to hear, the rabbi is more interested in getting attention and people complimenting him,.

    The sign of a true leader is someone who above all does things that only benefit people, without allowing his own interests to taint the issues. A true leader knows not only when and what to say, but also has mastered the art of restraint: To say just enough and not more.

    Rabb YY learn from your elder brother Rabbi Simon Jacobson, who wrote about these and other vital issues in strong terms, long before anyone else did, without endorsing or otherwise diluting the message.

  • Choose You This Day!

    In every religious community, victims have been dubbed the enemy by those with power and authority! Rest assured, Gd will deliver victims by His mighty hand just as He delivered the children of Israel from Pharaoh! Decide now to stop bickering over who is right/wrong and fix the problem or the plagues will begin! There is already a massive drought on the horizon of America!

  • Choose You This Day!

    Rabbi Jacobson, may G-d bless you abundantly! Is your response perfect, No! Does it show a lack of understanding of some things, Yes. Thank G-d it does!

    No matter what you do, you will never be right; you will never make everyone happy! Why, because you have not only revealed the guilt of the perps but you have also revealed the guilt of the entire community. Rather than repenting for their involvement, they deny it!

    Yes, the community encouraged these leaders who have harmed children. Yes, they even set up the children, in some cases, to be harmed. Yes, as hard as it is to admit, many unintentionally encouraged the abuse and trapped the victims in their life of hell!

    Maybe that is why G-d instituted the community offering for unintentional sin!

  • Ah!

    For those concerned about the person who sinned but lived an outstanding life for years, G-d said this would happen. Your sin will find you out — if not today, one day! And, I read an interesting commentary the other day, G-d had mercy but He still punished the children of Israel! Mercy does not mean no punishment!

    For those uneducated in the things of victims, likewise for many victims, their pain is hidden for many years and then one day, the sin reveals itself, and they too lose all after living years as an outstanding citizen!

    Before you go off one me, yes, the victims were involved in sin! Even though they are victims, the act is still sin! Whether or not they, under the law of G-d, are guilty of that sin, that a Rabbi will need to address!

    Remember, no matter whom one goes to for assistance, there is never full healing until sin is acknowledged and addressed! G-d established things that way! This law of G-d is the same for victims and non-victims. G-d plays no favorites!

    p.s., it is true, all you need for life is in the Torah! Victims will find healing in the Torah!

    • to Ah! and Beware!

      Your comments make it clear that you are not Jewish. Go back to posting on the ‘born again’ sites.

  • dady dearest

    Well written – glad you wrote it and posted it. No excuse to not. The many detractors are obviously relatives or actual abusers. Shame on you for ignorance.

    • So glad you cleared it up

      Yes we ALL are relatives. No, no no, we are ALL abusers. No, wrong again…we are all relatives AND abusers. Thanks for explaining.

  • Beware!

    Victims,

    Beware, all that glitters is not gold! Once your story becomes common knowlege, it is quite possible your life could be totally destroyed by those that say they love you and want to help you–even those that say they love G-d.

    The study of the mind without an understanding of the law and ways of G-d is of darkness. So, run away as far and as fast as you can. Some do not mind offering you on the altars of their careers, egos and bank accounts, especially if you can make them the next Dr. Phil or Oprah, or even just a few bucks!

    Do not allow them to take G-d’s history of success in your life and turn it into failure so they enthrone themselves as G-d of your life and make you the poster child for their egos. As we all know, there are few healers out there with a successful track record in this field!

    Remember, you have survived this long without them, and quite possibly, very successfully if G-d had control! Keep your eyes on the ways and Text of G-d and follow His lead, nobody else’s!

    Blessings!

    p.s., the truth is, there are few, if any, you will be able to ever trust again! But, you will always be able to fully trust G-d for eternity!

    • Wow!

      Your ignorant statement is exactly what predators say in order to prevent their victims from coming forward. You are obviously a predator yourself. You should be ashamed to even type these words publicly!

  • Look in Tehillim

    It’s not a coincidence that a great many of Dovid Hamelech’s psalms are about wicked people who make false accusations….

  • Larry

    To#25 i like what u write but this guy that u say was thrown out of his house and left town why did he not go after the web sight and sue

  • R YY Jacobson

    What you wrote is true. BUT you messed up big time by endorsing a pathetic angry rebellious site.

    If your intentions are pure then why did you mix politics with it??

    You could have just wrote the article with out endorsement.

  • blood shed

    read carefully those comments who speak of the dangers of this abusive website. something is very very wrong here. get to the heart and the core of the problem – don’t cause more damage

  • amazed

    How can anyone endorse or agree with an organisation (however noble a cause it may be,) that has no checks or balances with undue power and only self required (or not) corroboration?

  • Chochma

    It would be great if Rabbi YY Jacobson took over the site, cleaned it up, and gave it the adult supervision it needs.

    Otherwise, he is just fueling an oisvorf revenge site that has no achrayus, and he would be best off working with other ADULT askonim to start a new site or task force.

    • Many accusations

      Many accuse the website of having no oversight? How do you know? There are many people involved in the site. YOUR allegations are baseless-exactly what you accuse the site of being. There are rabbonim, psychiatrists, educators and law enforcement who are involved.

    • Well said

      And we are not the only ones saying the same thing, but of course,everyone who says anything negative about the blog and the people who run it is a relative and/or an abuser. We have a lot of problems in Crown Heights and a lot of dangerous and crazy people too.

  • Vilifying them as Evil monsters makes the problems worse

    By treating the abuse as Evil rather than a (mental) Sickness
    This keeps those with the sickness stigmatized and keepa them less from revealing their condition to a MD

    Thanks to JCW, and the way this disorder is portreyed by JCW
    JCW has succeeded in destroying the lives of many Mentally Sick people and their family’s, bec of JCW’s refusal to deal with the problem in a proven more effective way!
    If your goal is to do the most to prevent abuse, why would you use a tactic which is less effective?? And which causes more unnecessary pain to the lives of abusers and of the abusers children, spouses, etc etc?!

    JCW should be run by responsible experts, not kids who are clearly resentful and emotionally unrecovered
    They’ve hijacked a good cause (the cause of really preventing abuse) in order to bully, vilify the frum community
    To justify their own secular life style

    If they were sincerely about preventing abuse
    They would get out if the way and hand over the rains to trained professionals who specialize in abuse prevention

    If they really cared about stopping pain out there
    They would not choose a tactic which is less effective and causes allot more pain to all the family members of an alleged abuser

    • Wow!

      Id love to see your psychiatric credentials that allow you to make such profound and expert opinions. You obviously aren’t….so take your oholie Torah education ad stop talking about stuff you don’t know at all.

  • A case of victims become abusers

    It is well known that victims of abuse become abusers themselves and may not even be aware of their own maliciousness. As Rabbi Jacobson writes in his letter:

    “Many of them fall prey to terrible addictions in order to escape their agony. Untold numbers of these innocent souls are haunted by unbearable nightmares that won’t allow them to lead a normal life internally. Most of them struggle to maintain functional marriages, since their sexual boundaries have been brutally violated.”

    Unfortunately, the founders of this website were severe victims of abuse and are still coping with the scars of their youth. They are still living with their past and have never gotten the proper help to deal with their future. Therefore, they have become perpetrators of sexual abuse albeit in a different form.

    I know firsthand that they have approached respected community leaders and used cunning words and then resorted to intimidating methods and subtle threats to seduce them to endorse their website. I suspect, although this is only a speculation that Rabbi Jacobson may have himself been victimized to endorse this website through such intimidation. Is this not a classic VICTIM BECOME ABUSER?!

    In addition, in their “deep concern” of saving countless lives through abuse, they are themselves destroying countless lives. I know for a fact of a certain individual who was exposed for a crime he did years ago who nearly commited suicide as a result of this website! If this person was your son, would you feel this to be a constructive way for this issue to be dealt with or would you consider the perpetrators of this website to be your son’s MURDERER?!

    I don’t have any relative or association with anyone posted on this website. I don”t have any family or friend that I know to have been an abuser. I am in full agreement of creating awareness of abuse in our community and consulting with professionals as how to deal with the victims and the abusers.

    However, a website run by victims of abuse can do no good. It is only vengeful, destructive and will have many ripple effects on many many individuals.

  • Interesting...

    Is it a coincidence that Rabbi J has came out with this letter nearly a month after Rabbi Manis’s story of misunderstanding. Looks like Rabbi J knows when to make his moves. Personally, until Rabbi J does not agree to PERSONALLY over look, and make sure the admin of the web site is following certain rules, and standards of practice his letter is worth nothing.

  • I stand with our children

    I love how every person who criticizes JCW starts off by saying “CSA is a terrible thing and it must be stopped, however…..”
    You fools, don’t you see, the only reason there is a JCW is because you ignorant fools do nothing to stop CSA. You make excuses for every person accused. You claim I know for a fact that someone posted is completely innocent.
    CSA happens in all communities, and yes even in Lubavitch community. So wake up, and instead of accusing the one guy who is actually trying to do something about it, do something to protect our children.

    • DB

      There are correct ways of doing things ,and there are wrong way of doing things.Because something needs to be done,is not an excuse to do things wrong.
      If you pour Gasoline on a fire,it wont put it out,it will only make it bigger.Sometimes,so called solutions to problems,only make things worse.

  • Enough is enough

    Please JCW take down your site. Give these people what they want. They clearly care more about the abusers then the abused. Yes, I know they say they care, but when you read their comments you can see that all they want to do is place blame everywhere except were the problem truly is. You can clearly see that their leadership has done nothing to protect their children. And when one brave rabbi steps up and says enough is enough, they criticize and ridicule him.
    So I say again, please JCW take down your site and give these people back their monsters. If they do not care about their own children’s safety, why should you.

  • #108 is on the money!

    #108 totally correct and on the money!

    No amount of explaining will change the facts – since this site is up and running we have more to be proud of for a tough stand re CSA in CH.

    To state the owners of said site are not appropiate or the like, and stating we need rabbinical supervision is insane.

    When your kid is in SAID predicament you will understand, until than stand aside.

  • MORE SCRUTINY NEEDED

    Rabbi Jacobson is a bit overzealous in stating that individuals who have gone for treatment voluntarily and have been cleared psychiatrically are not put on the list or are removed from the list.

    Unfortunately this is patently untrue, and claims to the contrary by Rabbi Jacobson should have been verified prior to stating them.

    One “perpetrator” whom I know personally admitted to his failure 20 years ago, sought help then and is now married with a wonderful family. The “victim” is also happily married has B”H has made his forgiveness known publicly. Unfortunately, the story got out, and he appears on JCW. Askonim, shluchim, and professionals spoke directly with the JCW heads; they refused to respond. There was nobody to talk to,

    The fellow has now lost his job, and cannot support his family.

    Note: 1- this man was cleared by a psychiatric evaluation 20 years ago when he was a very young man.
    2- He has done t’shuva 20 years ago, he has been forgiven by the victim, and pfofessionals, askonim, and shluchim have appealed to the sensibilities of the JCW.
    3- The appeals were ignored; his picture remains.

    Is this consistent with your complementary assessment of the justice with which JCW deals with its own “victems”? I think not.

  • Moshe the Melamid

    If you cant do the Time, Dont do the Crime!

    I do not feel bad for the abusers at all, the fact that they have gotten away with this for so long is despicable-The fact that their families suffer from humiliation is not the the fault of the victim but the abuser who was willing to put his sick perverted pleasures over family, G-d and future generations.

    I support JCW and the endorsment of Rabbi YYJ.

  • I support it too

    I also support JCW until they list me on the Wall of Shame. We should all support and endorse JCW until our father, brother, son is named. THINK ABOUT THIS: What are the checks and balances to prevent ANYONE from being named? If YOU are named, what can YOU do about it???? How do YOU correct the error??? Let me tell you: There is NO checks and balance, no appeal, no way to correct a mistake – once Seawall decides you are guilty, he is judge, jury and executioner. THAT IS THE DANGER OF JCW!!!

    • Wow!

      That is completely untrue. There’s a group of people who evaluate the evidence. If u never molested, ur name will never appear on the site.

  • Fed Up

    To state the owners of said site are not appropiate or the like, and stating we need rabbinical supervision is insane.
    —
    WE? You just gave yourself away as one of the owners of that site.

    One more reason why you kids need adult supervision.

  • thank you

    Abusers protect abusers. Anyone defending the molesters should be looked into…

  • ABUSE MUST BE STOPPED NOW!!

    the issue is not whether to stop abuse
    the question is HOW?
    there are far more effective ways than what some claiming to care are doing
    i cannot support a group who has selective compassion, only the physical victims, but no compassion for the secondary victims such as spouses and family members of accused abusers

    especially since there are discreet options that have 100% success rate of effectiveness

    also a preemptive campaign to would-be predators would also solve most of the problems well before it has claimed serious victims

  • Anonymous

    When a woman was tested for being a sotah, those watching ended up taking a vow of a nazir. By viewing the faces of these alleged perpetrators, we are all affected by the crime. It has a negative affect on us.
    Also, by having it posted on the internet, it gives Jew haters and even those Jews who feel uncomfortable about Lubavitch or orthodox Jews, a chance to lump all Lubavitchers or all Jews into that category.
    Maybe another way can be found to warn parents or chabad houses about the people the site warns about.
    It also doesn’t help the victims to see the picture of the people they are accusing. . In most of the cases, the perpetrator will get a small penalty if any while the victim continues to suffer. As we prepare for Pesach, we should ask Hashem to help free the victims of their emotional and spiritual pain.

    • Thank you, but youre wrong

      In all cases on JCW, the victim has requested the perp be posted. It actually gives the victim a sense of justice!

  • CH

    After reading the endless comments trying everything to protect the molesters(and unfortunately their families )I am terrified of C.H. I hope my children never ever go live in a place that is more worried about the “poor”molesters than the child/victims. Obviously it is a community that enables and perpetuates this sick cycle under the guise of attacking a website because they spread “lies”. And this is supposed to be the “Rebbe’s schunah”???????

  • to #119

    In many cases spouses know the horrific actions of the abuser and chose to stay silent. Unfortunately I have too many friends who have relayed stories about being abused while the spouse was at home and the kids were awake. It’s always a subtle process, you at first may not think your doing anything wrong, helping someone clean out a room, getting rides home after a babysitting job. In your mind something feels uncomfortable until the point where you are actually put into the position where you don’t know what to say since everyone is in the house. I have heard countless stories from friends from going to shluchim’s homes for babysitting jobs where a definite line has been crossed. Those brave enough to tell their parents either got full support from their family but a community cover up or some parents chose to send their daughter away to school as not to hurt the abuser’s family.

    what about this girl’s future family she will one day have, they are damaged too? There is enough blame and sympathy to go around, but my first thoughts are with the under-aged victim, who was helpless. As a spouse, an adult you are chosing to turn a blind eye, there are always some signs. Basic guidelines to tznius could prevent most, like never be in a closed room with the opposite sex.

    I had a Rabbi who always had one of his kids in the room while we spoke, I think back now, that was a very proper way for him to behave.

    A warning to parents, NEVER let your daughter get a ride home from a male after a babysitting job. Again, countless horrific stories and this was stuff going on 15 years ago! To look at my friends who have gone through this it is not a shock that they are off the derech.

  • DB

    Molestation and coverups are not distinct to Crown Heights.People are molested all over world and in every society, and most of the time it is covered up.If you think your child is safer in another community ,you are living in delusion.

    People are not advocating to protect molesters,only that the website in question has the wrong approach.The point of putting names out is not to punish the molesters, but to save other victims.Destroying molesters lives does not help the molested heal, it is only necessary when it protect others. however if the person in question is no longer a threat,than there is no reason to make it public.
    To think the Rebbe would ever support such a website is absurd.The Rebbe was very much against Pashkevils and vigilantism,which the site resembles.The Rebbe set up a Bais Din in CH to create an order, to deal with these and similar issues.Whether or not they are doing their jub,does not change the fact that that was Rebbe’s approach.

    • Thank you, but youre wrong

      If the Rebbe knew of the coverups by our rabbonim and the lies spread by roshie yeshivos, he would be shouting in anger. The Rebbe cared for all jews and especially the most vulnerable.