Jewish Community Watch Raises $100,000+

Yesterday afternoon, the anti-child-abuse organization Jewish Community Watch launched a fundraising campaign in anticipation of the relaunching of their website, with the goal of raising $100,000 in 24 hours. Barely halfway through the day, the funds were already raised.

The campaign received a major boost with the announcement that Lubavitcher philanthropist Eli Nash would be matching all donations in the campaign.

In an emotional letter posted on the JCW website, Nash revealed that as a child he too was the victim of abuse, and that Jewish Community Watch was a major part of his healing process. In his words:

JCW gave me my voice back and JCW is giving you your voice back as well. It is giving a voice back to our entire community. It is giving you, and all of us, an opportunity to stand up to decades of abuse, secrecy and lies that have plagued our community and boldly proclaim:

“No! We will not quiet our voices when evil is perpetrated against our children.”

“No! We will not stay silent and allow our organizations to hide behind innocent boys and girls while their souls are ripped out from inside them.”

“No! We will not question our morality when perpetrators reputations are destroyed as a result of their own wrongdoing.”

“Yes! We absolutely do deserve to raise our families in a safe environment free from fear that our children will be victimized and re-victimized over and over again.”

Nash also stars in an upcoming documentary (see preview below) on JCW and victims of child abuse in the Orthodox-Jewish community.

Earlier this year, CrownHeights.info reported that Jewish Community Watch’s website was being shuttered due to lack of funds. But after continued appeal from victims and their families, director Meyer Seewald determined that the website and organization would return, and stronger than ever.

The website’s relaunching comes with expanded activities and more transparency; the board of advisers and the guidelines for placing an alleged abuser on the Wall of Shame have been made public.

After the goal of raising $100,000 was reached with relative ease, a new goal of $150,000 was set, with another philanthropist, Dr. Mark Horowitz, matching all donations here forth.

The campaign will be ongoing until 5:00pm today, Thursday. Click here to donate.

Update: With only minutes to spare, JCW Has achieved their secondary goal of raising $150,000!

9 Comments

  • yesss!

    Good 4 you all-goe Seewald! And Nash showed the courage Necessary to end this abomination

  • G-d Bless

    Last time around I began as an ardent supporter, but quickly soured seeing how unprofessional it was run with no honesty or transparency.

    I pray that this time around it is actually run properly and professionally, with guidance from psychologists and Rabbonim, with the aim of protecting our children – and NOT just plain gossip.

    It would help if the actual board of those verifying the claims would be made public, or at the very least, the board should be known to the Rabbonim and all those who are now affiliated to the site.

    I hope that there are very clear and transparent guidelines as to how the organization is run.

    May this be the beginning of the end to the tortures that our children have had to endure.

  • please get lubavitche rabbonim on your board

    you need lubavitche rabbonim on your board

  • waking up

    more and more will wake up. keep going. just keep going. you represent many innocent humans. They, we, all have a right to a dignified life, a safe life.
    thankyou and wishing you only open and revealed brachos.

  • YMSP

    Not sure what this person has done other than accuse people willy-nilly of abuse, make a mockery out of any real efforts to prevent abuse and cause sympathy, not only for those wrongly accused, but also for the molesters themselves.

    Poster after poster on another discussion posted how the Rebbe, in real cases, demanded treatment, not imprisonment, and that being merciful and responsible is encouraging what works, not what pop-psychs promote.

    I’m assuming that anyone who actually cares about the terrible problem of child abuse will encourage awareness (in a healthy Torah way), maritial arts training and self defense. Not sure how posting a wall of half of Crown Heights because someone’s neighbor’s enemy’s ex-sister-in-law said that he’s a who-knows-what helps that cause.

  • dov bennish

    how in the world does it cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to run a website.alot of small chabad houses survive off that amount

  • Dov bennish

    Why don’t you go read there plan that is on the website and you can see.