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Meyer Seewald

Seewald Responds to Critics Over JCW Closure

After announcing the closure of the hyper-controversial website Crown Heights Watch, founder Meyer Seewald released the following statement in response to critics who suggested that the costs of maintaining a website are minimal, and that lack of funding couldn’t be the reason for the website’s shuttering:

It is with deep regret and sadness that I write this letter. After more than two and a half years, we at Jewish Community Watch are forced to close our doors. It gives us great pride to know of what we have accomplished throughout our existence: raising awareness for child sexual abuse within the Jewish community, funding therapy for survivors of abuse, bringing to justice those who have destroyed the lives of our children, and countless other fulfillments.

Since Jewish Community Watch was established, thousands have contacted us seeking support. To this day, emails continue to pour in requesting assistance with matters of child sexual abuse. We have done our best to help anyone who has needed assistance and we believe that our efforts will not be forgotten.

Disappointingly, the time has come where we are no longer able to rely solely on the words of support we have so frequently received. Very few individuals have transformed those words into action and donated time and funds to help keep our operation going. The few that have served as the life support system for Jewish Community Watch.

Many mistakenly assume that there are minimal costs to running this organization – needless to say, that cannot be farther from the truth. The expenses of running Jewish Community Watch go way beyond the cost of maintaining the website. As the organization has grown and more and more professionals have been recruited to work with us, the costs of operating have increased substantially. A number of selfless individuals have forgone the safety and comfort of steady-paying jobs to commit their time nay, their lives, to JCW on behalf of the Jewish community as a whole; sadly, we have been unable to compensate them for all they have done.

Aside from the website hosting fees, there were also office expenses, phone bills, security, maintenance costs, and more, at times reaching thousands of dollars. Additionally, funding for therapy for numerous survivors of abuse who were unable to afford their medical bills and other programs that brought aid and comfort to survivors left us with overwhelming bills that we can no longer fund.

After countless fundraising efforts with minimal or no results, it is clear that moving forward will only sink us deeper into an already enormous debt. It is true that the cost of keeping the JCW website on the internet is only a few dollars; however, as long as it is up, we will continue to receive requests for assistance that we would be unable to fulfill.

Today, there is still nothing set up in our community to help victims of the devastating and heinous crime of child sexual abuse. Those who raped, molested, sodomized our precious boys and girls are still walking around the streets with their heads held high. Hundreds of ongoing investigations will now be terminated and any of the perpetrators’ names have not been revealed to the public will continue to go about their business exuding an air of arrogance and confidence while the victims live in the shadow of their memories of pain and defilement.

We dread the results that the closing of JCW will have on our children: young men who are suspected of or who have actually molested children will once again be free to work as counselors in our overnight camps; men in our community who have molested but were holding themselves in check will once again feel safe to groom and violate our children; would-be molesters will not feel the need to seek professional help because the fear of being exposed on the Wall of Shame will no longer be present. But the community has made their decision by their lack of financial support and we can only abide by it.

We leave now the opportunity in the hands of those who have condemned us. We leave this responsibility to the leaders of our communities who have stood for decades in silence. Perhaps, finally, those who have never seen our cause or have never stood for the countless innocent victims of sexual abuse will awaken to the epidemic that has plagued our community for ages.

Sincerely and regretfully,
Meyer Seewald,
Director of Jewish Community Watch

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95 Comments

  • But...

    This doesn’t mean you can’t keep the existing website running without doing more work. It cost very little to keep an existing website running.

    Still seems more to the story

    • Read the article.

      ” It is true that the cost of keeping the JCW website on the internet is only a few dollars; however, as long as it is up, we will continue to receive requests for assistance that we would be unable to fulfill.”

      now dont be small minded and say you can just leave up a static site and expect it to have the same impact.

      The point is clear, its time for leadership to step up to the plate and take it from here.

      If there is no leadership us commentators have no right to put the responsibility on Meyer to do so.

      Us commenters DO have the right to ask leadership to take over and or find new leadership to do so.

    • Zalman

      its still not a reason to close the site or at least the wall of shame.
      A static website is better than no website.
      Something is still strange..

    • Kiva

      It doesn’t make sense at all. He could have left the site open with a note saying that the organization is inactive and disabled the contact us page.

    • Stopping abuse is a good cause!!!

      the unfortunate part is that this site was run by people with zero credibility, and allot of reputation and history…

      halevai the right ppl get involved and do what needs to be done to prevent abuse, the Rebbe’s approach always was less vilifying and more in the form of treating the disorder as it really is (a disease originating in the brain) requiring mental health-psychiatric intervention.

      we know how useless and ineffective the secular-system is -of jailing and registry!

      obviously, focused and involved parenting will fortify a child from being weak, intimidated, silent and easy prey, robust and chinuch oriented parents goes a long way towards preventing a child from being a silent target in the first place.

      why soo little emphases on tips that REALLY HELP prevention?!

      also, getting bachurim into help well before their sexual-confusion-perversion metastasize and manifest into action, is a very important preventive measure too! yet this site refused to emphasize all these (non sensationalistic) effective and proven prevention tools!

      prevention on all fronts is needed to stop future abuse!!

      -not a website (claiming compassion) but mainly intended to sling mud at haredi jews

    • Easy to say....

      Seewald will now get back to his life and everyone will forget about this in a few years.
      The families that were ruined through his website have a whole lifetime to suffer.

  • epes shmekt

    again you can still keep up the website so ppl can know who to stay away from for 15 bucks a year

  • why

    Why can’t you just leave the website running and that’s all. No therapy no other obligations that will cause financial strain. Just the website alone is enough to keep molesters away and afraid. Sorry it’s still not making sense.

  • awaken to the epidemic

    You created this false ” epidemic ”
    lets just ask how many people on that site are
    CONVICTED of any crime ???
    only accused and convicted by jcw

    • If there really was no epidemic

      which i wish there wasn’t, his website would not have been known to CH.INFO , or to most people.. I hope I”H Moshiach will come soon and there will be no such epidemic and need for social workers and lawyers….

  • hoping for the best b'h

    This guy is a very calculated manipulative genious,please dont be fooled,did you see the way all of a sudden he took off his pony tail a few months ago and started going to fabrengens and looked more like not an outcast,when people were yelling outcast!wants to destroy the community,sorry that the bad guys will be out there,of course everyone wants to take care of that epidemic,but its very complicated and not gonna be solved by a erratic 25 year, old lets hope that the community deals with it the right way now after this storm is over. .P.s.waiting for the next missile to stop thats rosenbergs site who hurt so many.

    • Your an accused abuser

      You are not hoping for the best, you are hoping that he doesn’t reopen.

      You know how and why he posted your name.. don’t you think for a second before you write?

      All he needs to do is give out one tiny piece of evidence on you or your fellow cronies and you are gone forever.

      Time to act smart and be quite.

    • #9

      Anyone who disagrees with your tactics is a pedophile? Is that how you silence opposition? Is that how your racket is run?

  • to # 2

    you can still keep it up and put a disclaimer at the top that you have ceased operations but this is the existing information we have, or something like that. No big deal

  • Alternatively

    If this were a legit site, with a real board, open budget and due processes, I’m sure they would be elligible for grants. Not to mention, people would be a lot quicker to donate.

  • BS

    just say it straight out, you overstepped your boundaries and finally someone is suing your pants off .

    • they overstepped boundries placed by whom and for whom

      When running an organization like this you need lawyers, in case some one decides to sue there pant of, and you need money to pay those lawyers and pay your own rent!

  • Anonymous

    Do you have any of the CH Rabonim endorsing what you are doing if yes why don’t you elicit from them a letter that contributing to your cause is a great Mitzva.

    If you don’t get a letter stating the above means only one thing they don’t agree the way you do it.
    So it is probably a avaira to contribute even one penny to you cause.

    Shut Down and stay shut.

    Layehudim Hoisa Oira vesimcha….

  • Agree with #9

    agreed – Meyer leave the site open – nothing more.

    Blown away by all the comments from the enablers!

  • Chanie

    Meyer, you are so brave to have done what you did. I’m not even brave enough to sign my last name on a comment. your work will always be valuable, because you set in motion the idea that tfrom now on, there is accountability for abuse. My children- born and not yet born- owe you a huge thank you.

  • you cant have just a website

    As long as the website is up lawyers are needed at hand to protect the administrators from law suits.

  • whats the security expense

    video cameras? its a one time purchase
    alarm system? also a one time purchase

    their definitely getting sued

    • Concerning "one-time" purchases

      B”H

      Items like video cameras and alarm systems need maintenance.

      Sometimes there’s no money for that.

      Case in point:

      Bais Rivkah Lefferts, where a couple of different crimes have occurred outside the building during the last several months.There are security cameras, but not working ones, due to there being no money for maintenance.

  • sad

    Meyer your thr man!! Hopefully people will follow in your ways. Your work will not be forgoten.

  • to #8

    I love how quick you are to point out some ones else’s negative points. .. so let me ask you what have you done for this commuinty? I bet not even an 1/8 of the great work meir seewald has.

  • to number 16

    Why does it matter to ppl so much why exactly they r closing???? Wake up ppl its sad day in lubavitch that the only organization protecting our kids is forced to shut due to lack of support… instead of wasting your time gossiping and making up rumors lets do some thing about it!!!

  • a supporter

    Although I wasn’t able to help financially, I’ve always supported your work. Thank you for all your incredible work.

  • Thank you Meyer Seewald

    Thank you for all your selfless and brave work. Crown heights owes you.

  • Tell me, please

    Why is everyone who dares to criticize Seewald and his site an abuser or a molester? Is that the best you cretins can come up with? Yes, because you knee jerk idiots can’t discuss issues.

    The likely truth is, Seewald was threatened by someone even more mafioso than he is, or he is being sued. No loss to Crown Heights but maybe some reputable therapists and Rabbonim can develop a proper resource and support system for abused victims and deal responsibly with the accused. If only he would have been responsible, he could have done so much good.

  • John

    “Nay” is archaic in standard English – fell out of use in, I think, the 18th century.

  • dovid

    Haha!

    Really? Common! Common!
    If your values were real then you would stay strong and not cower or run away under pressure. It’s very simple, there is an issue that needs to be addressed, but you are not the one to do so. You tried, yet failed.

    Good luck on your future endeavors.

    PS please now apologize to those that you wrongly accused and to the families that you caused so much undo pain.

  • Cms

    1. Then why can’t he JUST leave the website running…

    2. Meyer said in his statement that even if they were to receive funding he won’t reopen it.

    So the questions remain. Why is it really closing?

    And what makes Meyer different from all those who he condemned for ignoring the problem because of convenience?

  • BE REAL

    I just can this ..

    the same way the sire destroyed innocent lives in their zealous pursuit of justice ..

    they did something wrong and got caught and now are forced to close up,, just as they have forced others to do things that were not right ..

    thank gd there was a person who had the fortitude and money to stand up to them and get them down

  • The wayback machine

    If all you really want is the website you can use the wayback machine and see what the site looked like on any date

  • yossi price

    Meyer
    You ask people to be up front and truthful.
    Please do the same..
    You put a man that had an issue OVER 35 years ago with just an allegation. But a CH resident that was CONVICTED of incest was never put on your site.
    PLEASE BE TRUTHFUL as to why you shut down.
    Your website was supposed to be to expose ALL rapist pedophiles on your site….

    • You must be the smartest person in CH

      I am sure the reason he is closing is because everyone on the site “has been falsely accused”…. You do realize if you post someone accused of incest you unwittingly reveal the name of the victim!

  • ignorance

    To all the seeWald fans you are unfair in your warped conclusions. Disagreeing with the mafia style process of seewald and others like him does not mean you are pro pedophiles. People who side with victims are allowed to be vocally against Meyer’s tactics and this of others like him. Being happy that he was forced to stop (be it by impending law suits or for lack of funding) does not equate to having molested children. These stupid comments are part of exactly what is wrong with the current witch hunt established by jcw and similar organisations

  • Chaim

    Meir, now that you are closing your website, maybe you should finally disclose your guidelines..
    Are the reason for not doing it till now still applicable?
    Its your chance to prove the naysayers wrong..

  • ars

    Why do you keep writing MEN who molested and abused…you dont think women have ever done that? Also, I think crowdfunding or a gala on a large scale is needed, events etc. Dont just ask people for money and give up when it doesnt work- you need to get CREATIVE. Make products or events people will want to give for. i hope you reconsider, as your role is very needed.

  • Legal fees

    There are probably a lot of legal defense involved in running a website accusing people of harsh allegations without any proof or conviction.

  • It's not the first time he has cried wolf - yelling "closed" only to reopen days later

    Don’t take this wild, childish, cowboy, seriousely.

    It’s not the first time he cries wolf, trying to get everyone’s sympathy and trying to get everyone scared that he is “closing”, only to reopen when a new sucker gives him some more cash.

    It’s the old cheap tactic of the common “going out of business sale”, where stores exploit customers by putting up a huge signs which state “we lost our lease” just to fool some new suckers who are not aware that these signs go up and down every other Wednesday.

    I guarantee you his website will be reopened in a matter of a few days or a few weeks max.

    He will then say that “do to overwhelming response” we decided to reopen or claim that some sucker gave him some more cash.

    People who have this craziness, to make a lifetime career of going after people, are truly sick in the head and this illness has no cure and as such he is “locked in” and he can’t really quit his madness, so he is virtually compelled to continue, whether he likes to or not – he just can’t help himself.

    It’s not his fault. This madness is a result of him having been abused himself and his chasing down others is his only way of coping with life and therefore he truly is incapable of stooping himself from an endless pursuit of others.

    Precisely because, people who have been abused, are “damaged goods” and not completely rational nor realistic and because such people most frequently have flawed judgement because of their prior abuse – that’s exactly why such people can’t be trusted to run such an organisation because they cry wolf, far too often, every time they see an ant, they have flashbacks (to their own prior abuse) and they think the ant is a wolf.

    Then, when his next bundle of cash runs out he will play the same game again – just wait and see.

    There is a new sucker born every minute, and someone will surely fall for this wild cowboy crying wolf and falling for his fake, nebech’dik, crocodile tears.

    He is simply not honest and not trustworthy, so don’t take him seriousely. Just wait a few more days or a few more weeks and the site will surely be open again, as soon as he finds a new sucker to give him some more money, to pursue his “favorite habits” – wink wink.

    • Wow....what is your problem????

      B”H

      I hear you saying some pretty cruel things here.

      WHY??????

    • Disgusted

      This comment makes me feel sick. The typical response abusers use to disarm and destroy their victims credibilty. Meyer had more guts for true G-dliness than the whole Crown Heights put together. People keep saying it was good in theory what he was doing, but it was the wrong method and in a revengeful way, well if people had done the RIGHT thing by our priceless Yiddishe children and youth in the FIRST place than we wouldn’t need warriors like Meyer to come along and straighten things up, now would we? Anyone got anbetter method, so why dont they start putting it into action NOW? After all every second counts when potential molestors are roaming the streets freely. Lets not forget the real issue here, unless people are happy for their children to get raped at overnight camp and fondled at school by “respected” “upright” “frum” “chassidishe” teachers.

    • LOL

      Here speaks someone who see’s someone with outstanding courage, that he doesn’t see in himself ,so he feels the need to knock out all courage. … All Hashem’s ”Goods” are amazing and are here for a reason including you, with a favorite habit of knocking those with a habit of helping…

  • Shame

    People hating on him when’s it open- it closes people still hating on him. What in Heavens name is with people- you’re not doing anything to fix any of the community’s problems: this young man’s devoted years of his life. If you have nothing useful to say or do, go comment on Yahoo.

  • Proud to know him

    I believe in Meyer and am very proud of the work he does. Bottom line – he is keeping my kids safe.
    I don’t think anybody else in CH has the capability, independence, strength or the determination to do what is right and then fight everybody from the top down to do what needs to be done.

  • He is the best

    To everybody and anybody that suggests that Meyer Seewald was not the right person to run JCW.
    Please, I beg you to name any 3 respectable rabbis to run an organization similar to JCW. You will not find even 1 rabbi that will take the job.

    Let’s see if you can prove me wrong……

  • Hero

    Meyer, I am proud to call you a Hero for what you have done.
    Nobody else has the backbone to do it

  • maybe it's not just the money

    Have you ever thought about how emotionally taxing it might be for a 25 year old to listen to horror stories day after day. Or how about dealing with a community who clearly provides him with him no support just because he’s trying to expose these monsters for who they are.
    I don’t think I could stomach the job and the fact no one besides Meyer has tried to do so only shows how laboring it must be. This is an unprecedented feat and Meyer handled it at best he could. Just say thank you and be grateful someone cared about your children.

  • Post this comment

    I love this, camp is starting soon, JCW is closed, now the molesters will now come out of the woodwork.
    It comparable to a free movie with soda and popcorn, only, your kid are the free movie, soda and popcorn.
    Who do you think is going to watch/protected the kids

  • Benny Forer

    Anyone interested in running the organization can contact Benny Forer and Yossi Jacobson. They will put you in touch with the right people, so that YOU can do the right thing!!!

    They are anxiously awaiting your call!

    • really?

      benny is a angry guy who is always mad, he is a anti frum anti chabad anti jew guy who in his own words hates jews and frum people

      seewald may have been extreme but he respected chabad he respected CH community and wanted to make it a better place for our children

  • good

    Having a child abused and seeing the pain first hand and paying the therapy help believe me it hurts bad. Thank hashem he no longer suicide and is on the road to recovery. At the same time i know of someone who is on the wall of shame. He had not been arrested b/c he just didn’t act aproprettly around children. Now he has a child to marry and he is having turned down. The children are suffering bad. I hope now things will get easier for them. Again i do believe if a person is proven guilty shall pay the price but if he is not like this guy why shall his family have to suffer so much

  • amen

    seewald is an angry child with his website as a stress toy.
    perhaps he is the reason people got turn off and “stopped giving donations”!!!
    if this website does restart….. it should be run by adults without that chip on their shoulder!!!

    (that video released before the summer where seewald goes off like an angry mad man, lost him a ton of respect!!!)

    • Disgusted

      On the contrary, seeing his passion in the video and his pain at what is happening around him, made me respect him all the more. He really CARES. A middah a lot of people can learn from. It’s so easy to criticise others who speak up and don’t dig their heads in the sand, isn’t it?

  • Anonymous

    It only took one graphic article to give me nightmares at least twice a week. Meyer, I do not know how you do it or how you stomach every victims graphic encounter with abuse but I empathize with you! You are strong and I hope you choose to make a gala or chinese auction to reopen your site. We need you and your work to keep thriving. For years our communities around the world would just send the child off to someplace else or the victimizer. How does that help anyone? Well it doesnt, all it does is make the abuser find someone new to abuse, some new prey. It means that unknowning YOUR child can be the next target. If your child told you that they were abused would you think twice to take action? Would you believe your child? Would you investigate? What if you child was too afraid to approach you bc they hear how antiJCW you are?

    JCW, please can you post the steps to child safety against preditors?

    Ps – werent we all taught: if you dont have anything good to say keep it to yourself?

  • Meyer

    Beny Forer is a Sonai chabad in the first class and Jacobson still needs some deprogramming from his many COTS retreats away from home and his family . I would call jacobson the right person …. if he can go to COTS and jump around with a blindfold over his face and scream then i dont think letting him be involvoed in anything is correct till he gets help

  • Oy Vey! What are we going to do!

    Who will provide us with out entertainment? How will we know how to protect the safety of our children? Who will be so brave and not be afraid to speak? How are we going to know all about all of the cover ups by the raabaanim and masshpeeyim? what are we going to do without you? will we have to get our entertainment elsewhere? what are we going to do now? how could u let us down like this? who will teach our bubbies and kinderlach how to watch out when they walk in the street? oy, oy vey, oy yavoyoy

  • הכזונה יעשה את אחותינו

    עכשיו שנהרגו כל שכם
    הגיע העת להשליך אחיו לתוך בור
    ולמכרו להישמאלים

    הוצאוהו לשרוף!

    סיוואלד עדיין אתה יכול לעשות תשובה
    אפי אם השלכת הרבה מאחיך לתוך השאול

  • to 50

    i will personnally call yossi jacobson and ask him in which manner he is involved in this story …. i dont believe he is part of a such low website , not suported by rabbonim . he might support the concept but forsure not the website .

  • Mayer Seewald

    “Ashrei Yoladitto” Faigy you deserve a lot of credit
    for raising such a son. Mayer you should go mchayil’ el chayil” Wishing you much hatzlocha in all that you
    do.

  • Sad Community

    Crown Heights is a total disgrace and I am embarrassed to say I live here. It’s time to move on.
    First it’s the mishachist and now it’s the bashing of Mendy Seewald for all the good he has done. Stop condemning him and actually realize there is a major problem and disconnect in our community. It’s time to get off your asses and do something about it.

    • Corrupt Crown Heights

      Which other community in the world posts non convicted people in a wall of shame?

      Crown Heights is like an under-educated closed minded shtetel in Russia. Someone cries “Molesters are murderers” “He is a molester!” and everyone runs and stones him.

      It took over a year for the people in Crown Heights to realize the mud this website got the into.

  • Which Community is at fault?

    Mayer, In this article you (rightfully) put the blame on the community for not supporting this effort, but which community? it started out as crown heights community watch, but then changed to Jewish Community Watch. If the scope of your organization goes beyond the local community then the support for it should come from beyond the community too.

  • Mr. Seawald - respect :)

    You know recently – Aharon Meir a’h passed away – he was a hidden tzaddik that everyone trampled over b/c he couldn’t get it together (so to speak in our physical world- th boy was a tzaddik – i have no doubt – i took the time to look at his face and he was special). As we all know, its an upside down world – where those who are really special are ridiculed and shoved under the rug.

    Meir Seawald put himself out there to help all of those that couldn’t help themselves b/c our comminuty was to involved is shtus to actually help those who needed it most :(.

    I say look past your own nose – be nice to a neighbors child – pay attention to someone elses pain and STOP attacking a person who actually made a difference for so many.

    Mr. Seawald – don’t pay any attention to the negativity – you did well – and if you need to move on – then do so – i am so proud of all of your efforts. It doesn’t matter if the site is up or not – you made your point and you did what needed to be done – in my eyes – you deserve a medal of honor. Wishing you continued Hatzlacha and may your holy soul feel one with the aibeshter always :).

    Moshiach now!

  • @23

    you dont need to maintain a video camera, you need to pay the security company to watch the cameras(if even that) but you can just watch it yourself

    • Are you volunteering?

      Are you volunteering to be the one who will take the time and be available to “just watch it yourself”?

      Will you turn the system on and off, change and/or date and catalog the memory cards or tapes or whatever, and the other “just do it yourself” tasks needed to maintain the system?

  • GardenDmpls

    Just because someone hasn’t been convicted doesn’t make them innocent, either. My son’s molester (his picture was on the wall) was protected by his yeshiva and allowed to continue teaching (after they promised police they would pull him out of the classroom). We got zero support from people who should have known better. After seeing what happened to us, the other parents we tried to get to speak out were afraid and would not step up, even though they knew their children were being inappropriately touched (and beaten) by this man. One even said his son must have deserved it. Thank G-d our sons didn’t blame what happened on Yiddishkeit, and grew to be healthy adults (another was molested in the mikvah, but not in Crown Heights) but I can understand people becoming estranged.

    • ?

      Your story sounds very fishy.
      Why haven’t you called the police?

      Your son may have been “angry” at this man for punishing them or “beating them”.

      It is a sick thing to claim that your teacher molested you just because you are angry at them.

  • The Rebbe's approach

    requires no destruction or shaming of families!

    The Rebbe’s approach is also more holistic and treats the underlying factors which cause sexual deviation in the first place…

    the Rebbe, instead of vilifying and shaming the sickos (yes very sick indeed), The Rebbe viewed sexual deviation as a symptom of a Mental-Psychological-Brain-based disorder, in need of Professional intervention to get at the root cause behind the abnormality and to neutralize it in the brain – from the inside out-

    Also, much much more must be done to prevent abuse which -again doesnt require the vilification or destruction of the sicko- by getting to would be abussers early, way before their issues have solidified, to get them aware of the potential harm it may cause, and thus that there is a solution in early intervention, getting these issues sorted out at the first hint of deviancy rather than waiting till its grown out of control and hurt people.

    to avoid REAL MEASURES of prevention is wrong! especially if you want the public support and for them to believe that this is REALLY ABOUT PREVENTION and not just a clever opportunity to HATE and ATTACK the community you despise

    again! if your sincere, then you do whats most effective at prevention, not whats most damaging and traumatic to entire families.

  • Long term damage

    Before the website was launched – our community and Rabbonim issued a decree to go to police for abuse.

    After seeing the result (the opening of Sweewalds website) – both our community and other Frum communities will be very skeptical in fighting abuse.

  • FALSE EPEDEMIC???

    #9- THE POINT IS NOT THAT MEYER WAS RUNNING IT-
    he didn’t single handedly cause the Molestation- Abuse has been present in the Jewish community- very present but well hidden and unspoken of in the religious circles.
    Many people were kept quiet due to peer pressure or threats . Leaving the victim , victimize yet a second time for daring to expect support from religious and community leaders. Our even the community.
    Our communities are not exceptional, they have weak spots and really need help from professionals in many areas of addiction , including gambling. The worst thing you can do about a situation that is growing steadily towards a breaking point – is to ignore it. Because you’re afraid of what the community might think.
    If that’s the kind of community you live in, then its a bad place and you need move and find genuine and sincere people to surround yourself with.
    The point was that someone was actually doing something about the Molesters besides keeping their names amongst a few select while the rest of the people were left in ignorance.

  • @76

    Did you take your child out of that yeshiva or did you leave him in there knowing that there was a sicko there? what’s sicker yet, is that the administration knowingly let him stay when there was a serious question . They are as much responsible for what is done by the molesters if they knowingly allow it.
    This is to set an example amongst the klal that if you dare to make an accusation see how we will treat it, zilch.
    Shame on those who allow our precious children in the hands of such disturbed individuals.
    Its a strange place that worries about whether a child has a tv at home but doesn’t worry what they put in their classrooms in front of their students.
    peoples priorities are really mixed up !

  • comment

    nothing, nothing is completely glatt.
    In the end, I say that Mayer posted names of people who were MOLESTING CHILDREN. Maybe some mistakes were made. WHAT IS WORSE, PUTTING UP A MISTAKE OR NOT HAVING A WEBSITE WHICH WARNS PEOPLE OF POTENTIAL DANGER and it mostly right.
    WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF IT WERE YOUR KID? I once had a friend who had a kid in a class and someone warned her that the teacher was touching the kids. It turned out to be true. WHAT IF SHE HADN’T TOLD ME. What then??? what if THAT WERE YOU and your own child???? what is wrong with you all? are you so bored and uninvolved with life that you forget to pick on the ikkar?
    the ikkar is that we are der abishter’s kinder, the Rebbe’s kinder.

  • opw

    THANKYOU # 85 and others.
    there is no question that we cannot be in the dark ages any more. Those who are against this Community Watch are in the dark, dark ages….in their mind. I never imagined that bnei malchus would have to put their children at the hands of molesters and those who can’t deal appropriately with molesters.
    Those people better pray that they and their own families and loved ones aren’t tested with this…..maybe because they themselves did not step up to deal with protecting Am Yisroel from this horrific demented sick machla. HaShem Yerachem.

  • yyy

    I can only tell you that this will not stop this process. It was made known that people do not have to be quiet about this. We are in Moshiach times now. no sickness with Moshiach, right? So this is one step.
    it will happen, and whatever Seewald has done, he gts credit for, no matter if he had an agenda or not, he did it to benefit and protect other human beings. We all have to recognize that.

  • JCW WALL OF SHAME WRONGFULLY ACCUSED

    To #86 if it was your child that was wrongfully accused?
    JCW WALL OF SHAME ACCUSED TURNED UP FALSE!
    There is a person who was put up on JCW and Meyer seewald was very engaged in coaching the accusing family. That alleged abuser was cleared through court of law! That person still has yet to find a shidduch and finding jobs is extremely difficult even today.

    So yes, JCW Has completely wrecked innocent people’s lives as well as entire families.

    By pushing their agenda they really did tremendous damage.

    Did he bring awareness to an important topic, YES.

    Was it done in a way that Seewald ended up falesely accusing and therby messing up their lives and their families lives of innocent people. YES

    And YES, I am saying that if a person is falsely accused of such an allegation, he/she is probably worse off then a child that was molested. (Of course it’s terrible, not trying to take away from the gravity of this either)

    However wrongfully accused people, not only are their reputations ruined for life but also their families and no amount of therapy can cure it. No amount of therapy can help regain a person’s reputation.

    Point made.

    • Seriously?

      So lets get this straight.

      A person molests a child = him we give the benefit of the doubt, claiming teshuva, it happened long ago, etc. Him we accept.

      Seewald tells the community a person was charged with 50 counts of molestation = terrible person who harmed another and nothing can cure it or repair the reputation.

      Sounds like youre arguing that the falsely accused is worse off than a victim of CSA!?!? Insanity to say the least.

  • LIES

    TO ALL THOSE CLAIMING JCW PUT AN INNOCENT PERSON UP:

    That is a lie. An untruth. JCW never posted anyone that didnt deserve to be there. In fact, JCW recieved Halachic orders to put up anyone that is charged with a sex-offense. #89 is discussing a person that was charged with 52 counts. He was put up. When the case was dismissed, he was removed. Seewald had nothing to do with the arrest, charges, dismissal OR the victim. Stop the incredible lies.

    • to #90 JCW assisted in false allegation

      JCW, did put up an innocent person.

      Not only that, the damage that was caused to this person and his family is unimaginable. And you stated that they have a psak allowing them to do this, I challenge you with this.

      1. Did JCW apologize in the same forum that they were swift to accuse this individual for all the pain cased to him and his family?
      2. Did any Rabbi who ordered the so called PSAK call to apologize birabim for the public shame that their PSAK brought upon this family.
      3. Did anyone involved, rabbis or supporters of JCW ensure that he finds a shidduch?
      4. Did any of the above financially compensate this falsely accused individual for the pain and cloud that still follows him today from The post in JCW? (Hard to find jobs etc.)

      Open your eyes. The cause is great, the method…. way off track.

    • TO #91

      1) The Police and DA charged the person. It isnt JCW’s responsibility AT ALL!!!! How can you not understand this distinction?
      2) A Rov(Rav Tauber) paskened that if a person was arrested or charged with a crime, it is an absolute obligation to notify the community. When his case was dismissed, the posts were removed.
      3) It is no one in JCW’s responsibility to ensure ANYTHING for this person. He has a complaint, sue the police and DA or his accusers.
      4) It is convinient to claim its all JCW’s fault. It helps chabadnicks sleep at night. But it is still false.
      5) This same person wrote a letter decrying the use of his name to make this claim against JCW. He also admitted that JCW was correct to post him.
      6) 10/10 times, if a person is charged, JCW will post that person. Get that through your skull.

  • i smell a RAT

    I have a feeling that the government is some how involved in the shut down either through, a gag order. unless Seawald took money from a rich pedofiler to take down the sight, which i doubt…..i smell a rat! and that rat, I think, is Uncle Sam, a funny uncle indeed.

  • boruch

    #89 right on the money, followed by seewald. Point made,for those who are smart and not naive, knowing whats going on here.