Social Justice – Page 2

PROJECT S.A.R.A.H.: Helping the Survivors and Preventing Sexual Abuse

Avraham [name has been changed], a fifty-yearold man approaching his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, was facing something bigger than an ordinary midlife crisis. Rather than anticipating this milestone with great excitement, Avraham and his wife were finally admitting reality: Their marriage was on the rocks and had been for some time. Their communication was poor, and […]

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PREVENTING ABUSE IN JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE YOUTH: Ten Policies to Create Safer Environments

Geffen Feldman

It is critical for leaders of youth-serving organizations (YSOs)1 to adopt child-protection policies proactively, before they are faced with a problem. Policies clarify acceptable and unacceptable behaviors that guide adults 2 to model safe interactions with children. When a policy is well communicated, it becomes integral to institutional culture and its violations are easily identifiable,

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JUDAISM AND SEXUAL ABUSE: The Need to Speak Out

Geffen Feldman

Until the past twenty-five years, the world did not recognize the dangerous impact and the frequency of sexual abuse. There is little discussion in earlier halakhic sources about sexual abuse. Rape is mentioned in the Torah, and, as with other prohibited sexual behaviors, the precise criteria to define an act as rape can be found.

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Confronting the Demon Within

Geffen Feldman

In April 2013, I spoke out publicly as a victim of childhood sexual abuse while at an Orthodox sleepaway camp in 1979. My article was published in the New York Jewish Week, and since then, I have been actively working to address the issue of sexual abuse in the Jewish community. There is a lot

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Form Follows Values

Geffen Feldman

Buildings can speak. Not with words, but with values—the values of their builders and the communities that use them. Thanks to the extreme generosity of our membership, we at the Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta were privileged to design, build, and move into our brand new state-of-the-art spiritual home on Rosh Hashanah 5775.

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Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law

Geffen Feldman

In Gender Equality and Prayer in Jewish Law, Rabbis Ethan Tucker and Micha’el Rosenberg have produced a book that is noteworthy for its integrity, accuracy, and clarity. The authors worked for many years to refine the book’s content and responded to critiques with thanks and openness to revising their arguments, if not their conclusions. (Full

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Our Gift to Our Community: Our Amazing Children, Some of Whom Are LGBT

Geffen Feldman

We are always taught the value of passing on our traditions, teaching and Jewish practices to our children, even in the daily words of our Shema, veshinantam levanekha. I know that my husband and I take great pride in our four children, who are involved and engaged in the Jewish community in so many different

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Paying Too High a Price for Being Single

Geffen Feldman

My many years of being single and deeply involved in Jewish organizations and institutions showed me the inequities in the dues structure and other monetary policies for singles and marrieds. In 2001, at the age of 52, I married for the first time; before this, when I was single, I joined a number of shuls

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The Campaign Against the Exclusion of Women from Public Spaces

Geffen Feldman

The following conversation took place one evening last Sukkot in Jerusalem: “You can’t cross. Here there is separation of women from men.” “Why?” “You are in Mea Shearim.” “And it is a part of the State of Israel.” “This is a Taliban state. Welcome to Afghanistan. OK? Is that what you want to hear?” “I

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Giving Voice to Silenced Women: Kolech’s Actions on Mehadrin Bus Lines

Geffen Feldman

In 1997, Israel’s public transportation companies (particularly Egged) began running bus lines designated for the Hareidi community. At first, only two such bus lines were operative, in Jerusalem and B’nei Brak. In addition, a public committee was formed to explore possible expansion of this service. On these bus lines, women would board the bus at

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