Magen - The New Bet Shemesh Child Protection Agency
Published at Tzedek-Tzedek by kind permission of Connections Magazine (Full Article Here)
When
I found out that Shlomi, my 9 year old son, had been abused, my whole world
shattered and collapsed.
From
the beginning of the year, Shlomi had been selected as one of the rebbe's
favorites in the class. Shlomi was a part of an exclusive club, singled out for
special attention, helped with homework after school, rides home in the rebbe's
car, extra one-on-one help with schoolwork during recess. As parents, we
received regular calls from the rebbe, not to complain about Shlomi (as other
teachers had often done), but to patiently explain to us Shlomi's difficulties,
and how these were being methodically and caringly addressed.
We
were thrilled for Shlomi.
That's
why we got upset when Shlomi was home so often with stomach aches, headaches,
and other unverifiable ailments. Shlomi got behind with his studies, which the
rebbe kindly offered to make up with him after school hours and without pay.
The rebbe was such a tzadik.
But
Shlomi even made a fuss about going to these tutorials. I literally had to
carry Shlomi into the car to take him to the rebbe's house.
When
Shlomi started bed-wetting, we were recommended by Shlomi's pediatrician to
visit a child psychologist.
It
came out in therapy that the rebbe had been molesting Shlomi for months.
Devastated,
I reached for the phone, and called Magen…it was the best decision I ever made.
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Magen
LeYeladim U'Lemishpachot (Magen) is a nonprofit organization in Bet
Shemesh, Israel
Magen
members and activists include mental health professionals, rabbis,
administrative professionals, past victims/survivors of abuse and community lay
leaders. All Magen personnel are currently volunteers.
Magen
spent over a year in research & preparation phase (2009-10). This included
visiting most organizations in Israel United States Jerusalem
Magen
also consulted with experts in the fields of sex crime law (including Adv
Yehudah Fried), treatment of victims (ELI
Child Protection Association, Helise Pollack, Dr David Pelcovitz), and
perpetrators (Doron Agasi, Shlom Banayich, Bnei Braq; Aleynu, Los Angeles;
Ohel, New York), Halacha (including Rabbi Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg, Rabbi
Yaakov Haber, Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Schachter, Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik, Rabbi
Daniel Eidensohn), and community organization and building in order to ensure a
well rounded and deep knowledge base from which to work.
Magen
has incorporated the information and strategies learned through these
consultations into its innovative, unique approach to combat childhood sexual
abuse in the community.
Last
summer, 2010, Magen quietly opened its doors, to accept enquiries and calls for
help from the general public.
The
focus of Magen's activities is a unique four point program:
- Awareness and Education – child abuse thrives on secrecy and naivety. Knowledge and awareness increases child safety dramatically.
- Phone and Email Hotline Service – confidential consultation with trained personnel.
- Support for families affected by child abuse.
- Management of allegations of child abuse in the community.
Regretfully,
Magen's first year of activity in the field has been extremely busy...
Magen's
original synopsis was that there is a lack of resources dealing effectively with
child abuse in the community; this has been shown to have been accurate.
Magen's
activities have provided assistance to literally dozens of victims of child
abuse, and their traumatized families.
Abuse
cases have included Physical (violence), Emotional, Neglect, and Sexual.
Read Full Article HERE.
Hotline: 02-9999.678
After Hours: 050 8489001
Administrative
& Non-Urgent Matters
02-9999.678
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