Episode 0: Welcome to Outcry

In this next installment of our series on sleepaway camp and its inherent risks, we are joined by the incredible Stephen Mills, author of Chosen: A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood to discuss his experiences at Camp Ella Fohs. Stephen is a survivor of sexual abuse by the former director of Camp Ella Fohs, Dan Farinella, a social worker. In Chosen Stephen describes in vivid detail the process of how Farinella groomed him, abused him, and the devastating fallout that followed.

Stephen and Ariella discuss the specific risks at Camp Ella Fohs that led to Stephen's abuse, the subsequent coverup by the camp, the decades of trauma caused by the abuse, and the process of finally beginning to heal. They also discuss the nature of trauma in general, how it forms in the body, and what it takes to heal from such a fundamental violation.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

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SHOW NOTES:

https://stephenmillsauthor.com

https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/a-survivors-disclosure/

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/26/books/review/chosen-stephen-mills.html

https://bookshop.org/p/books/chosen-a-memoir-of-stolen-boyhood-stephen-mills/18391685?ean=9781250871152

In our previous episode we began to discuss the unique conditions at sleepaway camps that make them particular risks to children, In particular the sexualized atmosphere of co-ed Jewish sleepaway camps in the Conservative movement. Between the overemphasis on Jewish continuity through sex, and the isolation imposed on children as part of the experience, we discussed how Eddie Ward was able to abuse so many for so long and get away with it.

This week we are joined by survivor/advocate David Cheifetz to continue our series on sleepaway camp with a deep dive on Camp Dora Golding. David discusses his own experiences at Camp Dora Golding, and we discuss two cases in particular, including the case of Chisdai Ben-Porat, a former CDG counselor who was convicted of sexually abusing children in 2014. We discuss the camp's response in the immediate aftermath, how the parents of the survivors reacted (and what we all can learn from them), and what considerations parents should make when/if selecting a summer camp for their own children.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

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SHOW NOTES:

https://www.jta.org/2013/03/28/ny/sharing-the-secret-thats-haunted-my-soul

https://frumfollies.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/text-of-rca-speech-by-david-cheifetz-on-sex-abuse/

https://www.wfmz.com/news/camp-counselor-accused-of-inappropriately-touching-boy/article_4d4700ac-ef91-5186-b033-ba2d12fe8ecd.html

https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/2014/02/25/former-camp-counselor-sentenced-in/38646322007/

https://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2013/09/camp-dora-golding-molestation-case-continues-as-camp-backs-alleged-molester-not-his-victims-567.html

Unfortunately there is no shortage of sexual abuse allegations at sleepaway camps: Camp Agudah, Dora Golding, Sternberg, Oorah Girl Zone, Magen Av, Romimu, and so many more. Whether we like to admit it or not, sleepaway camp often creates an environment where abusers can more easily prey on children and get away with it.

In this episode we do a deep dive on the case against Eddie Ward at Surprise Lake Camp. Established over a century ago by the Conservative movement, and associated with USY, Surprise Lake currently faces three Child Victims Act lawsuits involving children who were allegedly abused at the camp by Eddie Ward while the camp took no actions to stop or prevent it. A significant part of the issue at this camp and many others is the hypersexualization of the camp experience by the organizers of the camp and leaders at USY.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/zaakah
Twitter: @zaakahny
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SHOW NOTES:

https://www.jta.org/2023/03/09/united-states/investigation-into-conservative-movements-youth-programs-identifies-hypersexualized-culture

https://www.timesofisrael.com/more-victims-lawsuits-and-mounting-anger-at-usy-after-toi-report-alleging-abuse/

https://jewishjournal.org/2021/08/26/sharon-rabbi-hundreds-may-have-been-abused-by-usy-adviser/

This week we are honored to be joined by Shulim Leifer. Shulim is a community activist on behalf of survivors, who has helped numerous survivors seek justice against their abusers. He joins us this week to discuss the sentencing of former Shomrim head, Yanky Daskal.

In 2017, Daskal was arrested on charges connected to his rape of a 15 year old girl placed in his care. Originally brought up on state charges, the case was soon taken over by the feds when it became known that he transported his survivor over state lines to rape her. The case dragged on for 5 years, eventually culminating in his pleading guilty to one charge of transporting a minor for the purpose of sexual abuse.

In this episode, Shulim and Asher discuss their experience attending Daskal's sentencing, and do a deep dive on what led up to it, a play by play of what happened in court, and what the community's response was to Daskal's plea and sentencing.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

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While Shlomo Carlebach was considered by many to be a beloved if unconventional saint for mid to late 20th century Jewery, he had, as was described by Lilith Magazine in 1998, a Shadow Side to him. Many prefer to ignore this part of his life, minimizing it or pretending it never happened, but Shlomo Carlebach sexually abused and harassed an innumerable amount of women over the 30 years he was active.

Accounts of his abuse were only rumor during his life, whispered especially feverishly among the women in his following, but 4 years after his death, the allegations were made publicly and on the record: Shlomo Carlebach was accused of sexually assaulting a number of women, including young teenagers, during the height of his fame. Since the publication of those initial accusations, many, many more women have told their own stories, and a debate has raged over the future of Carlebach's legacy.

In this episode we dive deep on these allegations and discuss how we feel about how the community should respond to them, and what effect it should have on his legacy.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/zaakah
Twitter: @zaakahny
Instagram: @zaakahig
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SHOW NOTES: 

https://lilith.org/articles/rabbi-shlomo-carlebachs-shadow-side/

https://lilith.org/2018/01/youve-come-a-long-way-sister-20-years-after-carlebach-allegations-his-daughter-hears-metoo/

https://hareiani.com/2014/12/07/carlebach-cosby-and-separating-art-from-its-artist/

https://hareiani.com/2016/11/20/a-follow-up-on-carlebach-and-the-abuse-he-committed/

https://www.scribd.com/document/671178204/Lilith-Allegations-about-Rabbi-Shlomo-Carlebach-Analyzed

https://www.timesofisrael.com/watch-neshama-carlebach-on-thriving-in-the-shadow-of-her-fathers-mixed-legacy/

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/my-sisters-i-hear-you/

Mendy Pellin's interview with registered sex offender, Gershon Selinger, took the internet by a storm. Was it just the thing the community needed to shake it out of its denial? Was it a harmful platforming of a manipulative abuser? Is there anything to be learned from what Gershon said? As with most things, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

Asher Lovy, director of ZA'AKAH, is joined by noted anti-abuse advocate, Chaim Levin, director of Magen-Israel, Shana Aaronson, and founder of The Bayar Group, Rahel Bayar to discuss the interview, its impact, pros and cons, and what our takeaways should be.

Please note: The interview was followed by interviews with Dr Michael Salamon and Patty Fitzgerald, two experts in the field, to provide important context and framing to Gershon Selinger interview. If you haven't yet had a chance to watch those follow-up interviews, please do. Links are below in the show notes. 

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

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SHOW NOTES: 

Interview with Gershon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ZXF3IKdPw

Interview with Dr. Michael Salamon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJckBy2R3D8

Interview with Patty Fitzgerald:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHwpNGBOc-Q

https://crownheights.info/crime/475197/crown-heights-teacher-arrested-charged-with-child-molestation/

https://www.homefacts.com/offender-detail/NY49372/Gershon-Y-Selinger.html

The Weberman trial ended 10 years ago with a conviction and sentence to over 100 years in prison, but within the Satmar community, Nechemya Weberman is still considered not only innocent, but a sainted martyr. He has had articles published in local Satmar newspaper, the community still fundraises for him, and the Satmar Rebbe himself even visited him last year in Riker's Island.

Recently the husband of the survivor who put Weberman in prison, Boorey Deutsch, went on a tweet storm about the community's attitudes toward Weberman, the lengths to which they've been going to free him and convince people of his innocence, and the pain and suffering they've been inflicting upon his survivors and their families. We discuss Boorey's tweets, and revisit the case through the lens of the modern day crusade within Satmar to clear his name and make the people who put him in prison pay for putting him there.

We also discuss the Yanky Daskal case, and the former Shomrim head's recent guilty plea. Daskal plead guilty to transporting a teenage girl who lived in his home across state lines for sexual purposes. The case has many similarities to the Weberman case, including a community fundraiser which was thankfully thwarted.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/zaakah
Twitter: @zaakahny
Instagram: @zaakahig
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SHOW NOTES: 

https://twitter.com/booreydeutsch

https://www.csis.org/blogs/new-perspectives-asia/social-media-misinformation-and-2022-philippine-elections

https://www.jta.org/2023/07/16/ny/former-head-of-jewish-security-patrol-in-brooklyn-pleads-guilty-to-sex-crime-involving-a-teenager

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/former-head-boro-park-shomrim-society-pleads-guilty-transporting-15-year-old-girl

In our last episode we covered how Camp Shoresh, Beth Tfiloh, and Suburban Orthodox responded to the allegations of sexual abuse against Rabbi Shmuel Krawatsky. Rabbi Krawatsky was allegedly strongly supported by the leadership at all 3 institutions, including by alleged financial contributions and fundraising toward his legal fees.

In this episode we wrap up our coverage of this case. Obviously this is an ongoing case, and as there's more news we'll revisit it in future episodes. In this episode we cover some of the details we missed in previous episodes, as well as details of how Rabbi Krawatsky's defamation cases were filed and against whom, and we get into the summary judgment ruling issued in favor of Hannah Dreyfus and the Jewish Week.

Banter ends at 4:30.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/zaakah
Twitter: @zaakahny
Instagram: @zaakahig
TikTok: @zaakahny

SHOW NOTES: 

https://www.jta.org/2018/09/27/ny/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-filed-by-baltimore-rabbi

https://www.jta.org/2018/01/19/ny/update-rabbi-accused-of-sexual-abuse-at-camp-terminated-from-baltimore-day-school

https://www.jta.org/2018/01/17/ny/did-baltimores-orthodox-community-turn-a-blind-eye-to-child-sexual-abuse

https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/rabbi-fired-from-baltimore-school-after-sex-abuse-allegations/

In our last episode we discussed the allegations of sexual abuse against Rabbi Shmuel Krawatsky, a former director at Camp Shoresh in Baltimore. We discussed the three children who came forward with allegations and the particulars of their claims.

This week we get into the Child Protective Services investigations, the appeals of those decisions, and what Shoresh, Beth Tfiloh, and Suburban Orthodox did in response to these allegations, from allegedly telling Krawatsky that they supported him essentially unconditionally, to even allegedly helping him fundraise for his CPS appeals and defamation case against the alleged victims' parents through a nonprofit that was supposed to be providing charity to families in Israel.

Banter ends at 3:14.

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/zaakah
Twitter: @zaakahny
Instagram: @zaakahig
TikTok: @zaakahny

SHOW NOTES: 

https://www.jta.org/2018/09/27/ny/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-filed-by-baltimore-rabbi

https://www.jta.org/2018/01/19/ny/update-rabbi-accused-of-sexual-abuse-at-camp-terminated-from-baltimore-day-school

https://www.jta.org/2018/01/17/ny/did-baltimores-orthodox-community-turn-a-blind-eye-to-child-sexual-abuse

https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/rabbi-fired-from-baltimore-school-after-sex-abuse-allegations/

We've discussed the Orthodox community in Baltimore many times on this podcast. We've detailed the various ways in which that community is uniquely dangerous to survivors of sexual abuse and children in general. From the numerous coverups that have happened over the years, to the numerous accused and convicted pedophiles who are allowed to attend community shuls, to general attitudes toward sexual abuse, Baltimore is a less than ideal place for child safety.

In this episode we get into one of the most contentious cases the community has faced in recent years: the case against Rabbi Shmuel Krawatsky. Krawatsky was accused by three families of sexually abusing their children in Camp Shoresh, where Krawatsky was a division head. We discuss the allegations themselves, the alleged coverup by the camp director Rabbi David Finkelstein, and the community's response to the allegations.

Banter ends at 4:30

To learn more about ZA'AKAH or to donate, visit our website at https://zaakah.org

To get in touch with questions, comments, or any other concerns related to Outcry, email us at podcast@zaakah.org

Follow us on our socials to stay informed:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/zaakah
Twitter: @zaakahny
Instagram: @zaakahig
TikTok: @zaakahny

SHOW NOTES: 


https://www.jta.org/2018/01/17/ny/did-baltimores-orthodox-community-turn-a-blind-eye-to-child-sexual-abuse

https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=38d68a71-5c91-4867-a9b5-b4c2da7528b8

https://www.jewishtimes.com/parents-of-boys-allegedly-abused-by-rabbi-krawatsky-file-countersuit/