Friday, November 20, 2009

Resources for Sexual Abuse Survivors

Here are two Jewish community-related message boards for survivors of sexual abuse. If you know of more, please post them as comments. Thank you.

For men

For women

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sexual Abuse is a Crime, Period.

This deserves a re-post:

As a victim of abuse at the hands of a priest I can tell you that some 40 years after being molested I struggled with taking my own life. If it not for being a father an not wanting to leave a legacy of suicide i probably would have followed through.Today the laws are such most victims of abuse will never have a chance to confront their abusers or seek justice. these predators are protected by statue of limitaion laws.There is a bill before NY legislature to change this so childood victims have an opportu ity to seek justice. Both the catholic church and the majority of the Jewish communities leadership have fought to strike down this bill.

I'm borrowing (I edited it a bit) some wording from here.

All incidents of sexual abuse of a minor by anyone must be reported to civil authorities.

Sexual abuse is a crime and should always be reported to police before notifying the organization where the crime occurred.

Organization leaders will be notified at the appropriate time by investigating authorities.

One reason the Catholic Church has a sex abuse crisis is because it handled these matters internally without notifying civil authorities. Sadly, many church leaders were more interested in the reputation of the church than the welfare of victims. (Sound familiar?)

"Until the diocese adopts a policy of public transparency, the loss of trust in the church will be hard to rebuild. Crimes involving the abuse of children are of the highest priority, and these matters must be handled promptly, professionally and in the light of day by public agencies designed to do so."

-JERRY MATYSIK Chief, Eau Claire Police Department

Yes! Replace diocese with Judaism and church with shul or yeshiva or (name of Jewish youth organization). The same point is applicable.


Sunday, November 15, 2009

Chazzanos Lovers

Koussevitsky streamage here. Enjoy.

Re: Child Abuse, from Frum Follies

A Confession of Being Abused and Abusing.
Then there's this, too, also by him.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

A.A. Milne Quote

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."

- Winnie the Pooh

Monday, November 9, 2009

re: UK jschool thing

I have no problem with non-orthodox conversions. Or with patrilineal descent, for that matter.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Who is Rich? (music content)

Pirkei Avot says he who's happy with his portion. And I agree. Having music handy doesn't hurt, either. These folks are rolling in it. Cheers to the music makers. Disclaimers: some not-work/grandma/toddler-friendly language and kol isha.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Guess what?

OTD is just another box. If you let your anger control your behavior, the people you are rebelling against are still controlling your behavior. It's all the same f'n' derech; OTD is a myth perpetuated by people who can't deal with people asking questions and thinking differently than they do.

I was raised that if you're not asking questions, you're doing it (being Jewish) wrong. Not that I didn't go through a ton of anger and stuff, anyway... eventually I realized that some folks are blind. And further down the road, I became able to approach them with compassion, as I would any other disabled person, because the use of religion to divide, and thinking that's okay, that's a severe handicap. It's not easy. It took years to reach that point.

I hold my tongue on a lot of blogs, 'cause who am I to say anything? OTD (the blogger), my going off isn't directed at you specifically, just the concept. You seem nice enough. My heart overflows with compassion for all the people who are hurting, and I hope everyone who needs some peace finds it soon.

My opinion is just my opinion. I'm not looking to fight. If you disagree, that's okay. I'm not smarter than anyone else. If I'm smarter than I was yesterday, I figure that's great. :)

Right On

Be vewy quiet, I'm hunting nusach*. Anyway, I found the below here:

Interestingly, the Italian Jews say in their nusach, Nusach Italki, she-asani Yisrael [(bless the One ) who made me a Jew] instead of shelo asani goy [(bless the One) who did not make me a non-Jew], they also say she-asani ben-chorin (free man) instead of shelo asani eved [who did not make me a slave] and they said she-asani gaver [who made me a man] instead of shelo asani isha [who did not make me a woman].
So basically same thing but different way of saying or looking at it.”

I can dig it. And I see a huge difference. And I am very happy to have recently made an online pal who also digs chazzanos**.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nusach#Meaning_of_term (basically, style of text in j-liturgy)
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chazan (what the cantors sing; cantors are the dudes who lead the prayers at communal services; they usually have some sort of musical training)

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Some Einstein Quotes

On religion and stuff. I haven't verified the sources.

Friday, September 25, 2009

L'shana Tova!

Wishing everyone the best of what life has to offer. I just realized the chocolate rugelach are still in my car. If I were less tired, I'd have brought them to chulent, but I decided to lay low tonight and just went home, afterward. SO nice to be back at judo again! The kids are great. The little ones will gain coordination quickly. :)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Teshuvah (Turn, Turn, Turn)

Dealing with a friend and some teshuvah-related issues; did some research. I like this article from the CCAR Journal. It's a .pdf titled "Teshuvah and Mentoring." You can start the download here.

I found a bunch of other stuff on chabad sites and stuff. I love the folk tales. Hope all is well with you. Things are coming along well, here.

Sarah

Monday, June 29, 2009

Taj Mahal - Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Reb Shlomo Flashback

I had a flashback that I had been blessed in the womb by R'Shlomo Carlebach (z"l), so I texted my mom and asked her if it was true.

She replied:
Yes. We knew a MD in Toronto whose sister married him. We went to the MD's son's bar mitzvah. I was pregnant with you at the time. He put his hands on my abdomen and uttered a blessing like it was what he was supposed to do. Did not even ask if he could touch me. He was very charismatic.

Me: Lol. I went to hoshanah rabah at his shul w/abba when I was little. It was long. Lots of singing (holy holy, then the part w/whacking the hoshanos). Circles.

Eema: He was like that. Great melodies, records. He was the Jewish (Pete) Seeger of the '70s.

Me: Yeah, I have your records.

Eema: Can you make me a CD?

So I told her I could buy her one (my records are in boxes and my stereos aren't hooked up to my computer) and how to find videos of him on youtube, and she requested I pick one up for her of his stuff from the '70s. Cool.

My mom has some spark (she went through a lot of hell) left in her. I'm happy to reunite her with that. Music is a healer, and it makes people happy. She deserves all the happiness in the world.

I remember meeting Reb Shlomo w/my dad, at at least one point. He was as she described ... charismatic. Good times.

Posting 'cause I'm not currently keeping a notebook, and this is the sort of story of which I don't want to forget the details. I wonder what kind of bracha you make on a growing baby? Regular Friday night blessing, I'd imagine, for both genders, since in the womb.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

no time to hate

I commented a bunch here and here on racism and stuff. Less of it in the world is important to me. On that note, here's a famous excerpt from a speech by Sojourner Truth (hat tip to abandoning eden for bringing it up elsewhere, today):

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.


-Sojourner Truth, 1851

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On a completely unrelated note, I have become more aware of adult content for and by the more observant (Jews) available in blogs, and some of it has been quite shocking. The content isn't shocking, but the juxtaposition of people engaged in intimate behavior with paintings of rabbis on the wall is new to me. To each his own.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Berachot 57b

"Three things restore a person's spirit: [Beautiful] sounds, sights and scents."

It's time to go see some live music. :)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Prof K Made A Good Point

Big cheers to Lion of Zion (see sidebar for link) for linking to it. It's worth a relink, here.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A Kindness A Day / Areyvut


(the calendar)

My pop hooked me up with one of these. At the end of the day, I cross off the day of the week and the year, so it can become a perpetual calendar. You can get one here for $3.95, "hurt," or for $8.37, new in box. This isn't an ad; I just like the calendar. You can find it here. It is spiral-bound (plastic spiral), and stands on the desk. Total desk / countertop real estate is about 4"x6", toward the end or halfway point of the year (each page is printed on both sides).
Content may be too fluffy from more well-versed readers, but I've yet to meet a rav who doesn't think constantly reviewing more basic materials isn't a good idea; ideas of how to apply ideas in today's world are neat, too; the indices (sp?) and resource lists are well done. If you do decide you want one, you can enter code "KADC-2009" for 10% off your purchase. I'm not familiar with any of the company's other books.

I learned what Areyvut is, and that's kind of neat. Pasted from their page (I wish they had that sort of thing when I was that age):

Areyvut: Mutual responsibility, accountability; the notion that every Jew is responsible for another. It comes from the principle found in Talmud Shavuot 39a where it states, “kol yisrael areiveim zeh b’zeh” meaning that all Jews are responsible for one another.

Areyvut enables Jewish youth to infuse their lives with the core Jewish values of chesed (kindness), tzedakah (charity), and tikkun olam (social justice).

Areyvut reaches out to Jewish day schools, congregational schools and community centers, regardless of affiliation to promote the values of chesed, tzedakah and tikkun olam and offers innovative and meaningful programs to make these values a reality for students and educators alike.

Of course, I would like to extend this notion Kook's fourfold song-style and reach out to every kid, and I try to do that when I volunteer. Spring Judo ended last Sunday; the gym floor will be resurfaced over the summer. Hopefully there will be summer judo of some sort. I should be well enough to get back on the mat, if not by then, then certainly by the time we start again in September. I love working with the kids, helping teach them how to apply martial arts philosophy to their daily lives. It's great.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Moving forward

"Our answers must be given in deeds, not words." -Chovot HaLevavot, 7:10

Looking forward to having opportunities to do just that. :)

Other than that, my leg is healing and I'm hunting jobs.

How are you?

Thursday, March 5, 2009

I'm getting better

It has felt like it was taking forever, but I see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Warm weather is in the forecast for the next few days. I can't wait for all the snow to melt and to spend time outside getting my gait back. Yee-hah!

Other than that, life is good. There were concerns, but now they are less worrisome. I have much gratitude to all who have lent a hand, physically and emotionally, over the past few months, even just by being themselves and doing their thing, out in the world.

I hope everyone is doing well, and if you're not, that things improve for you soon.

Sarah

PS to all the frummy dudes who friend-request me on facebook: If I know you from a blog, please let me know which blog. If I don't know you, please say hi. If you don't know how to write a sentence, I have no idea why you're getting in touch with me. Surely it's not 'cause you think we're hashkafically compatible. :)

Friday, January 30, 2009

Learning to Walk Again

I'm told that I'm making good progress, but it's not going quickly enough for me. My mother has knee surgery on Monday. My dad is recovering well from his recent surgery. Everyone else is doing okay. I can't wait to walk again. I do realize I'm getting there. Emotional development and other learning are going well. Primary foci will be walking (until I can, well) and helping out at my mom and grandmother's (next week), then, on climbing the ladder into my loft bed. I miss my mattress. It's wonderful. I can't wait to get up there again. (I could get up there, I just couldn't get down quickly, if I needed to.)

How are you? What's new?

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Karudner does 121


Hat tip to my cousin in Yad Binyamin, who is one of my favorite people whom I haven't seen in way too long and whose blog can be found here.

Friday, December 26, 2008

I rambled about candle-lighting a bit

on TRS's blog, the other week (The Real Shliach). If I were cooler, I'd give you a link. Maybe tomorrow. Other than that, life is good. Sleeping a lot, knitting bones. Can't wait to get out of this cast. Things are good, though. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying whatever you celebrate and the fact that there's a little more sunlight, each day. I am.

Monday, December 1, 2008

If you showed up here from Heshy's

Here's one of my favorite posts. The first one in this blog is another of my favorites. Feel free to poke around, make yourself at home.

My cast is hot pink



Eema got a no-bend brace for her knee. I was able to ditch the splint this morning, got the stitches out and a bright pink cast. I'm allowed to drive, but I shouldn't drive long distances, for now, since not having my foot elevated makes it hurt. I'm so happy to be out of the splint! I'll be in the cast for anywhere from 8-16 weeks. I'll see the surgeon again in a couple of weeks and try to find out more about that. I saw my X-ray. I have 6 titanium screws and a metal plate in my ankle now. Who says a diamond is forever? Titanium hardware -- that's forever. lol. I can't wait to be able to get the cast off and start rebuilding the muscles in my calf and ankle. My toes are exposed. I can wiggle them, in the meantime, to help maintain the muscles in my lower leg.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Gratitude / Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm feeling more like myself again (not thinking about my leg hurting), which is great. Still can't wait to get the splint off. Able to sit in a chair in front of a computer without my leg hurting more.

Getting a little of my sass back. And my desire and drive to clean up/take care, more.

Just when things were getting boring, my mom dislocated her knee this morning, then popped it back into place. Then it popped out again. I believe she will go to the doctor tomorrow (or I will rat her out to her mother and then my Bub will drag her to the ER, and won't that be fun? Nope.).

((Eema))

I'm glad I know I'm not MacGuyver or House. My mom is as stubbornly autonomous as I am. It's kind of amusing. I love her. I'm running low on vics and will be able to drive again, soon. Can't wait.

I hope everyone's doing well. I've been having a hard time dealing with Mike's death, but some days are better than others. A friend said he's my angel, now. He would believe that, so I'll go with it. He wanted nothing less than for me to be happy. I'm very happy he's not in pain anymore. Love is funny, but it's good. I learned a lot about love and friendship from him. That lives in me.

Monday, November 17, 2008

99 bloggles of post on the wall ...

It's my 99th post. Who knew? I didn't, until I logged in. The good news is that I'm all clear to have surgery to fix my leg tomorrow. I'm so excited that at the end of this road, I'll have my leg back! Surgery's scheduled for 1pm. The surgeon seems competent. Quick in-out, I should be home on Wednesday, I think. Anyway, I hope all is well in your world. Things just got a little better in mine.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

since my last post

my best (male) friend died (he was 50, a stroke survivor, had brain cancer, so it wasn't a surprise, but we love(d) each other very much and I miss him daily). i'm glad he's not in pain anymore. I dealt with stuff related to that on the board, and I don't feel like getting into it here.

a couple of weeks later, I got my leg broken in 3 places at judo. i'm scheduled for surgery this friday. going to have some metal in me, for a while. also dealt with this mostly on the board.

so this post is basically, hi, i'm not dead. I also decided to go back to school to become a cross between a physical and an occupational therapist. I want to help people apply principles of tai chi to live better in their houses. just need to find a local program and get into it.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Great Art (J surfability)

Dan Weinstein makes some neat-looking stuff! The Eshet Chayil in blue and white first caught my eye on facebook, led me to his site. If Little Steven's Underground Garage (a radio show) were a sukkah, Dan's art would line the walls.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Nashuva's / JTN's Kol Nidre Webcast

It's pretty cool. Still running.
Not traditional; contains kol isha, musical instruments, etc., but it reached lots of people who wouldn't otherwise have had any sort of YK shul experience, and that rocks. And Naomi Levy's pretty neat (it can be argued she is occasionally inappropriate, but I'm not one to knock her; outreach far outweighs inappropriate). Kind of makes me want to go to JTS.

Monday, September 29, 2008

L'Shanah Tovah!

or, as they say on the ranch, happy Jew year. :) 

love,

Sarah

Sunday, September 28, 2008

re: heimish afrobeat (potential lyrics)

The world needs heimish afrobeat. Here are some words for music that has yet to be composed.

I'm drawing from Hillel, as discussed in R'Tzvi Hersh Weinreb's recent address to the DNC. This is Judaism 101; universal message is key.
http://www.ou.org/news/article/leader_of_orthodox_union_addresses_democratic_convention_interfaith_gatheri/

“V’ahavta le-rayacha kamocha.You should love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Ma da’alach sanei, lechavrach lo sa’aveid. That which is hateful to you do not do unto your neighbor.”

I've also seen it as this:
Ma d'sani lakh, l'chavrakh al t'avid

What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow

Which one is it? I'm not sure. But here's an essay on Hillel and objectivism. (I am not familiar with the work of Ayn Rand; please refrain from throwing fruit at me.)

“Ki hem chayenu v’orech yameinu. Study is our life, the length of our days.”

“Tzadikim gemurim einam kovlim al horah elah mosifim ohr. The truly righteous do not bemoan ignorance; but they spread knowledge and wisdom.” -Rav Kook

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I am also a big fan of

Im ein ani li, mi li?
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

U'kh'she'ani l'atzmi, ma ani?
And once I am for myself, what am I?

V'im lo akhshav, eimatay?
And if not now, when?

(Hillel)
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"Kamayim HaPanim al Panim, Kach Lev HaAdam" (just like water reflects a face, so too does the heart of mankind). Mishlei [Proverbs] (27:19)

And from the seder:
Ha lachma, ha lachma anya, di achalu, achalu avahatana, b'ara b'ara d'mitzrayim, b'ara b'ara d'mitzrayim. Kol dichfin yeitei v'yeichul, kol ditzrich yeitei v'yifsach. Hashata hacha, lashanah haba-ah b'arah d'yisrael. Hashata avdei, lashanah haba-ah b'nei chorin.
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Pirkei Avot is a veritable wellspring from which heimish afrobeat lyrics can be drawn.
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In the meantime ...

I bartered tuition for the next session of medical qigong by working the front desk at the sensei's practice. Getting ready for fall judo.

I enjoy working the front desk at a medical practice. I don't know much about quickbooks, but the rest of it is pretty cool. I could do that.

Still looking for a full-time gig. Have editing work lined up for this week (rosh hashanah notwithstanding). Happy to be here, happy to be alive.

Keeping the creative juices flowing, getting ready for 5769.

Keeping an eye on the child abuse thing. Terrible stuff. Florida was good; I want to go back. Donna the Buffalo continues to move me. Jeb's solo album is awesome. I've been playing it a lot.

Tons of good shows coming up in the NYC area; picking them carefully, due to budgetary constraints. This, too, shall pass.

Saw my doctor; he switched some stuff around and took good care of me. Got some acupuncture and plum blossom got rid of one issue. Taking an herbal formula for some boo boos that weren't going away, and they're finally healing; YAY!!

Did some laundry, doing some job hunting. It's all good. Realized I have a knack for digging guys who are more observant than I (currently) am. That's okay; if I were dug back, I could easily see me becoming more observant; kind of heading that way, anyway, without losing sight of my own message being more global than insular. Someone who's right for me will understand that tikkun olam doesn't mean living in a terrarium.

In the meantime, I think having a full-time gig will make me feel more able to date (maybe; the other half of me has long been ready to start a family). Slightly concerned re: the desire of a local to hook me back up with the past stopping a potential present from moving forward, but I know that's really bs and if someone likes someone, they do, period. We're not in high school, anymore.

There are some beautiful people in this world. I smile, when I think of them. I like it.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

CDC: Sexual Abuse & Falling Prevention Guidelines

For Organizations
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/PreventingChildAbuse.htm

contains link to: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse within Youth Serving Organizations: Getting Started On Policies and Procedures.


CDC published Child Maltreatment Surveillance: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements.


While I'm at it, here's a link on Preventing Falls in Older Adults

Compilation of links re: child abuse / inappropriate physical contact from J Organizations

If I'm missing something, please add it as a comment or direct me to it and I'll edit this list. Thank you. The most up to date posts from R'Twerski appear here.

Torah Umesorah
(click link above and scroll down to #27 for the rest of this post)

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USCJ

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Baltimore Rabbis

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NCSY

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A good comment from VIN that lays out some practical ideas on handling this. (scroll down past the initial part)

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Another very good comment on VIN

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And one more

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Train to recognize this stuff (online), also from a VIN comment

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Great words from Mikey in the comments on this article:

Stop pointing fingers at people who are trying to help -
A. point your finger at your telephone and call the Menahel or Rosh Yeshiva or Administrator of your kids yeshiva or day school.

B. Ask them what they are doing as per background checks of Rebbes and teachers

C. Ask them if they have fingerprinted and DNA cheek swabbed the Rebbe/Teacher

D. If the answer is not satisfactory get together with the other parents in your kids class/school and demand that action be taken - and yes you can change how the school/yeshiva operates

E. Worst case change which school/yeshiva your child attends - arrange a sit-in protest in the yeshiva/school - do something preventive

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sex offender registries in all states. people can make sure their children’s teachers aren’t on those lists.