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The Awareness Center, Inc. was founded as an international, nonprofit tax-exempt, educational organization also known as the Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault (JCASA), whose mission is to end sexual violence in Jewish communities.

History, goals and leadership

The Awareness Center was founded in 2001 by Vicki Polin who is CEO of the organization. Its mission statement lists the organization's goals as being the continued development of its international data base/web page, continued growth of its international speaker's bureau, and the development of its educational certification program for rabbis, cantors and other Jewish community leaders.

At one point, the organization claimed that it would develop self-help groups, an international conference on sexual violence, a healing/retreat center and a network of researchers. In September 2009, however, the organization announced "an extended sabbatical", claiming insufficient funds to even maintain its list of confirmed, arrested, and rumored offenders.

The organization has over 260 rabbis from around the world who signed in support of the organization from every movement of Judaism,] including Rabbi Yosef Blau, Rabbi Reuven Bulka, Rabbi Eli B. Perlman, who is a member of the Vaad Harabbonim of America, and Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, who is President of the Beth Din of America (Jewish Religious Court).]

Rabbi Yosef Blau, religious adviser at Yeshiva University and an advocate for survivors of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct, has stated that the website is very valuable "ince you can't get people arrested and there are no court cases, you have to use a standard that's reasonable and works in that context".

Activities

The organization's director states that she has provided educational programs to college students, Jewish youth and community groups, and at professional conferences.

The Awareness Center has been actively involved in a growing movement to abolish the statute of limitations (SOL) for filing a civil suit against alleged and convicted sex offenders. The Director, Vicki Polin, has participated in press conferences and has provided testimony at legislative hearings across the United States, including Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Washington DC, Wisconsin.

==Criticism and controversy==The Awareness Center has not limited itself to listing people who have been convicted of crimes. Some of the people profiled on the website have not been charged with any offense in criminal or civil court. Rabbi Mark Dratch, chair of the Rabbinical Council of America's Task Force on Rabbinic Improprieties and founder of the organization JSafe addressing domestic violence and child abuse in the Jewish community, a one-time supporter of the Center, has re-evaluated his position. During a keynote address "When Authority Breaks Down: The Abuse of Power", Rabbi Dratch referred to Ms. Polin and The Awareness Center "as his own personal hero for creating the list of alleged and convicted offenders". JOFA 5th International Conference. 2004. Since then, he resigned from the Awareness Center's advisory board in "disagreement with on the standards required for publishing on her Web site. I wasn't satisfied with the threshold of verification. There are people who've been victimized and others who've been subject to false reports also being victimized. The big problem we have in this area is verifying the allegations and moving forward." Rabbi Avi Shafran, spokesman for the Orthodox Agudath Israel of America group, has criticized the center for using material from anonymous blogs.. Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union and a trained psychologist, said that while the Awareness Center and the blogs "have served the purpose of keeping this in the public spotlight and keeping the pressure on established institutions to police their constituencies," nonetheless "I read everything with a grain of salt.".

References

1. ^ The Awareness Center Home Page.
2. Meyer, Eugene L. (2007-01-18). "Awareness Center a clearinghouse of concern — and controversy". Washington Jewish Week. Retrieved 2007-02-15. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

• The Awareness Center, Inc.
• "Schools Try To Prep For Sexual Abuse" Baltimore Jewish Times, December 6, 2002.
• Washington Post - Sunday, February 2, 2003 "Rabbi's Odyssey Reflects Struggle on Sexual Abuse - Jews Begin to Confront Silence That Hid Clergy's Misdeeds". Mentions the work of The Awareness Center, Inc.
• "Local Activists Hit Orthodox Feminist Conference", by Aviva Richman, Baltimore Jewish Times, February 20, 2004. Mentions seminar given by Awareness Center president Vicki Polin, "Shattering the Silence: Childhood Sexual Abuse."
• "Defrocked rabbi's Jerusalem lecture cancelled after threats", by Daphna Berman, Haaretz, Israel, July 6, 2006.
• "Reining In Abuse: Awareness Center a clearinghouse of concern and controversy", by Eugene L. Meyer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), January 10, 2007.
• "Former bar mitzvah teacher charged in abuse" by Melissa Harris, Baltimore Sun, December 19, 2007.
• "Rabbi Accused Of Molesting Bar Mitzvah Students", by Adam May, CBS News (Baltimore), December 19, 2007.
• "Pedophile suspect extradited from Israel charged in NY", by Michal Lando, Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2008.
• "Special Report: Sexual Molestation", by Barbara Pash, Baltimore Jewish Times, February 18, 2008.
• "Commentary - Vicki Polin: Church hurts victims of all faiths", Baltimore Examiner, March 3, 2008.
• Child Victims Voice, August 5, 2008, "Speech - The Child Victim’s Act of Delaware - One Year Later".
• "Child abuse survivors advocate for legal reform" by Ron Cassie, Frederick News Post, November 28, 2008.
• "Awareness Center leads the way on child abuse reform efforts" by Ron Cassie, Baltimore Examiner, November 28, 2008.
• Vicki Polin's Testimony on Maryland's Senate Bill 238 - Child Sexual Abuse, February 5, 2009.Judicial Hearing in Annapolis, MD

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