If you are a Jewish survivor of incest, non-familial sexual
abuse, rabbinic abuse, domestic violence, rape, etc., we are here to listen
to you.

We want to hear what Jewish victims of this abuse want from the _Jewish_
community. We want to hear where/how you have felt supported, and where/how
you have been alienated. We want to Jewishly support your healing.

If you are a Jewish psychotherapist who specializes in sexual abuse, and
you wish to make yourself available for helping Jewish survivors in a
Jewishly supportive context, we want to hear from you.

If you are a rabbi or other Jewish person who wants to help the Jewish
community come to terms with sexual abuse, we want to hear from you.

We find it especially difficult to deal with the denial that exists in the
Jewish community about Jewish abusers. We are disturbed to see "Lashon
Hara" used as weapon against the victims of sexual abuse.

Thus, we especially seek input from people who may help us educate the
Jewish community about Jewish sex abuse in a way that is not threatening
(or perhaps less threatening) to traditionalists. It seems that, to many
people, "Lashon Hara" is a non-debatable issue.

We are very interested in raising awareness in the Jewish community about
the damage that such traditional prohibitions (ie "Lashon Hara") cause --
to individuals, to families, and the community as a whole. We seek to
assist communities in coming to understand that healing, for all parties
involved, must include allowing the victims to speak, and that they must be
believed and supported.

Secrets and silence damage, and, they also perpetuate abuse. We want to
demonstrate to the Jewish community how this happens, and help Jewish
communities _stop_ abuse.....and heal.

Additionally, we believe that anti-Semitism and internalized oppression
play a role in Jewish sexual abuse, and also make it so very difficult to
address this problem.

We want to help people find the resources, within themselves and within the
Jewish community, to make our communities safe for all.

We are asking for _your_ help.

And finally, we were quite surprised to discover that with all the billions
and billions of Jewish web sites on the internet, we could not find one
that specifically addresses Jewish sexual abuse.

So we are creating one.

We are planning to include a bulletin board where Jewish survivors can
"find their voice". We want to list resources, therapists, and agencies. We
will look for articles to post about sexual abuse in the Jewish community.

Your input is desperately needed.

JAHSSA can be reached  at bryce@cruzio.com or by calling (831)
464-3536. Snail mail may be sent to PO Box 1305, Capitola, CA 95010-1305.