Shofar in the Community
| May, 2008 | Shofar Website Launched (www.shofarcoalition.org) |
| May, 2008 | Supporting Traumatized Children in School The Shoshana S. Cardin School, 25 staff attended. |
| March - May, 2008 | Child Abuse Training for Rabbis (includes real life testimonies from survivors) 4 sessions, 13 rabbis and chaplains of Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist denominations. |
| March, 2008 | Creating a Comfort Zone for Littles. Jewish Big Brother and Big Sister League, 15 staff and volunteers attended. |
| November, 2007 | Annual conference of the Association of Jewish Day Schools of Greater Baltimore
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| October, 2007 | Hard Times in My Little's Life: Loss, Family Changes, Illness, & Abuse Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters League, 20 staff and volunteer Big Brothers and Big Sisters attended. |
| October, 2007 | Sexual Abuse in the Jewish Community. Jewish Family Services clinical staff. 21 mental health professionals attended. |
| September, 2007 | Childhood Trauma, Risky Behavior, and Health in the Jewish Community. 22 staff from:
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| August, 2007 | Launch of Keeping the Connection, Veteran Parenting Coach Molly Koch's mutual support and parenting group, for mothers who have escaped domestic violence and whose children have been exposed to the violence. Co-sponsored by CHANA |
| July - August, 2007 | Eight week, community-based trauma therapy group for female adult survivors of sexual abuse |
Rabbinical Training Series is Well-Received
The Shofar Coalition has organized and convened a series of half-day sessions of intensive child abuse training for rabbis. Held on March 26, April 2nd, and May 14th, all sessions were hosted by Rabbi Adler at Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Congregation.
A core group of twelve rabbis from all denominations across central Maryland have participated in the training. These rabbis will serve as leaders in the community in response to families in need, as links to diverse specialists, and as information and support consultants to their peer rabbis. The training series participants include:
Rabbi Mitchell Ackerson, Sinai Hospital
Rabbi Elan Adler, Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Congregation
Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton, Beit Tikvah Congregation
Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb, Congregation Shomrei Emunah
Rabbi Susan Grossman, Beth Shalom Congregation of Howard County
Rabbi Chaim Landau, Ner Tamid-Greenspring Valley Synagogue
Rabbi Batsheva Meiri, Temple Emanuel
Rabbi Shlomo Porter, Etz Chaim Center
Rabbi Gila Ruskin, Harford Jewish Center
Rabbi Dana Saroken, Beth El Congregation
Rabbi Amy Scheinerman, Beth Shalom Congregation of Carroll County, Maryland
Rabbi Tsvi Schur - Jewish Community Services
The training sessions covered a wide range of topics including:
Survivor's View: A panel of three adult survivors each walked the rabbis into their traumatic experiences and the impact of those experiences.
Clinician's View: The impact of trauma on the individual victim and the family
The Roles and Responsibilities of Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services and the States Attorney: Legal implications and the criminal justice system.
What's A Rabbi to Do?: Addressing the needs of victims/survivors, families of victims, perpetrators, synagogues, schools, the community
Self Awareness, Self-care and Mutual Support Strategies for Rabbis: Transforming Vicarious Trauma and Avoiding Burnout
Rabbi Mark Dratch, Founder and President of JSafe: The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment, facilitated the third session.
For more information or to schedule training for clergy or any other group, contact Elaine Witman at Sidran 410-825-8888 x 207.
"The training sessions have been invaluable in preparing us to respond more effectively with all those affected by sexual abuse. Elaine and the Shofar Coalition pulled out all the stops to provide us with an in-depth substantive experience. I am grateful that I could participate.
It is wonderful that we have formed this partnership with the Shofar Coalition, and rather than merely celebrate the training as a "great event" I hope we will diligently commit to pursuing further efforts to create a healing network throughout the Jewish community.
The problem of child sexual abuse is not going to disappear. We can either meet it head-on with compassion and effective healing strategies or we can pretend it doesn't exist; there is little left in the middle any longer."
Rabbi Amy Scheinerman,
Beth Shalom Congregation of Carroll County, Maryland