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The orthodox Jewish community is amazing at being there for one another for “kosher” struggles — having a baby? You can bet you’re getting meals. Death in the family? House fire? There for you. Child with (God forbid) serious illness? We can raise millions.
We’re ok at, and there are myriad organisations to support, the “glad it’s not me” struggles — feeding the hungry, supporting orphans and widows, special needs parents, those with infertility issues, those in prison, those who need a job...
But we’re absolutely failing to support the quiet “it’s probably something wrong with them”s: divorced people, older singles, disenchanted/struggling BTs, FFBs w/ questions, children struggling in traditional schools, people w/ mental health struggles.
We’ve got to do better.
We’ve got to do better.
There are tremendous individuals who serve the above communities and are working to change that.
But the individuals dealing with the above often have their concerns minimised, receive the message that it’s best to quietly suffer / that the deficiency lies with them.
But the individuals dealing with the above often have their concerns minimised, receive the message that it’s best to quietly suffer / that the deficiency lies with them.
If you are responding with a list of organizations to "disprove" this problem exists, I would remind you that many Jews struggling with these issues will read your replies. They are not served by, "well an organization exists, so it's not my problem to help or develop empathy."
Perhaps I have not been clear enough.
Yes, organizations exist to serve these communities. Yes, many individuals working to change the status quo.
That does not negate my original contention: we are failing to meet the needs of everyone in our community & we need to step it up.
Yes, organizations exist to serve these communities. Yes, many individuals working to change the status quo.
That does not negate my original contention: we are failing to meet the needs of everyone in our community & we need to step it up.
We do not get to abdicate our responsibilities to one another just because there are organizations and exemplars we can point to. That's just not our Torah.
You can disagree with me "airing dirty laundry." I hear you. I don't think that position is helpful to those suffering.
You can disagree with me "airing dirty laundry." I hear you. I don't think that position is helpful to those suffering.
What does stepping up look like?
That depends on you and your strengths, the needs of those around you, your own local community. I'm really not saying anything revolutionary here. We can all examine what exists around us and do more to help solve the challenges that exist.
That depends on you and your strengths, the needs of those around you, your own local community. I'm really not saying anything revolutionary here. We can all examine what exists around us and do more to help solve the challenges that exist.
You want to talk about organizations? You want to tell me there's nothing to see here when @AmudimOrg reports a 59% increase in addiction cases?
The existence of organizations does not mean everyone's needs are being met. It means there are needs.
The existence of organizations does not mean everyone's needs are being met. It means there are needs.
Yes, about organizations. Let's talk about the 74% increase in sexual abuse cases @AmudimOrg has seen this year.
You want specifics? You want to talk about the 55% increase in domestic violence cases @AmudimOrg has dealt with this year ?
Do you not understand the fact that the very organizations being slung around as "a problem doesn't exist, needs are met, we have organizations" are trying to tell you that needs are NOT all being met and that problems DO exist?
@AmudimOrg has seen a 150% increase in active mental health cases this year.
@AmudimOrg is doing the WORK — and they have opened fewer than 9,000 cases since 2015.
Folks, Amudim is a bell-weather. There are so, so many slipping through the cracks as you quibble with me.
Folks, Amudim is a bell-weather. There are so, so many slipping through the cracks as you quibble with me.
https://twitter.com/elinadoff/status/1339428858555228162?s=21 https://twitter.com/elinadoff/status/1339428858555228162
https://twitter.com/elinadoff/status/1339429193856245762?s=21 https://twitter.com/elinadoff/status/1339429193856245762
I feel like I’m talking to a wall here. (Technically, that is true.)
Yes, organisations exist. Yes, it’s gotten better in recent years. Yes, I’m the vast majority of cases, we’re totally failing to meet the needs of the folks I mentioned, and stigmatising them along the way.
Yes, organisations exist. Yes, it’s gotten better in recent years. Yes, I’m the vast majority of cases, we’re totally failing to meet the needs of the folks I mentioned, and stigmatising them along the way.
The amount of gaslighting I’ve experienced over the past two days for bringing up something that offline is almost universally acknowledged (we’re failing these groups and can all do better as individuals to support them) is wild.
