I think you should start an expose into Ohel Family Services and what it is doing to the Jewish Community.
Ohel | 04.18.07 - 10:52 pm | #

Ohel, you seem to know what is going on. Write it and I will publish it. Be fair though.
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 04.18.07 - 11:05 pm | #

TA, I thought you may wanna see this:

Can't believe how insensitive TA is being to the Kanovsky family by keeping all these posts up. It is beyond sickening: Yes, there is definitely a discussion to be had about suicide in the Frum community, but for now, the family deserve privacy, not a media circus. Disgusting.

Posted here
HirshelTzig | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 12:19 am | #

HT, do YOU have an opinion? What do YOU think?
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 7:20 am | #

I, too, think privacy is important, but:
1. The matter is already very public;
2. The discussion is couched in most respectful terms;
3. Most of the people involved in this discussion are talking about the need to treat those in distress in ways that would prevent suicide. This, if anything, gives meaning to this whole sad saga. It certainly something in which the family might even take some measure of comfort (if such a thing is even possible).
4. I think the family might be more comfortable with expressions of sadness than indifference.
–
berl, crown heights | 04.19.07 - 7:51 am | #

I think the fellow HT quoted is wrong. I don't think you are being insensitive.

FWIW
yehupitz | 04.19.07 - 8:21 am | #

Encourage comments from those that are in the know about Ohel and you will have alot of information. I am afraid to comment.
OHEL | 04.19.07 - 10:48 am | #

What brought up the subject of Ohel Family Services? I have had both positive and negative experiences with them.
Truman | 04.19.07 - 11:07 am | #

Well, I don't see it as being especially disrespectful, being that it was published in the papers. But his family is part of the Jewish community, who can be very sensitive when it comes to matters like these. So I would think that they're not happy with the suicide aspect being prolonged and discussed for this long.

I also don't see where Ohel comes into this discussion. Was he a patient at Ohel, or is OHEL commenting here a disgruntled ex-employee?
Hirsheltzig | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 11:27 am | #

see my last post, if they don't want to prolong it why they spoke to Daily News for the upcoming Sunday article?
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 11:31 am | #

Well, most people find it hard to say no to the press when they come knocking. Then again, you may be right, maybe they want to get the message out and help others like Moshe.
Hirsheltzig | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 11:55 am | #

Tzemach, I have seen nothing disrespectful in your posts or anyone's comments to Moshe, may he have a lichtige Gan Eden and hopefully peace. Thank you for opening your blog up and encouraging his story to be shared, together with seven fat cows I am able to see him as a human being.
guravitzer | 04.19.07 - 12:47 pm | #

Ohel came in via a comment on a previous posting the other day, http://www.mentalblog.com/2007/0...do-us- part.html, take a look if you wish.

It is relevant because it claims to promote mental health in the frum community, but is pushing dangerous drugs on those it claims to serve, some of which have been involved to tragedies like this one.
concerned Jew | 04.19.07 - 1:33 pm | #

Ohel was started in Boro Park Brooklyn in the late 1960's. It started out with foster care, the idea at first was that religious Jewish kids should be able to be placed in an environment in accordance with their religious backgrounds. This was reflected in their original name, Ohel Children's Home. For years it was a relatively small operation, however, in recent years, it has grown by leaps and bounds and become a conglomerate. They also moved far beyond their original mandate, getting into hot areas like counseling after Sept. 11 with government grants as well as sexual abuse. David Mandel has been exec. director for the last number of years during this explosive growth. Ohel has moved into a big new fancy building in BP and altered its name to reflect its move to become a supermarket of various types of social services, beyond just foster care.

They have become a big employer as well, it's not just local people that work for them these days. While originally focused in the BP area, they (along with their Beis Ezra affiliate) subsequently moved out and made homes in various parts of NYC. Now they are trying to go even further, spreading their wings in a limited way to places like FL and CA.

There have been disagreements over the years in Ohel, strong ones I have heard (not necessarily uncommon in life) and some people who were previously heavily involved left and started their own or joined similar outfits. For example, there are also the Mishkon and Women's League organizations in that area of NY that serve the same constituency. However, Ohel has grown alot bigger than them and has tried to transform itself into a prestigious charitable cause making concerts, fancy dinners and golf outings and more.

From my observation and from things I have heard, I think it's high time they came under some scrutiny. People should know if the reality of what they are doing matches all the hype and PR they are churning out.
concerned Jew | 04.19.07 - 2:15 pm | #

Here is their voicemail number where you can find all the employees 718 686 3100
Exworker | 04.19.07 - 2:58 pm | #

A federal investigation would be in order
Ex | 04.19.07 - 3:05 pm | #

The Brooklyn-based Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services and its sister organizations, a group of Jewish charities, received nearly $1 million, nearly all of it through items sponsored by Mr. Silver alone. “I think that a lot of what he sponsored are things that are picked up and supported by a lot of members of our conference,” said Charles Carrier, a spokesman for Mr. Silver. [NY Times]
ex | 04.19.07 - 3:22 pm | #

Nobody has the balls to take Atlas on, including the 'brave' Lubab and Lubab wannabees like Tzig and Yehupitz.
Atlas, how much more exposure do you want to milk our from this tragedy for your blog?Had you put up one or two posts on it and explaining that frum society has to take on mental health issues that would be one thing, you have based your blog for the last days only on this?
Would you like that a gruesome picture of a body part of a loved one of yours would be put on for the whole world to see?
I remember when a rov paskened a shaalah regarding a family member of yours about kaddish, in private, and you lambasted him , now you take the liberty, to turn this young mans life into a circus.
Shame on you!
Hey, I know you will delete this as is your commy style, but it will be posted on the Cows,for all to see.
frummies r fakers | 04.19.07 - 3:33 pm | #

Over the last several years various papers have quoted David Mandel as an expert in sexual trauma and offenders. Mandel is the chief executive officer at Ohel. The problem is that David Mandel's education, degree and experience is in business. Quoting Mandel on these issues would be very similar to the New York Times quoting Donald Trump as an expert in halacha.

http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot....l-abuse- in.html

do google search on ohel plenty out there
ex | 04.19.07 - 3:36 pm | #

frummie,

You are ranting again, lowercase ranting, to be sure, but it's ranting none the less. And please, wipe the foam that is gathering at your lips. It's disgusting.

ex,

Are you actually citing Vicki Polin as a credible source? Land o Goshen, man, she is either genuinely full blown paranoic (as in psychotic) or a total charlatan. She might be both. Ohel does good and bad and it also deserves scrutiny but what's new about that. The real criterion is whether the bad outweighs the good. So far, you haven't cited anything egregious.
Truman | 04.19.07 - 7:32 pm | #

Take on Tzemach? Have you? by writing a few words here you don't take on. Take a trip up the Mass Pike and settle it like men.
HirshelTzig | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 7:40 pm | #

Speaker Silver was honored at the Ohel dinner this year. This was not the first time Ohel got such funds.

David Mandel gets paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for his work. Listen, it costs money to do all that PR and to transform yourself from a small locally based and focused outfit into a fashionable conglomerate.

Mandel went to Tora Vodas years ago, now he is in the five towns with the fancy orthos, he just commutes to Bklyn to work. He is app. the vintage of Assemblyman Dov who also attended there.

Ohel does some good work, however, I have heard disturbing things about arrogant and heavy handed conduct of some of their staff who pose as experts and saviours of the troubled and less fortunate. Their warehousing of troubled souls, whom they place on drugs to manage (though they would prefer to call it medication and place a positive spin on it), posing as their healers, should be investigated as well. How many of them are healed and released, how many are made into dependent clients who Ohel can continue to take in funds for over many years ?

They have done and do good things, but serious scrutiny and investigation of their activities is long overdue.
concerned Jew | 04.19.07 - 8:26 pm | #

I have direct experience with some of the wrongs you mention and have at the same time witnessed good arising out of the same divisions (though different personel). People tend towards stupid and this is magnified in institutions.
Truman | 04.19.07 - 8:42 pm | #

Ex - can you elaborate on Mandel's educational background ? For example, what institution(s) did he attend, what kind of business education, degree(s).... ?
concerned Jew | 04.19.07 - 8:42 pm | #

How about the families that were broken apart
OH | 04.19.07 - 11:42 pm | #

I had a bad experiance with Ohel's domestic violence counsler Joan Hertz. I felt they were only out for the gov funding. Did anyone have similar experiances?
Sally | 04.20.07 - 8:12 am | #