On Monday, May 13th ATZUM’s Task Force on Human Trafficking attended Prostitution, Stripping and Everything in Between, a conference hosted by Saleet, a Tel Aviv shelter for women exiting prostitution. Throughout the day participants attended presentations on topics ranging from the factors that push people into prostitution to sex tourism in Thailand. Representatives from a wide variety of non-profits, media outlets, and Tel-Aviv’s government attended the conference. “It was great event,” remarked Gili Varon, TFHT director. “It was particularly encouraging to see Mayor Huladi and other representatives from the Tel-Aviv Municipality in attendance. It shows their commitment to this important issue.”
Archives for 2013
TFHT Times of Israel Blog
May 2, 2013 by
The Task Force on Human Trafficking is pleased to announce the launch of its blog on the Times of Israel website. The blog deals with issues surrounding sex trafficking and prostitution, with a particular focus on the effect that they have in Israel. The blog will serve as a platform to engage the public. You can read the first post here to learn about the history of sex trafficking and prostitution in Israel. Stay tuned for more posts!
TFHT Co-Executive Director Rabbi Levi Lauer Presents at Limmud
May 2, 2013 by
ATZUM Founder and TFHT Co-Executive Director Rabbi Levi Lauer tells us that Limmud UK is a widely diverse, engaging and productive Jewish educational conference. His presentation on the Task Force’s work this past December was attended by tens of people who volunteered to help TFHT’s work after learning of its efforts.
Rabbi Lauer sought to better inform the attendees about the situation of prostitution and human trafficking in Israel and the necessity of non-government organization involvement to effect legislative change. In his discussion, Rabbi Lauer described the development of ATZUM’s work, beginning with raising awareness in Israel through media, then prioritizing the passage of progressive legislation encouraging the enforcement of existing anti-trafficking laws.
It was particularly important for Rabbi Lauer his talk convey that to love Israel is to confront the country’s most egregious problems, and that Jews from the Diaspora are of vital importance in pushing for change. “I think that more people are aware. Getting cooperation from the Diaspora is important. Every Jew in the world who cares about the destiny of the Jewish people should take this seriously.”
How Porn Creates the John
May 2, 2013 by
On December 19th the Task Force on Human Trafficking and the Lafer Center for Women and Gender Studies jointly hosted a lecture at Hebrew University. Professor Gail Dines presented How Porn Creates the John: Porn, Trafficking, and the Social Construction of Masculinity.
Professor Dines is a professor of Sociology and Women Studies at Wheelock College in Boston, MA. She is also the author of numerous articles and books, including Pornland: How Porn has Hijacked our Sexuality. Her lecture dealt with the ways in which the rising violence and misogyny within the porn industry increases the demand for prostitution and sex trafficking.
Since the lecture, the Task Force has received many requests for a video of the event. We are pleased to announce the lecture can be viewed in its entirety below.
Natasha Mann – Volunteer Profile
May 2, 2013 by
Natasha joined the Task Force in October as she settled into life in Jerusalem. She came to Israel as an ATZUM AGN Scholarship Recipient to study for the year at the Conservative Yeshiva. Her studies were in preparation for applying to rabbinical school, and we are pleased to announce her acceptance.
When Natasha joined the Task Force she was interested in volunteering but unsure of how her skills could best be used. After researching the sex trade, she began to work with Project 119, and she has been writing our weekly letters to MKs ever since. She has also taken on much of the behind-the-scenes work of Project 119, updating and reshaping our communications systems (collecting research, and recruiting and keeping in touch with volunteers).
Natasha relates her letter-writing skills have vastly improved since she began working with Project 119. “It was awkward at first,” she admits, “but the more I learned, the more passionate I became about the subject. Now I enjoy every week, as it gives me a new opportunity speak my mind about why the Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Services and Community Treatment Bill is so incredibly important.”
Tel Aviv Municipality Addresses Prostitution Advertisement
April 28, 2013 by
On February 14th the Task Force on Human Trafficking conducted a seminar for Tel- Aviv Municipality employees about the massive dissemination of business cards advertising prostitution in the city. These cards are strewn across nearly every sidewalk and auto windshield in Tel-Aviv. Although advertising sexual services in Israel is illegal, Tel-Aviv minors on bicycles are paid 100 shekels for every sack of business cards they spread across the city.
As stated by the Tel-Aviv Municipality, the purpose of the seminar was “…to gain a deep understanding of the problems and importance of this phenomenon.” The seminar included presentations from Gili Varon, Director of TFHT, Reut Guy of Elem/ Youth in Distress, and Neama Rivlin, the Executive Director of Saleet, a shelter that assists women who are exiting prostitution.
“There was a great spirit of cooperation at the seminar,” remarked Varon. “The Municipality and non-profits have finally come together to learn about and combat this phenomenon.”
International Women’s Day – The Price of Sex
April 25, 2013 by
In honor of International Women’s Day, the Task Force on Human Trafficking hosted a film screening and panel discussion about sex trafficking and prostitution. The event was held at the Jerusalem Cinematheque and featured The Price of Sex, a courageous documentary by photojournalist Mimi Chakarova. The film tells of tens of thousands of young Eastern European women trafficked throughout the world. It also addresses why the international community has allowed this to happen.
At the event, the Task Force recognized former Knesset Member Orit Zuaretz as a leader in the fight against sex trafficking and prostitution in Israel. TFHT was proud to present Zuaretz with ATZUM’s Ot HaDror Award which recognizes leaders who strive to abolish modern slavery. Throughout her four years in the Knesset, MK Zuaretz worked tirelessly to confront the evils of trafficking and prostitution in Israel. In addition to chairing the Knesset’s Subcommittee in Trafficking in Women, Zuaretz also sponsored and laid the foundations for the eventual passage of the Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Services and Community Treatment Bill, a bill that criminalizes the purchase of sexual services to help eradicate the demand for trafficking and prostitution in Israel.
The Good Doctor: New Immigrant to Israel Sinks Her Teeth Into ATZUM Project for Survivors of Terror
January 13, 2013 by
Last year, Dr. Virigina Melmed, a new immigrant from Alabama, was looking for a way to use her skills as a dentist to give back to the community at large. Dr. Melmed originally came to Israel in 2010 to volunteer and provide free dental treatment to Israeli and Palestinian children whose families could not otherwise afford it. Though she only intended to stay for a few months, she found herself feeling at home Israel and wanting to stay.
Dr. Melmed was able to gain citizenship because her deceased first husband was Jewish. After making Aliyah she chose to go one step further and underwent the lengthy Orthodox conversion process.
“I might not practice in the way that they would have liked me to, but I do feel as though the conversion gave me a deep understanding of Judaism, and I feel comfortable navigating in a Jewish country and society,” said Dr. Melmed.
The Jewish value that Dr. Melmed holds most dear is giving of one’s self to the community and supporting others in their time of need.
“I had always volunteered in the States, and my life here didn’t feel quite right without a project that would allow me to contribute.”
As Dr. Melmed was settling into her new Israeli life, she began searching for a project that would enable her to give back. Soon she stumbled upon ATZUM’s Jewish Tooth Fairy Fund, a project that aims to provide dental care to survivors of terror attacks. In Survivor of Terror families, young children who were wounded often require dental intervention as a result of their injuries; in other cases, death or injury of a parent leaves the family unable to afford even the most routine pediatric dental care. The more Dr. Melmed learned about the project, the more she felt compelled to be a part of it.
“I knew almost right from the beginning that this was what I had been looking for.”
She immediately contacted ATZUM and set up an appointment to meet with Nachum, a 47 year-old father of three who was seriously injured in a 2003 bus bombing. Prior to the bombing, Nachum owned and operated a vegetable shop and was able to provide for his family. However, due to severe post-traumatic stress, Nachum is now unable to work, and his family is struggling financially. His recovery has been a long and difficult process, and it has been significantly complicated by the fact that he is need of extensive dental care.
“He was in so much pain when I first met him,” explained Dr. Melmed. “We know from research that victims of terror are at much higher risk for dental problems. Of course, there is the traumatic injury to the mouth that could occur directly because of the attack. But what most people don’t know is that medications for post-traumatic stress disorder and pain make people more prone to cavities and dental disease. Moreover, stress hormones accelerate bone loss in the mouth, so people who go through extremely stressful periods are at higher risk for loosing their teeth. And survivors have many other problems to concern themselves with – their general health, work, and taking care of their family. It’s no surprise that survivors of terror are in need of some dental assistance.”
Though Dr. Melmed connected with and believed in the value of the Jewish Tooth Fairy Fund from the beginning, she met with some skepticism from others.
“People said to me, ‘Everyone goes through hard times, why should he get free care and not the next person?’ But I feel that everyone deserves a shot at a normal life, and that’s what this treatment gives to people – a shot at confidence and independence, despite all they’ve been through.”
She decided to offer her services to the Jewish Tooth Fairy Fund, and in the end even won over some of her critics.
With Nachum’s treatment almost complete, Dr. Melmed continues to look for additional ways to give back to her new community.
“I would be thrilled to continue to work the Jewish Tooth Fairy Fund and make sure that other survivors of terror have access to the care that they need and deserve.”
