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10 Cheshvan 5760 - October 20, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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News
New English-Speaking Hotline Reaches out to Parents and Teens in Crisis

by Yonina Hall

Independently or in teams, in yeshivas, in person, and over the phone, a handful of dedicated outreach workers are reaching out to a social group which is increasing by disturbing proportions: that of religion teens in crisis.

In the past, the turbulent years of teenhood might have only called for counselling about peer pressure, social isolation, or emotional issues. Today, it's a whole different story. Even boys and girls from the finest chareidi and dati homes are leaving the fold . . . or thinking about doing so . . . or wishing they could do so. Drug addiction, alcoholism, and self-gratification are all on the rise among today's troubled youths.

Why? Learning disabilities, accelerated yeshiva curricula, acculturation difficulties for Anglo-Saxon teenage olim, and family abuse, have all been blamed for the alarming rise in teens who quit yeshiva, leave home, join the street life, and even begin taking drugs. One reality is certain: Our children are begging for attention and help from people who will listen to them, and care.

Some professionals in the field say that a single outreach worker can effectively deal with only three teens a month; others push that figure up to 10 or 20 for a full-time worker. No matter how you look at it, the existing frameworks are not equipped to reach out to the many hundreds of religious teens who will readily respond to a warm, uncritical approach. And none address the needs of Anglo- Saxon teens and parents.

It is for all these reasons that a new English-speaking crisis hotline recently debuted in Jerusalem. "Kav Baruch" just graduated 22 religious men and women volunteers from its first comprehensive, 4-month course in telephone and in- person crisis counselling. The project is fully endorsed by HaRav Menachem Mendel Fuchs, moreh tzedek of the Eida HaChareidis and mora de'asra of Ramot Daled, and Rav Asher Weiss, a mora de'asra of Ramot Gimmel.

The hotline, at (02) 586-9279, is now open to receive calls. Parents who seek guidance to understand their teen, as well as teens who need a listening ear, are encouraged to telephone on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon, or Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and motzei Shabbos, from (9:00-11:00 p.m.)

During off-hours, messages may be left on the hotline number. Faxes may be sent to (02) 586-9564.

"There are two Hebrew-speaking religious hotlines operating in Jerusalem, but there is a definite need for an English- speaking hotline as well," explains hotline director Moshe Speiser, a successful teen outreach worker for the past nine years who has professional training in psychology and family counselling as well. "Israeli crisis counselors don't always understand the mentality of Anglo-Saxons, and the English- speaking callers often have a difficult time expressing themselves in Hebrew."

Kav Baruch tries to address the feelings and emotions of all family members involved in a troubled teen's life. "From my experience, I see that it's very important for parents to receive direction for dealing with their teen, and to get emotional support when they feel their whole world is crashing down around them," says Speiser, who has taken problem teens into his home until family crises blew over, and taught parents better communication techniques.

"Teens want to vent their frustrations, talk about their confusion in the world, and have someone who will listen to them," he adds.

Callers to Kav Baruch may remain anonymous, or request a personal follow-up meeting with a counselor since many problems will not be resolved over the phone. Further, evaluating the family dynamics is often beneficial. And while parents can accept advice over the phone, teens prefer to develop a personal "big brother" or "big sister" relationship to help them through a difficult time.

If a problem is beyond the scope of the hotline counselors' training, referrals will be offered to professional social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, or drug rehabilitation experts.

Speiser wants to recruit more English-speaking religious men and women from all neighborhoods of Jerusalem, in order to meet the demand for one-on-one counselling, as well as to increase the hotline's hours. "Our 4-month crisis counselling course gives specific training in how to reach out to troubled teens," he says. "If you're the right personality, you'll be able to help somebody."

Once-a-week lectures address topics such as: listening, unconditional love, chinuch, discipline and punishment, counselling techniques, drug abuse, and dealing with problems in school. Role playing and actual case discussions round out the course syllabus.

To register for the crisis counselling course, please call Moshe Speiser at (02) 586-3852.

Kav Baruch was established in memory of Baruch ben Avraham David Smith, z"l, a man who cared deeply about his fellow Jews.


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