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.
