Child Safety Committee

As we begin our return to in-person activities, OKC clergy and the leadership team have started a thoughtful conversation about what safety means, in all its different aspects. 

One area of focus will be on be the safety and security of our children. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, children are at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation in any environment, and it behooves us to put policies and procedures in place to keep our children safe, and address issues as they come up. 

Recognizing this, OKC is taking a proactive stand and convening a Child Safety committee to address the synagogues policies, procedures, and practices when it comes to abuse prevention and child safety. This is not in response to any allegations or misconduct, but rather out of a renewed commitment to creating a safe space for all. 

The work that lies ahead for the committee is a big task, and one that we hope the community will be able to be a part of. 

The initial goals of the committee are to:
1.    Draft policies and procedures for all youth facing programs for the congregation.
2.    Plan one or more education events to introduce the congregation to this work, and to build transparency around this process.

We hope that these efforts will create space for raising awareness, discussion, and providing our community with the tools necessary to create a culture of empowerment, where every member feels they are a part of ensuring child safety. 

We know that based on statistics, members of our community may well be victims of child abuse. This committee’s goal is to prevent that, and to create OKC as a safe space. If you find this content triggering, please avail yourself to the safe people in your network or community. Additionally, the committee has a list of resources should you need it. Please do not hesitate to reach out. 

If you have questions, comments or for more information, please contact, Meira Ellias, Committee Chair, at childsafety@ohrkodesh.org.