By Jaime Uranovsky
In October, Koleinu, which translates to ‘Hear Our Voices’, officially launched in Cape Town.
In 2014, the helpline was started by Wendy Hendler and Rozanne Sack in Johannesburg, after both women were sexually abused by the same medical doctor. The founders struggled to find adequate support for abuse survivors in the Jewish community and vowed that no future survivor would have to navigate the process toward healing and justice alone. Over the years, the founders have attended various conferences and training workshops and have assembled a team that has a thorough understanding of different forms of abuse. Koleinu’s aims are two-fold: to educate the community regarding how to respond to abuse, thereby fostering an environment in which survivors feel they can come forward safely; and to provide support to victims — whether they want to proceed with legal action or not.
Although the hotline has been run in Cape Town by Melanie Uranovsky since 2020; Koleinu Cape Town was officially launched by directors Wendy Hendler and Rozanne Sack at a function on 25 November at Marais Road Shul. All three addressed members of the public, Cape Town Torah High teachers and students, rabbis and rebbetzins in the community and therapists at Herzlia. Rozanne was also one of five speakers at Women of Courage, a Union of Jewish Women event held two days later.
While Koleinu was designed to spotlight abuse in the Jewish community, anybody can use the helpline – Jewish or not, secular and ultra-orthodox, adults and children and regardless of sex or gender. The hotline covers all abuse: verbal, emotional, sexual, financial and/or religious. Importantly, callers need not provide their names. The volunteer will listen to the caller’s experience while providing a safe space. The caller and the volunteer will then decide how to proceed and the latter will direct the caller to the right channels while remaining a source of support throughout the entire process.
Cape Town callers can contact Melanie on 074 180 5687. For more information, visit www.koleinu.co.za or email koleinusa@gmail.com.
If you or anybody you know is a victim of abuse and needs support, please contact the Koleinu Helpline:
Cape Town: 074 180 5687 24-hour line except over Shabbat
Johannesburg: (011) 264 0341 Sun – Thurs: 9am – 10pm Fri: 9am – 3pm
• Published in the November 2022 Digital Edition – Click here to read it.
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