Shema Koli

Overview

Shema Koli is a British nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support to victims and survivors of abuse within the Jewish community in the United Kingdom. Founded in April 2013 by Rabbi Shimon Winegarten, it is the first-ever dedicated abuse helpline service for the European Jewish community.

Mission and Services

Shema Koli's mission is to offer a confidential and anonymous helpline service for women and men who have experienced or been affected by any form of abuse, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, whether current or historical. The service is operated by professionally trained operators skilled in listening to victims of abuse and providing guidance on next steps, such as face-to-face work, safety checks, and exploring options for reporting incidents when appropriate[1][2][4].

Shema Koli also offers educational seminars for community leaders, teachers, and parents to raise awareness of safeguarding risks and provide guidance on keeping children safe. These seminars can be customized to meet specific community needs and often cover topics such as personal safety discussions, recognizing signs of grooming and abuse, and managing disclosures from children[5].

Partnerships and Endorsements

The organization is endorsed by leading UK Rabbis from the Orthodox Jewish community and is supported by national abuse experts, including The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Stop It Now helpline. This collaboration enhances the effectiveness of Shema Koli's services by providing access to specialized knowledge and resources[2][4].

Impact

Since its inception, Shema Koli has received nearly 200 calls and has made significant contributions to protecting the community from harm. The organization has successfully connected callers with therapy and other support organizations, and in some cases, facilitated meetings between callers and a panel of Rabbis to address their concerns[4].

Charity Details

Shema Koli is registered as a charity with the number 1151966[3].

[1] https://www.shemakoli.org [2] https://www.shemakoli.org/about-us/ [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5034970 [4] https://ecsa.lucyfaithfull.org/shema-koli-helpline [5] https://pajes.org.uk/associates-directory/shema-koli/