Sex trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that exists throughout the US and globally. The International Labor Organization estimates that there currently are 4.5 million people trapped in forced sexual exploitation worldwide.

On Sunday, Jan. 11, a number of local Jewish organizations will come together to present a special program designed to bring the issue of Sex Trafficking to the attention of our community. The program will be held at 2 p.m. at Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, 610 South Michigan Avenue.

Titled Fighting Sex Trafficking: The Jewish Community Takes a Stand, the program is presented by Spertus in partnership with the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Chicago North Shore Section and the newly formed Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST). To date, JCAST members include American Jewish World Service Chicago, Anshe Emet Synaogogue, Apna Ghar, the Sisterhood of Congregation Rodfei Zedek, DePaul University’s Department of Women and Gender Studies, Dreamcatcher Foundation, Hadassah, Heartland Alliance, HIAS Chicago, Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals (ICDVP), JCARES, Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS), Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC), the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Jewish Women’s Foundation, NA’AMAT, the National Council of Jewish Women, Prevent Child Abuse America, SHALVA, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Temple Judea Mizpah, and the YWCA.

Kaethe Morris Hoffer, executive director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), will moderate a panel of those on the front lines of this issue. Panelists will include Rabbi Rachel Bregman, CAASE Educator Caleb Probst, and a member of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department.

As part of this program, the film Demand will be shown. This documentary—made in conjunction with an investigation by Shared Hope International of the commercial sex trade in the US, Japan, and Jamaica—reveals the impact of buyer demand on sex trafficking. It captures the hard reality of the women and children victimized by the sex trade.

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership is a partner in serving our community, supported by the JUF/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.