Operation Survival, a project of National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education and the first program to combat alcoholism and substance abuse in both the Jewish and African-American communities in Brooklyn, yesterday released a children’s safety video, “Inner Voice, Better Choice.”
The music video starring popular Jewish singer Eli Marcus, and local Crown Heights Yeshiva students, targets youth in the Orthodox Jewish community. It comes as the orthodox community, like all communities in Brooklyn, is facing a crises of opioid drug abuse, including several overdose deaths.
The music video presents real life scenarios where children are confronted with a challenge and have to rely on their understanding of safe choices and their good decision making skills in order to prevail. The video is aimed at children from ages 6 to 12 but is sure to be a hit with the entire amily.
“There are several videos readily available that address some of these topics for children but none that are culturally appropriate for the local orthodox Jewish community.” said Miriam Simon, assistant program director at Operation Survival. “Creating relatable material for children is key to their adopting the modeled behaviors,”
Among the educators who were consulted on this project are Mrs. Dena Gorkin, renowned children’s book author Mrs. Devorah Leah Rosenfeld, and, Shlomo Mahana,CPP.
Produced and directed by Chaim Hershkowitz from Eight19 Productions, Inner Voice, Better Choice was filmed at Lubavitcher Yeshiva, Beis Rivkah and on the streets of Crown Heights.
The video was made possible with the help of the office of State Sen. Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) and the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).
Check out the video:
