98:. The organization was formed after the founders' sons experienced unwanted homosexual attractions and were unable to obtain professional assistance in resolving or overcoming those attractions. The organization did not use the phrase "conversion therapy" to describe its activities. In 2000, JONAH provided literature and outreach to gay and bisexual Jews, and their families of all denominations, in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, advertising their supposed methods of reducing and eliminating
199:
for calculating such statistics". The judge also excluded expert testimony from leading conversion therapy proponents, Joseph
Nicolosi and Christopher Doyle, ruling that their opinions were based on the false premise that homosexuality is a disorder. Bariso wrote that "the theory that homosexuality is a disorder is not novel but – like the notion that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around it – instead is outdated and refuted".
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82:. The organization was ordered to pay restitution to the plaintiffs and shut down within thirty days. Eleven days after the verdict, the founders created a conversion therapy organization called JIFGA using JONAH's assets. In June 2019, a New Jersey judge ordered JIFGA to shut down within thirty days and pay $ 3.5 million to victims.
246:
says that this is an attempt to evade the shutdown order and has appealed to the courts to enforce the previous ruling against JIFGA. In June 2019, Judge Bariso found that JIFGA was an illegitimate attempt to continue JONAH in violation of the court order. He ordered JIFGA to shut down within thirty
215:
in the United States, a New Jersey jury found JONAH guilty of consumer fraud for promising to be able to change its clients' sexual urges and determined its commercial practices to be unconscionable. The jury voted unanimously to convict JONAH under the
Consumer Fraud Act of New Jersey. The verdict
166:
features two former participants of JONAH, Ben Unger and Chaim Levin, alleging that Alan
Downing, a life coach connected with JONAH, demanded that his participants strip off all of their clothing in front of a mirror and touch their genitals in his presence. Downing released a statement in response
232:
in damages awarded by the jury to compensate the plaintiffs for the fees they paid to JONAH and for remedial mental health counseling for one plaintiff. The proposed judgment included a $ 3.5 million award of legal fees. The plaintiffs agreed to accept an undisclosed portion of that award, but the
198:
In
February 2015, Judge Bariso ruled that JONAH's claims of gay conversion therapy that describe homosexuality as a curable mental disorder were illegal based on the state's Consumer Fraud Act. Judge Bariso also said it is fraudulent to offer "success statistics" because "there is no factual basis
109:
During JONAH's 2014 consumer fraud trial, it was revealed that
Goldberg's license as a board certified professional counselor was revoked in 2011 because the American Psychotherapy Association learned that Goldberg had lied on his application by failing to disclose his prior felony conviction as a
202:
In response to Judge Bariso's ruling, David
Dinielli, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said, "This is the principal lie the conversion therapy industry uses throughout the country to peddle its quackery to vulnerable clients. Gay people don't need to be cured, and we are
194:
against JONAH, Goldberg, and
Downing on behalf of Michael Ferguson, Ben Unger, Chaim Levin, and two of the participants' mothers for fraudulent practices which are illegal under New Jersey's consumer protection laws. JONAH challenged the veracity of the plaintiffs' allegations. In 2014, Superior
145:
issued a statement indicating that it did not endorse JONAH'S methods. The
Council added that it made this decision "based on consultation with a wide range of mental health experts and therapists who informed us of the lack of scientifically rigorous studies that support the effectiveness of
146:
therapies to change sexual orientation, a review of literature written by experts and major medical and mental health organizations, and based upon reports of the negative and, at times, deleterious consequences to clients of some of the interventions endorsed by JONAH".
130:), the organization viewed homosexual persons as being able "to return" from homosexuality. According to JONAH, same-sex attractions may be mitigated and potentially eliminated. JONAH employed the techniques of
241:
Eleven days after the verdict, JONAH was reincorporated as JIFGA, "Jewish
Institute for Global Awareness", keeping JONAH's assets, leadership and operations, as well as the same address and phone number. The
1020:
195:
Court Judge Peter Bariso ruled that JONAH and its co-defendants could have to pay three times the cost paid by the participants for therapy they said they needed because of JONAH's conversion therapy.
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linking to the video, the organization initially rescinded a previous invitation to JONAH's founder Arthur
Goldberg to speak at their annual convention, but later allowed him to speak. Yael Respler of
95:
247:
days and pay a $ 3.5 million fine to victims of the scam. The judge forbade Arthur Goldberg and Elaine Berk from serving in executive leadership or on the board of any nonprofit organization.
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138:. Techniques for overcoming homosexual urges included undressing in front of other men, pummeling an effigy of one's mother, and re-enacting traumatic childhood experiences.
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and counselor Alan Downing from engaging in any form of conversion therapy in New Jersey. Under the settlement, the defendants were obliged to pay the full
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63:. JONAH stated that it was "dedicated to educating the world-wide Jewish community about the social, cultural and emotional factors which lead to
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67:". JONAH's leaders disagreed with the consensus of mainstream science and the world's major mental health organizations who say that non-
715:
94:
by two married couples, Theodore and Elaine Berk and Arthur and Jane Goldberg. Arthur Goldberg is a former secretary-treasurer of the
20:
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60:
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In December 2015, the parties entered into a settlement agreement that required JONAH to shut down entirely and prohibited founder
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non-profit corporation and expanded to include members in the United States, Israel, Canada, and various European nations.
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JONAH held a core belief that homosexuality is a spiritual problem rooted in childhood trauma. JONAH emphasized the
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printed a letter by Goldberg about the incident and noted in response that she herself had engaged in
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859:"SPLC asks court to enforce order closing fraudulent 'conversion therapy' provider"
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defendants would remain liable for the full amount if they violated the agreement.
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516:"Group claiming to turn gay men straight committed consumer fraud, N.J. jury says"
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required JONAH and Downing to refund thousands of dollars paid by former clients.
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454:
353:
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126:); therefore, consistent with its view of the Jewish principle of repentance (
78:
found that JONAH's claims to be able to change sexual orientation constituted
483:"Gay conversion therapy group founder misled about success rate, lawyer says"
291:
631:
820:"In a First, New Jersey Jury Says Group Selling Gay Cure Committed Fraud"
383:
127:
52:
909:"Conversion therapy provider must dissolve, pay millions, judge rules"
845:"'Gay conversion therapy' provider ordered to shut down after lawsuit"
28:
119:
103:
884:"New Jersey-based Jewish gay conversion group ordered to shut down"
793:"New Jersey judge rules 'gay conversion therapy' is consumer fraud"
543:
Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality, and the Power to Change
27:
953:
764:"Hudson judge allows gay conversion therapy lawsuit to continue"
96:
National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality
941:
799:. Associated Press in Trenton, New Jersey. 11 February 2015
739:"N.J. Lawsuit Alleges JONAH Gay Conversion Therapy Fraud"
1021:
Defunct Jewish organizations based in the United States
451:
JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality
350:
JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality
122:
understanding of homosexuality as "being led astray" (
425:
5 Things You Should Know About Gay Conversion Therapy
571:
JONAH International Institute for Gender Affirmation
162:
In July 2010, a video published by the organization
685:"Controversy Over Therapy For 'Curing' Homosexuals"
167:denying the charges. After emails were sent to the
596:Hussung, Bill; Canino, Mishara (15 January 2013).
522:. New Jersey On-Line. NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
380:JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing
317:Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality
1016:Religious organizations disestablished in 2019
1011:Religious organizations disestablished in 2015
476:
474:
472:
203:thrilled that the court has recognized this".
447:"Is Homosexuality Natural, Healthy and Good?"
8:
211:On 25 June 2015, in the first-ever trial of
737:James, Susan Donaldson (27 November 2012).
19:For the submarine communication cable, see
45:Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing
489:, NJ On-Line, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
340:
338:
336:
169:Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists
996:Jewish organizations established in 1999
787:
785:
509:
507:
505:
503:
332:
315:Earlier, the organization was known as
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134:, an unlicensed counselor who promotes
843:Kasperkevic, Jana (18 December 2015).
422:Pappas, Stephanie (27 November 2012),
71:sexual orientation is not a disorder.
55:non-profit organization which offered
654:"Rabbinical Council of America (RCA)"
110:Wall Street municipal bonds manager.
37:Jewish Institute for Global Awareness
7:
1006:2019 disestablishments in New Jersey
1001:2015 disestablishments in New Jersey
714:Goldberg, Arthur (4 November 2010),
598:"Interviewing an 'Ex-Gay' Therapist"
660:. 29 November 2012. Archived from
181:(also called conversion therapy).
141:On 29 November 2012, the Orthodox
21:Bezeq International Optical System
14:
971:1999 establishments in New Jersey
770:. The Jersey Journal. 9 June 2014
981:Conversion therapy organizations
545:, Red Heifer Press, p. 13,
514:Livio, Susan K. (25 June 2015).
271:
257:
818:Eckholm, Erike (25 June 2015),
622:Cohen, Richard (20 July 2007).
481:Livio, Susan K. (8 June 2015),
1:
683:Steve Lipman (27 July 2010).
445:Berk, Elaine Silodor (2007).
143:Rabbinical Council of America
90:JONAH was created in 1999 in
950:"Clinical division of JONAH"
567:"Is Change Really Possible?"
397:Khazan, Olga (3 June 2015),
102:. JONAH eventually became a
863:Southern Poverty Law Center
399:"Can Sexuality Be Changed?"
244:Southern Poverty Law Center
186:Southern Poverty Law Center
1037:
155:
18:
16:Jewish ex-gay organization
847:– via The Guardian.
541:Goldberg, Arthur (2008),
61:sexual orientation change
43:), known before 2015 as
32:JONAH International logo
92:Jersey City, New Jersey
184:In November 2012, the
59:to persons who sought
33:
991:Judaism and sexuality
386:on 13 September 2015.
31:
944:on 13 February 2012.
565:Newman, Ben (2003).
220:Permanent injunction
65:same-sex attractions
888:The Times of Israel
664:on 23 December 2015
634:on 24 November 2007
624:"Born gay? No way!"
376:"Mission Statement"
938:"Official website"
824:The New York Times
726:on 26 January 2013
695:on 21 October 2012
213:conversion therapy
188:filed the lawsuit
179:reparative therapy
136:conversion therapy
57:conversion therapy
34:
986:LGBTQ and Judaism
346:"JONAH's History"
191:Ferguson v. JONAH
158:Ferguson v. JONAH
151:Ferguson v. JONAH
1028:
957:
956:on 14 June 2012.
952:. Archived from
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940:. Archived from
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720:The Jewish Press
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577:on 24 April 2015
573:. Archived from
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453:. Archived from
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382:. Archived from
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356:on 19 March 2015
352:. Archived from
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174:The Jewish Press
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716:"Dear Dr. Yael"
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976:Consumer fraud
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931:External links
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265:Judaism portal
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164:Truth Wins Out
156:Main article:
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132:Richard Cohen
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100:homosexuality
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954:the original
942:the original
916:. Retrieved
912:
903:
891:. Retrieved
887:
878:
866:. Retrieved
862:
853:
838:
827:, retrieved
823:
813:
801:. Retrieved
797:The Guardian
796:
772:. Retrieved
767:
758:
746:. Retrieved
742:
732:
724:the original
719:
709:
697:. Retrieved
693:the original
688:
678:
666:. Retrieved
662:the original
657:
648:
636:. Retrieved
632:the original
627:
617:
605:. Retrieved
601:
591:
579:. Retrieved
575:the original
570:
560:
542:
536:
526:23 September
524:. Retrieved
519:
491:, retrieved
486:
459:. Retrieved
455:the original
450:
440:
429:, retrieved
424:
417:
406:, retrieved
403:The Atlantic
402:
392:
384:the original
379:
370:
358:. Retrieved
354:the original
349:
316:
311:
287:Atzat Nefesh
279:LGBTQ portal
240:
223:
210:
201:
197:
189:
183:
172:
161:
150:
140:
117:
108:
89:
73:
69:heterosexual
48:
44:
40:
36:
35:
25:
829:30 December
803:16 February
774:30 December
689:Jewish Week
607:30 December
493:30 December
431:30 December
408:30 December
124:Nedarim 51a
114:Methodology
74:In 2015, a
965:Categories
658:Rabbis.org
327:References
230:US$ 72,400
638:27 August
600:. Op-ed.
292:Ex-Ex-Gay
237:Aftermath
104:501(c)(3)
51:), was a
913:NBC News
868:7 August
743:ABC News
602:Advocate
251:See also
128:teshuvah
120:Talmudic
918:15 June
893:15 June
699:28 June
581:28 June
360:28 June
86:History
768:NJ.com
748:3 June
668:3 June
549:
520:NJ.com
487:NJ.com
461:3 June
53:Jewish
303:Notes
207:Trial
49:JONAH
41:JIFGA
920:2019
895:2019
870:2018
831:2016
805:2015
776:2016
750:2014
701:2011
670:2014
640:2007
609:2016
583:2011
547:ISBN
528:2015
495:2016
463:2014
433:2016
410:2016
362:2011
967::
911:.
886:.
861:.
822:,
795:.
784:^
766:.
741:.
718:,
687:.
656:.
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569:.
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