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Media
Explore what people have been saying about us to find out more about our work — future, present and past.


Zest & Recipes for Life - interview with Leah Boulton'
Interview by Lorraine Stabey, J-Air radio, 21 May 2026 LISTEN HERE


LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION, PATHWAYS MELBOURNE & ORLY HOUSE: Building safety and belonging for young people
Talya Bassin (Lighthouse Foundation, Project Coordinator) AJN, 30 April 2026


Dassi Erlich – 'I wish for every child in the Adass community to understand that they have rights'
Interview by Sharon Kuperholz, L'Chaim to Life on 3ZZZ Radio, 15 April 2026 LISTEN HERE


Some still in denial about abuse: Orly House to open
Bruce Hill, Australian Jewish News, 11 December 2025


Support Group for Orthodox Parents: Pathways bridges family divides
Bruce Hill, Australian Jewish News, 5 September 2025


Lighthouse and Pathways partner to support homeless Jewish youth
Third Sector - 27 May 2025 by Geraldine Grones. Read full article HERE


Program tackling Melbourne's Jewish homeless youth
J-Wire, Tuesday 20 May 2025. Read the full article HERE


A new path for homeless Australian Jewish youth
Gideon Cohen, The Jewish Independent, 5.12.2024 Download the full article here .


Orly House a haven for at-risk Jewish youth
Australian Jewish News, 24 April 2025. Read the full article HERE


Jewish Youth Homelessness Addressed - safe house for Caulfield
By Bruce Hill, Australian Jewish News - 29 November 2024 - READ HERE


Malka Leifer's Survivor Dassi Erlich Speaks Out
See Dassi's interview on The Project - 30.1.2024. Dassi is also a Pathways Melbourne Board Member WATCH HERE PURCHASE DASSI'S BOOK HERE


Peace in the Home: the trial of former school principal Malka Leifer for sexual abuse highlighted
The Monthly: Sarah Krasnostein, November 2023. READ HERE


Pathways Melbourne celebrate in a safe environment
Australian Jewish News - 28.09.23 'Pathfinders enjoy Rosh Hashanah lunch together...'


Healing Through Storytelling
The Social Blueprint Blog - 6 June 2023 I have so many stories to tell and now I feel comfortable to share them Elke (Pathfinder since 2020) Expressive writing is a powerful tool for healing. It allows us to turn our attention inwards so we can better process emotionally difficult events and life challenges. Writing about our personal stories can reveal deep insights into our own thoughts and behaviours. Being part of a writing group, where lived experience and personal stor


'FREEDOM: My Story' event
Australian Jewish News, 2.6.2023 - Mia Gardiner 'The event featured 8 courageous speakers from the Jewish community who shared their personal challenges, tales of resilience and stories of courage.'


Passion & Impact: Leah Boulton
WATCH Leah's presentation at the Launchpad Alumni Retreat 2023 and discover the story behind Pathways Melbourne's creation.


"I can and will find my own path"
Australian Jewish News 16.3.2023 Mia Gardiner - 'In June 2022, Pathways Melbourne launched its unique PATH 4 LIFE | Mentor program which offers confidential advice...'


Charting your own path
Melbourne Jewish Report 15.11.22 'Last month, Pathways Melbourne in collaboration with several non-profits globally marked the second International Day of Choice..'


Everybody Has a Story: Leah Boulton - from advertising to founder of Pathways
Listen to Leah in conversation with Amanda Smorgon (The Social Blueprint), as they discuss life lessons and the inspiration behind Pathways Melbourne. WATCH HERE


"LIVING FEARLESSLY & FULFILLED" - an interview with Beatrice Weber (live from New York)
Limmuz Oz Melbourne - Sunday 4 September 2022 Watch our CEO, Leah Boulton, interview the inspiring and brave change maker, Beatrice Weber in New York.


FROM PURIM TO THE PRIDE MARCH
Australian Jewish News 17.3.2022 'Purim was the one day that I wasn't in disguise..' by Dassi Herszberg (Pathways Advisory Panel Member, art therapist and counsellor) . Click HERE to read the full article.


New Mentor Program - Finding a PATH 4 LIFE
Australian Jewish News 1.7.2022 - AJN Staff 'What's the difference between a cappuccino and a latte? How do I open a bank account? How do I write a CV, and what should I wear to my first ever job interview..'


In Conversation with Leah Boulton
If you thought you knew all about Leah - think again! Get to know our CEO and Founder through her interview with the Brownbill Effect. Leah reveals her motivation for founding Pathways Melbourne and what's led her to where she is today. A very interesting read! Access the full article HERE


The Good Edit Podcast: Episode 12: Transgender woman & activist, Abby Stein (pt. 2)
The Good Edit, host Rebecca Davis speaks with transgender woman, activist, author, rabbi, speaker and educator, Abby Stein. Listen to part 2 of the interview HERE


The Good Edit Podcast: Episode 11: Transgender woman & activist, Abby Stein (pt.1)
The Good Edit, host Rebecca Davis speaks with transgender woman, activist, author, rabbi, speaker and educator, Abby Stein. Listen to part 1 of the interview HERE “I’m a very big fan and flag bearer of people living a self-determined life" "You don’t wake up one day and leave, from a social perspective that would be really hard, but also mentally. It’s a process, it’s a journey….” - Rabbi Abby Stein


Celebrating the Day of Choice
Pathways Melbourne, a support group for Jews undergoing lifestyle change, is gearing up to celebrate a new holiday on October 27....


Forging a path to food security
In response to the increasing number of food support requests, Pathways has acted as a conduit for the supply of essentials through the generosity of our community’s food organisations. This service is 100% confidential.


'Struggling with Orthodoxy: New path for Erlich
Australian Jewish News - 22rd July 2021 - AJN Staff 'Dassi Erlich, who allegedly suffered child sexual abuse at Adass Israel school, will be..'


'Our work has doubled' - Covid impacts demand for Pathways
Australian Jewish News - 23rd May 2021 - Journalist, Rebecca Davis


"Yotzim Without Borders: Building an International Movement."
Leaders of international organisations serving those leaving ultra-Orthodoxy came together from around the world to examine the global nature and impact of the movement of people leaving ultra-Orthodoxy. Each panelist highlighted the different needs, challenges, and triumphs facing their local community – and the bonds that we share as a global movement. Moderated by Aliza Mazor, Chief Field-Building Officer, UpStart panelists included Leah Boulton, President & Co-Founder, P


Havi's Ritual Impurity
ABC PODCAST EPISODE - ‘Days Like These’ Edited & Produced by Sam Wicks (27mins) Havi watches from the car as the Rabbi holds a cloth up to the sunlight, peering at it for answers. It's a moment that will change her life forever... and set her on a new path beyond the stringent framework of the Orthodox Judaism she grew up in... where a complex system of rules shapes every aspect of life, from cradle to grave. LISTEN HERE


JOY 94.9 radio interview on Pathways' new confidential LGBTQIA+ meet-up group
CLICK ON BELOW LINK TO LISTEN TO INTERVIEW: https://static.wixstatic.com/mp3/32301b_563a104dbe1b4c2b99661dea068f6df2.mp3 Listen here to the Founder of Pathways Melbourne, Leah Boulton, speak on JOY 94.9 Radio about the new LGBTQIA+ meet-up group for people with life experience as an Orthodox Jew who want to talk about their sexuality, gender etc in a safe, confidential space. Contact Leah Boulton, leah@pathwaysmelbourne .org for more information or PathwaysMelbourne.org/even


'A challenging process'
By Peter Kohn, Senior Journalist, Australian Jewish News. At some point in their lives, people in Orthodox communities may question their lifestyles, practices or beliefs. Some may consider taking on a lifestyle and values different to those of their family or community. Sometimes the journey can be lonely or risky. With that in mind, Pathways Melbourne was established in 2014 and has been continuing to grow and mature as a more professional organisation.


Abuse Reports to Surge?
The impacts of Covid-19 on Domestic & Family Violence By Rebecca Davis and Sophie Deutsch - June 18, 2020 Photo: Eric Ward/Unsplash As lockdown measures begin to ease and the opportunity to reach out increases, Jewish Care is anticipating an influx of reports of abuse. ALMOST three months since the introduction of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, Jewish social welfare organisations have expressed concerns over the impacts of the pandemic in relation to domestic and family viol


Unorthodox - Stories of Escape
Over 1500 people tuned in to 'Unorthodox - Stories of Escape' to hear 3 inspiring female panelists and writers, share their courageous journeys of achieving powerful lives of self-determination. What an absolute honour for Pathways Melbourne to sit alongside Deborah Feldman (Unorthodox), Abby Stein (Becoming Eve) and Dassi Erlich (#bringleiferback with her own book on the way!) Moderated by John Safran in partnership with FOJAM, Melbourne Jewish Book Week and +61J June 4th, 2


Inside Melbourne's mysterious ultraorthodox Jewish community
By KIM WILSON, Weekend Herald Sun, May 22, 2020 Top rating Netflix series Unorthodox has captured viewers’ attention around the world for its compelling portrayal of 19-year-old ultraorthodox Jewish girl Etsy, who bravely escapes the confines of her closeted community in Brooklyn in the hope of finding a freer life. The four-part miniseries, which reached No. 1 and has sat in the Netflix top 10 for months, is based on the true story of Deborah Feldman, who was raised in the u


Contributing to a global movement - The Australian Jewish News
Choice and Change: A Footsteps Convening, a gathering of international activists, academics, practitioners, artists, and the wider Footsteps community to examine the past, present, and future of the ever-widening circle of those leaving ultra-Orthodoxy. This convening was the first of its kindworldwide and took place at Hunter College in New York City, January 25-26, 2020. Leah Boulton was invited to speak at the conference on the global situation. FOR FULL ARTICLE by Rebecca


I lost my Haredi Jewish faith but I don't want to lose my family - ABC Life
Community, purpose, belonging — these are just some of the social benefits that can come from growing up in a religious family. But there can be negatives too, like the pressure to conform to a certain way of life. So what happens when you stop believing? FOR FULL ARTICLE by Sana Qadar https://www.abc.net.au/life/i-lost-my-religion-but-i-dont-want-to-lose-my-family/11885172


Finding a pathways - Jewish Women of Words
President and Co-Founder of Pathways Melbourne, Leah Bouton, says that with Pathways they “endeavour to create and have created is a new community of questioning, like minded Jewish people, who have shared in their religious background and religious lifestyle but are questioning whether it’s for them and the risks versus rewards. There’s a real comradery between them all.” Some Pathfinders have confessed they never want to hear a word of Yiddish spoken again and so they live


Ari's way: far from Satmar – The Australian Jewish News
Ari Hershkowitz rose to prominence in the 2017 Netflix documentary, 'One of Us', which followed his journey towards leaving ultra-Orthodoxy. He spoke candidly with Rebecca Davis about his past struggles with sexual abuse, substance addiction and self-harm during his visit to Australia for Limmud Oz and Pathways Melbourne. FOR FULL ARTICLE by Rebecca Davis https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/aris-way-far-from-satmar/


Celebrating Abby - The Australian Jewish News
Abby Stein is the first openly transgender woman raised in a Chassidic community. She shares her journey with Rebecca Davis. FOR FULL ARTICLE by Rebecca Davis https://ajn.timesofisrael.com/celebrating-abby/


Leaving Orthodoxy: Forging a new pathway - The Australian Jewish News
'When men and women of the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox community chose to leave the world they were raised in, the challenges can be overwhelming and the ramifications far reaching," Leah Boulton, co-founder and president of Pathways Melbourne told the AJN. By Rebecca Davis
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