FOR RABBIS, IN PREPARATION FOR JWA SHABBAT 23RD NOVEMBER 2019:  All of our main synagogue movements are asking every Rabbi in the U.K. to: speak out about violence against women in the Jewish community, in a sermon on Shabbat 23rd November; write about it for those who may not be in shul, perhaps in a blog or newsletter, and put a message of support on your website/social media; record a brief video message of support (30-60 seconds); put up the campaign poster (being sent to every shul) in your shul foyer; encourage your community to donate to help provide JWA’s vital services, at jwa.org.uk/idevaw2019.   RABBIS' RESOURCES: You can see what Chief Rabbi Mirvis and other communal Rabbis said for IDEVAW2018. Download an FAQ sheet with background information and stats Read client testimonies (anonymised) Divrei Torah Other useful resources and material

One in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in the course of her lifetime 

One in 5 women will experience sexual violence or abuse in the course of her lifetime

One in 10 women are experiencing domestic abuse at any one time

Our Jewish community is no different.

Rabbis and communal professionals are uniquely placed to notice domestic abuse, particularly as they meet people at times of simchas and bereavements - occasions when family strains often become visible.

Our Jewish organisations should be places where survivors of domestic abuse or sexual violence feel safe to seek help and support.

JWA runs regular trainings for professionals and key volunteers, to enable Jewish professionals to support their congregants experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence.

Some resources that Rabbis and communal professionals may find useful:

Our FAQs for 2019

Key traditional Jewish texts

Do not stand idly by and see your neighbour’s blood spilled – Leviticus 19:16

A husband should love his wife as much as he does himself and should respect her even more than he respects himself – Babylonian Talmud Yevamot 62b

Maintaining the dignity of a person is so great that it may override halacha – Babylonian Talmud Brachot 19b

A man who strikes his wife commits a sin, just as if he were to strike anyone else -  Commentary of R. Moses Isserles on Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer 154:3

Sermons/Divrei Torah

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks D'var Torah on Hayyei Sarah 2009

Rabbi Hannah Kingston Sermon on #MeToo 2017

Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi January 2017

Rabbi Miriam Bayfield Sukkot 2007

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein D'var Torah November 2018

Rabbi Lisa Barratt November 2017

Rabbi Lee Wax D'var Torah on Vayishlach 2017

Books & other written material

The shame borne in silence: spouse abuse in the Jewish community, Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski MD, revised edition 2015 Urim Publications

Embracing Justice: a guide for clergy, Jewish Women International, available online

Rethinking Sukkot, Purim, Shabbat, Shavuot: Women, Relationships & Jewish Texts, available online

Wifebeating in the Jewish Tradition, Dr. Naomi Graetz, Ben Gurion University, Wikipedia online