Clergy
As outspoken as the Jewish people have been about injustices inflicted upon us by others, we have remained tragically silent about the violence we inflict upon each other. Domestic abuse exists because we allow it to exist. We applaud the commitment of clergy to ending violence in our homes and in our families.
- As spiritual leaders, clergy are critical in providing support and healing to families experiencing abuse and in creating safe synagogue communities. When appropriate, clergy should be prepared to hold batterers accountable and help them in their quest for teshuva.
- As leaders in the Jewish community, their voices as advocates supporting public recognition of the issue and increased funding for services is vital.
- As members of rabbinical courts overseeing Jewish divorces, clergy must be prepared to understand that a husband’s refusal to give his wife a get is a form of abuse, and be prepared to seek ways to free these women from their marriages.
- As educators, rabbis and cantors must advocate for healthy relationship education for teens.
- As marriage officiates, clergy should provide pre-marital counseling that explores possible abuse within the relationship and insist on pre-nuptial agreements that cover that possibility.
JWI is pleased to share resources for cantors and rabbis regarding domestic abuse. We hope you find these helpful and that you will share your own prayers, sermons, text studies, articles and healing music. Please contact Deborah Rosenbloom at programming@jwi.org for more information or to submit your resource.
Learn more about domestic abuse.
Locate direct service agencies in your community.