Domestic Violence in the Orthodox Jewish Community
Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community One of the biggest issues affecting the Orthodox Jewish Community both today and in the past is domestic violence. The issue of domestic violence in these communities’ effects not only women, but the abuse also extends down into children and it is something that impacts their lives both now and in their futures forever.
The issue of violence is more severe in these communities because many of the wives and children stay with their abuser or do not inform leaders of abuse because of religious beliefs and fear of divorce and suffering. The Orthodox Jewish Community even encourages against turning in abuse reports, which is a severe effect on these victims. Although the Orthodox Community shows many signs of silent support of these actions, many other communities are reaching out against the silence to encourage education and prevention of the violence in the communities. Violence in the Jewish Community has a long history with both child sex abuse as well as domestic violence with woman. One of the largest forms of abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community is child sex abuse. Because of being abused as a child, studies indicate that the likelihood of both suicide and attempted suicide are greater than those who are not abused as children. (“Child”). Although psychologists deeply involved in these communities are trying to create prevention and treatment options, because of these studies above, many of these cases and actions continue to be ignored. “According to a July 2011 report from the New York Post, sexual abuse victims in some of New York’s Jewish communities have been routinely discouraged by rabbis from making reports from making reports to criminal authorities (“Child”). Because of the encouragement to not reporting this activity, children then get the idea that it is okay to be treated in this manner, and then could grow up and follow in their abusers footsteps. Other effects of child sex abuse include:
The issue of violence is more severe in these communities because many of the wives and children stay with their abuser or do not inform leaders of abuse because of religious beliefs and fear of divorce and suffering. The Orthodox Jewish Community even encourages against turning in abuse reports, which is a severe effect on these victims. Although the Orthodox Community shows many signs of silent support of these actions, many other communities are reaching out against the silence to encourage education and prevention of the violence in the communities. Violence in the Jewish Community has a long history with both child sex abuse as well as domestic violence with woman. One of the largest forms of abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community is child sex abuse. Because of being abused as a child, studies indicate that the likelihood of both suicide and attempted suicide are greater than those who are not abused as children. (“Child”). Although psychologists deeply involved in these communities are trying to create prevention and treatment options, because of these studies above, many of these cases and actions continue to be ignored. “According to a July 2011 report from the New York Post, sexual abuse victims in some of New York’s Jewish communities have been routinely discouraged by rabbis from making reports from making reports to criminal authorities (“Child”). Because of the encouragement to not reporting this activity, children then get the idea that it is okay to be treated in this manner, and then could grow up and follow in their abusers footsteps. Other effects of child sex abuse include:
References: Blackman, Meredith. "American Orthodox Jewish Women and Domestic Violence: An Intervention Design." SSA Magazine n.d.: n. pag. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. . "Child Sexual Abuse, Molestation Allegations-Orthodox Jewish Community Lawsuit." News. PW Parker, 9 Aug. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. . Grodner, Elana, and Jay Sweifach. "Domestic Violence in the Orthodox Jewish Home: A Value-Sensitive Approach to Recovery." Domestic Violence in the Orthodox Jewish Home: A Value-Sensitive Approach to Recovery. Affila, 2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. . Guthartz, Stacey A. "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY." Michigan Journal of Gender & Law (2004): n. pag. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. . "Project SARAH - Jewish Family Service of San Diego." Project SARAH - Jewish Family Service of San Diego. Jewish Family Service, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. . Rosen, Robyn. "One in Four Jewish Women Suffer Abuse in the Home." The Jewish Chronicle. THEJC.COM, 10 Mar. 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. . Silver, Jeanie. "Taking Domestic Violence To Task - Spring 98 Issue of Jewish Action." Taking Domestic Violence To Task - Spring 98 Issue of Jewish Action. The Magazine of The Orthodox Union Spring 5758/1998 Vol. 58 No. 3, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. . "The Issues: Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community." The Issues: Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community. The Jewish Federation of Columbia, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013. .