Jewish Women International (JWI), a 125-year-old organization dedicated to supporting Jewish women at all stages of life, has been at the forefront of addressing domestic abuse in the Jewish community since the 1980s. Through their “Here for You” initiative, JWI empowers organizational leaders at JCC Denver and beyond to support survivors.
Alana Blum, Associate Vice President of Community Response
“We want leaders to be equipped with the tools and resources to help survivors in their communities,” explains Alana Blum, Associate Vice President of Community Response at JWI. “There is so much stigma and shame around [the topic.] My goal is to get Jewish communities talking about domestic abuse,” she continues.
Recently, Alana’s team traveled to Denver to meet with organizational leaders in the Jewish community for a workshop on the subject. Then, the group brainstormed ideas they could implement in their communities.
“There are ways as an organization we can ensure the domestic abuse community are safe, like, do they require someone to escort them to their car, or should security personnel be alerted? Is there a restraining order in place, or do they need a referral from their organization’s leaders who have worked with Jewish survivors before?”
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in ten men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime by an intimate partner. “Just because you’re Jewish doesn’t necessarily mean lower risk,” adds Alana. A needs assessment conducted by JWI in 2021 demonstrated a significant increase in domestic abuse during the pandemic, affecting Jewish women and men alike.
Part of the training that JCC Denver Staff was recently involved in emphasized JWI’s general process: recognize, respond, and refer. “Recognize the symptoms, respond if they come forward, and refer them to services,” Alana says.
While one of the most important responses when a victim comes forward is to listen, believe, and validate their experience, “your job is not to be a detective and get all the facts,” she clarifies. “It’s to connect them with the available resources and create a safety plan.”
JWI is committed to breaking the barrier of fear that comes with talking about domestic abuse in the Jewish community. They plan to continue holding regular meetings with Jewish organizations in Denver, one-on-one consultations with organizations, and is undergoing a three-year project to develop an interactive, online knowledge center for self-paced training.
For more information, visit JWI’s Here for You website. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Discreet information posters are also placed in JCC Denver restrooms.
