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18 Harv. Women's L.J. 171 (1995)
Lifting the Veil of Secrecy: Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community

handle is hein.journals/hwlj18 and id is 177 raw text is: LIFTING THE VEIL OF SECRECY: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BEVERLY HORSBURGH* INTRODUCTION Recently I interviewed rabbis in the south Florida area and asked them if any of the women in their congregations were battered. Some of their responses indicated a belief that domestic violence is virtually nonex- istent in the Jewish community. A Reform rabbi: I hold discussions in the temple on domestic violence. It is a Jewish problem as well as a non-Jewish problem. Jewish law forbids domestic violence. It is contrary to the Jewish tradition. Some women have confided in me that they are abused, but I really don't know how many women in my congregation are in this situation. I don't think battered women are comfortable talking to rabbis. A Conservative rabbi: Rabbis have become more aware of domestic violence among Jews. We discuss it in our sermons. I am not aware of any particular woman who is battered in my congregation. There is a real problem, however, in the Jewish religious courts. A modem Orthodox rabbi: I know two women in my congregation who are abused. I counseled them to leave their husbands. In one case I gave money to the woman so that she could afford to leave. Unfortunately she re- turned to her husband. What can you do? An Orthodox synagogue Associate Professor of Law, St. Thomas University School of Law; J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 1987; B.A., Smith College, 1964. I thank my colleague Peter Margulies for all his good advice. I also thank Janice Weintraub and Joan Childs, psychiatric social workers who helped me contact Jewish battered women in my community. I appreciate the dedication of my research assistants, Jacki Cannavan and Julie Shapiro, as well.

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