Shliach Joins Nassau County Panel on Domestic Violence

On Oct 1, 2010, Rabbi Anchelle Perl, director of Chabad of Mineola and the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education, was appointed by the Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, to join a distinguished panel of individuals representing health and human services, education, law enforcement and the judiciary to review the problems of family and domestic violence in Nassau County.

Family violence permeates every fabric of our society, and it’s tragic impact can be seen in the most vulnerable casualties – our children, who are either the victims of family violence or are victimized by their observation of violent behaviors within their families.

Does domestic violence really happen in the Jewish community?

Several prevalent myths lead Jews to doubt that domestic violence is a Jewish problem. One such myth is that Jewish families are loving, nurturing and harmonious. “Shalom bayit,” domestic tranquility, is a central ideal in Judaism, but unfortunately it is not the reality in many homes.

Another myth is that domestic violence is limited to families that are less educated, of low socioeconomic status. In fact, individuals with all levels of social power, status and connection can choose to exert control over those close to them. With enough forcefulness, an abuser can victimize anyone, regardless of the person’s resources.

We all want to believe that domestic violence happens only to others–not to people who live near us, who sit with us in shul, whose children go to school with our children, who are our sisters, mothers, or friends. This belief can prevent us from recognizing dangerous situations and from being able to reach out to and support women who are being abused.