Chief Rabbi: Anglo-Jewry must have ‘honesty’ to address domestic abuse

The Chief Rabbi has called on Anglo-Jewry to “have the maturity and honesty” to face up to domestic abuse in its midst as he backed a drive at Brent Cross to raise awareness of the scourge, writes Antonia Oettingen

Ephraim Mirvis joined staff and volunteers from Jewish Women’s Aid discussing the issue with shoppers as part of the UN international day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Monday.

Hailing the charity’s work with women, the Chief Rabbi said he wanted to raise “awareness of our responsibility as a community to eradicate abuse.  No community is immune from this, and it is an issue that we as a community need to have the maturity and honesty to face up to and address”.

The awareness event coincides with a campaign launched by JWA in the run up to the UN day which highlights the fact that domestic abuse it affects all women – young and old alike – within the community. It details the experiences of an expectant mother, a retired grandmother and a teenager, who came forward about being assaulted by her boyfriend after an information session by the charity at her school.

JWA executive Director Emma Bell,  said: “Domestic abuse – physical, psychological, emotional, financial and sexual – affects one in four women in their lifetime; Jewish women are no different. We urgently need to tackle this issue in our families and community.”