Shalom Bayit - Peace in the Home

✨ Our Executive Director Naomi Tucker is at the White House to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)! ✨

This landmark legislation has been a vital force in protecting survivors of domestic violence. Shalom Bayit is proud to stand alongside national leaders and advocates who are committed to ending violence and supporting those in need.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act. And to celebrate, Naomi Tucker is attending the White House celebration this evening! Read more below on this monumental bill and what it means 30 years later.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/blog/advancing-our-nations-commitment-end-gender-based-violence

In an 8-1 ruling in United States v. Rahimi in June, the Supreme Court upheld the federal law that prohibits domestic abusers from carrying a gun. As Jewish Women International's CEO Meredith Jacobs noted, "This ruling is a powerful affirmation that the United States prioritizes the safety and well-being of victims and survivors of domestic violence over the desires of adjudicated abusers to possess guns. We must now focus on closing the dating loophole to protect all survivors equally, and we must ensure that probibited abusers relinquish their fi****ms." Guns are responsible for two thirds of domestic violence murders in the U.S. and 92% of women killed by guns in high-income counries globally are from the United States. This Supreme Court decision is a victory and critical protection for women living in violent homes.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/21/politics/supreme-court-guns-rahimi/index.html
https://www.jwi.org/newsroom-blog//jwi-statement-rahimi-scotus

Supreme Court upholds law barring domestic abusers from owning guns in major Second Amendment ruling | CNN Politics The Supreme Court upheld a federal law Friday that bars guns for domestic abusers, rejecting an argument pressed by gun rights groups that the prohibition violated the Second Amendment.

Israeli Hostage Amit Soussana Shares her Trauma Story with VP Kamala Harris

Amit Soussana, an Israeli lawyer taken hostage on October 7 and released in November, was the first former hostage to speak publicly about the horrific sexual assault she experienced at the hands of Hamas. On June 17, Soussana met with Vice President Kamala Harris and shared her story at an event focused on reducing conflict-related sexual violence around the world. In response to Soussana's account, VP Harris said, "These testimonies, I fear, will only increase as more hostages are released... We cannot look away. And we will not be silent." We applaud Amit Soussana for her courage speaking out about her trauma, which helps the world understand what happened on and since October 7. We must continue to draw attention to the terrible violence and global silence surrounding sexual assaults that took place on October 7. Read more below.

Harris meets with former Israeli hostage who described being sexually assaulted in Gaza Vice President Kamala Harris has met with an Israeli lawyer who has publicly described being sexually assaulted while held hostage in Gaza.

American Jewish University Sweeps Sexual Harassment Under the Rug

In 2023 Shayna Dollinger left the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University after her reports of sexual harassment were repeatedly ignored. Now completing her rabbinic studies at Hebrew Union College, Shayna's courageous demands for accountability led to an investigation, and unleashed additional disclosures revealing a long history of unaddressed sexual harassment at AJU. Shalom Bayit was extremely troubled to learn that AJU has refused to release the new independent report findings. We believe that AJU should demonstrate full transparency and accountability by sharing the findings, as other Jewish institutions have recently done, to make our community safe for women. Our huge gratitude and shout out to Shayna for raising her voice in strength and publishing her story in the J to say NO MORE!

OPINION | AJU is trying to sweep sexual harassment under the rug I dropped out of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University after the seminary failed to protect me.

Join us on September 15 for MY BODY, MY BOUNDARIES, a workshop for adults raising preschoolers and their children in Los Gatos

https://jlive.app/events/8636

We are delighted to announce new leadership as outgoing board chair Jerilyn Gelt passes the baton to a leadership duo: please help us welcome our new Board Co-Chairs Vivien Braly and Stephanie Levin. Thank you Jerilyn and welcome, Vivien and Stephanie! We are blessed to be continuing from strength to strength.

Vivien Braly is the Director of PJ Library Bay Area, a family engagement program for the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund in San Francisco, which she has led since 2008. Vivien has developed longstanding partnerships with Bay Area Jewish organizations and has 16 years of experience in relationship-building and programming for families with young children. From 2006-2012, she served on the Board of Directors of Congregation Rodef Sholom (San Rafael) and has served on Shalom Bayit's Board since 2021. She lives in Marin with her husband Ruben Arquilevich, and has three adult children, Jonah, Max, and Maia.

Stephanie Levin is the Executive Director of the Community Hevra Kadisha of Greater Boston and the founder of Ampersand Consulting Solutions. A connector, community-builder, and program innovator, Stephanie has served as a Jewish community leader for more than 25 years serving in leadership roles at the New Orleans JCC, Peninsula JCC, the JCC of San Francisco and Berkeley Hillel. She is a graduate of the Wexner Field Fellowship and is a trained End-of-Life Doula. Stephanie has served on Shalom Bayit's Board of Directors since 2021 and currently lives in Northampton, MA.

This seder, we invite you to include an excerpt which remembers those who are enslaved in their own homes. We can support survivors of abuse on their journey from subjugation to freedom. For this reading and others, visit: shalom-bayit.org/passover-resources

The Jewish community will come together on April 18th for an evening filled with inspiring programming, soul-nourishing ideas, delectable food, and delightful company in support of our life-saving programs. Join us in becoming a beacon of hope and empowerment. RSVP today! --> https://shorturl.at/uCX07

March is Women's History Month. To mark this occasion, let's lift up the resilience of survivors and advocates. This month Shalom Bayit is highlighting 8 women who inspire us with their leadership. We draw from their well of strength to continue working toward a world where women are free from abuse in their homes, relationships, workplaces, and communities. Thank you to our Sheroes!

#1. Danielle Elnekave-Ofek, Shalom Bayit’s 2024 Changing Lives honoree. One of the most influential women in the Israeli tech industry, Danielle created the Me Too UNless UR a Jew campaign, a grassroots global petition to end the United Nations' silence on sexual violence against Israeli women and girls on October 7th.

#2, 3. Dyanna Loeb & Jan Reicher exemplified extraordinary courage by telling their stories, standing in solidarity with survivors, and speaking truth to how Jewish women continue to be impacted by the horrific sexual violence of October 7th and lack of international outcry.

#4, 5, 6. Miriam Schler founder of עמותת איתך مَعَكِ (מעכי)- משפטניות למען צדק חברתי, Orit Sulitzeanu of איגוד מרכזי הסיוע לנפגעות ולנפגעי תקיפה מינית, & Tamar Shwartz of רוח נשית | Ruach Nash*t: These incredible leaders of domestic violence and sexual assault programs in Israel were featured at our Sheroes on the Ground panel, reminding us of the power of community and support.

#7. Rita Moreno: A long-time champion of women's rights, the incomparable Rita Moreno made her stage debut in 1944 at age 13. Now one of the world's most beloved actors, she holds the prestigious EGOT title for outstanding achievements on stage and screen - and even graced our 2022 Creating Hope stage as 30th anniversary honorary chair, standing up for Jewish women's right to safety in their homes and relationships.

#8 E. Jean Carroll ushered a landmark victory for women everywhere when she bravely sued and won two lawsuits against a former U.S. President for sexual assault and defamatory statements denying her r**e allegations. In her own words, her lawsuit was a "huge defeat for every bully who has tried to keep a woman down."

Over 30 rabbis from Shalom Bayit's Rabbinic Advisory Council convened at Congregation Beth El in an effort to support Shalom Bayit's mission to end domestic violence in Jewish homes. Today's topic was best practices for premarital counseling. Thank you to all who attended!

We are grateful to the J. The Jewish News of Northern California for lifting up the voices of survivors of violence in this week's cover story highlighting how the global silence surrounding the October 7th sexual violence is impacting Jewish women.

This article features our board member Dyanna Loeb and our former member Jan Reicher (who now serves as President of JCRC of San Francisco) who bravely share their personal stories.

To access the complete article, click on the link below.

Denial of Oct. 7 sexual violence haunts local survivors The silence, denial and justifications of the r**es of Israeli women on Oct. 7 are unacceptable, local survivors say.

Shalom Bayit Support Groups: For women who have experienced intimate partner abuse

These groups focus on healing from controlling romantic relationships through a Jewish lens.

SEE COMMENTS FOR DETAILS

No charge. Confidential.

For group or 1:1 support: 866-SHALOM-7 | [email protected]

Eighth Night: Lighting the eighth candle, we pray for a miracle of a violence- free world.

Seventh Night: In honor of the battered women who have died, whose souls call us to keep fighting, and in honor of all of us and all those who have survived, we light the seventh candle.

Sixth Night: In honor of the miraculous strength and courage of all abused women, we light the sixth candle.

Fourth Night: In honor of generation upon generation of our mothers, and of the children who will follow in our paths, we light the fourth candle.

Third Night: In honor of diversity in women's domestic violence programs, we light the third candle.

First Night: In honor of the fire and light in women's lives: we light the first candle.

As a special thank you, the first 10 donors to give $100 or more today will receive a ticket to our VIP donor reception on 12/6 with world-renowned child trauma expert Dr. Alicia Lieberman. Grab your spot now!

Dear Shalom Bayit Community,

Our hearts are heavy with the news from Israel. As a Jewish organization, we condemn the brutal attacks on Jewish civilians. As an anti-violence organization, we condemn the use of violence to control others. In this utterly horrific moment, let us hold each other close.

We are devastated. Almost everyone among us is touched by a connection to missing or murdered loved ones. Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian lives are lost. These are not just numbers: they are our friends, children, grandparents, nieces and nephews, beloved community. We are grieving, outraged, afraid. We fear escalation. We fear what will become of the peace efforts and progress so many have worked toward. Above all, we fear deep in our bones for people we love.

Shalom Bayit's clients, who know what it's like to live in terror, now face added collective trauma. Our staff, who hold others' trauma daily, must do so while now holding their own as well. What we know from our own daily trauma work is that even when we cannot stop a terrible situation, we can hold each other through it. Today we spread our wings of peace to say: We see you. We hear you. We hold you. We grieve with you.

In mourning and solidarity,

Naomi Tucker, Executive Director
Rabbi Eric Weiss, Interim Co-Director
Jerilyn Gelt, Board Chair

"This October, Shalom Bayit is partnering with synagogues including Coastside Jewish Community, B'Nai Israel Rossmoor, Congregation Bet Haverim, Peninsula Temple Sholom, Congregation B'Nai Shalom, and Congregation Kol Shofar to spread awareness about domestic violence in the Jewish community. Follow us for more information on domestic violence and healthy relationships."

Join us on Monday, May 1, at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco or Wednesday, May 3, at the Family JCC to learn more about the inspiring work of Itach Ma’aki (עמותת איתך مَعَكِ (מעכי)- משפטניות למען צדק חברתי).

Details and registration: https://mailchi.mp/jcrc/invest-in-peace-meet-women-lawyers-for-social-justice

Co-sponsored by National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco, San Francisco based Jewish Community Federation, New Israel Fund, Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club and our newest cosponsor Shalom Bayit - Peace in the Home.

We're elated to be gathering together to celebrate Shalom Bayit's 31st anniversary. Join Creating Hope Chairs Deborah & Michael Sosebee and Honorary Chair Roselyne C. Swig as we honor Beverly Upton and the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium and to celebrate 31 years of creating safety in homes in our Jewish community. Get tickets or become a sponsor now! Click here➡️ http://bit.ly/3miKvHS

Shalom Bayit seeks a warm and dedicated counselor/advocate who will provide compassionate support to survivors of intimate partner violence. This position will be part of the highly-collaborative direct services team within an empowerment-focused, social justice agency working to shift the Jewish community’s response to domestic abuse. Click here for more info: https://bit.ly/3J0fMre

SAVE THE DATE! Questions? Email us at: [email protected]