Thursday was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, making this an especially appropriate time to reflect on the issue of domestic violence in the Orthodox world. Many assume that domestic violence is an issue with minimal relevance in Orthodox communities; Rachel Stomel of the Center for Women’s Justice, however, argues that this attitude is, sadly, very mistaken. She asserts that not only does domestic violence take place in our communities, but also that some of the systems we have in place – whether we mean the government sponsored Rabbinate, individual batei din, or perhaps even halacha itself – can be contributing factors.
This interview presents some disturbing realities. For anyone who cares about Torah and halacha, we need to face these questions head on. You may disagree with Rachel, but as she said on the podcast, raising the issue, even if we don’t know how to create airtight solutions, is a necessary first step.
Please listen to and share this podcast, and let us know what you think on the Orthodox Conundrum Discussion Group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/432020081498108).
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Music: “Happy Rock” by bensound.com