Hope you've had a good week. Today is a good day. We took another step towards 'life as we knew it' with pretty much all of the remaining restrictions lifted. We get to see human faces, gather socially in numbers and no limits on Shule attendance - what a gift no longer to be taken for granted. 9 out of 10 Victorians are vaccinated, kol hakavod! If you are still on the fence, I strongly encourage you to discuss getting vaccinated with your GP. This week, I raise a serious and heavy issue that continues to plague our community and all communities. Gender based violence, particularly violence against women.
As a Communal Rabbi and as a Police Chaplain (recently assigned to the Sex Offense Prosecutions Unit), I sadly know how prevalent and real this is. Nov 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which marks the beginning of the United Nations' 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Did you know that violence against women is the single leading contributor to preventable death, disability and ill health for Victorian women aged 15 - 44? That 1 in 3 women around the world will experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime? That in Australia, on average, 1 woman a week is killed by a current or former partner. These are horrifying statistics. We want to believe that our homes are a place of Shalom Bayit – places of peace, shelter and safety. But for many, home is not a safe place to be.
When we think of violence, we think of physical abuse – but abuse doesn’t have to leave bruises to be real and impactful. Social abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse and even spiritual abuse are devastating and soul destroying. Believe me when I say that family violence happens in ‘good Jewish homes’, in homes not far from ours, perpetrated by people who look just like you and I. What can we do? Each of us can commit to calling out disrespect when we see it. By refusing to remain silent when we hear sexist jokes or belittling comments; by reflecting on our own conduct and making changes if need be. We should also familiarise ourselves with the warning signs that might indicate violence or abuse. Listen to our friends and family and ask questions if we are concerned. Listen to, support and never blame a victim of abuse. There is powerful connection to this important topic in our Parsha this week, I will speak to it tomorrow, in Shule. I thank the wonderful organisations here in Melbourne that work tirelessly to raise awareness and empower us all to stand up and help eradicate all forms of gender based violence from our midst. I encourage all members and friends of our Elwood Shule community, particularly the men and boys, to participate in the Jewish Care and Unchain My Heart event this Wednesday night. Please scroll down for details. Together, we can create a better and safer future for all. Here's to a peaceful, respectful and safe Shabbat and week ahead!
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