JWI answered a call to provide children in emergency and transitional housing with toys, games, stuffed animals, art materials and school supplies. There are some babies there right now, and we just brought over some things for them. Statistically, family violence occurs as frequently in Jewish homes as in others, those in the field point out. But Jewish women are slow to seek help, according to Dubin. We all have this image that it doesn't happen in our community.
Jewish women stay five times longer in an abusive marriage than others.
They have so much shame. Now we know it takes place in every community. And our acknowledging it is the only way women can seek the help they need. In an effort to reach out to Jewish women, members of Tamar Marin JWI have donated supplies for a Passover seder and Chanukah party to the Marin shelter. People come in around the holidays and make donations, but the rest of the year, people in shelters are forgotten.