The new CEO of Jewish Women’s Aid has said that abuse of women and girls “is not a female issue”.  

Sam Clifford, who will be stepping into the role next spring, told the JC: “It’s really important that that violence against women and girls isn’t just fought by women and girls, but that we also have allies.”

Clifford welcomed the support of the Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who, as the charity’s patron, has championed the work of JWA, recently visiting their London headquarters. "Having his support is really important to JWA, and the charity is really thankful,” she said.

Clifford, 42, who will be taking over from over from interim chief executive Monica Tuohy, said that it was “having sons which inspired me to be a feminist,” adding: “I want my sons to understand that violence against women and girls is not a female issue.”

JWA annually supports around 700 Jewish women and their children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

It provides a confidential helpline, a therapeutic service and access to emergency housing. The charity also runs educational programmes in schools and on campuses.

The mum of two sons and one daughter said that domestic abuse was “still such a taboo subject. In the way that infertility and miscarriage are no longer taboo, we still have a lot of work to do to break down the taboo of violence against women and girls. Since I announced my new job, it has been sobering how many women have said to me that they have turned to Jewish Women’s Aid.”

Clifford, who lives in St Albans, Hertfordshire, has held a number of senior roles in the Jewish community, most recently as executive director of Finchley Reform Synagogue and as interim co-director of the Jewish Museum. She has also worked as a freelance project manager with organisations including the Office of the Chief Rabbi, the Jewish Volunteering Network and the Jewish-Muslim women’s network, Nisa-Nashim.

She said it was “always my vocation to work in the Jewish community. Sadly, we live in a world where violence against women and girls is never far from the news, and I am looking forward to bringing my professional skills and passion to help amplify and strengthen the work of Jewish Women’s Aid.”

The charity has been at the forefront of highlighting the silence from mainstream women’s rights organisations in response to reports of sexual violence committed by Hamas against Israeli women on October 7. “When Jewish women are not believed when all the evidence is there, at worst, this can be described as antisemitism and, at best, it is ignorance,” said Clifford.

Caroline Ratner, chair of trustees said: “Sam brings with her a passion for women’s causes and a wealth of experience working within the Jewish community.

"We look forward to working closely with Sam once she takes up her post in the spring.”