It's not that we don't know it happens. The problem is that we never talk about it. The study by Jewish Women's Aid, which found that one in four Jewish women are victims of domestic abuse, must be the cue for our community to prise open the lid of secrecy and fear that, too often, shields its perpetrators.
For those suffering abuse this will be a difficult, nigh-on impossible task to accomplish alone. Which is why we need to start by recognising, as the survey highlights, that domestic abuse is a collective problem that our community must deal with together. So we call on rabbis of all denominations to add this message to their sermons this Shabbat: victims, we are listening; abusers, you will be held to account for your crimes.
