When JWA Shabbat began some years ago, we scheduled it to align with the UN’s global campaign, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (IDEVAW), which takes place annually on November 25. The UN campaign has evolved and IDEVAW now marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism, during which organisations and individuals around the world call for the prevention of gender-based violence.
On the eve of JWA Shabbat 2023, which takes place this Friday and Saturday, as a women’s organisation supporting Jewish women, do we genuinely feel included in this wider moment?
Following the horrific massacre perpetrated against Israeli civilians on October 7, it was immediately clear that women and children were primary victims of terror, murder, abduction and more. Footage taken by Hamas and shared online by them documents their atrocities for the world to see. I won’t describe the contents, but any rational reading would indicate that rape and sexual violence were inflicted on a number of victims.
Such blatant and inhuman acts against Jewish and other women created a legitimate expectation by us of public recognition and condemnation by women’s organisations at home and abroad. We were disappointed by the silence, and on October 25, we released a statement sharing not just the impact of the situation in Israel on our clients, some of whom felt unable to leave their abusive situation due to increased antisemitism, but also calling out the public silence from UK-based women’s organisations. Disappointingly, some have become vocal only since Israel started responding to this unprecedented attack.
