In recognition of the White Ribbon Campaign and White Ribbon Day on March 7, JF&CS Journey to Safety is hosting a blog series this March, bringing four different male voices and perspectives to the conversation about domestic abuse. We look forward to your feedback and comments. Please forward these blogs to others to assist us in our mission to raise awareness about the White Ribbon Campaign.
Posted by Ira Schor
My first awareness of organized efforts to end violence against women came nearly thirty years ago. Hired as the director of an out-patient mental health clinic, I discovered that we provided services for victims of domestic abuse. These services stemmed from the efforts of a single extraordinarily dedicated counselor on our staff. I quickly realized that I had much to learn about this form of violence and of the disparate views held by society in general and the human services community in particular about its causes and what to do about it.
Twenty years ago, as a site director at Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS), I learned that one of our social workers was passionate about addressing the problem of domestic abuse. Her energy, commitment to the cause, and resourcefulness led JF&CS to create the Jewish Domestic Violence Coalition of Greater Boston (JDVC). The Coalition recruited members from throughout the Jewish community including those working in the field of domestic abuse, mental health professionals, and rabbis. This Coalition, which I later had the privilege to chair, still meets today. Among its many significant accomplishments was the energy and momentum it lent to the Jewish community to take an active role in lending a voice to victims of abuse and to building a base of allies; those who would take a stand against violence against women.
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