Rabbis learn to understand family violence
Melbourne rabbis have been participating in a course to increase their professional understanding of family violence.
Pauline Ryan facilitating the Professional Development session for Rabbis
A priority for The Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault (JTAFV) is the training of Jewish community leaders including Rabbis, Rebbetzins and community mentors to respond appropriately to disclosures of Family Violence and Sexual Assault. The JTAFV recognized the unique role Rabbis play in the community and have organized professional trainings by local and overseas experts to enhance their abilities to better serve their communities.
Over the last 4 years, since 2009, spiritual leaders representing the diverse Melbourne Jewish Community have participated in intensive programs which included in-depth discussions of family violence and sexual assault with an emphasis on cultural sensitivities, family law, legal issues, including safety notices and intervention orders. Referring victims to appropriate services and authorities was emphasized.
Recently a professional development and debrief session was held for the trained group of Rabbis to reinforce and further their understanding of the issues of family violence and sexual assault.
The session was facilitated by Ms. Pauline Ryan, Senior Clinician, Gatehouse, Royal Children’s Hospital
The role of the Jewish Taskforce as a specialized community support service was reinforced. The JTAFV provides training, community awareness, support and referrals to schools, parents and victims of family violence and sexual assault. We network widely with mainstream service providers and have compiled a valuable and current resource directory.
The rabbis who completed the course
Rabbi Arieh Berlin -Shaarei Tefillah
Rabbi Shamir Caplan- Beit Aharon- Arnold Bloch Synagogue
Rabbi Menachem Chanan- Kollel Beth Hatalmud
Rabbi Reuven Cooper- Malvern Chabad
Rabbi Aryeh Goldman -Yesodei Hatorah College
Rabbi Yaakov Glasman –St. Kilda Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Yehuda Hoch – Chabad of South Yarra
Rabbi Shmiel Yosef Hochhauser- Adass Israel School
Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn
Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant -Jewish CareRabbi Sholom Mendel Kluwgant- Yeshivah Centre
Rabbi Andrew Saffer- Aish HaTorah
Rabbi Tzvi H. Telsner -Yeshivah Centre
Rabbi Stephen Boroda- Kew Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Ralph Genede- Caulfield Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Ian Goodhardt – Blake St. Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Yisroel Greenwald- Kollel Beth Hatalmud
Rabbi Avrohom Gutnick
Rabbi Avrohom Jacks- Melbourne Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Yonason Johnson- Kollel Menachem
Rabbi Moshe Kahn- Chabad Youth
Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson, Chabad of Docklands
Rabbi Shimshon Yurkowicz- Chabad of Malvern
