Welcome back to our series of WWSO member highlights! The work we do to raise awareness around sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) within faith communities could not be done without the integral support of our 17 coalition members. So each month, we hope to spotlight not only the collaborative work our members have engaged in, but also their independent efforts in ending SGBV around the world.
This month, we’re focusing on Jewish Women International (JWI), the leading Jewish organization empowering women and girls. JWI’s mission is to “ensure that all women and girls thrive in healthy relationships, control their financial futures and realize the full potential of their personal strength.” Guided by their Jewish values, JWI focuses on ending violence against women through innovative programming.
A foundational element of JWI’s efforts to end violence against women is their Domestic Violence Prevention and Training program. Within this program, they specifically have a Clergy Task Force on Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community, which advocates and trains clergy leaders on how to effectively work with families experiencing abuse within their communities. JWI has also created When the Vow Breaks for community use, a resource that strives to correct the misconception that domestic abuse does not occur in Jewish homes.
JWI is also a leader amongst faith based organizations in preventative curriculum in the effort to end Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). They have developed a variety of age-specific programs aimed to help young adults build self-esteem and healthy relationships, and to prevent dating abuse, including Strong Girls!, Good Guys!, and When Push Comes to Shove… It’s No Longer Love! They have even developed Dating Abuse: Tools for Talking to Teens to educate and empower adults on how to have meaningful conversations and interventions with young people on teen dating abuse.
Additionally, JWI empowers women through their financial literacy and economic security programming. JWI believes that “every woman should have enough fundamental financial literacy skills to secure her economic independence and long-term security” and has thus committed themselves to “making this knowledge base a cornerstone of every woman’s education.”
At the helm of JWI’s programmatic efforts to end and prevent violence against women and girls is Deborah Rosenbloom, Vice President of Programs and New Initiatives. She has been leading JWI’s innovative work for over a decade, and is responsible for engaging Jewish and interfaith communities in advocacy, resource development, empowerment of young women and leading several faith-based initiatives.
WeWillSpeakOut.US is thankful for coalition partners like Jewish Women International, for their creativity and enduring commitment to ending sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).
For more information on Jewish Women International, please check out their website at www.jwi.org or their Facebook page.
Stay tuned for next month’s highlight!