Rabbi Michael Safra's D'var Torah
5770: Traveling the Path of Meaningful journey In the Torah portion Lech Lecha, God leads two people through their personal journeys. We are most familiar with His command to Abraham, “לך לך, Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” But there is another journey that is also important. When Sarah is unable to have a child on her own, she tells Abraham to take her maidservant, Hagar, as his concubine. But when Hagar becomes pregnant, Sarah gets jealous. She treats Hagar harshly and the maidservant runs away from home. Read the D'var Torah
Seeking Local Jewish DV Organizations to Participate in a National Grassroots Action Plan on Behalf of Agunot In recent months, several national, international and local Jewish organizations concerned have been discussing new approaches to addressing the plight of agunot around the
United States. JWI has been involved in these discussions and has been joined, among others, by the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA), The Greater Washington Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), CHANA of Baltimore, and the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in
Israel. Read the Article
Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) Features Article on JCADA's Formation Have you ever wondered how JCADA got its start? This Spring 2007 article in the JOFA Journal explains how a 1999 news article in the Washington Jewish Week led Barbara Zakheim to start an organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence and abuse in the Washington, DC region. Read the Article
JCADA Founder Barbara Zakheim Interviewed on "Parents Perspective" Zakheim was interviewed by Parents' Perspective co-hosts Sandra Burt and Linda Perlis on the Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children. The radio program highlighted the fact that children are often the silent witnesses in cases of domestic abuse, learning harmful behavior that they may carry into future relationships. Zakheim discussed both JCADA's efforts to prevent abuse in future generations by educating teens about healthy relationships and the resources available to victims of violence and abuse in our community. Listen Now
JCADA Co-hosts Event Highlighting Plight of Agunot JCADA joined Woodside Synagogue Ahavas Torah in hosting a program, "Relieving the Tears of the Oppressed: Halachic and Legal Avenues to Help Agunot." Rabbi and Legal Scholar Yitzchak Breitowitz and Israeli Rabbinical Court Advocate Rachel Levmore were the featured speakers. Agunot Program Highlights
Annual Report for 2006 JCADA's annual report details the many programs and activities it has undertaken during 2006. Read about JCADA's work helping clients, raising awareness in the community, and educating teenagers about healthy relationships. Read the Annual Report
JCADA Supports Legislation in Annapolis to Help "Agunot" JCADA testified on February 22, 2007 before the House and Senate Judiciary Committee members considering a carefully crafted bill to stop someone from blackmailing their spouse by withholding a "get" or Jewish divorce when seeking a civil, uncontested divorce. JCADA was asked to testify by the Jewish Community Relations Council. Read the testimony
Local Religious Leaders Support FaithTrust Institute Pledge Against Domestic Violence JCADA led an effort to encourage 36 local religious leaders to support the FaithTrust Institute's National Declaration Addressing Violence Against Women. The national declaration states that domestic violence and abuse are intolerable and that sacred texts must not be used to perpetuate or condone such abuse. The FaithTrust Institute is an international, multi-faith organization working to end sexual and domestic violence. JCADA highlighted local and national Jewish leaders signing the declaration in a 1/2 page ad in the Washington Jewish Week.
