As a Jewish person in the 18-36 age range, I would never think to reach out to SHALVA. I would think that I wasn’t religious enough, or that because I am not yet married, the services aren’t for me.
Personally, my family grew up going to conservative synagogues, my bat mitzvah was at Chabad, and now we only go to shul on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We celebrate Passover and Chanukah, but do not keep Shabbat. I did not go to Jewish sleep away camp, but coincidentally, all my close friends are Jewish. My partner is not Jewish, but his father was, so he knows the traditions. I identify much more culturally Jewish than spiritually, so of course SHALVA isn’t for me, right?
Isn’t SHALVA just for married, religious Jewish women?
Of course not. SHALVA is for everyone. Whether you are married or not, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can still be a part of your life. Whether you go to synagogue every Shabbat or haven’t been since your B’nai Mitzvah, IPV can be part of your life. SHALVA understands that better than better than anyone and what we care about is that if you need help, we are here for you.
Furthermore, SHALVA is hoping to prevent domestic abuse with programs that focus on building healthy relationships. Prevention and education are key to ending this insidious issue, and we’re out in the community trying to help in every way we can.
I no longer think that SHALVA isn’t a place for me—I am a Jewish person who wants to live in a safe, loving, and equal partnership. Of course SHALVA is for me. We are for everyone who needs us. And I am so grateful to be a part of this community.
Author: Maris Rosenfeld, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator at SHALVA. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and now lives in the city with her partner.
