Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence chairperson Deborah Wiener runs a call service to help people in the jewish community. Picture: Derrick den Hollander Source: News Limited
"No community is immune, not the Jewish community either," she said.
The taskforce runs a safe and confidential support line, trains rabbis about how to approach issues such as family violence and child sexual abuse, and runs information sessions for schools and the community.
Ms New said they'd trained 30 rabbis from ultra-orthodox to secular communities to respond to issues of abuse over the past six years.
They have published the book Will my Rabbi Believe Me? Will He Understand about how vital a rabbi's response was to healing of victims.
"No matter how someone identifies themselvse on the Jewish religious spectrum, to them it was very important the rabbis understand," she said.
The taskforce also tackles child sexual abuse.
"If there is a child who is a victim of sexual assault, every procedure has to be put in place to make sure the safety of the child is provided," she said.
They notify police, and professionals and run education programs with schools.
"We teach (children) how to wear a seatbelt, or put fences around schools, creating awareness of child sexual assault is no different as a safety precaution," she said.
"That they have the right to feel safe... they have the right to say, 'no, stop that'... and a parent to have the understanding of the issues, how to recognise the red flags."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/jewish-taskforce-against-family-violence-breaks-down-barriers/story-fngnvlpt-1226720701617