WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

 

How can I bring Love Shoudn't Hurt into my school?

It is as simple as 1-2-3.

1. Read over the description of Love Shouldn't Hurt.

2. Download and bring the full description to your teacher, school principal, Midrasha director, etc. If they feel it is appropriate for their class (which they will with the help of your convincing) ask for some dates and times that will work for them

2. Give us a call at (510) 451-8874 to set up a workshop.

back to top

Ways youth have contributed to Shalom Bayit:

back to top

Bat Mitzvah Speeches on domestic violence

Liza Fisher’s Bat Mitzvah Speech

In my Torah portion, God commands the people, Israel, to remember their exodus from Egypt each year. Jewish children are taught to ask questions at the seder that refer to lessons about Passover. I have learned that it is important to ask questions. I’ve always asked why there is poverty, why there is spousal abuse, and why there is violence and war. I believe that the parshah’s message is to remind us that the reason God gives us life and power is to use it to bring freedom to ourselves and others.

I think the story in this week’s parshah, Bo, is relevant because there are modern plagues that face us such as women being beaten, war, world hunger, cancer, AIDS and poverty. I’d like to focus on a few of these today.

War is like a plague because when there is war the world is sick and broken, just like a vase shattered into pieces. And this plague, unlike the plagues in Egypt, is not sent by God but is caused by people. We have the ability to unite as human beings, but with war we crush each other. I think that instead of war, we should do everything we can to avoid violence and to negotiate with our enemies. In today’s parshah, Moses tried nine times to negotiate with Pharaoh. Only after the last attempt failed did he use violence. If everyone helps each other and we use our brains to negotiate, compromise and respect each other, I think war and violence can be prevented.

Another plague caused by people and not God is poverty. Many people grow up poor with not enough money to buy food, when actually there is enough food in the world to feed everyone if we use our resources responsibly. In the meantime, we can all do our share to help people eat: we can work in soup kitchens, donate food to food banks or give food to people we see on the street and try to not waste the food we do have.

Violence against women is a plague brought on by people. Alcoholism is just one cause of this problem. Poverty and unemployment also contribute because when men are out of work, are poor and cannot take care of their families, they feel frustrated and take it out on their wives. But violence against women also happens in families who have money, because people can be frustrated by work or psychological issues and take out their anger against their spouse or partner. We can help by making sure there are programs and therapy for people who abuse their partners. We can also support shelters for battered women. I’ve tried to do my share. Last year, I saved my allowance for two months and gave it to a battered woman who was collecting money for a women’s shelter where she had lived for two years.

For my mitzvah project, I decided to support Shalom Bayit, an organization that helps battered women. Women do a lot for others and it is wrong that they are abused. I would like them to know someone cares about them and wants them to feel good about themselves. I have made luxury baskets for some of the women that I hope it makes them feel better Also, I have asked all of you to donate BART and bus passes and used cell phones to help these women as they survive domestic violence. I send a thank you to all of you who plan to make a donation.

Thank you to all my friends for coming today and supporting me through this process.

Shabbat Shalom.

back to top

Become an Intern

Are you looking for a great internship?

Want to work in the Jewish community?

Want to meet lots of people?

Shalom Bayit offers internship opportunities for college students. Our college interns help coordinate Love Shouldn't Hurt, a teen outreach program providing valuable prevention skills and information to young Jewish women and men around the Bay Area.

We can help you earn college credit and get certified as a Domestic Violence Counselor by the State of California.

If you are interested, call us at (510) 451-8874, or send a resume and letter of interest to:

Shalom Bayit
P.O. Box 10102
Oakland, CA 94610

back to top