Join the Walk Against Family Violence
The walk marks the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
On Friday November 22, 15 community organisations will join together at Caulfield Park to send a clear message that our Jewish community stands united against violence against women.
The Walk Against Family Violence is an annual state-wide event held in support of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25).
The walk marks the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
For almost 10 years Jewish Care has been immensely proud to lead the Melbourne Jewish community’s representation in this important endeavour.
However, in 2023 for the first time since its inception, a Jewish community event was not held.
The failure of the United Nations and other feminist leaders to acknowledge the sexual and gender-based violence of the October 7 attacks angered many Jewish women’s organisations.
Community education and partnerships manager at Jewish Care Cassandra Barrett said, “It was immensely disappointing that in the leadup to last year’s 16 Days of Activism, mere weeks after the events of October 7, the majority of women’s rights organisations failed to condemn, or even acknowledge, the experiences of Jewish and Israeli women that day.
“It made it very difficult for us to support the 16 Days of Activism.
“But while our hearts and minds have rightly been focused on Israel this past year, against the backdrop of war we know that there continues to be experiences of violence here in our community, behind closed doors, no matter how much we might like to believe that our community is somehow immune.”
“We want to send a clear message of support to victim survivors. We see their strength and courage; they are not alone, and support is available. Violence against women has no place in our, or any community and we all have a role to play in helping to prevent it.”
Rabbi Ralph Genende, consultant rabbi to Jewish Care and AIJAC, points out that last Shabbat the Torah reading opened with the words to Abraham, “Get up and walk from your land” or place of comfort.
“It is a call to every Jew, do not be a bystander to violence, get up and walk with and for those who are vulnerable,” he said.
“To walk is more than just to talk, it is about energetic activism against one of the continuing deficiencies of our society, gender-based violence, the shocking and unacceptable abuse of women. It is part of the covenantal Abrahamic commitment of our community.”
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann said he does not believe “boys will be boys”.
“I believe that boys will be what we teach them to be. It’s time that we started calling out bad behaviour when we see it. Violence in our community is prevalent,” he added. “We must stop sweeping it under the rug and tackle it head on and talk about what we can do to assist victims and how we can help prevent it.”
Community members meet at Caulfield Park at the corner of Balaclava and Hawthorn Rd at 12pm on Friday, November 22.
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