Our Mission
| Jewish Women International, founded in 1897 as B'nai Brith Women, honors the concept of tikkun olam — repairing the world-through education, advocacy and action. Guided by a vision of a safe world for women and children, each of our anti-violence initiatives promotes the highest form of tzedakah by helping women and children become independent and help themselves. |  |
Looking forward, we see a new generation of women exploring their spirituality and invigorating our mothers' and grandmothers' organizational legacy with fresh ambition.
Current Events
The 4th International Conference on Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community, convened by Jewish Women International and partners will be a powerful gathering of Jewish and secular domestic violence service providers, advocates, survivors of abuse, social justice activists, clergy and seminary students, educators, social workers, lawyers, researchers, policy-makers, donors, funders and community volunteers. Building on the success of our three earlier conferences, the 4th International Conference will continue to position the Jewish community as a global leader in ending abuse for all women and children and will capture the diversity of Jewish communities around the world.
Conference Highlights
The Impact of Media & Culture on Teens with Jackson Katz, Ed.M., co-founder of Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program & Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabes
Healing Family Violence:Understanding Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Mary Jo Barrett, MSW, executive director and co-founder of The Center for Contextual Change, Ltd.
Danger Assessment: Identifying Risk of Homicide & Near Homicide with Jacquelyn C. Campbell, R.N., Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University
The Hague Convention: Implications for Child Custody with Families Fleeing Abusers with Jeffrey Edleson, Ph. D., Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota and Director of the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse & Sudha Shetty, Esq., Director of the International Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
The Impact of Violence on Children with David Pelcovitz, Ph.D., Straus Professor of Psychology and Education, Azrieli Graduate School, Yeshiva University
One Day Training for Social Workers & Advocates
Tuesday, April 28th, 9:30am to 4:00pm (6 CEUs)
Healing Family Violence: Strategies for Assessing and Treating Traumatized Victims and Families. Build competencies in healing family violence by viewing batterers, victims and Complex PTSD through a new lens; be trained in the Danger Assessment; and take home a lethality assessment tool with scoring interpretations.
One Day Training for Jewish Clergy & Seminary Students
Tuesday, April 28th, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
JWI’s Clergy Task Force will lead a special session for rabbis, cantors and seminary students to help them effectively and safely recognize and respond to domestic abuse, and support victims and families in their congregations. Pre-registration is required.
Advocacy Day: Wednesday, April 29th
Attend a breakfast briefing on Capitol Hill and then lobby Congress to support legislation that helps millions of abused women and their children. Training and materials will be provided for all participants. Pre-registration is required.
Networking & Collaboration
Special networking sessions will provide concrete strategies participants can take back to their communities. Topics include advancing the issue of agunot, domestic violence coalitions and challenges & successes in supporting battered Jewish women.
