Any woman suffering from domestic abuse must contend with enormous difficulties in escaping an abusive relationship. These difficulties are even more daunting for Orthodox women. Until Bat Melech was established, battered Orthodox women had nowhere to turn to for help.
For a number of reasons, Orthodox women in abusive relationships do not take advantage of the social services provided for abused women. First, they fear the stigma associated generally with welfare services in the Orthodox community. Second, they distrust non-religious authorities; the Orthodox community generally does not look kindly on members who seek outside help for domestic problems.
Many Orthodox women fear that admitting openly that their husbands beat them will negatively impact the religious community’s perception of their families.
Bat Melech is the only organization in Israel to respond to this urgent need by providing apartments that serve as shelters for abused Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox women.
Today, Bat Melech runs a network of shelters and safe havens that provide social, financial, emotional, and legal assistance to women and their children, who are victims of domestic violence.
“תל אביב זו עיר של הומואים ונשים חד הוריות, עיר שבה הגבריות לא לגיטימית. אם אתה גבר סטרייט בתל אביב, אתה מרגיש כמעט צורך להתנצל. לא סתם מובילי המחאה החברתית – סתיו שפיר ודפני ליף – הן נשים.
תל אביב היא הסמל להתערערות מוסד המשפחה בישראל. גדל בתל אביב דור חולה של ילדים לנשים חד הוריות. אין להם אבא, אז הם חושבים שביבי אבא שלהם ודורשים ממנו לחם ועבודה.”
Painting of the Vilna Gaon from Yesodei Hatorah School corridor wall
Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna – The Vilna Gaon – Leader of Lithuanian Jewry, Torah scholar and kabbalist. Born: Vilna, Lithuania, 1720 Died: 19 Tishrei Vilna, Lithuania,1797
Popularly referred to as the Vilna Gaon, the Gra (initials of Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu), or simply as the Gaon. Considered to be the greatest Torah scholar of the past two centuries.
Even as a child Eliyahu of Vilna amazed the congregation when, at the age of 7, he delivered a learned discourse in the Great Synagogue in Vilna. By 10 years of age he had surpassed all his teachers, and, studying by himself with total concentration, he acquired knowledge of the vastness of Torah in both its revealed and mystical aspects. Every minute of his life was devoted to Torah study. He never slept more than two hours in a 24-hour period; he never accepted any rabbinic post or leadership of a yeshivah. He taught few disciples, selected from the foremost Torah scholars of his time. He also mastered astronomy, mathematics and music.
Known for fierce opposition to Chassidut, which was initiated in 1736 by the Baal Shem Tov, he and his followers in this anti-Chassidic Movement were known as “Mitnagdim,” or opponents. Their opposition was based on the beliefs, vigorously denied by Chassidic leaders, that Chassidut took liberties with the Oral Law, that it substituted emotion for intellect in the Study of Torah, that its form of prayer departed too far from the traditional form of prayer, etc.
The Vilna Gaon cleared a new path to Talmud study, focusing on gaining a clear understanding through keen analysis of the principals and approaches of the early authorities. His methodology stood in sharp contrast to the pilpul system of the Polish yeshivahs, an intricate system of creating a complex framework with which a series of questions would be answered. He toiled hard on emending the the talmudic and midrashic texts. Subsequent discoveries of ancient manuscripts confirmed the soundness of his corrections, which appear in the Vilna edition of the Talmud [Haga’ot Hagra].
His works which were recorded and published by his disciples, include Aderet Eliyahu, a commentary on the Torah; a commentary on Ecclesiastes; Shenot Eliyahu, a commentary on the Mishna, Order of Zeraim; Biur Hagra, a commentary on Shulchan Aruch; a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, a kabbalistic work; and many other works.
His commentary on the Torah is filled with interesting allusions that show the oneness of the Written Torah and the Oral Law, demonstrating their common source in Divine revelation.
The Vilna Gaon was revered in Vilna and throughout the world for his phenomenal knowledge and saintly character. One of his most outstanding disciples was Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, the founder of the yeshivah of Volozhin. Following the Gaon’s approach to learning, this institution spread Torah for more than a 100 years. Today most yeshivas follow the study pattern of Volozhin, keeping alive the approach to Torah pioneered by the great Vilna Gaon.
First, “Leadership” is and only ever will be located outside the state apparatus.
Second, a better solution to security than hope for a new defense minister is to de-criminalize laissez-faire self-defense whether personal or corporate, nonprofit, or for-profit.
Update date: 5/22/2016, 00:23 We are told that only in the End of Days will evil yield so much power over the world. It’s a reassuring confirmation that we are, in fact, on the threshold of the arrival of Moshiach.
As the awaited day draws near, the battle for emuna intensifies. People who dedicate their life to Hashem aren’t called role models, they are branded fanatic. Those who dedicate their time to learning Torah aren’t seen for what they are: providing the world with its livelihood. It’s the opposite.
The development of the Land of Israel isn’t seen as the greatest miracle of the modern age. It is seen as an “outdated” form of “colonialism.” The rebuilding of the Third Temple isn’t perceived as the fulfillment of mankind, but rather than the repression of Muslim rights.
As a result we stopped shouting from the rooftops, on social media, or in the press that our national mission, given to us by the King of the Universe, is the full development of the Land, and the rebuilding of the Temple.
Such demands are restricted to our private prayers.
Don’t let the world intimidate you anymore. We should be bold in demanding the Third Temple. We all must be resolute in demanding the restoration of the Jewish Monarchy, and the entire Land of Israel.
Even as the world accuses us of being theocratic, bloodthirsty, warlike, and primitive, we need to remind them, as well as ourselves, that it was this very Jewish Monarchy which transmitted the very concept of humanity to mankind. This concept enabled civilization to spring forth economic and technical advancement that has lengthened and prospered the lives of almost every human on earth.
But let’s entertain the world’s foolishness for a second. Let’s answer them on their level of banality. What will happen to the Israeli Arabs, and the Palestinians once we complete our conquest of the Land of Israel, restore our monarchy, and rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem?
Rabbi Lazer Brody gives us the answers:
Will the Arabs be allowed to remain in the Land of Israel once the Temple is rebuilt or do we throw them out?
If they accept the Seven Noahide mitzvoth, they can live in peace and security with us.
Does this mean they enjoy full civil liberties?
Yes, as stipulated throughout Halacha as the “Ger Toshav” status. However, according to Rabbi Yossi’s opinion in the Gemara, non-Jews will not be able to own land because the Land will belong to the tribes. But they will be able to rent.
Will they also be protected by the law?
Yes. Especially under Moshiach. The laws that govern man will apply to all of us.
Will they be slaves or second class citizens? Will they have to pay more taxes because they aren’t Jews?
Again, they are protected under the law. They can earn salaries as hired workers just like everybody else. As for taxes, they will pay less taxes than Jews. They will not be required to give the tithes that Jews are required to give Kohanim, Levi’im, and to maintain our Holy Third Temple.
* * *
Never let them convince you that what Hashem desires is inhumane or unjust. A Torah-based regime in Israel will treat every citizen with more dignity, more opportunity, and more human rights than any other regime the world has ever known.
It’s something we should be proud of.
Today’s world give us a sneak preview: Over the past 70 years – for every 1 Arab who died at the hands of a Jew throughout the Middle East, over 100 Arabs lost their life at the hands of their fellow Muslims.
Since the liberation of Judea, Shomron, the Golan, and Jerusalem, Palestinian life expectancy, real income, and general standard of living has skyrocketed. Israeli Arabs fare better than their counterparts in most of the Arab world. Does anybody want to ask the Druze up north about how happy they are to be in Israel, and not in Syria right now?
As millions of Arabs are running to Europe, None of the Arabs of Israel are leaving.
Already non-Jews do well under Israeli sovereignty. This is proof that under Moshiach, things will get even better.
We should scream to the world that we want this to happen. The key is not to be afraid.
