Understanding Causes of and Responses to Intimate Partner Violence in a Jewish Orthodox Community: Survivors' and Leaders' Perspectives

Abstract

There has been little research on intimate partner violence (IPV) in faith-based communities. This qualitative study examines social attitudes and religious values in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community that affect the incidence of IPV and prevent women survivors from seeking help. Interviews were conducted with 8 Orthodox women and 11 community leaders, and findings include the following: (a) causes of IPV were early marriage, separation of the sexes, and personality characteristics; (b) religious beliefs and social values were barriers to seeking help; and (c) the role of rabbis in education and marital intervention was viewed in markedly different ways by the two sets of respondents. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.