Help Beth: Domestic Violence in the Austrian Jewish Community

In the Gemeinde magazine issue Nov 2015, the following advert appeared on page 10, to encourage victims of domestic violence in the Vienna Jewish community to contact ESRA for help. It is likely this was in response to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25th November).

The Gemeinde is a community magazine produced by the IKG, the representatives of the Jewish community in Austria. ESRA is a Jewish Organisation in Vienna which, according to its website, "is also a contact point in all psychosocial questions for Jewish people living in Vienna."

This latest advert is part of a long running campaign by the Jewish Community in Vienna, to make it look as if they care about domestic violence and people with psychological needs. Yet, both the IKG and ESRA have not attained their stated aspirations in regard to the Schlesinger twins and their mother, by their ongoing actions and inactions since 2011. They have failed to meet the standards as set up by their own website and have had an involvement to some degree, contrary to the aims of its supposed existence. Read more ESRA hypocrisy here, translated to English here.

It would appear that the Jewish institutions in Austria that have been set up for victims, are deliberately responsible for ensuring the abuse continues rather than stopped. Many of the names of the people on the committee listed below have been adversely involved, to some degree, in this ongoing persecution, most notably appeal court judge Konstanze Thau, Chabad's head Austrian representative Rabbi Jacob Biderman and Naomi Vorhand.

This hollow awareness campaign first appeared in the September 2009 edition. You can download this edition from their official website here, see page 5.

Here is a translation.

SHALOM BAYIT

Life without violence in the family

PLATFORM AGAINST VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY

Women's and Family Commission of the IKG (Jewish Community) has started a project together with representatives from ESRA and representatives of our community against violence in the family [domestic violence].

We want to know the causes of [domestic] family violence, we want to educate and offer assistance.

Women and children are mostly affected. But the men who become violent due to overburdening, we want to help with our campaign.

Women who are affected by violence often feel alone and are ashamed of what is being done to them. The fear of the violent partner and concern about the reactions of society, frequently leave them with feelings of guilt and powerlessness.

To support affected women and children, ESRA has set up an "anonymous support phone line" offered as a pilot project (as of December 2009). If you or anyone you know is possibly affected, please seek advice and support by phone, anonymously and confidentially. The counselling is done sensitively and with respect to traditional and religious practices.

We work closely with representatives of all Jewish groups. First, we will publish several articles on this topic in the Jewish media. On the 18th November 2009, an event will be held with experts in the community center.

We want to help by education, information and support options that the issue of "family violence" in our community as possible no longer a taboo subject.

Berta Pixner

Chair of the Women and Family Commission

Persons Committee (in alphabetical order without title):

Judith Adler,
Edla Biderman,
Jacob Biderman,
Agnes Buchegger,
Rita Dauber,
Oskar Deutsch,
Anette Eisenberg,
Paul Chaim Eisenberg,
Yvonne Feiger,
Lydia Fischman,
Yasmin Freyer,
Rosa Gilkarov,
Uri Gilkarov,
Schlomo Hofmeister,
Lili Kolisch,
Arlette Leupold-Löwenthal,
Ariel Muzicant,
Irma Pani,
Joseph Pardess,
Berta Pixner,
Tamir Pixner,
Nina Schamunov,
Susi Shaked,
[Appeal Court Judge] Konstanze Thau,
Naomi Vorhand.

Sure enough, this was followed by an awareness event publicised in the October 2009 edition on page 5.

Translation:

SHALOM BAYIT

Life without violence in the family

Launch Event

18 November 2009 at 19:00 in the community center of the Jewish Community

The women's and family Commission of the IKG and ESRA invite:

program:

welcome
Opening remarks by President Dr. Ariel Muzicant and Chief Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg
Presentation of the project
Vienna Jewish Choir
reading
refreshments

The project "Shalom Bait" is an information campaign in the Jewish media and various events to make the issue of "violence in the family" discussed and out of the taboo area. Those affected are primarily women and children and will have the option of an anonymous telephone counselling service that will be offered by ESRA from January 2010, to take advantage of. By widespread impact of the information campaign, this topic should be freed from taboos so those concerned can feel able to accept help.

Berta Pixner
Chairman of the Women and Family Commission

Persons Committee (in alphabetical order without title):

KV Judith Adler,
Edla Biderman,
Rabbi Jacob Biderman [Head of Chabad in Austria],
Agnes Buchegger,
Rita Dauber,
vice-president Oskar Deutsch,
Anette Eisenberg,
Chief Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg,
KV Yvonne Feiger,
KV Lydia Fischman,
KV Yasmin Freyer,
Rosa Gilkarov,
vice-president Uri Gilkarov,
Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister,
Lili Kolisch,
Arlette Leupold-Löwenthal,
President Ariel Muzicant,
Irma Pani,
Rav Pardess [Rabbi of Mizrachi Synagogue in Vienna],
Berta Pixner,
Tamir Pixner,
Nina Schamunov,
Susi Shaked,
Konstanze Thau [High court judge]

As promised, some articles were published, for example this one, with a quote from then Chief Rabbi Eisenberg

Says Eisenberg: "But of course it is the task of the rabbi, to try to avoid a divorce and to work towards Shlom Bait. But if you know that there is violence in the family, then it would be an exaggeration to work towards Shlom Bait. Then you have to help. "

Many of the people who are listed on the "Shalom Bayit Committee" above, will have been personally familiar to those who have been following the case of the Schlesinger twins online. Here are some photographs of those committee members.