State grant will help victims of sexual abuse

On May 6, the Fair Lawn Jewish Community Council will host “It Doesn’t Have to be Physical to be Abuse,” a talk by clinical social worker Lisa Twerski, director of training and special projects at the Shalom Task Force in New York City.

A panel discussion and question-and-answer session will follow, featuring representatives from Alternatives to Domestic Violence, the Fair Lawn Police Department, Jewish Family Service of North Jersey, and Project SARAH

The program is funded by a $1,000 grant from Women’s Division of UJA of Northern New Jersey.

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“When the Women’s Division sent a letter to UJA agencies asking for applications for this grant, the first thing that came to my mind is that with the economy being what it is, a program on domestic abuse – including non-physical forms of abuse such as strict financial and social control – would be the perfect women’s issue,” said Eileen Dubin, president of the council.

“With people losing jobs, tempers tend to rise,” she said. “It has been substantiated with Jewish Family Services that domestic abuse cases are also on the rise as a result of these stressful situations.”

Under the guidance of community leaders including Shevi Yudin, Dubin formulated a program idea that won the grant out of a field of 18 applicants.

A unique aspect of this public education program, to be held at 7:45 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, 40-25 Fair Lawn Ave., is the ability to submit an anonymous question beforehand by emailing fairlawnjcc@gmail.com.

“Every person going in will get a folder with packets from all the agencies present,” said Dubin. “We’d like to see men, women, and young girls who are in dating situations. It’s not just for those who think they’re in an abusive relationship; you might have friends in the situation and want to give them resources.”