Over 600 guidance counselors from chareidi schools throughout Israel have successfully completed an intensive training course designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills to detect domestic violence and identify warning signs of troubled relationships.
The curriculum, crafted by Bat Melech’s team of therapists, was created in collaboration with the Chareidi Department of the Education Ministry and the Drawing the Lines initiative, a project founded by the nonprofit Sheatufim.
The sessions covered how to spot patterns of abuse, offer support to women trapped in harmful domestic situations, and understand the toll these experiences take on children raised in such homes.
The broader goal of the program was to enable counselors to pick up on subtle cues of emotional or psychological distress and intervene early, offering help to both students and their families before crises deepen.
Attorney Sarah Kaufman, who heads education and outreach at Bat Melech and runs its helpline, explained:
“The conversation around safe relationships requires not only the right language, but also deep sensitivity. Protecting the home begins early—by listening, by being present, and by preventing isolation. We teach counselors to do more than recognize distress—we teach them how to respond effectively.”
Bat Melech’s CEO, Attorney Noach Korman, emphasized the organization’s commitment to working within the values of the chareidi world:
“We consulted with leading rabbinical authorities and built a program that is both respectful and tailored to the needs of the Haredi community,” he said.
He went on to say that the effort goes far beyond reactionary measures.
“This isn’t only about reacting once harm is visible. It’s about preventing damage before it begins. This is an educational and ethical mission, rooted in values and communal responsibility. A counselor with the right training can alter the course of an entire family.”
{Matzav.com Israel}