Bat Melech

One in seven women in Israel suffers from domestic abuse. Violence against Orthodox women is identical to that of the general public. Of the Orthodox households in Israel, most women in this sector have no access to social services or rights-based organizations. In answer to this need, “Bat Melech” an Israeli based non-profit organization, was founded in 1995 to address domestic violence in the Orthodox community. Bat Melech shelters provide a safe haven, emotional support and legal aid to Orthodox women suffering from physical, sexual, emotional, financial and spiritual abuse by their husbands and are in life-threatening situations. Bat Melech is the only organization providing these services to the Orthodox community to this day, now operating two shelters serving hundreds of women and children each year. The shelters operate under the supervision and support of the Ministry of Welfare in Israel. We focus on:>> Community outreach: Increasing awareness and reducing domestic violence in the Orthodox community through educational programs, public campaigns and more. In addition, free legal aid is offered through community based legal programs and a 24/7 hotline.>> Shelters: Providing shelter for any Orthodox woman in need of a temporary safe place. The services offered during this stay focus on rehabilitation activities for both the women and their children, as well as legal support and vocational training and job placement support all by professional staff members. The shelter hosts hundreds of women and children each year, with families having five, six and even eleven children each. Bat Melech is the only shelter that provides sufficiently sized living quarters to accommodate such a large number of children per family unit.>> Independent lifestyle breaking the violence cycle Women leaving the shelter return to the community, with hopes and tools to succeed independently. Bat Melech continues to support them, even years after they leave.