The National Council of Jewish Women Mission Statement

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

President's Message

NCJW President Sharon Falkin, center, with Helene Dreskin,left, recipient of the Hannah G. Solomon Award, and Karen Feinblatt, recipient of the NCJW Emerging Leader Award.

Since its inception in 1893, National Council of Jewish Women has been pioneering in its commitment to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families. NCJW's National Resolutions state that in order to advance the well being and status of women, "we endorse and resolve to work for the elimination of, and protection from, all forms of harassment, violence, abuse and exploitation against women."

Nationally we monitor legislation concerning domestic violence and make recommendations for action through Action Line at ncjw.org. NCJW sections throughout the United States report involvement in community service, educational or advocacy related projects to combat this far-reaching problem.

Our Essex County Section is no exception. We entered this arena twenty-five years ago when we established a task force to explore the incidence of domestic violence within our community. An outgrowth of this initial taskforce and its findings became the Domestic Violence Support Services, housed at the Linda & Rudy Slucker NCJW Center for Women. Its goal was to offer peer support groups and a crisis hotline for victims. Ultimately we found our calling by establishing the Teen Dating Abuse project, a proactive educational module for presentation in high schools.

The Teen Dating Abuse project reflects the latest research and approach to the issue. It is our belief that by going into classrooms, educating teenagers, and teaching them the signs of healthy versus abusive relationships, they will be able to make informed relationship choices for themselves. In addition, our trained presenters speak to youth groups, parent groups, and domestic violence intervention teams.

We collaborate with the Rachel Coalition, our local response to domestic violence, as both a founding partner, and as "on the ground" trainers in the field. Using our nationally acclaimed curriculum and our NCJW, Essex County Section award-winning video, Matters of Choice, we believe that this project can change and save lives.

Through our advocacy efforts, February has been proclaimed Teen Dating Abuse Awareness Month and we are launching our new Love Shouldn't Hurt campaign. Underwritten by the generosity of Audrey and Norbert Gaelen and grants from Target and The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, and partnering with local high school students, teachers, administrators, and town officials, our Section will not only be teaching in high school classrooms, but will be out in the community bringing awareness of this issue to Essex County residents old and young through a major advertising effort.

Sharon Falkin, President