Reyut Pledge

In order to kick off the month of February, which is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we have created the Reyut Pledge.  No matter who we are, no matter where we live, each of us can find small and large ways to make a difference on issues of gender violence, teen dating violence, and intimate partner violence.  Take a minute to sign the pledge.  Commit yourself to being part of the community calling for, and creating, change!

Then help us spread the message.  We will be a loud voice calling for change this month!  Make sure your friends and family take the pledge as well.  Share this link with others and on social media.  By raising awareness we make a difference!  We all deserve healthy relationships.  Join us in pledging to do our part.

Ari & Sari

I was facebook stalking you....

“Did you and David break up?”

“Yeah how did you know?”

“Oh, I was facebook stalking you.” 

Comments like this are made all the time in our daily conversations and we think nothing of it.  However, this language is problematic. Too often after a break up stalking becomes a reality.  When we trivialize the situation in our every day language and make light of it, we minimize the experience of survivors.

Moreover, these types of comments point out the reality of living in the digital age.  Technologies and social medias like facebook make stalking easier for perpetrators.  To learn more about Stalking and how technology can be used to stalk go to the National Stalking Awareness Month website.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month.  Lets take this month to educate ourselves and others’ about the realities and seriousness of stalking.  6.6 million people are stalked every year in the United States.  Women and men are victims of stalking.  At the root of stalking is the attempt of a perpetrator to gain power and control over their victim - typically through actions meant to terrorize them. 

Moreover, often the stalker is someone you know.

We  know that 66% of female victims and 41% of male victims of stalking are stalked by a current or former intimate partner.  Stalking often occurs after a relationship ends because the partner is upset about losing power and control.  They begin to stalk their former partner in an attempt to regain that power and control.  

We can help our family, friends, students, congregants, or campers, if we know the warning signs.  What should you be on the look out for?  Common forms of stalking after a break up are: constant texting, constant calling, unwelcome visits, contacting friends or family to get in contact with the partner they lost, sending packages, threatening to hurt themselves or others (including animals.)  If you notice these things they may be warning signs of unhealthy behaviors.  You can learn more facts by clicking here, and to learn about safety planning click here.

Stalking is a serious issue.  It can effect an individuals mental and physical health.  It can have an impact on employment and school work.  It is important that we take this issue seriously and support individuals who experience stalking by acknowledging and respecting the impact it has on a survivor.

We at Reyut encourage you to spread the word during Stalking Awareness Month.  Share these resources.  Share this blog post.  Most importantly have these conversations with the people you care about.  No one thinks this will effect them or their community, but if we are informed we can help ourselves and others.  We can make a difference.

The Talmud teaches that a man should never terrorize his household (Gittin 6b-7a).  Our ancient text recognized that terror can be used as a destructive tool for maintaining control and power over others.  There is no justification for this unhealthy behavior.  Let's make our communities safer places through awareness and education.  Join us!

We all deserve to find Reyut...a relationship of respect, friendship, and love!