For Abused Women and Their Children

Since its establishment in 1982, the Israeli association known as “Woman to Woman” has been in the forefront of the struggle against family violence in Israel and has spearheaded professional excellence and social change.

Woman to Woman, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the victims of domestic violence in Israel, established the Jerusalem Shelter for Battered Women in 1982. Since then, under the auspices and supervision of the Israel Ministry of Social Affairs, it has aided hundreds of women who have suffered abuse at the hands of their partners. The Shelter provides physical haven and emotional security for women from all over the country regardless of religion, race, nationality, age, education or economic situation. They are referred to us by welfare authorities and social services, the police, hospitals, and emergency centers.

Personal story

For 20 years I lived with a violent man

N, from a town in the southern part of Israel and the mother of four children, shares her story with us:

For 20 years I lived with a violent man. For 20 years I held everything inside. I told no one about the beatings, the curses, the threats. I was afraid – afraid that if I talked, if I tried to get up and do something – anything – about it, the intolerable situation would become even worse. He abused me physically, emotionally and economically: I couldn’t buy anything without going through him first, and if I did dare to buy something I knew he wouldn’t like, I had to hide it from him. He didn’t let me go out. When I wanted to try studying something, he discouraged me and told me I wasn’t up to it. He was good at finding ways to keep me from doing anything that might make me feel good about myself, and it hurt and angered him that I even wanted to try. Any attempt to do something I wanted for myself resulted in threats, curses, and beatings. All stories

Our Programs

Residential Shelter

The shelter is a protected living environment that provides women and their children with physical and safe shelter.

Children’s Center

The children`s home operates all year round and provides children with a warm, supportive and enriching environment.

Legal Aid

Provides women with legal assistance, from the time they arrive at the shelter until the end of the proceedings

Halfway Housing

Apartments for women who choose to start an independent life and still need guidance, support and rehabilitation.

Community Integration

Former shelter residents continue to recieve guidance and support as they integrate into the community.

1,000

New life saved

From settlements in Israel

180

Supportive professionals

365

Aid days a year

Woman to Woman Promotes Change

The association is an arrowhead for social change, raising public awareness of the issue of violence against women and changing policy. The "Woman to Woman" association accompanies the women after leaving the shelter and the transition apartments. The escort program includes: Continued counseling, relief and legal representation. Representation and exercise of rights: housing, pensions and allowances, employment and education, support groups, targeted intervention in crisis situations, continued assistance to children in studies and in contact with the school.