Rabbis as first responders: a trauma-informed framework for clergy response to intimate partner violence in Orthodox Jewish communities

In Orthodox Jewish communities, rabbis and communal leaders are often the first point of contact in intimate partner violence (IPV) situations – before the abuse is named, safety risks are assessed, or social work services are engaged. This practice-focused conceptual article proposes a trauma-informed, safety-centered first-response framework based on research on coercive control, disclosure dynamics, and faith-based helping. It outlines low-risk initial responses, contraindicated interventions, clergy role boundaries, and warm referral pathways to social workers and IPV advocates. By positioning spiritual care and professional intervention as complementary rather than competing, the framework strengthens clergy and social worker collaboration in IPV response.