COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes
financial and volunteer resources to address the
communities’ most critical priorities locally, in Israel and
around the world.

Breaking Free:
Dinah Provides Legal Services for
Domestic Abuse Survivors
C haya couldn’t pinpoint what was
wrong in her marriage until a
friend took her aside and raised
red flags. It became clear that she was in a
verbally abusive relationship.

Soon after, the abuse turned physical.

Chaya knew her children couldn’t stay in
an environment with abuse. She had to
leave, but how?
She tried women’s and domestic abuse
organizations but couldn’t find the legal
advice that would be helpful for her sit-
uation. That was until she found Dinah,
the only legal representation agency for
Jewish domestic partner violence in
Philadelphia. Supported by the Jewish
Federation of Greater Philadelphia,
Dinah’s mission since 2015 is to combat
intimate partner violence in the Jewish
community in Greater Philadelphia
through advocacy, education and volun-
teer legal representation.

While domestic violence in the Ultra-
Orthodox and the Jewish community as
a whole is comparable to that of other
Dinah is the only legal representation agency for Jewish
communities in the United States, the
domestic partner violence in Philadelphia.
Getty Images
difficulty of uncovering and addressing
domestic violence continues to be an
obstacle. Those across Jewish denomina-
tions often decline to seek help due to secrecy, feelings of shame and isolation.

vices and answering critical calls from those who are ready, undecided or recently
“I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t have anyone to talk to,” said Chaya,
left their abusive relationships.

last name withheld for anonymity. “The only abuse [I ever heard] talked about was
“We don’t try to duplicate other services, our expertise is legal,” said Shana Weiner,
physical abuse. Once mine became physical, I knew I didn’t want to be stuck in a
founder and executive director of Dinah. “We field crisis calls and triage situations as
bad relationship.”
they come to help the client figure out what is the most urgent need.”
When she came to Dinah, Chaya received legal advice, support, such as custody
In addition to its current Women of Vision grant, Dinah was awarded a three-
papers, and guidance to devise a strategic plan to leave.

year grant from the Jewish Federation. Dinah used these dollars for increased staff
“Dinah was always available for a phone conversation and not only provided legal
support and an expansion of vital programs for community outreach.

advice but also helped with the emotional aspects of the situation while explaining
“The Jewish Federation cares for, enriches and creates a bright future for
my rights,” she said.

Jewish people everywhere, which is why we’re proud to support programs
Since its inception, Dinah has received support from Women of Vision, an affinity
like Dinah that work toward providing a safe space for women in the com-
group of the Jewish Federation that advances the lives of self-identifying women and
munity,” the Jewish Federation’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer Kelly
girls. Romirowsky said.

When Dinah received its first Women of Vision grant, it used the funding to
As a result of Dinah’s services, Chaya safely left her abusive relationship and is
launch community education workshops that discuss domestic abuse, Jewish myths
protected legally. She uses her newfound freedom to educate others about domestic
about domestic abuse, and a broad overview of the Protection From Abuse (PFA)
abuse and has, on occasion, dropped off books about domestic abuse to rabbis within
Act in Pennsylvania.

the community, hoping that it will spark conversations.

Through unique cases like Chaya’s, Dinah has carved a niche, providing legal ser-
“I speak out to tell my story,” Chaya reflected. “Because someone spoke out to me.”
12 MAY 12, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



YOU SHOULD KNOW ...

Issa Kabeer
Photo courtesy of Issa Kabeer
HEATHER M. ROSS | STAFF WRITER
F or some people, learning is a lifestyle. With five degrees and
more to come, Issa Kabeer is one of those people.

Kabeer, 34, is an actor, university student and a teacher. He
has a bachelor’s degree in comparative religion, a master’s in interna-
tional peace and conflict resolution, a master’s in comparative reli-
gion, a master’s in divinity and a doctorate of ministry. He is enrolled
now at Temple University, possibly for social work.

“My whole life I’ve been very interested in making the world a bet-
ter place than it was when I came in. I need to better myself and, once
I do that, I can help better things around me,” Kabeer said, explaining
why he continues to pursue education.

Education didn’t necessarily come
easily to Kabeer; as a first-generation
college student, there were challenges.

“I had no idea what I was doing
when I came in. College is completely
different from high school. In high
school, they kinda hold your hand, but
in college, you have to decide every-
thing on your own,” Kabeer said.

Kabeer tells other young students
to make sure they do internships, join
organizations and get a taste of the
careers they’re considering,
“Connect with your adviser, and
take advantage of the tutoring ser-
vices,” he said. “Don’t just go where
people tell you; take an ideogram test,
Myers-Briggs, see what you have the
aptitude for.”
He stressed that it’s important to
consciously look after your mental
health and be aware of your college’s
mental health services. Self-expression
is critical and, for Kabeer, that meant
acting. “Everyone needs to be able to
express themselves. If people just focus
on a career 100% they are unable to
really do self-care. Your passion is
your motivator, the energy for your
soul to keep moving and going. That’s
my motivator — it pushes me and
makes me feel alive,” Kabeer said.

After acting in 13 films, shorts,
commercials and video games and
working as a producer on 10 other
projects, Kabeer has certainly gotten
his name out, but he said his most
meaningful role was as a police officer
in “The After Math,” a short produced
in 2017.

“I got to learn about sign language,
and I had a wife in the role who was
deaf. I had to learn enough sign lan-
guage to speak my lines. It had an
intense message about modern affairs
[and] certain forms of violence and
brutality,” Kabeer said, wearing his
blue button-up shirt from the film.

Kabeer credits his interest in acting
in part to his mother, who performed
in several stage plays when she was a
child. He finds that his style of acting
gives him a unique kind of empathetic
experience in becoming another person.

“One thing I’m pretty good at doing
is I’m a good character actor. I wish I
got more roles where I could change
my accents. I imagine what this char-
acter would do. Who is this character?
Give them a backstory. I become that
person. People are complex. Everyone
has a story,” he said.

When not acting, Kabeer shares his
passion for education with his students
at his former school, TECH Freire
Charter School in Philadelphia, where
he teaches algebra and special educa-
tion. “Acting is such a great support —
teaching is kind of a performance.

Teaching and acting have a perfor-
mance element,” Kabeer said.

Kabeer explained what he enjoys
most about teaching: “When the stu-
dent needs support in order to succeed,
[when] I’m able to help them get what
they need and advocate for them. Every
time we work together as a team, we
succeed.” While academics and career choices
are important, college is about more
than that, Kabeer said.

At first, he struggled to find and
connect with other young Jews. Then
he joined Tribe 12, an organization
that helps Jews in their 20s and 30s get
involved with the Jewish community in
Philadelphia and form lifelong friend-
ships and connections.

“I love being with elders, too. I get a
lot of wisdom from them, but there’s
a great benefit of being around peo-
ple closer to your age. You have a lot
in common, including the identity of
being Jewish,” Kabeer said.

Kabeer was bar mitzvahed at Temple
Sinai in Dresher two years ago after
becoming more involved with the local
Jewish community. During the pan-
demic, he began attending virtual ser-
vices at Raim Ahuvim in Philadelphia.

Since joining Tribe 12, he has found
himself engaged in multiple retreats
and connected with study partners.

So, what does the future hold?
“I’m going to keep growing. I’ve been
in school, I don’t leave. I’m seeing other
things in the future,” Kabeer said. “[It]
could be law school, ambassadorship,
health care. But ultimately, whatever
I’m doing, it’s going to be supporting
humanity.” JE
hross@midatlanticmedia.com JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
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