“A book that teaches and inspires … Newcomers and veterans of the campaign against abuse will appreciate Kaufman’s book for its thorough overview of the subject and its insightful analysis of current needs … Her book challenges us to roll up our sleeves and get busy.”

“In Sins of Omission (Kaufman) artfully blends sharp research skills with a comprehensive understanding of complicated social, religious and legal factors, and, as a gifted writer, offers a lucid, inviting – and unsettling – scholarly study … Kaufman brings a painful topic to the forefront. Her unwavering single-issue focus speaks articulately, passionately and professionally … Sins of Omission will hopefully stir many to action.”

“Sins of Omission The Jewish Community’s Reaction to Domestic Violence is an important book with a compelling portrayal of spousal abuse towards women in Jewish homes … [it] is a powerful book that is well researched and finely written. It is a subject that we as Jews must, as individuals, and ultimately as a community, understand and confront.”

“Published a few days prior to Yom Kippur 5764, this is a unique and compelling investigation of the Jewish community’s reaction – or non-reaction – to domestic violence. Concerned with the sins of the community more than the sins of the abuser, Carol Goodman Kaufman finds that … rabbis and community leaders are not doing enough and are not informed enough to help the abused women in their congregations get the support, protection, and guidance they need … The author takes a hard look at the Jewish community, its rules, regulations, and followers, and discovers the ways in which it helps and hinders victims of abuse.”

“There are few statistics about the incidence of domestic abuse within the Jewish community, but industrial and organizational psychologist Kaufman underscores that it does exist and that it must be acknowledged and dealt with openly within the framework of Jewish tradition. Covering the subject from sociological, religious and legal viewpoints, supplemented by an exhaustive analysis of interviews with survivors, rabbis and lay leaders in the Boston area … the case studies humanize the problem, and this work brings into the open this sadly neglected issue within the Jewish community.”

“We have known for some time that Jewish men do in fact abuse their wives and children. Thanks to Carol Goodman Kaufman, we now also know that the Jewish community responds in a most shameful way. Sins of Omission reminds us of our responsibility towards others – and if we refuse to help our neighbors, we are guilty of a very grave sin indeed.”