Rebecca Chernin used her own experience as an Orthodox teen in an abusive relationship to counsel other survivors and raise awareness about domestic violence in the Jewish community. In her senior year of high school, Chernin ended her relationship with an abusive boyfriend with the help of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and began working for the organization. Concerned that there was no specific involvement with the Jewish community, she began her own outreach effort, contacting synagogues and youth groups. Chernin spoke from her own experiences to counter denial and resistance about the presence of domestic violence in the Jewish community. Engaging with the oft-cited Jewish value of shalom bayit (peace in the home), she counseled survivors of abuse that their abusers were the ones who had broken the peace of the home, and that returning to a violent situation was not the way to restore that peace. Chernin was honored with the “Hero Among Us” award from the Boston Celtics, as well as the “Voice for Justice” award from REACH.

Rebecca Chernin was honored at the 2004 Women Who Dared event in Boston.