Mark Dratch

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Rabbi Mark Dratch is the founder of JSAFE (The Jewish Institute Supporting an Abuse-Free Environment).

Rabbi Dratch served as a congregational rabbi for 22 years. He was a Vice President of the Rabbinical Council of America, is chairman of its Task Force on Rabbinic Improprieties and responsible for spearheading and formulating its new policy guidelines for responding to allegations against member rabbis.

A graduate of Yeshiva University, he is a leader and spokesman for the modern Orthodox community, serving as an officer of the Rabbinical Council of America and a member of the Orthodox Caucus, a national task force addressing practical issues challenging the Jewish world. He is an Adjunct Instructor of Jewish Studies at the Isaac Breuer College of Yeshiva University and Camp Rabbi of Camp Morasha.

Rabbi Dratch has published many articles, in English and Hebrew-language journals, on the interface between Jewish law and contemporary society. He wrote a series of articles on Jewish ethical issues for the Ethics Project of the Orthodox Caucus. He also served as the Webbe Rebbe - answering "Ask the Rabbi" questions addressed to the Orthodox Union on its web site.

Rabbi Dratch has developed a special interest in the areas of domestic violence and lectures widely on this topic. His paper dealing with the Jewish views on these topics, originally distributed through the Rabbinical Council.

He is a member of the Clergy Task Force on Abuse of Jewish Women International, a member of the Jewish Advisory Committee of the FaithTrust Institute, a member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Religion and Abuse, and a speaker and consultant in matters of domestic violence in the orthodox community.