Publicly funded discrimination of women

Hiddush’s recent report on the status of women on religious councils revealed that of 450 council members, only 23 are women.  Furthermore, only one woman was appointed in the entirety of 2011, despite the 2010 acknowledgment to Rabbi Regev by Shas Minister of Religious Services of the need and justification of appointing women to these posts. The data on the discriminatory appointments to the religious councils is both embarrassing and illegal. While being part of the larger picture of the exclusion of women, it is also particularly egregious when it comes to the religious councils whose role to a great degree is to serve the religious needs to women.   We plan to launch a legal challenge to this unacceptable discriminatory policy.

To get a glimpse into the current energy in Israel surrounding gender segregation from Rabbi Regev to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, check out The Real News’ recent video »

Jerusalem Post:
Analysis: The power of Na’ama’s tears »

The Jewish Chronicle:
Battle in Jerusalem to keep poster women visible »

JTA:
Growing gender segregation among Israeli haredim seen as repressing women »

Ha’aretz:
Human rights groups slam deal for all-male rabbinical judge appointments panel »

Huffington Post:
In Israel, Spate Of Ultra-Orthodox Incidents Rattle The Secular Mainstream »

Huffington Post:
Israelis, Resentful Of Orthodox Grip On Society, Fight Back »

The National:
Some warn that Israel's secular lifestyle is in danger »

The Jewish Chronicle:
Battle in Jerusalem to keep poster women visible »

JTA:
Growing gender segregation among Israeli haredim seen as repressing women »

Ha’aretz:
Human rights groups slam deal for all-male rabbinical judge appointments panel »

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A message from Hiddush Director and Board Chairman

Dear Friends,

Many people ask us “Do Israelis really care about the issues Hiddush is working on?” or “Can anyone really make a difference?” To answer these questions, we decided to dedicate this newsletter to one of the key areas that are adversely impacted by the lack of religious freedom and equality: the growing phenomena of gender segregation and marginalization of women.

Thousands organized and came to Beit Shemesh just a few days after the Israeli television coverage of the 8 year old fear-stricken Na’ama Margolese who was assaulted, spat at and called a “whore” because of growing extremism among some ultra-Orthodox segments in that town.  Na’ama’s story captured the attention of the general public and the media, with wall to wall condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum.  Her story traveled around the world and was reported prominently by major media outlets.

Eight year old Na'ama Margolis and her mother Hadassa
Photo: Flash 90

For Israelis, Na’ama’s story was just one link in a chain of recent events.  From the new phenomenon of soldiers who insist on leaving army events where female fellow soldiers sing, to repeated instances of illegal intimidation of women on gender segregated buses when they refuse to move to the back of the bus, to advertising campaigns that all of a sudden chose to omit women from the images, religious extremism is becoming more and more public; a campaign aimed at encouraging Jerusalem residents to sign organ donor cards excluded all images of women. An annual conference of medical experts and rabbis organized by a religious organization dedicated to issues of fertility and Jewish law not only separated men and women in the audience but insisted on a male only speaker lineup.  Unfortunately, the list goes on.

So to the question “Do Israelis really care about the issues Hiddush is working on?”, one must only look at the widespread public uproar expressed in demonstrations, petitions and social media protests.  Israelis care passionately about what is perceived as a growing threat of religious fundamentalism manifesting itself throughout Israeli society.

As a result, many responsible for these acts of discrimination found themselves under enough pressure to change.  In the army, the Chief of Staff and head of Human Resources declared that as much as accommodation of religious soldiers should be pursued, this should in no way be allowed to interfere with the equal role of female soldiers, such as interfering in their singing.  The National Transplant Center apologized and relaunched their campaign with women included.  Most of the doctors who were scheduled to appear in the fertility conference pulled out of the event and the ethics committee of the Israeli Medical Association declared participation of doctors in gender segregated events as an ethical offense.  The police have stepped up their enforcement of the law in gender related offences.

Protest against gender segregation in Mea Shearim
the sign reads "A woman is not shameful"
Photo: Gili Yairi, Flash 90

While we chose to focus on gender related examples, it should be clear that if we address only the latest heinous violence against women and gender segregation, we will not resolve the problem.  As Hiddush told the Jerusalem Post, there is a deeper-rooted problem of religious extremism threatening the soul of Israel and affecting the lives of all Israelis. Public resentment of matters of religion and state grows, and the desire to see freedom of religion and equality reign grow along with it.

Next time you ask yourself, “Do Israelis really care?” or “Can we actually make a difference?”, know that the answer is a resounding yes.

Erasing women from the public sphere. Literally.

“LaDa’at”, an ultra-Orthodox news site, joined the ranks of like ultra-Orthodox publications who refuse to picture any woman.  The coverage of the Foreign Relations and Security Knesset committee on the Tal Law, which discussed ultra-Orthodox army service included a photograph of MK Shaul Mofaz, MK Yohanan Plesner, and blurred out version of Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivai’s face because of the news site’s “modesty” policies.  Hiddush publicized this blatant disrespect for Maj. Gen. Barbivai saying “It’s time for LaDa’at to come back to reality.  Erasing her face will not change the fact that women deserve equality and respect in Israel. If it is forbidden to see a woman’s face, one must wonder why it is acceptable for the ultra-Orthodox members of Knesset to do so, particularly because this is how they receive public funds for their constituencies who blot out their faces elsewhere”.

See Hiddush’s coverage here

Meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee about Tal Law. From the right- Knesset member Shaul Mofaz, Head of the committee, Knesset member Yohanan Plesner, head of the Tal law supervision team, Head of Army HR Major General Orna Barbivai.
23.1.12. Photo: Kobi Gideon, Flash 90.