שתיל - שירותי תמיכה וייעוץ לקידום שינוי חברתי

On the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, we read the Book of Ruth --the story of two strong Jewish women who took their destiny – and that of the Jewish people -- into their own hands. So it was fitting that in the days leading up to this holiday, which celebrates the giving of the Torah, SHATIL's Pluralism Project had a "peak week" in its efforts to empower Orthodox Jewish women.  

The past few years have seen an intensification of activity by Orthodox women as initiators and activists for the empowerment of the sector, working for the economic, professional, social and religious advancement of Orthodox women. However, these women don’t necessarily know of one another's existence, let alone efforts. SHATIL invited them to gather on May 19 to connect, network, examine possibilities of collaboration – and to see they are not alone. 

"We hit on something that was a real interest and need," said SHATIL's Pluralism Project Director Shira Ben Sasson Furstenberg. "They don’t have a SHATIL of their own. They haven't been organized by anybody."  

A little background: Seeing Orthodox women as important potential agents for change, NIF and the Cummings Foundation offered grants to Orthodox women's initiatives in Israel. After announcing the grants in other than the usual places (weekly Torah Portion sheets distributed in Orthodox synagogues, religious newspapers – only the Shas newspaper refused the ad), more than 100 women applied, most of whom had had no previous contact with SHATIL or NIF. While only seven received grants, NIF and SHATIL staff saw a vast potential in the scores of other women who applied. Thirty of them arrived for the four-hour conference. 

The afternoon began with a "fair" in which each woman brought a display describing her project. The hall was alive with color and creativity – hanging fabrics, music, candles.  Among the initiatives: an intergenerational Jewish study house (bet midrash) called Mother Tongue for women from Kavkazi and Ethiopian communities (aimed partially at preserving the wisdom of illiterate grandmothers;) a Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) group for Jewish and Arab women in the north, a film school for Haredi women and several mind/body, movement and performing arts groups. (SHATIL will publish a booklet describing each project.) 

"There was such a variety of projects and so many new faces," Ben Sasson-Furstenberg said. "The women were excited to be meeting and connecting with one another. They wouldn't leave until we promised them there would be a continuation of this initiative." 

She continues: "I wanted the women to get a feeling that we are a sector. If you're from Bet Shean and I'm from Bet Shean and you have a group for Orthodox teen girls and I have a group for mothers, we should know each other." 

Connections were made. As one woman described a web site she is planning – with rabbinical permission - for Haredi girls to help them make critical life decisions, a participant who has worked as a guidance counselor in a religious girls high school for more than 10 years said, "This is exactly what my girls need!"  Names and numbers were exchanged throughout the day. 

Both the excitement at the conference itself and the responses to the NIF grant announcement and the call for steering committee volunteers point to both a groundswell of Orthodox women's activity in Israel and a thirst for more knowledge and connection. 

The women left with a list of new contacts, a description of each project and a promise that after SHATIL analyzes the day and their feedback forms, they will be contacted about the next step. Also last week, SHATIL ran a two-day workshop in Facilitative Leadership for 15 leading Orthodox women in Israel's NGO community. (Facilitative leadership is a proven strategy for leadership development that assists participants navigate difficult situations, effectively advocate for change, and lead collaborative processes.)

Also last week, the International coalition for Agunah Rights (ICAR) organized a demonstration, with SHATIL's help, in front of Justice Minister's Ya'akov Ne'eman's home to protest the Minister's intentions to widen the authority of the rabbinical courts.