Research Notes

Israelis Facing a Seismic Rift Over Role of Women

-professor Channa Maayan writes a book that wins an award from the Israeli Health
Ministry; topic hereditary diseases that are common to Jewish people
-At awards ceremony Channa Maayan was not allowed to sit with her husband
because men and women were segregated at this event
-male colleague accepted the award on her behalf because women were not
allowed on the stage
-in Israel feminism is becoming a huge issue
-other events leading to this issue
-At a womens health conference organizers wouldnt allow women speakers
-An 8-year old girl was spit on for being inappropriately dressed by ultraorthodox Jewish men
-billboards in Jerusalem with womens faces on them were blacked out
-the New Israel Fund organized had concerts and sing-alongs in Jerusalem that
would highlight women; put up posters with womens faces on them reading Israeli
Health Ministry
-Israel Medical Association said that events were women are not welcomed on stage
should be boycotted by its members
-Ultra-orthodox Jewish man Rabbi Dror Moshe Cassouto wont look directly at any
women other than his wife
Israel's secular and moderate majority struggling with ultra-Orthodox minority
-the head of the event that would award Channa Maayan with her award was an
ultra-orthodox Jewish man
-the ultra-orthodox Jewish people are called Haredim
-the Haredim are trying to impose their views on the rest of the people in Israel

Israel:
Ultra-Orthodox Jews versus Casual Jews
By
Sandy Trenholm
April 3rd 2012

The tension between ultra-orthodox Jews and everyday casual Jews is growing
every single day in Israel. Women are not being allowed to accept their
accomplishments, corporations are taking notice and although some of the ultraorthodox religious practices are respectable they can also be out-dated. The
mindset of the ultra-orthodox Jews is in todays world is very dated and not as wildly
accept today as it would have been when Judaism was first practiced. The
differences between ultra-orthodox Jews and your everyday Jew far outweigh the
similarities. Even though they both practice the same religion their differences are
just too much. Although the ultra-orthodox Jews dedication to their practices is very
admirable and rare, they will need to make some changes in their way of life to
accommodate the general way of life today. In particular they need to change their
opinions on women.
Just recently an Israeli professor Channa Maayan was not able to collect her
award that was to be presented to her by the Israeli Health Ministry. The reason she
was not allowed to receive her award has been reported to be because the director
of this event was an ultra-orthodox Jewish man and he did not want women to come
on stage. A male colleague accepted the award on her behalf. This is a prime
example of how the views of the ultra-orthodox Jews are very out-dated. Not
allowing someone to collect the benefits of their hard work because of their gender
just isnt acceptable.
Recently the New Israel Fund and the Israel Medical Association have stepped
forward on this national issue. The New Israel Fund has organized concerts and singalongs that put the spotlight on women. They have also put up posters with
womens faces on them reading Israeli Health Ministry. On the same not the Israel
Medical Association has told its members to boycott any events that wont let
women on stage. This is something that is necessary for Israel moving forward they
need people and corporations to stand up for what they believe in.

Although some people may see the ultra-orthodox strong religious practices very
admirable some of their ideas are out-dated. The most obvious case of this is their
ideology on womens roles in society. Some may even say that it is many of hundred
of years back in a time that isnt looked back upon as being a loving time; When
people were not seen as equals for many reasons. And quite frankly the ultraorthodoxs views on women just wont go by unnoticed in the world today.
The ultra-orthodox Jewish people dont need to change their way of life but they
do need to change how they treat women. The way they have treated women just
isnt right and Israel and the world just wont stand by and say nothing like we have
done too many times.