NCJW Israel Program Report, June 2008

In this edition:

• Message from Shari Eshet, Director of NCJW's Israel Office
• Investing in Tomorrow's Leaders: the Israel Venture Network (IVN)
• NCJW 2008 Israel Benefit Luncheon: June 12, 2008
• NCJW Recognizes Israel Granting Program Partners

Dear Friends,

According to a recent report by the Adva Center for Information on Equality and Social Justice (an NCJW Israel Granting Program grantee), inequality in the Israeli workplace has risen sharply in the past decade. Today, the top 1 percent earns more than the bottom 25 percent of the workforce. Not surprisingly, while 1.7 percent of all male workers are included in the top percentile earners, only 0.2 percent of all women are included. On April 22, NCJW marked Equal Pay Day in the United States by strongly supporting passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This act will win back the right of women and minorities to contest unlawful discrimination, even when such discrimination has been hidden from them for years.

The issue of pay and equal opportunities is an issue that affects women all over the world and as the Adva Center reports, Israel has its fair share of discrepancies. NCJW helps women in Israel fight prejudice and inequality through its advocacy efforts and by funding organizations such as the Adva Center.

As I reported in the last Israel Program Report, access to abortion has finally become an "issue" here in Israel. Recently, I had an off-the-record conversation with a member of Knesset, who has informed me that the health committees that must approve free and legal abortions for those who qualify have become more and more restrictive. A public education campaign here in Israel is being implemented around this issue so as to prepare the ground for new legislation which would prohibit such restrictions. Again, NCJW will continue to monitor the topic.

Finally, Israel celebrated its 60th birthday last week and, as we know, birthdays are a time to remember the past and to look to the future. While Israel's past has been difficult at times, it has been nothing more than miraculous. Part of planning for the future is investing in the future. At NCJW, our Israel Granting Program includes grants for at-risk children and youth.

Sincerely,

Shari Eshet

Investing in Tomorrow's Leaders is a program of the Israel Venture Network (IVN), a past Israel Granting Program grant recipient, and a philanthropy network of high-tech entrepreneurs, business executives, venture capitalists, corporations, and philanthropists in the United States and Israel. By strategically investing in leadership development and volunteer training, IVN is developing a new cadre of leaders committed to improving Israeli society. The program was founded on the belief that a thriving, democratic Israel depends on caring, engaged citizens who dedicate their time, skills, and resources to address the growing list of problems affecting Israeli society.

This past year, 60 girls completed the leaders program. All of them are young women of Ethiopian origin, many of whom have been in Israel only a few years. All are from the country's geographic periphery, and the majority comes from much challenged families with severe socioeconomic hardships. Due to their problems, most were not accepted into the army or National Service, and thus were condemned to lives on the margins of Israeli society in a continuing cycle of poverty and unfulfilled potential. The NCJW grant was used to operate a program in Tiberius that included tutoring for matriculation exams, preparation for entrance exams to universities and pre-college courses, individual mentoring and training, workshops on social integration, and recruitment and program administration.

During the year, the girls underwent a personal empowerment process that included:

Making friends with peers from other volunteer core groups (girls who are not of Ethiopian origin) -- As friendships have grown, the girls celebrated Shabbat together and now travel home together.

Selecting a path for the future -- The vast majority are involved in defining their future plans; most intend to continue with academic studies and eventually learn a profession; all see themselves as becoming self-supportive and raising families with the mate of their choice, and the vast majority is optimistic about their future.

Increasing self-confidence/self-esteem and belief in their own ability -- Learning not to be shy, but to speak up in public, to believe in themselves, and to develop dreams for realization in the future.

The coordinators are encouraged: "I have faith in these girls and believe they will go far. They have the tools and the strength to make a breakthrough. These girls underwent an amazing transformation and they welcomed everything offered to them with open arms."

"I think the empowerment process that they underwent here couldn't have been achieved elsewhere. The proof is in the fact that they participated in the admission interviews for the new candidates and recorded what they thought about the girls. The very fact that they fulfilled the role of interviewer is fantastic; they are strong and we just have to know how to channel that strength."

The participants were also very positive: "The year passed quickly and was good. I was in the depths and suddenly there is a spark of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel."

"First I learned about myself, you have to be responsible for yourself, arrive on time. I learned that I'm really a responsible person, at the beginning I glossed over things, but then I caught myself: 'What are you doing?' I matured and assumed responsibility; I put my priorities in order. Of course I'll want to study, that isn't even a question."

"When I was a little girl I thought that everything the whites said was right, that all the Israelis are smart and know everything. The Ethiopians have to be integrated in positions so that there will be equality. Once I didn't believe in myself; I thought I was less intelligent, that I wouldn't be able to achieve things. No longer."

Please join NCJW for the 2008 Israel Benefit Luncheon, Thursday, June 12, 2008 at The Jewish Museum in New York City. This year's luncheon honorees are philanthropists and activists Mildred and George Weissman. Shari Eshet, director of the NCJW Israel Office, will be the keynote speaker. Space is limited. For more information about the luncheon and to reserve your spot, please contact Alzenia DeVerteuil.

NCJW is proud to recognize the following 2008 Israel Granting Program donors of $2,500 and above as project partners. For more information about partnership opportunities, please contact Alzenia DeVerteuil . You can also learn more about NCJW's Israel Granting Program on-line.

The Center for Women's Justice
NCJW Brooklyn (NY) Section
Patti Cohen-Hecht and Hazel Groman

Economic Empowerment for Women
NCJW Chicago-North Shore (IL) Section
NCJW Jersey Hills (NJ) Section

Hotline for Migrant Workers
NCJW New York (NY) Section

Israel Family Planning Association
NCJW Long Island (NY) Sections

The Women Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University
NCJW Lakeville (NY) Section

Upper Galilee Rape Crisis Center
NCJW Kendall (FL) Section

Woman to Woman -- Jerusalem Shelter for Battered Women
NCJW Greater Dallas (TX) Section
NCJW Palm Beach (FL) Section

Women Against Violence
NCJW Cleveland (OH) Section

College For All
Adrienne and Geoffrey Lurie
Barbara and Bob Murray

Kehilla
The Alper Family, the Behar Family, and the Sugarman Family in memory of Rose Alper

Mahapach
NCJW Northern Virginia (VA) Section

The NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education (RIFIE)
NCJW Kew Gardens (NY) Section
NCJW Peninsula (NY) Section
Anne and Stephen Siegel
Valencia Shores Branch of NCJW Palm Beach (FL) Section

Summit
NCJW Essex County (NJ) Section
Donna and Daniel Gutman