NCJW Israel Program Report February 2011
- Message from Shari Eshet
- Freedom Riders of 2011
- Greater Miami Section presents program on women’s rights and religious freedom in Israel
- NCJW’s 45th National Convention
- For More…
Dear Friends,
What a tumultuous month this has been for the Middle East. First Tunisia, now Egypt. What’s next? While we in Israel are taking a cautious look at the events that are unfolding, we are all grateful for those of us here that have worked hard to keep Israel a strong democracy, one that has grassroots activists and where free speech, economic opportunities, and civil rights are not taken lightly and should never be taken for granted.
Just two weeks ago the Israel Supreme Court voted on an issue that we at NCJW have been following and supporting for years: gender segregation on public transportation in Israel. No one can explain it better than Sharon Shenhav, the Director of International Jewish Women’s Rights, a program funded by ICJW, of which NCJW is the largest affiliate. Read her most recent article below and see how we at NCJW are hoping to keep up the fight — not just for women who ride the buses, but for all of the civil society that Israel has developed and must continue to develop if we want to stay a free, strong democracy.
I have also included a report on a very special program sponsored by the NCJW Greater Miami Section with the Women of the Wall activist Anat Hoffman. And For more updates on Israel, its people, and its passions please join me at the 45th NCJW National Convention in Dallas, Texas, on March 3–5. For more information, please visit www.ncjw.org/convention.
See you in Dallas,
Shari Eshet
Director, NCJW Israel Office
Freedom Riders of 2011
By Sharon Shenhav, J.D.
A major victory for women’s rights was won on January 6, 2011, when the Israeli High Court declared that segregation on public transportation is illegal. Relying on court decisions and legislation, Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein expressed surprise that in the year 2011 the court even needed to state the obvious: Women are entitled to sit wherever they choose on public buses.
Reviewing the history of bus transportation, he reminded us that there had never been segregation on public buses, and that the issue of segregated seating was raised only in the past decade by a group of religious extremists. They demanded that women sit in the back of public buses on certain routes that traveled through Haredi neighborhoods. They also demanded that women be dressed in a modest fashion, as determined by their “modesty patrols.”
The Egged bus company complied with these demands and women were directed to the rear of certain buses, while the front was reserved for men. When some women refused to sit in the back, they were subjected to verbal abuse and occasional physical abuse by some male extremists.
A few women were not permitted to board these buses because of their choice of clothing. When best-selling Orthodox writer Naomi Ragen was subjected to severe harassment while riding a bus to her Jerusalem home, she decided to take action. In 2007, she filed a petition to the High Court of justice, claiming that she was being denied the right to sit in the front section of a public bus.
Joined by other female victims of harassment on buses, as well as by the Center for Religious Pluralism, they were hopeful when the court ordered the minister of transportation to set up a commission to study the issue, conduct hearings, and publish its findings. The commission presented its report in late 2009, declaring that segregated buses were illegal.
Recognizing that some religiously observant men (and women) might wish to sit separately on public buses because of concerns for modesty, the court stated that in a pluralistic, multicultural society, everyone should have the right to sit wherever he or she chooses. However, the court made it very clear that women have the right to sit at the front of the bus (or anywhere else on it) without harassment of any sort, whether verbal or physical. Those who interfere with that right would be subject to criminal prosecution.
Justice Rubinstein, an Orthodox Jew, quoted liberally from Jewish law sources in his opinion, noting that respecting human dignity and love of all humankind were basic to Judaism.
Since all of the parties accepted the commission’s conclusions, the court ordered the Transportation Ministry and Egged to implement the report as follows:
- All previously gender segregated bus lines are to carry signs stating that every passenger is entitled to sit wherever he or she chooses, except for seats designated for the disabled, and that anyone who interferes with that right by harassing a passenger may be subject to criminal prosecution. These signs are to be of a reasonable size and are to be posted at both the front and rear doors.
- Bus companies must publicize in Haredi daily newspapers that segregated bus routes have been cancelled, and every passenger has the right to sit wherever she or he chooses.
- Bus drivers are to be trained to implement the Court’s decision that gender segregation is illegal.
- The Minister of Transportation is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Court’s decision, and must monitor the previously segregated bus routes to ensure that women are not being harassed or threatened.
The Court declared a trial period of one year to determine if the decision to eliminate gender segregated buses was being enforced. Rubinstein stated that if the Transportation Ministry finds that it is unable to protect women who choose to sit in the front of public buses, it should use its authority to close down those routes that continue to force gender segregation. He concluded that the influence of court decisions on human behavior may be limited. He expressed his hope that all parties would behave with tolerance and good will, for the benefit of society.
Women are cautiously optimistic, but unwilling to rely solely on government agencies and commercial bus companies to enforce the court’s decision. Naomi Ragen and Sharon Shenhav, a women’s rights lawyer, are organizing a nationwide campaign entitled “Freedom Riders,” which will encourage women to ride buses on previously segregated routes, and to report on their experiences. Shari Eshet, director of NCJW’s Israel Office met with Naomi and Sharon to discuss how to begin coordinating and organizing the campaign, which will include a hotline run by volunteers and a clearing house for the reports of the riders. Meetings are planned with the CEO of the Egged Bus Company and the Minister of Transportation with the hope that they will support and cooperate in enforcing the Court decision to eliminate gender segregation on Israeli buses.
Greater Miami Section presents program on women’s rights and religious freedom in Israel
By Fran Levey, Greater Miami Section President
Two weeks ago the Greater Miami Section had the privilege to present an extraordinary program on women’s rights and religious freedom in Israel with Anat Hoffman, founder and chairperson of the Women of the Wall and Director of the Israel Religious Action Center. Anat’s voice motivates us to TAKE ACTION and as we all felt that night, she is one of our heroes!
From biblical times to the present, women have been essential leaders in the fight for religious freedom and civil equality. The Women of the Wall have echoes of Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which was the day before our event, provided an additional reminder to educate ourselves about the interconnected issues of civil rights and religious freedom.
The energy in the room that night was spiritual and energetic – women and men danced with the torah, and we all touched the torah and read from it. For some, it was the first time they had been so close to the torah, and for otheres even the first time they wore a tallit. This advocacy experience was one that many will never forget.
NCJW’s 45th National Convention
NCJW’s 45th National Convention
Join hundreds of women from around the country for NCJW’s National Convention March 3-5, 2011, Fairmont Hotel, in Dallas, TX. Hear nationally renowned speakers share their insights on a variety of critical topics, elect our new leadership, and help adopt resolutions that will set the stage for the next triennium.
We are happy to announce two workshops dedicated to issues in Israel:
- The delegitimization of Israel: What that means and what you can do about it
- Social justice challenges to Israel as a democratic state
For more information, please visit www.ncjw.org/convention.
I look forward to seeing you in Texas!
I, along with others, often have the opportunity to record more personal reports of our work and experiences in Israel for the NCJW Insider blog on our website. Visit www.ncjw.org/Insider for recent posts on Israel by me and others.