Outstanding-Feminist Award Goes to Tel Aviv University Scholar, Activist

May 21, 2006, Tel Aviv, Israel -- The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is pleased to announce the winner of the prestigious 2006 Jewel Bellush Israeli Feminist Award: Professor Ariella Friedman.

A feminist academic, advocate, and author, Friedman is one of the first three women to teach women's studies at an Israeli university. She was instrumental in establishing the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, the first bachelor's degree-granting program of its kind in the Middle East. Friedman was selected for this award in recognition of her groundbreaking work as a feminist advocate, a peace activist working to foster Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, an innovative researcher, and a pioneer in promoting women's studies and the status of women in universities.

The annual $1,000 award was established in 2002 by philanthropist Barbara Dobkin in honor of Jewel Bellush, former chair of US/Israel Women to Women (W2W), an organization dedicated to supporting grassroots programs and advocacy efforts for women in Israel. W2W became part of NCJW in June 2005.

NCJW President Phyllis Snyder, who presented the award, said: "NCJW is proud to recognize Professor Friedman's courage and commitment in her landmark efforts to empower women. She has created a legacy of strength and scholarship for women throughout Israel. And we are privileged to call her both a partner and an inspiration."

"I am touched and honored to receive the Jewel Bellush award," responded Professor Friedman. "The generous support of NCJW has enabled Tel Aviv University to become a center of feminist activities that serve not only university students and staff, but also hundreds of women in the community through lectures, social projects, and research. I thank you very much for that support and for choosing me for this award."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide. In addition to the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, NCJW's Israel initiatives include the NCJW Women Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University; Yad B' Yad: NCJW's Initiative to Nurture Knowledge; The NCJW Research institute for Innovation in Education (RIFIE) at Hebrew University; and various advocacy and coalition-based projects.

Contact:
Vanessa Schnaidt
212 645 4048 x179; vschnaidt@ncjw.org