Women, Religion, and the State
Over the past two months, we have seen some dramatic events occurring around women’s rights in Israel. The gender-segregation issue became front page news both in Israel and around the world. In March, a bill regarding sanctions against recalcitrant husbands was passed in the Knesset, supposedly to protect the rights of agunot, women who are chained in marriages because their husbands won’t grant them a divorce according to Jewish law. It, too, was front page news both here and abroad. At first glance, I rejoiced. The National Council of Jewish Women has been concerned about the issue of agunot around the world since our founding 118 years ago. And, I was thrilled to see that finally we were getting somewhere with what appeared to be a major breakthrough. However, this may not prove to be the case. (There always seems to be a “however” when talking about women’s issues whether in the United States or in Israel.)
Whether this bill will actually help or harm women has now become the most contentious issue within ICAR, the International Coalition for Agunot Rights – a coalition of 27 women’s organizations, including NCJW. This bill was introduced with the best intentions; however, it was revised and compromised so much that it now gives the rabbinical courts more – not less -power over the divorce proceedings at the expense of the woman involved and it has fragmented women’s coalitions on this issue. For more than a century now, NCJW’s stand on agunot rights has been for fair and equal treatment of both sides, based on the belief that marriage is an equal partnership, and that women should have the same rights as men during a divorce.
Meeting the Hon. Tzipi Livni.jpg)
But this mission was different. 
in Israel — of all places — there would be religious tolerance and freedom. Sadly, this is not the case. We met at the entrance to the women’s section of the wall and assembled at the rear, far away from where women were praying. It was a beautiful and joyous service. Several women looked at us incredulously, some shaking their heads in disgust. One woman begged that we not desecrate this holy place with our voices and implored the guard to silence us. Especially poignant for me was the presence of a few young girls in our group, the eldest of whom was celebrating a bat mitzvah. I couldn’t help wondering what they must be thinking, but fortunately, they seemed unfazed. My sense is that they were well prepared for these events.
And so it is done, 1027 terrorists were exchanged for one boy. That is the strength of the State of Israel, as a nation and as a people. Gilad is everyone’s son. One might ask was it worth it? 1027 terrorists, some of them serving over 40 life sentences for murder – for one boy, now a man? Make no mistake; this was a horrific deal for Israel. Israel will be releasing hundreds of murderers, some of whom were serving multiple terms of life in prison (Israel does not have the death penalty) as well as hundreds of terrorists serving prison sentences for terror and murder – all for one Israeli soldier. That is just the way it is done. Hamas will claim a great victory, and the people of Israel are thrilled to see Gilad home after five and a half years in solitary confinement in Gaza..jpg)
Now, there is no turning back when 450,000 Israelis turned out all over Israel to protest the injustices of Israeli society to the poor, the working middle class, the mothers, the doctors, and the rest of the backbone of Israeli society. 
Raising her and her siblings in Jerusalem in the years when there were 3–5 bus bombings a day was not only frightening and difficult, but it left a nation of children traumatized. Professional healthcare workers don’t know the long-term effects of war — experiencing that kind of terror — on children. It is too early to tell, although major research is currently being done on that issue. Both Israeli and Palestinian children are being examined for long-term trauma as a result of being exposed to this ongoing conflict. I do know that when my daughter went off to the army for three years, I was relieved. I hoped that being out of Jerusalem would be more peaceful for her. Who would have thought that being in the army would be more peaceful than living as a civilian in the capital of Israel? When she went off to South America after her army service, I was a bit unsettled, but when she decided to come home and go to university in Beer Sheva I thought at last I could sleep well at night. Beer Sheva is a mother’s dream — a sleepy dusty town in the Negev where they really do roll up the sidewalks at 8 pm. I was wrong. In the month of March alone, over 80 missiles have been fired out of Gaza into Southern Israel, several hitting Beer Sheva. When she was young she used to tell me she wanted to move to Hawaii where it was so calm and peaceful. I personally dreamt of New Zealand. Counting sheep sounded good to me. But fate is fate I suppose and with earthquakes and tsunamis, there really is no place to hide. So I suppose I will buy her a good pair of running shoes and pray that she stays safe.
Shari and I visited the NCJW Israel Granting Program project Neve Michael, a children’s village located in Pardes Hanna, which serves children from all over the country who arrive under traumatic circumstances.
I went to the meeting and was not surprised, but rather taken aback by some of the comments said during the discussion, such as, “I cannot see American Jewish donors giving money to Arabs,” “why don’t American Arabs fund the Israeli Arabs,” etc. For me, the experience was a real eye-opener. Since its creation 117 years ago, NCJW has always sought to help the less fortunate and at-risk populations, whomever they may be. The coalition took off with only 12 organizations, and I am pleased to say that NCJW was one of them. Seven years later, there are now 92 American Jewish organizations that have joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues. These organizations understand that in order for Israel to remain a Jewish yet vibrant democratic state, it needs to work for equality and dignity for all of its citizens, regardless of their race, religion, or gender. 
