Says Kolech Conference participant Elana Sztokman, “The entire Israel...the entire Jewish world....needs to hear the talk Susan gave” 

On July 13, Center for Women’s Justice director Dr. Susan Weiss participated in a panel called “Rabbinical Courts: Women Entangled in Rabbinical Bureaucracy” to a group of over 50 people at the Kolech 9^th national conference. Speaking alongside co-panelists Tanya Zion Waldocks, Galit Shaul, and Batya Kahana Dror, Dr. Weiss discussed the Israeli Rabbinate’s blacklist and how the institution disproportionately hurts women and their children, especially when it comes to marriage, divorce, and conversion.

The abolition of the blacklist, a record that the Israeli Rabbinate keeps of people who have limitations on whether or not they may marry due to personal status issues, is a current focus of CWJ’s work. Consequently, Dr. Weiss explained who the Rabbinate will put on the list, what the procedure is when someone is added, and the numerous sources of legislation and regulations that allow for this to occur.

As Kolech is the first Jewish feminist organization in Israel, its audience has a fairly sophisticated understanding of how the religion-state entwinement harms women in Israel; however, panel attendees did not appear to know about the existence of blacklist or the extent of its reach within Israeli law. This made Dr. Weiss’ inclusion on the panel valuable for the education of Israeli Jewish feminists on this important issue. The Kolech conference theme was “If Not Now, When?”, a clear call to action for every conference-goer to take home with them. There is no doubt that part of their advocacy for change will be to the Rabbinate in general, and to the blacklist in particular.

CWJ extends gratitude to the following supporters whose direct assistance is ensuring that our educational message reaches the Israeli public and builds momentum for change:David Berg Foundation, Greater Miami Jewish Federation Women’s Amutot Initiative, Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta, Jewish Women’s Foundation of South Palm Beach County, the Miriam Fund and the Tikkun Olam Women’s Foundation of Greater Washington, as well as to donors whose general support provides a secure foundation for advancing this key project.