Photo Courtesy of Leslie Sternlieb

NCJW

Women’s Mission to Israel 2011

Sights and Reflections

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

The Culinary Delights of Jerusalem

We toured Jerusalem’s famous open market, Mahane

Yehuda, with Chef Tali Friedman to sample a variety

of spices, vegetables, fish, and meats, which together

we transformed into a luncheon feast!

An Outstanding Israeli Feminist

NCJW presented the Jewel Bellush Israeli

Feminist Award to Shula Keshet, an advocate

who has established creative collaborations

between the business sector and women from

different disempowered sectors of Israeli

society.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

The Judean Hills As we stood together, we all said

a Shehechiyanu that we were in

this place at this time together as

progressive Jewish women!

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

Meeting Israeli women who are just as daring, committed and pioneering as the NCJW women in the United States was so inspiring — it made me feel proud of Israel, of its women, and deepened my attachment to Israel.

“Israel in 2011,

Where Do We Stand?”

Ret. Col. Miri Eisen briefs

us at our Welcome Dinner.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

Gender and

Politics

We had an

informative meeting

with Chair of the

Kadima party and

the Leader of the

Opposition, Tzipi

Livni, who spoke

frankly about how

surprised she was

that gender

discrimination is

truly an issue in

politics.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

Women’s Empowerment

Anat Hoffman, who on July 12, 2010,

was arrested at the Western Wall

wearing a tallit, briefs NCJW women

as they prepare to ride segregated

buses as Freedom Riders.

Photo: Vera Etzion

Freedom Riders

An unforgettable highlight was

riding the gender-segregated

buses in Jerusalem — especially

when Israeli women joined us at

the front of the bus!

Photo: Vera Etzion

Photo: Vera Etzion

Photo: Vera Etzion

There is nothing better than visiting the

Jewish homeland, hearing and seeing

firsthand how our dollars and influence

contribute to the well-being of women

and children in all groups of Israeli

society. Hearing the stories from our

granting partners, sharing all of this with

NCJW sisters is an experience that can't

be missed. NCJW missions truly bring

our work to life.

“We saw a glimpse of

Israel’s bright future.”

We met with students and their

teachers — as well as alumni,

including Member of Knesset Einat

Wilf — from Hebrew University High

School, which NCJW built in 1962.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

Advancing LGBT Rights

We visited NCJW Israel Program

grantee Israel Gay Youth and learned

about the amazing work they are doing

to advance the issue of LGBT rights.

NCJW Women and Gender

Studies Program

We participated in roundtable

discussions with NCJW Women and

Gender Studies Program students and

faculty on topics related to women,

gender, and politics, including students

and grassroots activism.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

Yad Vashem

We were profoundly moved at

the National Memorial to the six

million Jewish victims of the

Holocaust.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

Kabbalat Shabbat

We experienced the special energy

at the Kotel and a private NCJW

women’s Kabbalat Shabbat. Photo: Mahyan Goldstein

Shabbat Shalom!

We held a Shabbat service together

and participated in a study session

with Rabbi Nahma Kelman, the Dean

of Hebrew Union College and the first

ordained woman rabbi in Israel!

In Remembrance

We paid tribute to Yitzhak Rabin in

Rabin Square — at the very spot where

he was assassinated 16 years ago.

Seeing the work of NCJW in Israel is always

emotional and invigorating.

Interacting with Israelis, whether

Ethiopian immigrants, Hebrew University

High School students, Tel Aviv University

Women & Gender Studies students, or

women from Haifa is enriching and

insightful.

At various points, our experiences brought

tears to my eyes … Going to Israel with

NCJW is a unique experience. The itinerary,

the women, are something not to be missed.

The Golda Meir Mount Carmel

International Training Center

We met men and women from countries

such as Kenya, Ghana, and China who come

to the center to learn about empowerment

and leadership.

Haifa’s Ethiopian Community

We learned about the SHILUVIM program and

the challenges and opportunities Ethiopian

citizens of Israel face.

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

I hope you enjoyed these moments

from the 2011 NCJW Women’s

Mission to Israel and will consider

joining us on a future mission!

— Linda Slucker, NCJW President

Photo: Leslie Sternlieb