NCJW congratulates Genesis Prize Foundation grantees
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NCJW congratulates Genesis Prize Foundation grantees
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) enthusiastically congratulates all 37 organizations advancing women and gender equality in Israel that are recipients of Genesis Prize Foundation grants, announced yesterday, September 4, in Tel Aviv.
NCJW CEO Nancy K. Kaufman congratulated all of the prize recipients, particularly calling out the many groups that have been supported by NCJW in the past. Said Kaufman, “we are particularly proud to congratulate our partners in Israel” which will receive NCJW matching grants:
Isha l’Isha – Haifa Feminist Center – The oldest feminist grassroots organization in Israel, Isha L’Isha’s project focuses on advocating for “women without status” – non-citizens in Israel such as African refugees, victims of trafficking, and Palestinian women from the West Bank, who do not have access to healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
Mahapach -Taghir – An innovative Jewish-Palestinian feminist organization, M-T uniquely focuses on women from marginalized social groups in both Jewish and Palestinian Israeli communities to develop equal opportunities for all. The project “Second Opportunity,” develops support groups to help women obtain an educational degree, paving the way to improved socioeconomic situations.
Israel Women’s Network – Israel’s leading feminist advocacy organization works for legislative reform and institutional mainstreaming of gender issues and women’s rights. IWN advocates for and monitors gender-sensitive legislation in the Knesset and litigates on gender equality issues.
Continued Kaufman, “[i]n addition to the matching grants NCJW gave in connection with the Genesis Prize, NCJW’s Israel Granting Program awards annual grants to Israeli feminist organizations advancing gender equality, empowering women in the political, educational, and economic realms, and advocating for peace. Recent grants were made to Women Wage Peace for their diversity project; Itaach-Maaki Women Lawyers for Social Justice for their work on UNProposal 1325 elevating women to decision making positions in the arena of peace and security; WePower for a gender equality campaign in the upcoming local elections; and to the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at Tel Aviv University for their Alumni Association where graduates are using their academic learning to help girls at risk.”
In a lively panel discussion celebrating the Genesis awards, Professor Daphna Hacker, chair of the NCJW Women and Gender Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, pointedly described the challenges to gender equality in Israel:
“We must learn and commit to memory these words: education, religionization, nationalism and poverty. Education – we must education for gender equality starting from kindergarten until the very end of high school. Religionization – current threats to achievements already gained are due to the exclusion of women, for example in the army and in academia, unique to Israel’s situation. Nationalism – whoever thinks that the occupation and the nation-state law aren’t connected to gender equality is mistaken – because there is no such thing as external oppression without internal oppression too. Poverty – the gap between rich and poor in Israel is the largest among all economically developed countries, and thus many women without economic and personal resources are deprived of the opportunities to flourish and achieve independence.”
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.