Human Rights Stories from Israel

Israel has many faces – Jewish, Arab, religious, secular, Masorti, Reform, elderly, young, poor, rich, immigrant, refugees,veteran, Mizrahi, Ashkenazi, and others. Although Israel has a strong democracy, there is still much to do to ensure that all of Israel’s citizens enjoy full equality of human, civil, social and political rights.

Manchester:

Sunday 29th March 2009, 1:15pm

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London:

Tuesday 31st March 2009, 8pm

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NEWS

Leading Rabbi Rules Women Can Chant to Male Congregants from the Book of Esther

Former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has ruled that women may chant the Book of Esther in synagogues during Purim. Rabbi Yosef, the founder of Shas, is considered the spiritual leader of Mizrahi Jewry.

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IDF Rabbinate Corps Appoints First-Ever Female Officer

Captain Ofra Guttman has been appointed as the first-ever female officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Rabbinate Corps. The appointment follows pressure from New Israel Fund grantee Kolech – Religious Women’s Forum and other Orthodox feminist groups.

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Akko Municipality Permits Arab Businesses to Reopen on Shabbat

The Akko Municipality has cancelled regulations that prohibit Arab-owned businesses from opening on the Jewish Sabbath. The new regulations follow a petition to Israel’s Supreme Court by veteran New Israel Fund grantee Adalah: Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.

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SHATIL Builds Israeli-European Civil Society Ties

Two representatives of the European-based Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA) spent six intensive days visiting SHATIL last week, marking the beginning of the collaboration between ALDA and SHATIL as well as other Israeli civil society organisations. ALDA focuses on active citizenship, equal opportunities and sustainable economic development throughout Europe, and is now expanding its activities to the Mediterranean area. It felt SHATIL was the perfect match to initiate this expansion – an organisation with which they could collaborate and which could serve as a networking force to other bodies.

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SHATIL Training for Social Entrepreneurs Builds Bridges between Immigrants

Sadly, in too many parts of Israel, Ethiopian and Russian immigrants – especially the youth – are not the friendliest of neighbours. Perhaps that is why it is especially heartwarming to observe barriers falling at SHATIL.

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Message from Ellen Goldberg, NIF Executive Director

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