Profiles of Valor: Israeli Women Activists Tell Their Stories
What motivates a person to pursue an activist path?
By Ayelet Vardi
A path that is not driven by the coin of materialism and capitalism? A path that is not striving toward recognition, fame, or comfort, but rather is simply seeking to make a positive impact on society?
I posed these questions to ten women who are actively making a difference in Israel today. They represent the many facets of Israeli society: they are Arabs and Jews; secular and orthodox; mothers and single women; and members of minority cultures and nationalities. They are all dreamers and doers, and they all have a compelling story about their motivation to advocate for change.
Ruth Colian
Founder of first Haredi Women’s Party, U’Bezchutan
Lihi Lapid
Bestselling author; Journalist; Speaker on women’s issues
Anat Thon
Lawyer for Social Justice; Coordinator of the Israel 1325 Project; Program Director at Itach-Maaki
Samah Salaime Egbariya
Social Worker; Peace Activist in Wahat al Salam
Rachelle Fraenkel
Educator, Mother, Advocate for Compassion and Peace
Racheli Ibenboim
Co-Founder of the First Hasidic Feminist Organization; Agent of Social Change
Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon
Feminist Spiritual Innovator; Community Leader; First Female Congregational Rabbi in Israel
Pnina Tamano
Former Knesset Member for Yesh Atid; First Ethiopian-Israeli TV Presenter; Lawyer
Linor Abargil
Advocate Against Sexual Violence; Lawyer; Beauty Queen; Rape Survivor
Dr. Sarab Abu Rabia-Queder
Feminist, activist and researcher; Faculty at Ben Gurion University