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Fri., December 14, 2007 Tevet 5, 5768

Israel Time: 02:04 (EST+7)

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Renaissance women

By Cnaan Liphshiz

Tags: feminism, Orthodoxy, Aliyah

Immigration from North America has been central to giving modern-Orthodox women in Israel more control over their lives, Dr. Zehavit Gross from Bar-Ilan University told Anglo File last week, after speaking at the World Emunah conference in Jerusalem.

Gross, a researcher for Bar-Ilan's School of Education, says the American influence generated more openness to secular literature, and, more crucially, has helped introduce gender equality.

"Because of these principles and others, Israeli religious society is just as progressive as anywhere else in the world," said Gross, who speaks of a recent feminist awakening within modern-Orthodox society in Israel and abroad.

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"Another factor that places Israel at the forefront of these changes is the fact that it is the only place in the world where religious Jewish girls serve as combatants in the army," Gross says. She says that Emunah - an international Zionist-religious women's organization of some 100,000 members - is very much involved in helping support these women through their service in the Israel Defense Forces (see box).

Worldwide phenomena

Part of this awakening, according to Gross, can be seen in the fact that more successful religious women are choosing to marry later in life, opting to pursue careers first. Another effect which Gross points to is the growing divorce rate in religious society worldwide, and particularly the increase in the number of divorces initiated by women.

Not surprisingly, the phenomena Gross mentioned generated a lively discussion of the more controversial aspects at the Emunah convention.

Immediately after she finished her lecture, differences of opinion began to emerge from the dozens of women who had come from some 30 countries to attended the event.

Some participants were concerned about the demographic ramifications of the increase in the number of "attractive and sought-after women with academic degrees," who are, according to Gross, opting to remain celibate and develop their careers instead of starting a family.

In a conversation with Anglo File, Gross mentioned the case of a religious lesbian couple from Israel who chose to stay in the community and raise two children. Gross says the women held a brit milah for the newborns, with community members in attendance.

"Such an event would have been unthinkable just a couple of years ago," Gross said.

Gross admits the trends effects, which some participants fear would lead to a decrease in Jewish population, could be seen as a legitimate cause for concern in some communities. "But what are our alternatives?" she asks. "Can we go back to how things used to be? Do we want to?"

A demographic challenge

Elaine Monaker, National President for Emunah Canada, said demographics are the main challenge facing her organization today. According to Monaker, most of the branch's donors are old, and finding new donors to take their place after they are gone isn't easy.

Population decrease is especially troubling for branches from smaller communities. For Elisabet Nachman, who heads Emunah's Swedish branch, it's at the top of her concerns.

"It comes down to a decision," Nachman said. "Go on and try to keep the community together despite assimilation, or give up. We have some unique difficulties in Stockholm, but we go on." These challenges, Nachman says, are inherent to ultra-liberal European societies.

"You have to understand that for many people here in Sweden saying 'I'm religious' is just like saying 'I'm stupid.' So, progressive as we may be, we're still seen to some degree as the fundamentalists." With her public relations background, Nachman said she tries to influence opinion about her organization through direct contact with the media. "If they come and see what we're about, it makes it that much easier to explain later on."

Nachman, who was elected to head the branch last year, is actually thinking of sending Emunah Sweden's women back to the kitchen. She hopes to organize a cooking day for Jewish, Muslim and Christian women in Stockholm as a means of bonding and bringing down divides.

Unfortunately, scheduling could be a problem, as Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all out as religious days.

"But that leaves the rest of the week," she says.

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