Haredi women outraged over men-only business convention
Poalei Agudat Israel Bank banned women from a convention for customers it's holding in Ramat Gan Tuesday.
By TheMarker Tags: Israel newsPoalei Agudat Israel Bank banned women from a convention for customers it's holding in Ramat Gan Tuesday. The bank, part of the First International Bank of Israel group, sent out invitations explicitly stating that only men could attend, Army Radio reported Monday.
Even though PAGI explained it was merely segregating sexes in keeping with ultra-Orthodox custom, some women in the community expressed outrage. Gender-based discrimination perpetuates their seemingly inferior status in Haredi society, they said.
"The separation of men and women is not something that we invented," First International Bank of Israel stated in a response, "and it is a part of almost every aspect of life in the Haredi sector." "Poalei Agudat Israel Bank serves mainly the Haredi public," that bank said in a statement. "Its branches are located in large Haredi population centers. Most of the employees are Haredi - mainly women. This is the only bank in Israel that caters to this population group and as such it operates according to the community's codes of behavior, respects the sector's customs, which are quite different from those in the secular sector, and is considerate of its sensitivities.
One of the characteristics of the Haredi sector is the separation of men and women, and the bank honors this at its various events, some of which are intended for men and women (separately), while others are for men only. Since this event is a convention for clients who manage institutions and organizations in the Haredi sector, almost all of whom are men, we decided that it would be for men only.
The bank offered examples of gender separation in the Haredi community including separate buses, fundraising events and especially the separation of men and women at family events such as weddings.
"This is also the practice at professional conferences held [in the Haredi sector] by various organizations, including by large, well-known secular organizations, which all respect the community's behavior code and are considerate of the sector's sensitivities," the bank said. "After one of our female customers addressed us on the matter the bank's CEO spoke with her yesterday and explained that the invitation to men only was in no way intended to hurt the bank's female clients, and apologized on behalf of the bank for hurting her feelings."
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Haredim are just like the Taliban and Mullahs. Why is the state constantly financially supporting them? In a not-so-distant future their demographics will impact what is left of secular and rational Israel.
Women as peons and men as managers. Gee I wonder how that happened! This is institutionalized discrimination at its worst. "Separate but equal" was tried in the US and proven to be a farce that only entrenched white dominance and justified horrendous crimes. So it is in orthodox society. It started as separate buses, has been extended to the arrest of women for wearing tallitot and now to the clear exclusion of women from participation in economic management. Should we just turn over the keys to Ahmedinijad? Orthodox women. Stand up and fight!
Such women would be as Haredi as the "women of the wall" are religious.
seriously people, get a grip! this is not the year 1200, we live in the 21st century. Israel - the land where the discrimination of women and ethnic minorities is still nurtured, at some point there will only be white male Jewish isrealis left, the rest will have fled this insanity.
To Haredi women: You're part of the Haredi community and lifestyle? Support and live by traditional religion? Then you merely brought this upon yourselves. Just like Iranian women who helped bring the Ayatollahs into power. So don't cry now! And there's worse to come, if we all don't wake up.
True, us Haredim do have separation at all sorts of events. BUT....this sort of thing (at a bank seminar) is an ISRAELI thing. Look at Haredi communities abroad - I really don't think you'd see this.
that in orthodox circles women have no say whatsoever. They only have the duty to produce offspring.That is life in orthodox Jewish, Muslim and Christian life!
You simply can not mix water with oil.
What sensitivities are those haredi talking about. Arent they supposed to be men who believe in God?. Which part of God do they believe in?. That is such a primitive belief, not to be respected in this time and age anymore. I which part of the bible is this sort of segregation listed as one of the laws? or ten utterances?.
Men and women are seated separately at major events, but women are included.