UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women re-elects Rackman Center Leader

Fund Members, 

I’m happy to share this nice news with you.  Prof. Halperin Kaddari is a very dynamic advocate, who has been a notably effective leader of The Rackman Center.  Carol Goldberg met with her when she was in Boston about two years ago and called her a dynamo.

We have just funded the Rackman Center for the third year, to support advocacy for women’s rights and legal status as well as the hotline that provides legal advice on work-related issues.

What a powerful reinforcement for our commitment to advocacy on behalf of women and girls in Israel!

All the best,

Susan

Professor Ruth Halperin Kaddari, Director of The Rackman Center at Bar Ilan University has been re-elected Vice President of this important United Nations committee.  The Rackman Center is a three-time Women’s Fund grantee for its trailblazing work in advocacy for Israeli women in divorce and family law issues in the Rabbinical Courts.  

The official news release follows:

“We are thrilled to share this impressive news with you. As you know, Prof Halperin Kaddari was elected in 2009 as Vice-President of the UN experts Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), after serving for the first two years of her term as a member of CEDAW. As the re-election time approached there was concern that recent events in Israel may impede the prospects for re-election. However, her accomplishments over the last years and her professional reputation have surpassed any political barriers, giving her 103 votes in the UN last night. We are so proud of her achievement, both for The Rackman Center and for all of Israel - to know that we are being represented at such a high level in such an important arena.

We wish her a hearty mazol tov and look forward to updating you on her progress in making social change for women.

Best wishes from everyone at the Rackman Center.”

Embracing Waters Sculptural Bench Project at Mayyim Hayyim

Just an update on the good work being done by one of our star grantee organizations, Mayyim Hayyim.

Julie Jaye and Ellyn Harmon at work on a bench being created for Embracing Waters, at Mayyim Hayyim.  The story behind this remarkable project can be found here!

Now in its second year, this specialized program trains volunteers, clergy and health and mental health professionals to help them recognize victims of abuse and show how mikveh can be a source of spiritual healing for abuse survivors.

For more information on Mayyim Hayyim visit their website at www.mayyimhayyim.org or click here.