I studied in Israel. Here’s why I’m concerned about the new higher education law.
Gender-based exclusion in the classroom furthers the divide between Israel and world Jewry.I became a Zionist walking the stone streets of Jerusalem and the peaceful paths of kibbutzim, and equally so in the country’s classrooms and lecture halls. As a college student studying abroad, I discovered a country that challenged me intellectually and formed my understanding of Jewish peoplehood; and when I returned to Israel during rabbinical school, my relationship with the land and people deepened through both experiential and…
Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch, CEO of Women of Reform Judaism, expresses concern over a new Israeli law permitting universities to offer segregated master’s and doctoral programs. She argues that while supporters claim it aids Haredi Israelis in pursuing advanced degrees, the legislation undermines gender equity and religious pluralism, further dividing Israel and world Jewry. Rabbi Hirsch states, "This statute is about far more than Israel’s universities. It demonstrates this government’s disregard for gender equity and religious pluralism." She emphasizes that gender equality is a core value of Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish movement in North America, and that such laws make many Reform Jews question their place in Israel's future.
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