The news from Israel, France and other parts of the world has been  shocking, with escalating violence every day, and innocent people being targeted simply because of their nationality or religion.

The rockets that have rained down on southern Israel have become more numerous and far-reaching, affecting a 40-kilometer range from Gaza to Ashdod, Kiryat Malachi, Be’er Tuvia, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Beer Sheva, Moshav Orot, Yavne…..

NA’AMAT ISRAEL was advised by order of the Home Front Command to temporarily close 22 Day Care Centers so that parents could keep their children with them at home.  Our youth village in Kanot was also in the “danger zone” and all 250 children were evacuated.

Since the reopening of these centers, NA’AMAT ISRAEL is  struggling to maintain a “normal” atmosphere for all of the children in these areas. NA’AMAT USA is aware of the need to increase the safety net of secure safe rooms in all our facilities with supplies of water, non-perishable food and other basic necessities in preparation of any future sustained attack.

Your donation to the  “Children’s Emergency Campaign” will help provide these required necessities and provide their parents with a sense of comfort that we are doing everything possible to maintain a safe and secure environment for their children.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Raider, National President
NA’AMAT USA

The rally featured several female speakers who were victims of Haredi violence, in addition to the Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yacimovich and Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat. NA’AMAT women were among the protesters holding banners reading:”Free Israel from religious coercion”, “Stop Israel from becoming Iran”, “Segregation is a red line”, and “No more discrimination against women!”

Public outcry against the radical demand to exclude women from public events and for segregation between the sexes on busses, sidewalks and even in lines in the supermarket, became especially strident over the weekened when a seven-years-old girl was spat on in a Beit Shemesh street by Haredi man who claimed she was not dressed “modestly enough.”

Adv. Talia Livni, President NA’AMAT stated that “the atrocity of women’s exclusion is a crime and endangers the “delicate texture” of the Israeli society. The current situation is intolerable and NA’AMAT will fight against all discrimination against women”.

NA’AMAT made stickers reading “Enough to Women Segregation”.

In addition, I am enclosing the following documents:
1) A letter that was sent by Adv. Talia Livni, President NA’AMAT to the members of the “Ministers’ Committee on the Status of Women” who did not attend the meeting on the matter of exclusion of women. MinisterLetter

2) A letter sent to the President of the Technion in Haifa, Prof. Peretz Lavie, regarding the attempts to exclude women, and that women have been asked to avoid coming to the Technion Fitness Center during certain times of day. TechnionLetter

3) A resolution of the Central Committee of NA’AMAT. naamat.resolution.122711

In upcoming weeks, more steps are planned together with other social organizations, intended to fight this dangerous phenomena. For example, Next Sunday NA’AMAT will lead an initiative; groups of NA’AMAT members will ride buses which serve both secular and religious population, in different areas in Israel.

I will update you on further developments.

Sincerely,

Shirli Shavit
Director
NA’AMAT International Dep’t.
Israel
Tel. 972 3 6921905
shirlisha@naamat.org.il

IN THE NEWS:

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/beit-shemesh-rally-attracts-thousands-to-protest-extremism-1.403981

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?ID=251058&R=R1

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/12/28/israel-beit-shemesh-protests-ultra-orthodox-jews_n_1173232.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4167668,00.html

Mayim Bialik is a well-known actress most recently starring in the award-winning show “The Big Bang Theory”. Mayim is supporting NA’AMAT‘s contribution to serving Israel in improving the status of women, and will be supporting us in a variety of ways!
Learn more now at http://www.naamat.org/mayim/

180 female students studying for their Bachelor and Master degree were given a scholarship of 2,000 Shekels each. Double from last year, over 100 female students were awarded scholarships for study in engineering, science, computers, and medicine, including 40 studying for their master degree.

In addition, as in the last 7 years, NA'AMAT gave 4 research grants, each of 10,000 shekels, for Doctoral students, for research in the field of women’s status and gender studies.

“We are extremely gratified by by these awards, as they reflect the excellent articles and illustrations published continually by the magazine,” said editor Judith Sokoloff.

NA’AMAT Woman magazine won the first-place awards in the following categories:

PERSONAL ESSAY
“Shabbat With My Mother” by Leeat Granek

EXCELLENCE IN NEWS REPORTING
“Raphael Lemkin and the Genocide Convention” by Aviva Cantor
Comments: Well balanced story of one man’s fight,set against the backdrop of recent atrocities

THE NOAH BEE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ILLUSTRATION
“An Empty Nest: Ruffled Feathers or Time to Soar”
“Big Issues on Campus”
“Rumiya and the Shofar”
“Rock Stars of the Senior Singles”
“When the Kibbutz Was a Kibbutz”
Artists: Marilyn Rose, Avi Katz and Yevgenia Nayberg
Comments: A nice variety of artistic styles. All first rate.

180 female students studying for their Bachelor and Master degree  were given a scholarship of 2,000 Shekels each. This year there has been a significant rise regarding the number of female students studying technological / scientific professions who received a scholarship. There were over 100 students (twice as many as in 2010) who are studying  engineering, science, computers, medicine, etc…

Almost 40 of the students who received a scholarship are studying for their master degree.

In addition, as in the last 7 years, NA'AMAT gave 4 research grants, each of 10,000 shekels, for Doctoral students, for research in the field of women’s status and gender studies.

The festive Scholarship Ceremony took place commemorating NA'AMAT 90^TH Anniversary. Enclosed is an excerpt from my opening words in the ceremony concerning the history of NA'AMAT.

Building on decades of interaction between Jewish and Arab women, NA'AMAT will continue to support Israel’s search for peace with its Arab neighbors and to work for better lives for all women and their families in Israel.

NA‘AMAT’s network of alternative high schools targets students who have been unable to succeed in traditional schools, often because of family or behavioral problems. The high schools offer small classes, individual attention, an experienced staff and a family atmosphere. Because of these factors, most students go on to become productive members of society.

The network includes 18 Technological High Schools, including 10 in the Arab sector, and two residential Agricultural Schools. More than 3,500 students attend these schools.

Highlight of the evening was the presentation to honoree Mireille Shaio,  (Bar Harbour), patron of fine arts and music, by Raquel Rub, NA'AMAT S.Fl. President, and Matilde Behar, OR chapter president.  The evening’s activities included the personal appearance of local artists with their paintings, a silent auction, jewelry vendors, and a drawing for an original sculpture by a local artist.
A wonderful and entertaining cabaret show featured singing, dancing by professional couples, and a professional ballet  performance.
Proceeds benefited the Ayanot Boarding high school near Gedera, Israel sponsored by NA 'AMAT.

The occasion of the 85th anniversary of NA'AMAT USA, was celebrated at the Turnberry Aventura Jewish Center on Thursday evening, March 24th with a cocktail hour and dinner.

Following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s strong support, Eleanor continued in her role as First Lady of the United States. In an era when few women had careers, she was the first to hold weekly press conferences and started writing a widely syndicated newspaper column, “My Day”, which included social, political and women’s issues. Below find a wonderful sample of her stance on Women’s Issues (courtesy of PBS) by CLICKING HERE.

As one of the early great pioneer of  NA’AMAT’s beginnings, we owe great grattitude towards her and other powerful American and Israeli women who helped form our great nation of ISRAEL. We also owe great gratitude for Golda’s leadership paving the way for Jewish women around the world. READ MORE

A joint project of the International Fellowship of
Christians and Jews and NA’AMAT

New facilities have recently been installed in 52 NA’AMAT Israel day care centers. $ 375,000 were allocated to this project called “Fellowship playground”, funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), headed by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, in order to renew and upgrade the playgrounds in day care centers for the benefit of Israeli children. {READ MORE}