One Voice: Jewish Women for Israel, Website Improvements and Take Five: Call the President for Israel, New York City
One Voice is new organization, founded in 2002 in response to crises in Israel. It is a coalition of eleven national Jewish women’s organizations united in support of Israel. The organizations represent a broad spectrum of political and religious views. One Voice has spearheaded four national call-in days to the president, congressional representatives, and the Finnish government in support of Israel. Targum Shlishi’s funding supported two initiatives – the revamping of the organization’s website and a national call-in day to the president held October 22, 2003, called “Take Five: Call the President for Israel.” “Targum Shlishi’s funding has helped us extend our reach,” noted Sari Kahn, director of programming. “We now have a user-friendly website that can educate women on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as inspire them to become advocates for Israel.” www.onevoice4israel.com

Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, Fifth International Conference on Feminism and Orthodoxy, New York City
Targum Shlishi was a sponsor of the conference, “Women and Men in Partnership,” the fifth international conference on the topics of feminism and orthodoxy organized by the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA). The conference focused on both the attempts to increase opportunities for women within the Orthodox tradition and also on broader social problems that effect the Orthodox population as a whole. www.jofa.org

Edah, Women and Orthodoxy, test cities
Targum Shlishi is providing funding for Eday to initiate a model program for Simchat Bat celebrations. The long-term goal for this program is to make the observance of Simchat Bat celebrations, which welcome the birth of daughters, normative and universal in the Orthodox community. Currently, Simchat Bat celebrations occur only sporadically in most Orthodox communities and are viewed as being elective in nature. There is also no standard format for Simchat Bat celebrations.

The lack of consensus and standardization contribute to the sense that such celebrations are optional and that welcoming a baby girl is less “important” than welcoming a boy. In order to change the status quo, Edah will select five congregations in different cities and work with them to evolve a way of making Simchat Bat celebrations normative. The idea behind the project is that the celebrations that occur after the birth of a child set in place the religious values inherent in raising that child. Thus, to put into place a celebration of the birth of daughters will help advance the acceptance of a more prominent and central role for Jewish women within the tradition. www.edah.org

Mavoi Satum, Targum Shlishi Legal Aid Fund for Agunot, Jerusalem
Founded in 1996, the Jerusalem-based organization Mavoi Satum, which translates literally as “Dead End,” is an advocacy organization calling for justice, compassion, and change in the struggle of Jewish women whose husbands will not grant a get (a Jewish writ of divorce). These women are known as agunot and mesuravot get. Mavoi Satum offers legal services to these women; since its founding, the organization has helped more than ninety women obtain divorces and has helped countless more through its education and advisory programs.

Targum Shlishi’s funding provides financial assistance to help women pay for legal services. “We are very excited about working with Targum Shlishi and grateful for the foundation’s generous donation,” said Judith Garson Djemal, co-chair of Mavoi Satum. “Having the funds to help women through the legal process is tremendously beneficial. The get has, unfortunately, become a tool by which men can attempt to run away from their responsibilities and extort money, property, and custody from their wives. Women have to fight back. Good legal representation is essential if women are to obtain their freedom.” In the first five months of the Targum Shlishi Legal Aid Fund for Agunot, the program enabled eight women to use professional legal services to further their cases in the divorce process. Two of these women received their get. www.agunot.org

Click here to read case studies of women who have been helped by Mavoi Satum.

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