Event: Launch of the 'Not Elected, Not Voters' campaign (in short: Not Elected, Not Voters) - Haredi women establish an organization striving to elect women to the Knesset
Activity Date: Shevat Adar 5775, February-March 2015
There has been a lot of talk lately about trailblazing women, and voices are being heard about the need for real change in the status of Haredi women of our generation. This week I even saw a decoration for the Sukkah with blessings in the names of 'great' Jewish women who 'did it,' as they say today...
I looked again at the figures of those inspiring women and immediately discovered what they had in common: they were women who consulted with the great men of Israel at every step. They were women who lived in the shadow or alongside rebbes, rabbis, and great men.
They were women who studied and sometimes even taught Halacha, morality, and Hasidism. They were elevated above the people - and for good reason. They adhered to the highest standards of jurisprudence in all matters related to Halacha. And the stories about them are numerous, fascinating, and empowering.
And I want to take advantage of my year-end summary to ask those dear Haredi feminists, who they consult with when they come to lead "moves that will change the status of Haredi women.".
Who do they consult with? Which rabbinical figure from among the great men of Israel gave them her blessing? Which of the Rebbes strengthened their hands and expressed his satisfaction with the decoration in which those seven great women appear? Perhaps they received the consent and blessing of Anat Rozin and Sheli Yachimovitz. The blessing of the luminaries of our generation, it is likely not.
Moreover, those women chosen by the feminists knew Torah. Even Dona Gracia, the wealthy 'businesswoman', was known for having Torah students and studying Torah herself. And those feminists of our generation, did any of them study the Shulchan Aruch, Rambam, or even the most necessary laws for a Jewish woman?
Which of them studied morality in an orderly and systematic manner, or perhaps Hasidic books, even easy ones that are affordable for everyone?
Therefore, in my humble opinion, the voices of those feminists deserve to be heard when they follow in the footsteps of those great figures from our recent and distant history. When they dress like Rebbetzin Kanievsky, peace be upon her, or even just pray like her.
When they will devote themselves entirely to educating the daughters of Israel to modesty, love of God, and fear of God, like Sarah, upon whom be peace. And I do not want to stray too far from Dona Gracia, the woman who rebuilt Tiberias and housed scholars of Torah, whom she had cultivated as a daily occurrence.
As long as you don't even try to imitate those great and revered women, you are only making shameful headlines - and breaking a barrier. You are causing irreparable damage to authentic Haredi women who seek to follow the path of God with all their hearts.
Gratitude
This column is the 73rd column on the Haredim 10 website, and although it says that "we are opening a hostel with respect," I preferred to begin my remarks with empty Haredi feminism, in order to get to the essential Haredi feminism.
The person who heads this site, which serves as a haven for my thoughts, is a woman who is very involved in her field of expertise and in general. From her I learned a lot about perseverance and dedication. About Haredi Jewish pride and Haredi female pride.
And by the way, I'm surprised every time by the number of women who recognize me as a result of my appearance on this site. Thanks to the platform I've been given here.
On this occasion, perhaps I should introduce myself to the thousands of women who read me every week.
I grew up in an ultra-Orthodox family in a secular city. I attended ultra-Orthodox schools (Beit Yaakov and Beit Rivka). I married young and, thank God, I have six children and a similar number of grandchildren, and they will be many more.
And you know what, I never studied for an academic degree. I completed my high school diploma and nothing more. Which didn't stop me, as an ultra-Orthodox "woman," from being in the business world as an entrepreneur and manager of a children's clothing chain that clothes the children of the ultra-Orthodox community and has 18 branches in the ultra-Orthodox concentrations of the country.
I interviewed hundreds of employees for various positions in sales, accounting, management and design, and at any given moment I managed about 200 ultra-Orthodox employees across the country. I don't remember any of them being discriminated against because they were women. I myself didn't think I needed the help of feminists of all kinds. And make no mistake, I don't really feel bad about being a woman.
Later, I served as VP of the newspaper 'Mishpacha' where we developed women's magazines that meet the needs of the Haredi woman, including a food magazine, a health magazine, a beauty magazine, a style magazine and a home design magazine. There, too, I worked with a team of Haredi women in various fields such as marketing, sales, distribution, writing and editing. All of them, without exception, were successful in their fields and appreciated for their performance.
Today I own 'Miri Schneerson-My Choice', which is an empowerment center for Haredi women. A center that provides business and personal advice and guides many women to success. I present a regular program on 'Kol-Hai' radio and I am also an active blogger on 'Facebook', 'Twitter' and 'Instagram'. I lecture and host women's empowerment and support evenings, and am in daily contact with associations that assist Haredi women and families as part of my journalistic work.
Maybe I should also appear on a Sukkah decoration poster? Well. Really!
I have no political and/or partisan aspirations, and I have no ambitions to represent or speak on behalf of all Haredi women. I want Haredi women to succeed in everything they do, and I want to empower Haredi women in their important and vital role in the strength of the Jewish people.
To operate in the field
It seems like everything has been said about the supposed 'struggle' to elect Haredi women to the Knesset. But I still have a few words about this struggle...
These girls, who sacrificed their lives on the altar of Channel 2's ratings calf, did not bring or advance us Haredi women anywhere.
I have no doubt that the intentions were good. The desire to "save the poor Haredi woman" and raise her voice is understandable (seemingly). But the path was sloppy and extremely harmful.
To this day, when I come to lecture or give a presentation in front of secular women, I am attacked with the question: "Why didn't you - you Haredim - worry about having a woman in the Knesset?""
As if all the needs of the Haredi world are concentrated into just one point – a Haredi woman in the Knesset. As if the troubles are over, as if all the hardships of the Haredi public in general and Haredi women in particular are over.
So many Haredi women today are dealing with painful divorces, with special children, with a difficult financial situation, with lack of employment, with poor health and with low self-esteem. And most importantly, will there be a Haredi member of Knesset?
A seat for an ultra-Orthodox woman in the Knesset would not solve the problems (by the way, there are observant women in the Knesset). That same ultra-Orthodox woman sitting on the seat of honor might have created personal equality. Maybe. But nothing more than that.
The Haredi-feminine social revolution is already here. It is alive, kicking and even biting. Haredi women are gathering and filling halls and galleries and listening to or speaking words of encouragement and awakening. Haredi women are doing a lot for each other and I can attest to this firsthand as someone who has researched and examined dozens of Haredi women's associations for the Haredi woman and family.
The comprehensive examination I conducted brought me to only one conclusion: the work begins from the ground. From below and not from a seat in the Israeli Knesset. It is possible that this too will come. I have no doubt that it will happen when the time is right for it. When the rabbis and the rabbis of the generation will think that it is indeed necessary and important for the people of Israel and the women of Israel.
But right now we need to act on the ground. Not in the news company studios and in front of cameras and journalists.
Unity is empowering.
This is my summary of the previous year. Not headlines. Not posters that stay on the wall. But actual work, on the ground. In helping and assisting Haredi women and in female empowerment from the unity of the ranks.
Pay attention to what is written in this week's parsha: "If there is among you a man or a woman... whose heart has turned away from the Lord our God today.".
With the faithful shepherd, we are all equal. "You all stand today!" All of us, women and men, ultra-Orthodox and secular, must stand together before the King on the coming Day of Judgment. Before that, we must prepare. Every Jew wants to receive His kingdom, may He be blessed. To that end, we must conduct an inventory of the previous year, "We have searched our way." And this is not enough, because we must also repent - "And we will return to You.".
And thanks to unity and repentance, we will surely all of us - women and men alike - deserve a good and sweet year. A year in which God will fulfill all the wishes of our hearts for good and will finally send us our righteous Messiah. (Part of the column is based on the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe).
• Miri Schneerson is the owner of "My Choice", an event host, lecturer and radio broadcaster: [email protected]
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