The Rackman Center welcomes Adv. Shelly Blatt Zak as our new CEO.

Shelly joins the Rackman Center after a 20-year legal career in the private sector and after serving as a senior partner at one of Israel’s largest firms where she specialized in corporate law and where she founded and managed the Impact and Social Responsibility Department.

 

“My path to the Rackman Center began with my deep desire to harness my legal expertise and ability to promote social change and correct the structural distortions that exist in the legal and social system. The decision to focus on promoting gender equality and women’s rights was, for me, a natural development of the social work that accompanied my professional and personal path. This calling intensified in the shadow of the war and the COVID pandemic when women’s rights retreated and continue to retreat. Women’s economic and employment rights in Israel are regressing, as is our mental and physical health status. We are underrepresented in decision-making positions and are increasingly losing personal security. In the Knesset, harmful policies are being promoted. In this reality, the Rackman Center has a significant presence and influence, particularly in the family law arena, as we work to advance the status of women in Israel in a variety of ways.

 

Upon assuming the position of CEO, there are three main areas that I will focus on within the Center’s activities:

 

1. Promoting legal aid programs – I will work to improve and expand the legal framework provided by the Center, which protects women’s rights in divorce proceedings, child custody and property division, along with promoting and expanding emotional support from a holistic perspective.

2. Intensifying policy advocacy – We will continue to expand our advocacy in the Knesset and decision-making centers, through drafting bills, submitting legal opinions, appearing before Knesset committees, and collaborating with government agencies and civil society organizations to promote legislation that protects women’s rights and promotes gender equality in Israel.

3. Combating gender-based violence – Expanding legal activity to prevent violence against women by promoting legislation, providing legal assistance to victims and developing outreach and training programs.”

Shelly Blatt Zak

 

We are excited and look forward to working together with Shelly under her leadership. Good luck in your new role!