The work of Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari and the Rackman Center were featured in a piece in the Jerusalem Post, “What’s next for women’s advanced halachic study in Israel?”, published on March 18, 2023.
The Rackman Center operates a number of projects, including legal services for women in divorce and promoting policy to protect women’s rights in family law. However, the article focuses on another key project of ours: ending the exclusion of women in the public religious sphere. One way we do this is by making it possible for women to become learned Halachic experts in order to assume leadership roles. We believe that this is critical for women’s advancement in Israeli society and to strengthen women’s rights in family law which is dominated by men and patriarchal religious law.
In the article, Prof. Halperin-Kaddari explains that, “It is important that women form part of the religious establishment and take part in shaping religious life in Israel. The religious establishment has an influence on all areas of life, and it is vital that it not remain a monopoly of men. It is unthinkable that they alone will make decisions that affect women. Beyond that, it is known that diversity around the decision-making table leads to better conditions.”
We are proud to know that the Rackman Center has played a key role in women’s increasing involvement in the religious sphere. This continues to be a primary goal of ours for the future, especially under Israel’s current government and its planned policies to limit women’s rights.
