en_כתביו-דברים בעתם

From the book “A Time and a Place”

Woman’s Year In the World and in Israel

February 12, 1975

Members of Knesset,

Thanks to The Council of Women’s Organizations in Israel, We are privileged to hold a special Knesset meeting to mark the woman’s year in the world, following the initiative and the declaration of the U.N.

We responded to the application of The Council of Women’s Organizations in Israel to hold this event in the Knesset, in view of the pioneering endeavors and the educational and social enterprises of women in Israel since the first and second ALIYAH until these very days. These endeavors and enterprises are a source of pride and admiration for all of us, and can serve as an exemplary model for the deeds and activities of women in distant and in nearby countries.

I am happy to welcome, wholeheartedly, the scores of representatives from every institution of women’s organizations, including present and former members of Knesset, as they convene, today, in the Knesset building to assist in this festive meeting.

Members of Knesset,

You may ask the question: What is the point of holding this event, which is well and good in itself and, what can we expect from it? Is this event intended to give us the opportunity to praise women, to commend their traits and deeds in public, to elevate the roles they are destined for in the life of humankind as “mothers of all living things” and to value their worth? Should we describe the wisdom that God gave woman more than he did man – as our sages had noticed and as we well know from our own experience? Or should we extol the good deeds, the devotion and the loyalty of the Jewish woman in the history of our People from ancient times until this present day? I think that such descriptions have a time and a place of their own. However, holding this event in the Knesset is a golden opportunity for some soul searching regarding women’s rights and the issue of equality between men and women, both from the HALACHIC as well as from the practical point of view.

In fact, the U.N. recommendation, adopted by the Women’s Organizations in Israel, indicates three goals for The Woman’s Year:

To promote equality between men and women
To enhance women’s participation in development efforts
To strengthen the recognition in the importance of women’s contribution towards fostering friendships among the nations and to promote peace in the world.

These goals are extremely important in making the world a better place and I wish the U.N. would be capable of channeling this activity towards nations and countries where the woman is still considered to be an inferior creature as opposed to man.

There is no doubt that, in Israel, there is recognition, on principle, of the right of the woman to respect and total equality. This recognition is based on our religious and cultural heritage as it is depicted in the bible, the MISHNA and the TALMUD, the oral law and the commentaries, legend and poetry. It is rooted in the minds of the majority of Israeli citizens as self-evident and appears as part of our renewed and advanced legislation, validated in the “Women’s Equality of Rights” Law, passed by the Knesset in 1951. It is also part of a long list of laws and by-laws that were passed and amended in order to maintain the special rights and determine the status of women in the labor system and in the delicate and complex issues of family law, alimonies and financial settlements between spouses, etc.

However, here as well, there are two issues we must try to clarify:

One – has the Israeli legislation system completed all that is required regarding women’s equal rights and status and, if it hasn’t – when is it going to do so. In fact, legislation has not yet been completed regarding women’s equal rights and status and, this year, The Woman’s Year, is the perfect opportunity to bridge this gap. The second question is whether the recognized principle, the rooted awareness and the laws that were enacted, accordingly, regarding women’s equal rights and status are implemented verbatim or not.

Apparently, this is a difficult question to answer unequivocally with a clear conscious.

There are, at least, three areas where we still haven’t reached full and genuine equality. One - is regarding equal wages for equal work. The right to equality is recognized, however, in practice, things are different. This is a complicated and complex issue and it is incumbent upon us to constantly strive towards implementing this equality and make it real.

The second - deals with the painful problems in the area of marital law. In order to solve them there is a need for a lot of goodwill and mutual understanding on the part of the Rabbis, the Knesset, the Courts and public opinion.

The third - is in the area of representation.

The fact that in the Knesset today there are only 9 women out of 120 Knesset members and, that among the 18 ministers in the government there are none and, that among 10 – 11 justices in the Supreme Court there are none – and among other central and local institutions the situation is similar – is a reality that does not go hand in hand with our principles and awareness.

Aren’t women capable of fulfilling these positions? I’m sure there isn’t even one person who would imagine making this argument. Our entire life experience teaches us that women are capable of fulfilling, and actually do so, any position they assume, skillfully and thoroughly, and their success is evident. Just recently, our government was headed by Golda Meir, the great woman who left a mark of greatness and esteem during her term of office, and in the pre – State period, Henrietta Szold was salient in her endeavors and richness of spirit.

We have just conferred, in the Knesset foyer, the Award of the Year on 11 outstanding women for a life enterprise in domains of society and State, and they are not alone. We have many women of valor. Settlers and soldiers, judges, doctors, teachers, nurses, poets and writers, editors of dailies and weeklies and others who deal with various other aspects of social and public life. A close and proven testimony are our women Knesset members who fulfill their task with great talent and immense success, both as Knesset members and as members and chairpersons of committees.

Finally, I regard it as a great honor and privilege to address you, distinguished ladies and Knesset members and, through you, all the women in Israel, spouses, mothers, sisters and daughters with two issues: one – to strengthen in the hearts of women and men, boys and girls, the faith in God and in our right to live in this country a life of independence while ingathering our exiles.

The second – to influence and act towards more modest and restrained habits and level of life, both outside and inside the home; towards culture, cleanliness and good harmony in the neighborhoods and, especially, towards civilized, decent and tolerant relations with neighbors and friends.