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Z
MARCH 5, 2021
Spotlight
Women making a difference
CONTENTS March 5, 2021
Cover Sections
8 Women with hard drive 6 Letters
• By TAMAR BEERI
34 Trending
12 The Arab-Israeli & Palestinian 36 Food
women making an impact
38 Observations
• By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
41 Arab Press 12
14 Female face to the London embassy
42 Books
• By LAHAV HARKOV
45 Readers’ Photos
20 Superpower of compassion:
46 Judaism
Organ transplants
• By HAGAY HACOHEN 48 Games
50 Arrivals
28 The burning bus:
Edge of the precipice
• By VIVIAN BERCOVICI
32 Mekorot mayim:
Bringing water to Jerusalem
• By ZEV STUB
COVER PHOTO: Baysberg Team
Photos (from top): Amoun Sleem; Dvora Szerer
20
PHOTO OF THE WEEK | MARC ISRAEL SELLEM SAY WHAT?
SAY WHAT?
BY L I AT CO L L I N S
Mahlif/a kidomet (m/f)
מחליפה קידומת/מחליף
Meaning: Celebrating a round birthday/
anniversary
Literally: Changing the dialing code/
telephone area code
Example: Tomorrow is my 60th birthday.
Mahlifa kidomet!
Editor: Erica Schachne
Z
Graphic Designer: Moran Snir
Email: Mag@Jpost.com
Books: Letters@jpost.com
www.jpost.com >> Magazine
LETTERS
HAPPY HIPPIE they hid in the crypt of the York
Thank you for the “groovy Minster cathedral and later hid
quiz” to check if I’m a bona-fide in a wooden tower in York Cas-
hippie (February 26)! tle called Clifford’s Tower.
Firstly, it was a nice diversion There the non-Jews promised
in the Magazine published for them safe passage if they sur-
the Shabbat of “Purim Meshu- rendered but, when some came
lash” to have a nostalgic article out, the mob immediately
that had nothing to do with the murdered them. Those who
past year and the coronavirus. stayed in the tower took their
Secondly, as someone who own lives and the tower was
experienced the hippie era burnt down when the mob set
from my teenage years until light to it. This, of course, was
I completed university 51 the infamous York Massacre
years ago, I was pleased to see a hundred years prior to the
that despite my now slightly total expulsion of all Jews from
“senior” memory I scored very England in 1290.
well on the groovy quiz. The hypnotized subject had
Last but not least, I have never visited York and later in
my own hippie tale to tell. the program it was explained
My children, who are all born how all the facts fitted
and raised in Israel and have including the names of streets
had the advantage of learning except that the cathedral did
English as a mother-tongue in not have a crypt. However,
addition to their native Hebrew about two years later the pro-
– thanks to their parents – gram was broadcast again with
grew up hearing The Beatles’ an addendum explaining that,
songs on records at home in since the first broadcast, the
addition to hearing these songs York Minster had been renovat-
on the radio. My eldest child’s ed, some floor slabs removed,
first name is a Hebrew word and the crypt found.
meaning “happy,” which was Incidentally, the old Jewish
chosen because his parents cemetery was found in the ear-
were so very happy to have a ly 1980s when a car park being
child born in Israel – after a built for a new supermarket re-
pause of 2,000 years in our fam- vealed probable Jewish graves.
ily’s presence in Israel. After my Rabbis from London confirmed
kids learned The Beatles’ songs, the graves were Jewish. As a re-
they liked to claim we actually sult, the prohibition on visit-
gave our child this name ing York (cherem) was removed
because we were former hippies and there was a ceremony of
and that when I was pregnant, reinternment of the bones, with
I’d massage my abdomen and Jewish and non-Jewish digni-
sing “And when I touch you, I taries present, on July 9, 1984.
feel ‘Happy’ inside!” (An unfortunate date as it co-
LEAH YERUSHALMI incided with the Hebrew date
Jerusalem 9 Tammuz of the breaching of
the walls of Jerusalem leading
TIME AFTER TIME to the destruction of Jerusalem
David Brinn’s excellent cov- by Nebuchadnezzar and the ex-
er story “It’s My (After) Life” ile of the Jews living there 2,407
(February 26) reminded me of a years earlier.) On the very same
television documentary (to the day as the ceremony, the cathe-
best of my recollection by the dral was struck by lightning ig-
BBC and introduced by Magnus niting a fire that burnt down the
Magnusson) that I saw in part rumored to have been built
England in the 1970s, in which from taxes levied on the Jews.
a hypnotist took patients back The coincidence of the fire
in time before their birth to in the cathedral, the ceremony
previous incarnations. Of the of reinternment of the bones,
many subjects, my interest was and the removal of the cherem
perked by a woman who was all on the anniversary of the
taken back to the year 1190 in breach of the walls of Jerusalem
the town of York where she was on 9 Tammuz is very interest-
a Jewess. She described how ing. Was Hashem trying to tell
she, together with other Jews, us something?
were pursued by a mob trying MALCOLM MANDEL
to kill them. She described how Ra’anana
Write to: maglet@jpost.com
Only a selection of letters can be published. Priority goes to those that
are brief and topical.
Letters may be edited, and must bear the name and address of the writer.
6 MARCH 5, 2021
On InternatIOnal WOmen’s Day,
Barkai celebrates our rabbaniot, who together with their husbands,
build strong Jewish communities, throughout Israel.
In 90 communities they are role models of female strength, intelligence and warmth:
Guiding and supporting women and girls
Teaching Torah and Yiddishkeit
Recognizing distress and providing assistance
Joining a network of communal leaders to strengthen Israel
Answering intimate and difficult questions
Constantly developing their professional skills to better serve the community
With special thanks to our
Rabbi David Fine and Rabbi Shlomo Sobol, Deans and Founders Director amit Baron,
without whom Barkai
would not be the flourishing
To learn more about Barkai or to become a Barkai couple organization it is today!
please go to www.israelrabbis.org
COVER
IDITH VARON
discusses the
Women’s Professional
Development Network
program.
(Photos: Applied Materials)
Women with hard drive
Ahead of International Women’s University for her master’s.
From there, she began to flourish in the fields of
Day on March 8, we meet the engineering and computing, which led her to the role she
powerful individuals taking a byte holds today.
“I am responsible for Amdocs Information Technolo-
of the hi-tech sector gies, including information systems, infrastructure and
cybersecurity domains,” Kilstein told the Magazine. “I have
• TAMAR BEERI a global organization with approximately 1,000 employ-
T
ees, mostly developers and engineers, spread out across
here are many career paths that carry with them the globe, and that includes men and women alike, with
the age-old stigma of being a “man’s job.” The plenty of women in managerial roles.”
corporate role, the man in a suit, is a trademark Indeed, approximately 30% of Amdocs employees are
of the business world, and the bespectacled women – not the 50% mark of a true reflection of socie-
young fellow hunched over a bulky black laptop tal distribution, but a nevertheless impressive amount in
is equally tied to the image of the hi-tech industry. That, contrast to other companies in such a market. In Amdocs
however, has not been the image of programmers and in- Israel, the number is even nearer to the middle ground,
novators in quite a while – that world is changing. with 44% of employees in the country being women. Kil-
Today, women are some of the leaders of the technologi- stein explained that she never felt any sort of gender-based
cal sector and are more clearly distributed throughout each barrier standing in her way.
field within it. “In my personal path, I hardly faced any kind of gender
block, especially not in Amdocs,” she affirmed. “I believe
ALEGRA KILSTEIN, chief information officer (CIO) at that one must believe in oneself and that as a woman, you
Amdocs, began her path into the hi-tech industry long can accomplish whatever you want. Our only limitations
before she reached the frontlines of the famed soft- are the ones we set up in our own minds.”
ware company and multinational corporation. As a
child, she always tended to go for learning natural and RIKI ASHOURI-COHEN, a network engineer at the
HARNESSING formal sciences over the humanities and other such sub- telecommunications company Ericsson, also did not
FEMALE brain jects. She had studied in the Technion – Israel Institute feel that gender bias got in her way. She entered the
power. (Pixabay) of Technology for her bachelor’s degree and Tel Aviv world of hi-tech at a very young age, studying in a high
8 MARCH 5, 2021
THE WPDN enables women in the same field to
connect and open up about struggles they face in the
workplace.
school (which has since stopped operation) run by
telecommunications company Bezeq.
“I was one among four girls altogether in my home-
room, and one among 12 altogether in our grade,” she
recounted. “We were always the minority, but that
didn’t make me feel different. No one in my career
has looked at me and another person differently just
because I’m a woman and he’s a man.”
Throughout her childhood, she had been complete-
ly and utterly enamored with the creative maneuvers
of project management necessary to make it in the
hi-tech world.
“I truly loved the subject,” she shared.
Part of what made the technological world a com-
fortable home in which to settle her career was the
natural feeling of being an “equal among equals.”
“There are people that have stigmas about women necessary. gender bias.
and there are those that don’t see it that way,” she “I always loved technology. When I was at the end “Sometimes I felt that people look at me with dis-
said. “It depends on your surroundings. Today, there of high school, I always said I’d be either a computer belief, but it always quickly changes. I had a customer
are many more women in the sector. The surround- technician or a social worker. But I love the solu- who during our first meeting expressed a very intense
ings have changed.” tion-finding, the fact that an issue comes to my table lack of faith in me. Soon after, when he understood
and I have to engineer it. It’s so fun. It was born within how I work, he told me that if I can’t reach him, I
SHIFRA SPECTOR, enterprise applications manager at me.” should do what I think is right. That’s the level of
NESS Outsourcing Group, said that there too she does She admitted that entering the field of hi-tech was faith he ended up putting in me.”
not feel victim to such sexist prejudices. not easy as an ultra-Orthodox woman. The only place she truly sees the gender gap is in the
A haredi mother of five, Spector has been with NESS “When I studied years ago, the options for studies struggle between work life and home life.
since 1999 and today, manages a team of eight. But for haredi people were very limited. It was mostly “It’s always home, work, kids,” she sighed.
she began her work with the company as a mere em- teaching and caretaking. I couldn’t find myself within However, Spector found that the field of techno-
ployee at the support center. it; I had a really boring year of learning. When my logical advancement was actually a comfortable ha-
“I developed professionally very much there, but mom saw me appearing so pitiful, she signed me up ven for mothers. Being a mom of five, she needed to
eventually it was enough for me,” she said. “I was for a programming course and I learned 18 hours a be able to care for her children and be ready in case
moved to internal information systems by NESS. I week, which was a lot. My love began with the bore- anything happened, and with the kind of work she
began as a supervisor and moved into management.” dom of teaching, ironically enough.” does at NESS, that is always an option.
She gushed about her love for the field of hi-tech, Despite her struggle to break into the world of “I have so much flexibility to work from home, even
and the creativity needed to carry out the projects hi-tech, Spector never felt that she was victim to before the pandemic, so I’m always available by email
www.jpost.com 9
COVER
(Left) AMDOCS CIO Alegra
Kilstein. (Photos: Courtesy those
mentioned)
RIKI ASHOURI-COHEN,
network engineer at
Ericsson.
and stuff. My kids were never impacted by my work, known as the Women’s Professional Development essential for economies and communities to thrive.
even when my workload wasn’t light. I work hard and Network (WPDN), which aims at creating a plat- Collectively, each one of Amdocs’ employees can help
intensely, but we work with such flexibility, and that form for women in the same professional field to us on our journey to close the gender gap.”
is so special.” connect, speak and open up about struggles they Kilstein could nevertheless not imagine a position
face in the workplace. in which gender bias was a relevant issue, since the
YET NOT all sexism in the hi-tech field has been erad- “We talk about anything in which we can support world of hi-tech does not have jobs that one could re-
icated. At the Technion, one of the most prestigious one another,” she explained. “We deliberate how to alistically claim a man can do while a woman cannot.
schools for computer engineering and computer sci- close these gender gaps, the gaps that are the lack
ences and where Kilstein studied, less than one-third of women who can speak to one another, confess CARMIT KLEINMAN, manager of the innovation
of those currently working toward an undergraduate things to. If you know a woman who is a manager, center of Motorola Solutions in Israel, said she be-
degree in those fields are women. you can consult with her, but these are so hard to lieves part of the industry’s gender gap issue is that
At Applied Materials – a manufacturing company find. These conversations would not happen on women tend to be taken as people who can perform
for chips for electronics – Idith Varon, who manages a their own.” the little tasks, but are not truly up to task for the
team of system engineers, says she is the only woman Having a platform to share with other women professional hi-tech projects. They are viewed as kol-
in the entire group of program engineers with which allows them to question their experiences based on boinikiot, she said, referring to people who perform
she collaborates. Furthermore, back when she studied that of others and bring up issues in the differences. small, menial tasks.
for her bachelor’s in computer engineering at Hebrew “If we see a particular issue that we wish to raise, we “I can say that in my 20 years of a career, I’ve
University and master’s in electrical engineering at take it from the forum straight to human resources or worked my share of technological jobs,” Kleinman
Tel Aviv University, she was one of very few women to management. The group is women but there are said. “I’ve always felt that women, because of their
in her class. men too, who find it important to advance women tendency to do administrative work, they tend to go
She said the role she holds at the company feels like and bring about gender equality. This works in a way for more menial jobs. If there is a volunteer action
it was meant for her. that it is grown from the ground up; the workers cre- needed, women tend to go for it much more than
“I really enjoy this job and feel like I am utiliz- ate the group.” men. They take jobs that are not necessarily profes-
ing all of my capabilities, both from my technical sional. They have, on the one hand, a much broader
background and my background in physics,” she INDEED, ONE of the main issues in trying to bring contribution. On the other hand, they can easily fall
explained, referencing her previous work as a laser about gender equality in the field is making the career to the position of kolboinikit.”
physicist. “Now everything is perfectly combined.” path appealing to younger female audiences. Today, According to her, women in the field fall into the
Her love for the world of hi-tech was indeed born learning computer sciences for men seems cool; the role of glue.
at home. thought of a Matrix-style computer hack is appealing. “They bring everything together, but they are not
“My father is a building engineer and my mother But among young women, the field seems masculine the center of the action. The men could get the best
studied physics and chemistry and later moved onto or inherently nerdy. slice of meat of work, so to speak. They don’t have
computers. I was always inclined toward sciences and In Amdocs, too, where the aforementioned CIO time to organize events. They do the work. Women
math. Even in high school, my electives were physics Alegra Kilstein works, there is nevertheless the need who do not root themselves in technological work do
and robotics.” to put an emphasis on the move to advance women not get the same treatment.”
She admitted, however, that she was nevertheless in the field. Kleinman, a mother of three, deals with tech-
always a bit of an odd one out, being a female in the “We set forth goals as a company relating to gen- nologies relating to public security using artificial
field of technology. der equality,” Kilstein noted. “We have plenty of pro- intelligence.
“There are very few women in engineering and grams with an even number of men and women or in “My career of over 20 years of software development
physics. It is a place in which I always felt comfortable which women play a significant role.” began when I was a computer engineering student,”
because that’s how I was raised. Even in high school, Professionals at Amdocs value diversity, equality she recounted. “I come from a family of four girls,
there were very few women in physics and robotics. It and inclusion, making it a part of the daily work life, and we didn’t have a computer for each of us. I didn’t
didn’t bother me.” she stressed. come from a home with a computer with games. I was
But Varon did not just let the disparities remain “I really believe that equality is not a women’s issue, always interested in natural and formal sciences.”
under the radar. She joined a forum of women it’s a business issue,” she said. “Gender equality is She explained the funny experience of deliberating
10 MARCH 5, 2021(Left) SHIFRA SPECTOR, enterprise
applications manager, NESS
Outsourcing Group.
(Studio Gumat Chen)
CARMIT KLEINMAN, head of
innovation center, Motorola
Solutions.
(Below) VARON: CLOSING the
gaps. (Ortal Yesodi)
whether to pursue computer engineering in university.
“I worked briefly in a disk store,” she explained.
“They also sold learning programs for computers. It
was a hub of learning computer programming lan-
guages and the like. We didn’t have Google, so we
needed books. I was shocked that people would call
from everywhere and order these books. I thought
that I must do it.”
Kleinman remembers the fateful day when she spoke
to the university and changed her list of preferences in
her application so that the first on the list, rather than
psychology, was computer engineering.
“I was so excited by my first lesson in college,”
she remembered. “The logic, the algorithm, I had so
much fun.”
Despite her experience, Kleinman recognized that
others did not feel the same; young women did not feel
such an appeal. So she launched the MotoTech Project.
“It was meant to encourage middle-school girls to
look at and learn about the hi-tech world,” she said.
“They are taken to see Motorola and various jobs in
hi-tech, which can be finance or human resources
but also the technological side. It allows them to see
the effect one can have on the technological world;
on apps, innovations, etc. When they think about
computer sciences, they don’t want to sit in front of
the computer all day. But it’s so much more than that.”
She explained that young girls are brought to Mo-
torola facilities, where they meet women volunteers
from the company who show them around and
introduce them to the world of hi-tech. The program
has been extremely successful and received the global
CEO award of Motorola, an internal award system for and gain true insight into such professions, without
initiatives within the company. the fear of a judgmental gaze.
“Not many young women see how much creativity The young women additionally meet various “role
there is in this field,” she asserted. “A lot of drive. Not models” who share the great challenges of working in a ‘Not many young women see
many understand this because it isn’t sexy.”
Applied Materials, too, has an entire program dedi-
male-dominated profession. They discuss the tension
between motherhood and professional career goals, how much creativity there is
cated to inspiring young women to look into hi-tech as
a realistic potential career goal for the future. In “Crack
and the vicissitudes of being a woman in hi-tech.
Hi-tech may be filled with men, but bit by bit,
in this field, a lot of drive’
the Glass Ceiling,” young women are brought to Ap- women are evening up the playing field and showing
plied Materials facilities in order to introduce them to that the sector would crash without them – and that
the field without fear of any negative stigma attached the world of technology and innovation is all the
to it. They meet with women engineers and physicists better with women at the forefront.
www.jpost.com 11COVER
NIVINE SANDOUKA. NADIA HARHASH. (Khaled Abu Toameh) AMOUN SLEEM.
(Photos: Courtesy subjects mentioned)
Talented and passionate
The Arab-Israeli and Palestinian believe will stay with us for a long time. My only hope is to see
our Arab society in a better situation.”
women making an impact NIVINE SANDOUKA, a resident of east Jerusalem, describes
herself as a professional aspiring to achieve social justice, peace
• KHALED ABU TOAMEH and gender equity.
J
An expert in the field of program development, manage-
ulia Zaher is an Arab-Israeli businesswoman, philan- ment, peace-building and gender issues, she currently works
thropist and former schoolteacher. She is owner and with the German Association for Development Cooperation
CEO of Al-Arz Tahini, a tahini manufacturing company – AGEH. She also runs a grassroots-based initiative called Judi –
in Nazareth. An advocate for diversity and women in From Me to You that aims to connect women and volunteers in
the workplace, her company employs a large number of several civil society organizations.
Arab women, in addition to Jewish, Muslim and Christian To pursue her passion, she is the executive director of a newly
residents. established NGO called Our Rights – Hoqoqona in Jerusalem,
She continues to work toward empowering women in all focusing on the civic and political rights of Palestinians in the
fields and motivating them to join the labor force, Zaher notes city, especially women.
from the outset. “I work with a German organization in the field of
‘I cannot sit and “I have long been encouraging Arab women to join the labor peace-building,” Sandouka said. “Generally, I also pursue my
force,” she said. “I want to see more women from the Arab sec- passion to create positive change and thus I voluntarily run an
blame destiny or tor at work so that they can improve their social and economic organization to achieve Palestinians’ civic rights.”
politicians for my conditions. I have also been very supportive of people with dis-
abilities in order to incorporate them into Arab society.”
Sandouka believes the situation of Palestinian women is
“worse than ever.”
miserable life’ Zaher wishes she could say that Arab society is better off
today.
“Unfortunately, our society lacks morals and values,”
she lamented. “It has become a society run by division and
“Unfortunately, our society has not changed and we still judgment. It is a society that is passive in the sense it is unable
need a lot of support in all fields.” to embark on a process of real change.”
In her view, Arab women are not different than the rest of the Sandouka hates the idea of being labeled a victim.
women in the world. “Unfortunately, Palestinian women face many challenges:
“Arab women are very talented and capable. They can be suc- political Islam, patriarchy and occupation. They have to fight to
cessful in all fields, but they still need the support of society to overcome these three obstacles. For me, life is a big challenge.”
achieve their goals.” The coronavirus has affected life for her and most women.
According to Zaher, the coronavirus outbreak has had both “Today I work mostly from home. In addition, I have to cope
a positive and negative impact on her and on Arab women as with my new role as my son’s teacher and school, while doing
a whole. my work. This year, however, I decided to take control of things;
“In the beginning there was fear and uncertainty, especially no more Zoom calls in the evening and more meditation. I have
because this was a global, and not local, pandemic,” she noted. also decided to spend more time with my son. It is still chal-
“We have taken precautionary measures and banned non-work- lenging, but we have to make the best of it.
ers from entering our factory. For me, it wasn’t easy to be away “I hope life goes back to normal as soon as possible. I want to
from friends and family.” go back to seeing my close friends and family and travel.”
On a positive note, Zaher said, the coronavirus taught her
how to take advantage of time. NADIA HARHASH, a Palestinian journalist and author from east
“We have a lot of time to handle our matters,” she explained. Jerusalem, is known for her criticism of Palestinian Authority
“We learned how to manage things through Zoom, which I leaders and corruption. As a result, the mother of four has re-
12 MARCH 5, 2021JULIA ZAHER. SAMEERA RADA EMRAN.
ceived numerous threats. Last year, an unidentified ar- last decade. When we look around us, we see a whole achieved equality in our society. Today, I can say that
sonist set her car on fire in front of her home in the Beit different set of rules that are imposed on us. It’s as if women have more responsibilities and fewer rights.
Hanina neighborhood. we’ve been hijacked by ideological norms that became Although our women work outside their homes and
“Palestinian women continue to face many challeng- the law; tribal norms have become part of the law. One contribute to the development of our society, we are
es,” Harhash said. “Our entire life is one big challenge. can only imagine where women are situated in such a still sidelined by men.”
However, I am here to live up to my expectations. I set of rules, where patriarchy is the only given rule.” The coronavirus, Emran noted, has forced many
cannot do that without fulfilling my own aspirations. The past year, Harhash said, will be remembered as Arab women to come face-to-face with the hardships
We are born to be free, to make life better. In my case, it the year when everyone wondered about the pandem- of daily life.
is not taken for granted. ic’s impact on their lives. “As a bank employee, I have seen the difficulties
“Life is a daily struggle for women like me. After all, I “The outbreak of the coronavirus has forced us to many people have been facing over the past year. It’s
am a mother, and it is not just about me; it is about this come face-to-face with our weakness and helplessness very painful.”
generation that is growing and deserves a better life, to as arrogant human beings. On the other hand, the pan- Emran said she was hoping to continue working
live better.” demic also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with toward upgrading and strengthening the status of
Harhash is determined to pursue her role as a writer nature and realize how simple life is. For me, this was women in Arab society in general and her village in
with the hope of improving living conditions for an amazing experience. Staying at home helped me de- particular.
women and all Palestinians. velop my own capabilities. I experienced creativity as “I’m hoping that one day I will be able to form a
“My role is to write, and I’m doing it with all my I never dared before. I was able to reconnect with my women’s list that will have influence in our village
might,” she affirmed. “It is not an option. I cannot own breath and my hands. council.”
sit aside and blame destiny or politicians for my mis- “My soul was out there celebrating a breath of life
erable life. I cannot wait for a savior that will take us with nature. I could hear birds sing as the noise in the AMOUN SLEEM, founder and director of The Society
to safety and freedom. I see injustice, suppression and streets stopped.” of Gypsies in Jerusalem (Domari), is a prominent fe-
corruption, and I resist them and face them through male activist who has been representing her small
my writing. If I don’t write about these issues, I will be SAMEERA RADA EMRAN, a social and political activist community for the past two decades.
complicit in them. from the village of Ein Qinya on the Golan Heights, is “I believe that in order to build a strong and
“It is often risky, but somehow the more fearless you a bank clerk who in 2018 announced her candidacy for independent society, I must provide our women with
become, the more powerful you are seen.” mayor. She is known in her community as a staunch the tools and skills to function independently so they
Harhash is not afraid of threats and intimidation. advocate for women’s rights. will be able to transmit these mindsets and ethics to
“Fear is our worst enemy and I try not to allow it “I want to see women play a major and effective their children,” Sleem asserted. “In this context, we
to find its way into me,” she added. “I am a mother role in our society. I want the voice of women to be provide a business course for women so they can learn
who wants a good future for her children. This does heard loudly. That’s why I decided back then to run how to start their own businesses. We also aim to in-
not happen by providing proper shelter, education for mayor. I was the first woman to run for office in our crease opportunities for women in the labor force. Our
and a sophisticated lifestyle. Rather, this happens in community.” women are always eager to participate in new learning
a society that respects its people through equality and Her decision to run in the municipal elections was opportunities.”
justice. And as a human being, woman, mother and met by many challenges. Sleem isn’t satisfied with the status of Arab society
Palestinian, I don’t accept less than this.” “It wasn’t easy for me. I had to put up with many nowadays.
As far as Harhash is concerned, the status of challenges and boycotts. But I was determined to pave “I really hope our society will change. We want more
Palestinian women is no less grave than the status of the way for women to seek a better future. I wanted to freedom of expression. We want to see an end to vio-
Palestinian men. set an example for all women and encourage them to lence in our society. Our women continue to face many
“You cannot have a healthy society without having enter public life.” challenges in a male-dominated society.”
strong, capable women,” she said. “Strength needs Emran believes that the conditions of Arab society in Sleem noted that many members of her community,
freedom. Freedom, unfortunately, is not a term that general and women in particular have worsened over including women, have lost their jobs after the
is simply practiced in Palestinian society. We live in a the past few years. coronavirus outbreak.
vicious cycle of oppression from all directions. Conse- “Arab society is still lacking real leadership,” she “We are doing our utmost to help our people. My
quently, the struggle of women has become one of sur- complained. “We need a leadership that will help us group has been providing aid to many families and
vival, and not liberation. achieve equality and other rights. In my opinion, our children. Our goal is to achieve economic, legal, social
“Ideologies covered with fundamentalist and women continue to suffer from injustice. I believe that equality and justice for our community.
religious slogans have infiltrated our society in the it’s wrong to say that our women have advanced and “We want to give a voice to the voiceless.”
www.jpost.com 13COVER
Female face to the world
The trio of women heading up Having a female ambassador also changes the face Israel
presents to the world, Hotovely explained.
Israel’s pivotal embassy in London, “It sends a message. I think a society is measured by the
led by Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely status of its women, by who reaches the top roles.
“Israel and the UK have a special thing in common. We
both had female prime ministers in a time when very few
• LAHAV HARKOV other countries did. We should be proud of Golda [Meir], the
T
second woman in the world to reach the top of the pyramid,
he Israeli Embassy in London is one of Israel’s big- and [Margaret] Thatcher is an icon in British politics. Love her
gest and most important, in terms of trade, security or hate her, she shaped the British economy,” Hotovely said.
and other partnerships. It’s also led by three women Bar-Li emphasized, “We are professionals, we’re not just do-
these days: Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, Deputy ing our job as women.”
Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li and Minister Counsellor But she said having a female-dominated embassy has advan-
for Political Affairs Dana Erlich. tages.
In honor of International Women’s Day, the Magazine “We leave our egos on the side and feel very free to talk and
decided to check in with the team of smart, strong women seek advice from one another. We work with our doors open…
representing Israel in the United Kingdom. I feel comfortable being vulnerable with my female colleagues,
Hotovely spoke of the differences between her being an without looking weak. We strengthen one another.”
ambassador and a politician, having been an MK in Likud for Erlich posited that diplomacy is a career in which charac-
(FROM LEFT) Minister Counsellor eight years, as well as settlements minister and deputy foreign teristics that stereotypically belong to women are helpful,
for Political Affairs Dana Erlich, minister, among other positions. such as emotional intelligence, an ability to communicate, to
Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely and “We seek each other’s advice a lot and have a feeling of team- multitask and to pay attention to details.
Deputy Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li work on everything,” she said. “People talk about feeling lone- “When I started in the Foreign Service 11 years ago, I was
at the Israeli Embassy in London ly at the top. I was alone because of lockdowns, but I felt we used to being the only woman in the room. Now when there
(located, incidentally, right across are working together… We had an experience of bonding and are more women than men in the room, I don’t always think
the road from where Prince William of sisterhood that I think made us productive. We had a lot about it. It’s become obvious. We have a greater presence,” Er-
and his family live). of trust; we share with one another and have respect for the lich said.
(Photos: Foreign Ministry) process, not just the result.” As for the challenges of being a woman in a senior diplomatic
14 MARCH 5, 2021IRON WOMEN: Golda Meir with the UK’s
Margaret Thatcher, Tel Aviv, 1976.
(Levan Ramishvili/Flickr)
‘I feel comfortable
being vulnerable with
my female colleagues,
without looking weak’
– Sharon Bar-Li
role, Hotovely pointed to the strict lockdowns in the UK due to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m a mother to three small girls and I arrived here to a
reality in which there is no school for a long time. It’s also
an age issue, if you’re a 60-year-old ambassador, then that’s
beyond you… It’s not just women; it’s young women,”
Hotovely, 42, said.
While Hotovely was used to working long hours as a poli-
tician, moving her whole family to another country added
another facet to handle. She was grateful to her colleagues
who have experience in that area for reaching out and giving
her advice.
DIPLOMACY IN the age of coronavirus has been challenging.
Hotovely did not get the traditional audience with Queen Eliz-
abeth to present her credentials and all of her meetings have course about Israel beyond the conflict,” Hotovely said. EMBASSY STAFF arrive in
been virtual, not face-to-face. The UK is often a battleground for Israeli public diplomacy, Israel earlier this month to get
“Diplomacy is built on interpersonal relationships, and it and most Israeli ambassadors in London are met with a hostile vaccinated.
doesn’t work as well on a screen. We’re all suffering from it,” academia and very critical civil society.
she said. But Israel’s COVID-19 response, as well as the Abraham
Still, Hotovely emphasized the “great opportunities” that Accords – in which the Jewish state established diplomatic re-
can be found in the pandemic. lations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and
For example, the ambassador quipped that the embassy’s Sudan – created a more positive conversation around Israel,
spokesman got more positive press for Israel than any of his the ambassador said.
predecessors. Brexit has also contributed to strengthening Israel-UK ties,
“The headlines about Israel are about us leading the world and the embassy has been working on building a better trade
in vaccines. People are looking up to us and we are a model for deal between the countries that will take the many areas of in-
the world in getting out of this crisis. It created a positive dis- terchange into consideration, such as cyber technology.
www.jpost.com 15COVER
STRENGTHENING TIES: Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
wife Sara at the London Stock
Market in late 2017.
(Kobi Gideon/GPO)
And as the leader in Europe in vaccinating, as well
as in scientific research, the UK is very interested in
working with Israel on pandemic response.
“Scientific cooperation really flourished recent-
ly,” Hotovely said. “There is cooperation between
our health ministries. Israeli professionals in rele-
vant areas… were guests of honor at roundtables in
Parliament. Israel at its best encountered the high
quality of British scientific research.”
Bar-Li said it was “nice to see how, at a difficult time
like this, the countries worked together to help each
other, whether in the time when we needed ventila-
tors, or later, when we exchanged best practices.” A HAT with a message
Erlich said her contacts in various UK government outside the gates of
ministries appreciated that Israeli diplomats were Downing Street, London.
“here, for better or for worse” during the pandemic. Brexit has had a positive
“A lot of us haven’t seen our families in a long time effect on the Israel-UK
and some of us got sick, but we’re all in this together,” relationship.
(Hannah McKay/Reuters)
she said.
Israeli ambassadors also keep in contact with the
local Jewish community, and Hotovely said she was re- said. “There is good cooperation with the government when she can’t have face-to-face meetings, Hotovely
ceived by UK Jewish groups with “great warmth – even in fighting antisemitism.” said she’s glad she took a break from politics to become
if it was on Zoom.” In recent years, BDS and anti-Israel groups have been ambassador.
“It’s very important to us as an embassy,” Hotovely on the decline in the UK, and the focus has shifted “I feel like I’m doing very important reserve duty.
said. “This is a significant Jewish community, one of away from Israel, Hotovely said. I’m serving my country,” Hotovely said. “This was a
the biggest in the world, with a great connection to Zi- Bar-Li said, “BDS failed,” and pointed to the trade very drastic change even after four years at the Foreign
onism.” agreement between the UK and Israel. Ministry, which I really loved… I think the big advan-
Asked about how she responded and plans to re- “If you look at the trajectory, year after year trade has tage is that it has given me perspective. Our politics are
spond to the antisemitism that British Jewry has faced increased. There is no better proof than that of BDS’s so internal, and now I’m seeing the world.”
in recent years, Hotovely commended the government failure. They became irrelevant. They’re not relevant The UK, Hotovely explained, is “an important bridge
of the UK. to the post-Brexit psyche, which is looking for more between Europe and the US and is very central in our
“Fighting antisemitism is not just a Jewish and Israeli economic opportunities. Israel here is seen as a place relations. The triangle of US, UK and Israel on security
topic. It’s a disease that infects any society in which it for cooperation, because of hi-tech and academic ex- and intelligence is of strategic importance and like no
exists. Societies must fight the diseases of racism and xe- cellence and innovation… BDS is an anachronism,” other.”
nophobia. The UK government was the first in Europe Bar-Li said. “Serving here is so important. The depth and per-
to adopt [the International Holocaust Remembrance spective I’m getting – I wouldn’t give up on it, even
Alliance working definition of antisemitism], and it DESPITE ALL the challenges, moving her family during with the difficulties of coronavirus and moving my
is doing good work advancing it in universities,” she a pandemic and trying to do her new job as a diplomat family.”
16 MARCH 5, 2021- Communicated -
Acting with compassion
"StopCancer" community group photo
• BY LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI Tal’s battle with cancer took Yakobson and her the Tal Center, Shira Kuperman, is continuing her
family across four different hospitals and even to mission to help young adults with cancer.
Z
ohar Yakobson, whose name is synonymous Switzerland for treatment, though most of their To that end, they recently established a digital
with the entertainment industry in Israel, time was spent at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, community with over 25,000 participants called
has represented the country’s leading actors one of the world’s leading facilities. “HalaSartan,” translated to “Stop Cancer,” which
and actresses for over 30 years. “We were in one of the best hospitals in the world, provides support to young adults with cancer. The
Always on-the-go, she sat down with The with all the best technology and western medicine, platform was established with the support of MSD
Jerusalem Post for an interview just two days before and yet, doctors don’t really know what the patients Israel, known internationally as Merck, one of the
boarding a plane to Los Angeles to accompany one go through – the chemo, the anxiety, especially for a largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
of her leading actresses, Shira Haas, to the Golden young girl at the prime of her life,” she said. Additionally, Yakobson has set out to establish
Globes award ceremony. At the time of her death, Tal was on the verge dedicated departments in hospitals with large
“I think in Israel there is a lot of talent. We of completing a degree in Chinese and natural oncological units for young adults.
are a cultural powerhouse with many creative medicine and so, given her experiences and to Over a year ago the first such department was
and talented people,” she said. “Israeli women continue her daughter’s legacy, Yakobson together established in Rambam Hospital, with a dedicated
especially have a strength – they are leaders, and with her husband, founded the Tal Center - the first nurse and coordinator, a cancer survivor, that
they know from a young age how to be many of its kind Center for Integrative Medicine at Sheba provide support for young cancer patients.
things, including bold and daring and unique with Hospital. Another such department is scheduled to open in
a sense of individualism you don’t see elsewhere.” “We made a choice to continue with life, to learn the coming months in Sheba Hospital.
Yet, despite her unbridled professional success, from what we went through so that we can help “There needs to be a change, and I think the world
some 10 years ago Yakobson was struck by personal others,” she said. is headed in this direction,” she said.
tragedy, as her daughter Tal, only aged 25 years old Since its establishment in 2013, Tal Center has Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has
was diagnosed with a rare cancer and passed away gone on to become one of the leading centers in created unforeseen challenges to Yakobson’s vision.
10 months later. the world, headed by the medical establishment “This has not been an easy year, with coronavirus, it
“We had a very difficult journey, there are not alongside non-conventional medicine that provides is hard to raise money and there are sleepless nights,
a lot of words to express the grief, the pain, the holistic support for cancer patients. but I believe in miracles and good surprises,” she
fright,” she said. “There is an infinite fracture, the “Since we opened, we have given legitimacy and said.
pain of losing a girl who was so special, so smart influenced other hospitals in Israel, and today there Indeed, Yakobson’s extraordinary strength and
and who accomplished in her 26 years what most are no hospitals in the country that do not have a dedication in both her professional and social work
people don’t accomplish in 80 years of life.” natural medicine department,” she said. “There is have seen her achieve an unprecedented vision.
This tragic shock has an understanding in hospitals today that this is the “I say this to my actors: that the sexiest
changed the course and way diseases need to be treated.” characteristic is to be good-hearted – to help
focus of Yakobson’s life. While this innovative complementary approach others, to prevent suffering, not to be indifferent
“Thank G-d I have been to patient care has become the norm, Yakobson is to what is happening around you,” she said. “I try
lucky to represent many still fighting for change. to manage my professional life and social work
talented people over “One of the things that really shook us, is that through this motto and live authentically with a
many years, but the most there is no solution or response for young people lot of compassion and understanding that so long
important thing in life with cancer. There is a framework for children and as you are here you must live your life and act and
now is the ability to help a framework for adults - but what about someone do towards the benefit of others.”
and make a difference in who is at the height of their life, studying, in love,
the field of cancer,” she with dreams and suddenly thrust into a hospital For more information or to donate visit:
said. with no framework for people of that age,” she said. stop-cancer.co.il/( תרומותHebrew)
As such, Yakobson along with her partner at or click here for English site. www.jgive.com
Zohar Yakobson- Communicated -
The Doctors of Soroka
•By AlAn RosenBAum Dr. Keren Rouvinov, Acting Head of Oncology
I
n observance of International Women’s
Department, Legacy Heritage Oncology Center and
Day, we present brief profiles of five top Doctor Larry Norton Institute
physicians at Soroka Medical Center,
part of Clalit Health Services, who “My vision as a physician,” says Dr. Keren Rouvinov, acting head of the
discuss their vision, their work at Soroka, Oncology Department at Soroka Medical Center, “is to provide the very
medical treatment during corona, and their best care for my patients and to be there for them. I want to continue my
thoughts about International Women’s Day. progress in my research and my profession.”
Dr. Rouvinov, a medical oncologist specializing in urogenital tract
malignancies, has been associated with Soroka for 18 years and
notes that the hospital combines groundbreaking treatment with
personal care. “We are being equipped with the newest technologies
for radiotherapy to provide innovative treatment.” She adds that
Dr. Tehila Kaisman-Elbaz, Soroka places great emphasis on research and notes that “Research
Senior Neurosurgeon is an important part of oncology. The oncology department’s
research unit is advanced and provides opportunities and
Dr. Tehila Kaisman-Elbaz, a senior possibilities for innovative research and treatment.”Dr.
neurosurgeon at Soroka Medical Center, Rouvinov says that the oncology department at Soroka continued
intends to specialize in neurosurgical its full range of treatments for oncology patients during the corona
oncology and is dedicated to providing pandemic. International Women’s Day is a significant day for Dr.
individualized treatment for all of her Rouvinov. “Every year, on International Women’s Day, I look at
patients. “I want to promote treatment myself and those around me and see that women can and are able to
that is tailored for each patient so that advance, reach influential positions, and become leaders.”
I can differentiate each brain tumor by
its specific characteristics and adjust the
treatment for the individual patient.” She
speaks highly of the close relationship
between Soroka Medical Center and the In some ways and although there have been
faculty of health sciences at nearby Ben- numerous difficulties,” she adds, “corona Prof. Yael Refaely Allal exp
Gurion University and suggests that this made us more effective. Meetings on Zoom, for Director of Thoracic Surgery, tec
relationship will lead to advancements example, were more efficient and allowed us to tha
in treating neuro-oncological diseases. focus more on advancing patient treatment.”Dr. Soroka Medical Center an
“One of the things that is special here,” Kaisman-Elbaz says that Soroka Medical Center’s alo
she says, “is the excellent relationship flexibility regarding her work as a neurosurgeon, Chairperson of The Israeli Society of an
between clinicians and researchers in hubs research, and family was ideal. “It was an Thoracic Surgery tre
and forums. The connection between important consideration in terms of choosing Vice Dean & Director of School of mo
clinic and research and technology will a place to work. Women can practice medicine, Medicine str
lead to the advancement of treatment for conduct research, and can combine the two with Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical bet
illnesses.”This summer, Dr. Kaisman-Elbaz raising a family. “She lists Prof. Rivka Carmi, the School, Ben Gurion University in the Negev wh
will be beginning a two-year fellowship at former Ben-Gurion Prof. Yael Refaely, head of thoracic surgery to
the renowned Cleveland Clinic, where she University president, at Soroka Medical Center, has witnessed a Wh
will study new techniques in the treatment as a distinguished role revolution in her specialty during her 27- in
of brain tumors. “They have many model. “Prof. Carmi year medical career. “Thoracic surgery has Re
innovative techniques, including focused has suppor ted me received a great deal of momentum through im
radiation for brain tumors. In addition, through my medical technology,” she says, “and has transitioned an
an essential part of my work is research, career, for which I am from major, open-chest surgery to video- pat
and I will study the genetics of brain very grateful. Soroka assisted thorascopic surgery and robotic A
tumors, their classification, and advanced M e d i c a l C e n t e r, surgery” Pro
molecular methods.” Dr. Kaisman-Elbaz and specifically my Prof. Refaely, who has been at Soroka for ha
is looking forward to returning to Israel department heads, ten years, says that a great deal of innovation pa
when her fellowship ends to apply the new Dr. Avi Cohen and is occurring in the world of medicine in “Th
technologies to her work at Soroka. Dr. Israel Melamed, many different areas. She says that online is p
She says that her department was less gave m e a g r e a t and digital medicine, which have become it
directly affected than others by the corona deal of support and popular during the pandemic, will continue an
pandemic but has been treating corona enabled me to do all to make an impact in the coming years. Th
patients from time to time and is committed of these things with While she notes that nothing can replace of
to providing the best neurosurgical a great deal of the face-to-face encounter between a doctor pat
treatment for their diseases. “Our work consideration and and a patient, many medical issues can be the
routine has changed since the pandemic. flexibility.” alleviated through online treatment. She Sor- Communicated -
Dr. Michal Maimon – Director of the Pediatric
Emergency Department and Director of Suspected
Child Abuse and Neglect Team, Saban Pediatric
Medical Center
”As a physician, my vision is to provide face in t he Negev,”
professional and humane care to all of my patients says Dr. Maimon, “is
while being attentive to every family’s unique providing quality care
characteristics,” says Dr. Michal Maimon, a for children – even for
pediatrician and head of the pediatric emergency those who may be living
department and the Suspected Child Abuse in conditions different
& Neglect Team at Soroka Medical Center in than what is usually
Beersheva. Dr. Maimon, a graduate of the medical found in the Western
school at Ben Gurion University, has spent her world. For example, a
entire medical career at Soroka, apart from a child with diabetes may
fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in live in an area without
Toronto. electricity and needs
Dr. Maimon has introduced several innovations insulin that must be refrigerated“.Dr. Maimon Prof. Reli Hershkovitz–
to the pediatric emergency department, including recalls that when the pandemic arrived in Israel,
sedation, bedside use of ultrasound, and treatment there was a great deal of concern among staff, Director of Obstetrics
of pediatric trauma by a team of pediatricians. She but she says, “Thanks to the mutual support and and Gynecology,
has received training in treating child abuse and partnership we overcame the difficulties, and
sexual assault and established a hospital service today we are standing tall against the challenges Saban Birth &
for examining children who have been victims of of corona.” Maternity Center
sexual assault. Previously, children in southern International Women Day, says Dr. Maimon,
Israel requiring this treatment needed to be is an oppor tunity to highlight women’s “My goal is to provide the best
transferred to hospitals in the country’s center. achievements and show girls and young women and most innovative medical care
Soroka Medical Center is a tertiary medical that they don’t have to choose between their for women while maintaining
center that provides advanced medical services careers or self-fulfillment and between being an their dignity and the dignity of our
for Negev residents. “One of the challenges we involved and loving mother – they can have both. staff,” says Prof. Reli Hershkovitz,
director of the Obstetrics and
Gynecology Division at Soroka
Medical Center. Hershkovitz has
spent her entire medical career
at Soroka since 1993, with the
pects a huge investment in health exception of a one-year fellowship at University College Hospital
chnology in the coming years in London.
at will improve the knowledge Soroka has the largest number of births of any hospital in Israel,
nd understanding of diseases and Prof. Hershkovitz says that the hospital had to make special
ong with improving treatment arrangements to deal with the corona pandemic over the past year.
nd the ability to tailor the best “We made special birthing rooms for women infected with corona.
eatment to each patient. “We have We also prepared an operating room for women giving birth who
ore control over the data, and we had corona.” In addition, says Prof. Hershkovitz, the hospital
ive to improve communication encouraged women with health issues to come to the hospital for
tween the various care providers treatment if they were not feeling well, rather than staying away due
ho treat each patient in order to fear of becoming infected with corona.
improve the quality of care.” As part of her responsibilities as the head of OB-
hile technological advances GYN at Soroka, Prof. Hershkovitz encourages her
revolutionary medicine, Prof. University is important, in light staff to utilize new technologies, equipment, and
faely notes that it is equally of the significant collaborations techniques. She specializes in gynecological ultrasound
mportant to maintain compassion between the hospital and the and has introduced numerous tec hnologies,
nd kindness in the care of the university. including 3-D ultrasound, vaginal ultrasound, and
tient. Prof. Refaely says t hat hysterosalpingography, a radiologic procedure that
At Soroka Medical Center, says International Women’s Day is investigates the shape of the uterine cavity and the
of. Refaely, a special connection especially significant for women shape and patency of the fallopian tubes.
as been maintained between in medicine: “More and more For Prof. Hershkovitz, International Women’s
tients and the medical staff. women are entering medicine and Day is an oppor tunity to promote the
he medical staff in the South integrating into areas that were outstanding abilities and talents of women and
part of a community to which male dominant in the past, such to help use their abilities to help resolve cultural
feels a huge commitment as surgery, health management, imbalances in the treatment of women. She
nd responsibility,” she says. and others. The profession is speaks with pride about her department.
he hospital’s strong triangle undergoing great change as a “The Obstetrics and Gynecology Division
community, medicine, and result. Our challenge is to find a at Soroka is the largest tertiary division of its
tients is special and unique in new balance and use the benefits kind in the world. Our department is staffed
e south. Prof. Refaely notes that that the change brings with it in a with excellent, top-quality doctors, nurses,
roka’s proximity to Ben-Gurion productive and creative way.” midwives, and medical support staff.”You can also read
