Knesset Members Met With American Jewish (Men) Leaders

Knesset Image by getty images

By Phoebe Maltz Bovy April 3, 2017

On his “Martini Judaism” blog at Religion News Service, Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin discusses “a private meeting between American Jewish religious leaders and members of the Knesset, held under the auspices of the Ruderman Family Foundation.” In the piece, Salkin names attendees, remarking, between parentheses, “Yes, there were more women Knesset members than women American Jewish religious leaders — which tells you something about American Judaism and/or how these invitation lists get constructed.”

Indeed, while the American participants came from several Jewish religious movements (Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox were all represented), all were men, a key detail I confirmed with Salkin via email. In that email, Salkin offered some further commentary: “There is only one way to change this dreary picture — and that is when major Jewish organizations call women to be their leaders.”

Phoebe Maltz Bovy edits the Sisterhood, and can be reached at [email protected]. She is the author of “The Perils Of ‘Privilege’”, from St. Martin’s Press. Follow her on Twitter, @tweetertation

Phoebe Maltz Bovy is a former editor of the Sisterhood blog at the Forward. Her writing has appeared in several publications, including The New Republic and The Atlantic. Her book, “The Perils of ‘Privilege,’” was published by St. Martin’s Press in March 2017. She has a PhD in French and French Studies from New York University, and has read a lot of 19th century French Jewish newspapers for a 21st century American.

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