Tuesday, December 12, 2017
The Hadassah Foundation's New Video!
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Support Women and Girls on #GivingTuesday!
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Grantee Profile: Merchavim's Arab Teacher Integration Projects Finds Jobs for Teachers in Jewish Schools
The Hadassah Foundation supports Merchavim's Arab Teacher Integration in Jewish Schools Initiative, which places Arab Israelis trained as teachers—the vast majority of whom are female—in Jewish Israeli schools. This program aims to reduce the high level of unemployment of female teachers in the Arab sector, address a shortage of teachers in Jewish Israeli schools, and promote intergroup relations. One of the teachers served by this program is Faten Jebara, who teaches English to students in grades 2-6 at the Shaked School in Ra'anana.
"My experience has been wonderful and empowering – I can't see myself moving from this school although I often get offers from school principals at Arab schools - I wouldn't change my job for the world. I am a type of 'role model' that proves that if you work tougher you can build relationships, learn about a person and make a change in people's mindset….The children's parents have given me great trust and believe in me. You might think that some of them would have issues with an Arab teacher teaching English with an accent – but these issues have never been a problem… I am really making a difference to the kids, they have less stereotypes and see Arab citizens in other roles in society (other than construction workers, cleaners etc.) and see that relationships and friendships are precious and are above our social groups. The kids come to me and feel free to discuss their concerns and ask questions (about my religion, customs, etc.) and find in me a confidant. The job is demanding but I am more than satisfied professionally and personally.
Merchavim accompanies me, and all the integrated teachers in Jewish schools, the entire way. Teachers get great guidance, hands-on tools and professional coaching on how to deal with work in the classroom, [and] situations that arise with integrating into the school community."
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Want to Be Inspired?
Earlier this year, the Hadassah Foundation ran two contests—a video contest and an essay contest--in honor of its "Chai" (18th) Year of grant making. Both contests—open only to high school students—asked them to address their aspirations as a young, Jewish, female leader in their community, and how they wanted to change or add to the world. The goal of the contests was to lift up the voices of the next generation of Jewish feminist leaders.
The video winner, Tallulah Bark-Huss, from Chicago, IL, is now a freshman at Boston University. The Hadassah Foundation has arranged for her to have a one-on-one meeting via phone or videoconference with Amanda Lipitz, a Tony Award Broadway producer and documentary filmmaker.
"I strive every day to be an empowered and motivated female leader in all aspects of my life, especially in the Jewish community," said Bark-Huss. "To be given a chance to speak my truth and show what it is that I believe a female Jewish leader encompasses is an amazing feeling."
The essay contest winner, Amanda Powers, from Newton, MA, is now a freshman at Harvard University. The Hadassah Foundation has arranged for her to have a one-on-one meeting via phone or videoconference with noted author Anita Diamant. "My identity as a Jewish woman has always been central to my drive and passion for making the world a better place, so I am incredibly grateful to be acknowledged by a foundation doing such amazing work to lift up Jewish women around the world," said Powers.
You can read the essay and watch the video here.Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Microfy Lauded for its Work with Eritrean Migrants in Israel
Congrats to our grantee, Microfy! They won the first-ever Shimon Peres Prize through the Israeli Deutsche Future Forum Foundation for their joint project with Migration Hub Network, an organization that supports local efforts worldwide that help migrant populations. Microfy was cited for its work with Eritrean women in Tel Aviv. Above, Microfy's former and current co-directors are pictured receiving the Prize at a ceremony last week at the Jewish Museum in Berlin.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
The Hadassah Foundation at Amplifier's Summer Convening
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Hadassah Foundation Invests $165,000 in Leadership Development for Jewish Teens and Young Women
"I am so proud of our efforts to boost the leadership skills and abilities of young Jewish women and girls," said Julie Morris, chair of the Hadassah Foundation.
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
New On-line Magazine for Jewish Girls and Teens
Monday, June 19, 2017
Meet Our 2017 Tannenbaum Prize Winner!
The Hadassah Foundation has awarded the 2017 Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize to Stephanie Goldfarb, program director for youth philanthropy and leadership at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
The Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize recognizes emerging professionals who have made innovative contributions to advance the status of women and girls in Israel and the United States. Awardees demonstrate a high degree of talent, commitment, and accomplishment in their work. The prize honors Bernice S. Tannenbaum, z''l, for her lifetime of service to the Jewish People; the State of Israel; and Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America.
Goldfarb, pictured above, was awarded the prize for her work with the JUF's programs for Chicago-area youth. During her seven years at the JUF, she has expanded a philanthropy program for Jewish teens that awards more than $50,000 annually to local nonprofits, and brought an innovative feminist-research training internship program for Jewish girls to the Chicago region. That latter program, the Research Training Internship program, has received funding from the Hadassah Foundation.
"As the newest Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize winner, I not only feel a sense of unity with the women who recognized my commitment to social change for Jewish women and girls, I also feel as though I have an army of forward-thinking sisters behind me, pushing me to continue growing personally and professionally," said Goldfarb.
"Stephanie Goldfarb is a talented, charismatic, educator, filled with talent and passion," said Julie Morris, chair of the Foundation. "Bernice Tannenbaum would be so proud of the Foundation's selection."
The Prize provides $500 in general operating support to the JUF, as well as $2,500 to further Goldfarb's professional development.
In addition to her work for the JUF, Goldfarb serves as a resource to other community organizations serving teens. She has run "philanthropy boot camps" at summer camps and for BBYO programs serving Jewish youth, "taste of philanthropy" programs at congregations, and provided trainings for other Jewish professionals about philanthropy, LGBTQ issues, and experiential Jewish education. She has also run programs on Jewish cooking, which takes advantage of her experience as an award-winning chef who has appeared on multiple Food Network shows.
Goldfarb received her bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in Women's and Gender Studies, with a Certificate in LGBT Studies, earned two masters degrees from Loyola University Chicago (in Clinical Social Work and Gender Studies), and a Certificate in Experiential Jewish Education from Yeshiva University.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
2017 #Slingshot Fund Guide Highlights our Grantees!
Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
Keshet
Lookstein Virtual Jewish Academy
Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters
Yeshivat Maharat
Shalom Bayit
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Grantee Profile: The JCC Chicago's Project Teen-Seed 613 Program--Encouraging Social Entrepreneurship
I was introduced to Project Teen-Seed613 by the club sponsor of Jewish Student Connection, Julie Minor. In October, I was accepted into the program and began attending monthly seminars in January. I immediately had a connection with the eleven other girls in the cohort. The program was split into three groups based upon interests. I chose the group that focused on "women's initiatives," and worked alongside three other girls. One of the most enjoyable moments in the program was finally deciding on the product we wanted to create. We had been sitting around a table in the JCC, bouncing ideas off each other, when we had an epiphany. Our group came up with a product called You Flow G12L, a monthly subscription box to empower young women and stop the stigma against periods. The box would include tampons, pads, an educational component about how to live a healthy life, and a small gift. For every box bought, another box would be donated to women and teenagers who do not have access to the feminine care products they need. I enjoyed the program so much because I was able to collaborate with other girls with shared interests in business and entrepreneurship and that really inspired me. I had never been a part of something like that and it was truly incredible.
The cohort acted as a platform for me to really experience social entrepreneurship for the first time. In creating our product, I was able to learn about different business design theories, how to research the feasibility of a business, how to market for a business, and so much more. Most importantly, I was able to create the foundations of a potential business while simultaneously making lifelong friendships. It was incredibly fun but also a lot of work. I expected there to be a lot of work, but at the same time I learned about so many things that entrepreneurs must do that I never realized existed or were so important.
My group and I pitched our idea at a Launch Night on May 23rd at the JCC surrounded by friends, family, and community members. I am still impressed by how feasible and real this program is; we even received a business card from one of the community members who attended the event who was interested in our idea. I am so thankful for this experience because I think it was a vital component of my path to becoming an entrepreneur. I am so excited to be able to use this experience as a starting point for my time at Babson and as a future entrepreneur. My time in Project Teen-Seed613 has given me a lot of new confidence and knowledge about entrepreneurship that I would never have had otherwise.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Hadassah Foundation Now Accepting Proposals for Programs that Empower Israeli Women
Areas of interest include:
• Savings, Asset Development, and Pension Planning
• Grassroots Programs that provide resources and training
• Legal and Policy Advocacy Initiatives
• Business Development Services that help women who own businesses improve their outreach and marketing
The Hadassah Foundation...out and About!
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Chai Year Essay and Video Contests for High School Students!
All Good Things Come to an End....
Eating our Way through a Druze Village
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Improving Conditions for Contract Workers
Our grantee, the Haifa-based Isha L'Isha (board members and staff, above), is aiding women who clean buildings in that city's municipal buildings. These workers are employed by a contractor, who underpays them and denies them benefits. They are putting pressure on the city to employ them directly.
Integrating Arab Israeli Teachers into Jewish Schools
We started the day with a visit to Jewish elementary school in Haifa, where our grantee Merchavim has placed several teachers of Arab Israeli background. There is a surplus of Arab Israeli women trained as teachers, and a shortage of English, math, and science teachers in Jewish schools. The teachers we met, above, said they felt welcomed and at home at the Jewish school.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Supporting Female Entrepreneurs in South Tel Aviv
Our final stop of the day was to our grantee Microfy, which is helping female entrepreneurs like Orly and Keren, pictured above, in South Tel Aviv, a depressed part of the city. Microfy provides training and on-going support to these women via mentoring and a business forum, where they can network and learn from each other.
Strengthening the Environment for Female Entrepreneurs in the Negev
At our visit to the Adva Center, we learned about the role of the Mayor's advisors on women's issues, a position every municipality is required to have--but only a handful fund as a full-time position. Edna Sabag, of the Beersheva Municipality, above right, is one of those rare women. Along with Adva staff, also pictured above, she has created a network for these women. Their new project, which is funded by the Foundation, is to improve the environment in the Negev for Jewish and Bedouin businesswomen. Three businesswomen from each of 20 cities in the region will create locally tailored efforts.
Securing Economic Rights for Israeli Women
Our grantee, Itach-Maaki, fights for the rights of economically insecure women in Israel. Today, they told us about their efforts to help Bedouin women in polygamous marriages, especially when they have been abused by their husbands, and their work on behalf of the 30,000 (low paid) Israeli women who work as teachers' assistants, and who are ill represented by the main workers' union.
Training Women for Hi-Tech Jobs
Finding Work for Arab-Israeli Women
Monday, April 24, 2017
Catching up with our Tannenbaum Winners
We were fortunate to have dinner with two of our Israeli Bernice S. Tannenbaum Prize winners: 2014 winner Yifat Bitton, founder of Tmura, and Lilach Tzur Ben-Moshe, the 2016 winner, who founded Turning the Tables. Bitton, second from right in the first row, uses the legal system to fight for the rights of women, and Ben-Moshe, pictured to her left, works with women exiting prostitution. The Tannenbaum Prize is awarded annually to an emerging leader in Israel or the US who has advanced the cause of girls and women. The previous night at dinner, we were able to catch up with the inaugural Tannenbaum winner, Vardit Dameiri Madar, a social justice lawyer who recently left her long-time position at Foundation grantee Yedid for a new job heading up the legal clinic at Hebrew University.
Securing Housing for Poor Israeli Women
Hadassah Hospital
Boosting Haredi Female Entrepreneurs
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Financial Literacy for Russian-Speaking Immigrants
WePower: Promoting Women's Leadership in Israel
Improving Prospects for Ethiopian Women
Fighting for the Rights of Israeli Women
Friday, April 21, 2017
Eating our Way Through Jerusalem
Thursday, April 20, 2017
And We Begin....
Monday, March 20, 2017
The Hadassah Foundation at #jfn2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
Foundation Grantee Creating a Feminist Haggadah on Rape Culture
Thursday, March 9, 2017
JCC Chicago Creates Teen Social Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
The Adva Center visits the Hadassah Foundation
Monday, March 6, 2017
Hadassah Foundation at Hadassah Chicago--North Shore
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Grantee Staffer Named to JCCA Fellowship Program
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Hadassah Foundation Announces New Israel Grants
The Hadassah Foundation, which invests in social change to empower girls and women in Israel and the United States, is excited to announce it has given $330,000 in grants to 21 Israeli organizations that enhance economic opportunities for women in Israel.
The Foundation is a philanthropic pioneer in the fields of improving economic security for low-income Israeli women and developing leadership and self-esteem programs for adolescent Jewish girls and young women in the United States. In 2017, the Foundation is marking its "Chai" anniversary—18 years (and more than $7.6 million in grants to over 90 nonprofit organizations) devoted to improving the lives the girls and women.
Last year, the Foundation made grants totaling $545,000—it awarded $365,000 to 21 Israeli organizations which work to support Israeli women from all walks of life, as well as $180,000 to six organizations in the United States as part of its initiative to strengthen leadership development opportunities for young Jewish women.
Julie Morris, Chair of the Foundation, said, "Our grantees are striving to make Israel a more equitable place for women, and lifting motivated women out of poverty."
In addition to two first-time grantees, the Foundation also awarded "sustaining" grants for the fifth consecutive year. These grants provide general operating support to four long-term grantees that have played a particularly critical role in promoting the economic security of women in Israel.
The 2017 grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Legal Aid
- Bar Ilan University, The Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center, $5,000 (Sustaining Grant): Provides legal counsel to women seeking a divorce. It works proactively to improve policy and practice by educating future family lawyers to safeguard women's rights and advocating for changes in Israeli family law.
- Center for Women's Justice, $5,000 (Sustaining Grant): Pursues precedent-setting litigation and legal advocacy on behalf of women who have suffered unjust treatment, discrimination, or whose basic human rights have been infringed upon when seeking a divorce.
- Itach-Maaki—Women Lawyers for Social Justice, $5,000 (Sustaining Grant): Public interest law organization working on behalf of low-income Israeli women. Itach helps women to file employment-related lawsuits and form peer support groups and educates the public about issues affecting women.
Policy Education and Coalition Building
- Adva, $10,000: For the Negev Forum of Women Business Leaders, which aims to increase the economic power of Bedouin and Jewish businesswomen from more than 20 Negev communities, who will receive training and mentoring so they can plan and implement civic initiatives that increase women's economic opportunities.
- Isha L'Isha, $15,000: For an advocacy project that has two goals: to change laws and policies so as to increase the participation and success rate of women-owned businesses in tenders issued by the Haifa Municipality, and to advocate for the direct employment of women in custodial jobs for that municipality, rather than employing them as contractors through an outside employment agency, as is currently the case.
- New Israel Fund, Shatil, $15,000: For the Advancing the Rights of Women in Public Housing program, which aims to protect the rights of single mothers in public housing—an estimated 77% of the families in public housing are headed by single women—and expand eligibility criteria so that more such families can get housing support.
- Yedid, $8,000: For the Single Mothers for Change, which strives to provide greater economic security for low-income single mothers. Working with a network of more than 800 low-income single female parents, YEDID will educate and advocate for public policies to improve the economic security of single parents and their children, focusing specifically on Israel's child-support law.
Workplace Discrimination
The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, $25,000: For the Enhancing Security in the Workplace project, which will enable it to implement an anti-sexual harassment code at several leading Israeli employers, with the goal of making this a model program for other Israeli workplaces.
Merchavim, $15,000: For the Arab Teacher Integration in Jewish Schools Initiative, which places Arab Israelis trained as teachers—the vast majority of whom are female—in Jewish Israeli schools. This program aims to reduce the high level of unemployment of female teachers in the Arab sector, address a shortage of teachers in Jewish Israeli schools, and promote intergroup relations.
Employment Conditions of Low-Income Women
- Kav LaOved—Worker's Hotline, $20,000: For a legal assistance and advocacy program to improve working conditions of 60,000 migrant caregivers working in Israel, 80% of whom are women and the vast majority of whom are working under problematic conditions.
- Workers' Advice Center—Ma'an, $25,000: For the Arab Women in Agriculture program, which enables Arab Israeli women who live in the periphery to take on agricultural work under improved circumstances—including guaranteed (and properly documented) pay at at least the legal minimum wage.
Asset Building
- Economic Empowerment for Women, $5,000 (Sustaining Grant): For the promotion of asset development among low-income women who manage microenterprises, based on the U.S. model of the Individual Development Account.
- Project Kesher Israel, $12,000: For financial training to women from the former Soviet Union, who, due to language and cultural issues, do not know how to manage their finances or work with Israeli financial institutions.
Business Training & Entrepreneurship
- Microfy, $18,000: For a women's business forum for nascent business owners from South Tel Aviv.
- PresenTense, $24,000: For the Yazamiot Venture Accelerator, an eight-month program that will train 15-20 ultra-Orthodox women entrepreneurs to launch small or social businesses, or grow existing ones.
Vocational Training and Job Placement
- The Israel Women's Network, $25,000: For the Towards Integrating Women in the Male Trades project, which aims to close the gender gap which exists in the Israeli workforce in general, and in mid-level professional trades in particular, by integrating women into positions typically defined as "male trades," such as electricians, carpenters, drivers, and more.
- Machshava Tova, $20,000: For a program that trains low-income women in app (application) development, so they can gain a foothold in the rapidly developing mobile telephone data field.
- The National Council of Jewish Women Research Institute for Innovation in Education at Hebrew University, $25,000: For the Training Ethiopian Women for the Workforce as Educators in the Pre-School Sector program, which will enable these women to bring much-needed income into their lower-income homes.
- Tishreen, $25,000: For a job readiness program for Arab Israeli women from the Southern Triangle region.
- Women's Spirit, $5,000: For the Seeds of Growth program, which will provide 400 women victims of violence of prime working age (20-60) with tools and support to reintegrate successfully in the employment world and achieve financial independence.
Leadership Development
- WEPOWER, $25,000: For a program to support women completing their first five-year term as city council members to run for a second term, since, traditionally, half of such women do not run for second term.