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Women speak out against sexual assault in Kenya

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October 15, 2015 by Ruth Messinger

#FaithInWomen who hold up more than half the sky and pave the way to justice

As the President of American Jewish World Service (AJWS) – the Jewish voice for the rights of women worldwide – I am inspired by the Chinese proverb that says, “Women hold up half the sky.” Yet, while we women certainly hold up more than half the sky in 2015, both justice and dignity elude our grasp everywhere. That is why as we women of faith pursue justice – as our ancient prophets commanded – we must extend our hands to women worldwide.

July 31, 2015 by Nikhil Aziz

The fisherwomen of Nyakakoma: Reflections from the Democratic Republic of Congo

“I came here 23 years ago from Goma to visit my friend, and never left,” said Mama Colette. I was immediately drawn to Colette when I saw her—one of just two women—in a roomful of nearly 80 fishermen in Nyakakoma, North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Even though she had been silent for …

July 31, 2015 by AJWS Staff

Reflections on President Obama’s visit to Kenya

by Gitahi Githuku and Caroline Kouassiaman For over a month prior to President Obama’s visit to Kenya, “POTUS” was the hot topic of conversation, as much of the country was captivated by Obama’s first visit to his father’s homeland as President. The fact that President Obama had kin in Kenya coined the popular term “Our …

July 27, 2015 by Nikhil Aziz

Empowering Kitshanga Women to Stand Up for Their Rights: Reflections From the Democratic Republic of Congo

On our way to Nyakakoma, Democratic Republic of Congo, we’d spent a night in the town of Ishaha, just across the Uganda border. It reminded me of the Wild West: a small town, a main drag, ramshackle buildings on either side, one hotel, rumors of bandits or rebels nearby, and immigration officials seeking a bribe.

July 22, 2015 by AJWS Staff

Why Obama Should Address Human Rights in Kenya

President Obama will make his historic visit to Kenya this weekend—his first trip to his father’s homeland as president. As Kenya’s people eagerly anticipate his homecoming, AJWS’s Kenyan grantees are urging President Obama to address the critical human rights issues affecting marginalized communities in Kenya—including women, girls, LGBT people, and Kenya’s rural populations. Since 2004, AJWS has supported grassroots organizations in Kenya that …

Dvar Tzedek

April 8, 2013 | 5773

Tazria-Metzora

Parashat Tazria opens with a passage that makes many contemporary readers bristle at its seemingly obvious gender discrimination. Describing a woman who has just given birth, the text relates that not only is she impure, but the length of her impurity doubles for a daughter in contrast to a son. While the gender-based distinctions in the text may arouse anger or confusion, they provide an opportunity to reflect on the topic of gender and they may also offer insights into how gender plays a role in our own lives and in the lives of people around the world.

December 4, 2012 | 5773

Vayeshev

Anu Mokal was four months pregnant the night policemen brutally assaulted her at a bus stop in Satara, India. They beat her so severely that she suffered a miscarriage. When she later filed a complaint against them, no investigation took place, despite the presence of witnesses. Why? Because she was a sex worker, and the …

October 22, 2012 | 5773

Lech Lecha

One of the things I find most inspiring about studying Torah is that the biblical characters are human. They may be our valorized, mythical ancestors, but they also consistently make mistakes, leaving a record of paradigmatic human foibles from which we can learn. There is one biblical failure, however, that I have always struggled to …

June 11, 2012 | 5772

Shlach

When God tells Moses in Parshat Shlach, “Send for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan,”[1] it sounds like the start of an exciting adventure. But what seems exhilarating soon becomes chilling—then downright devastating. Of the 12 men who are sent to scout the land, 10 return with a negative report: The people …

June 4, 2012 | 5772

Beha’alotcha

This week, we are pleased to welcome guest writer, Dvar Tzedek alumnus Guy Izhak Austrian. Death felt very close as I walked through the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, with leaders of Binti Pamoja—Daughters United—a girls’ leadership development program.[1] Sewage ran through narrow alleys between the endless rows of tin shacks. Shredded plastic bags rattled amid …