Women are stronger than ever

power.

First, I must start with women’s roles in Israel’s army, the Israel Defense Forces. In 2001 the IDF started a unit called Yohalam that is entirely about promoting equal opportunities for women and providing women who serve with a safe and discrimination-free environment.

This unit has learned how to use the skills and abilities of women in the army and, since then, more than 85 percent of all of IDF positions are open to women. Seventeen percent of combat forces are women, 4 percent of air force pilot training graduates, 20 percent of navy commanders, and many more. This is something to celebrate!

Many Israeli women are filling big roles.

Matti Sarfati

Harkavi, the former mayor of the Lehigh Valley’s Partnership2Gether counterpart, Yoav, and chair of Yoav’s P2G committee, is now a member of Israel’s Knesset (parliament). Gal Gadot is a leading Hollywood actress well known all over the world. Titi Aynaw is the first Ethiopian-Israeli to win Miss Israel. Ada Yonath received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Alona Barkat is the first woman to own an Israeli soccer team, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, bringing new values and norms to the Israeli soccer world.

There are so many women that I can hardly begin to name them all. I couldn’t be prouder to be an Israeli woman, and I’m proud that we have a full month to celebrate women’s achievements.