Shira Ben Sasson Furstenberg
Shatil- New Israel Fund
Shira has been the Jewish Pluralism Project coordinator at Shatil (the New Israel Fund's empowerment center for NGO's in Israel) since 2005. Focusing on promoting Jewish Pluralism in Israel, 'freedom of' and 'freedom from' Religion. Born and raised in a liberal Orthodox home in Jerusalem. Married to Yair, currently a Tikva fellow at Princeton, working on his PHD in Talmud.
Religious Pluralism in Israeli Society
Obstacles, Challenges, Achievements
Contemporary Jewish Life
Is there more than one way of being Jewish in Israel?
A look at the obstacles, challenges & achievements of pluralistic NGO's, & their struggle to build alternative Jewish identities & further the quest for freedom of & from religion. Through legislation, developing rituals for civil marriage, burial, equal rights & funding for the non-Orthodox, separate bus lines, the conversion crisis, & more.
Four Houses & a Bus: Religion & Feminism in Israel
We will focus on the struggle against the exclusion of women from the ”four houses”- Beit Hamidrash (House of Study), Beit HaKnesset (House of Prayer), Beit HaDin (House of Lawgiving) & even in the home. We will discuss recent incremental yet exciting achievements, the harbingers of the Pluralistic Feminist revolution ahead.