Pittsburgh’s Jewish Women’s Foundation joins in collaborative grant to support Israeli women

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh joined 10 other Jewish women’s organizations in funding Israeli nonprofits working to support women in the Jewish state during and after the war.

The collaboration, called the Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund, was established by Elluminate and The Hadassah Foundation.

The group announced grants to five Israeli nonprofits to benefit women in Israel.

“We believe that women have and are bearing the brunt of this war, in multiple respects, revealing both specific and broad inequalities and challenges in familial, social, economic and civic spheres,” said Audrey Weiner, chair of The Hadassah Foundation, in a prepared statement. “These five grantee organizations have been and will continue to be on the forefront of changing the status quo for women and girls in Israel at a time when their voices and place in government and society are no less than crucial to the country’s reemergence from October 7th.”

In addition to Elluminate, The Hadassah Foundation and the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh, contributing partners include the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago; the Women’s Amutot Initiative of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation; the National Council of Jewish Women; Propel – The Jewish Women’s Fund (San Francisco); The Fund for Women and Girls at the Jewish Community Foundation of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington; The Miriam Fund (Boston); Women of Vision of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; and Women of Reform Judaism.

The five Israeli organizations receiving grants, each for $25,000, are:

• The Adva Center, based in Tel Aviv, advances equality, social justice and gender-responsive policies in Israel, including giving voice in the Israeli government to women at a time when they are often excluded from decision-making.

• Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, based in Jerusalem, raises awareness within Israeli communities and government of gender-based sexual violence and harassment; provides support, resources and advocacy for survivors; and leads calls internationally for accountability for the sexual terrorism committed against Israeli women on Oct. 7.

• Itach Ma’aki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice, based in Tel Aviv, empowers and gives voice to Israeli women facing social, geographic, national, ethnic and economic discrimination by providing legal aid, engaging with activist groups and other allies, and identifying and promoting changes in national policy and legislation.

• The Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center, based at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, promotes the status and rights of women in matters of family law and works to end gender discrimination and inequality in Israel through advocacy and legislative change.

• WePower, based in Azor, works to elevate women to influential and decision-making positions in Israel, focusing on erasing the gender gap in public and political arenas by identifying potential female leaders and training them for leadership positions, promoting gender-aware legislation to remove barriers and advancing gender equality as a societal foundation.

“The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh funds grants that effect positive social change for self-identified women and girls,” said Judy Greenwald Cohen, the executive director of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh. “JWF’s grantmaking is focused primarily on funding organizations in western Pennsylvania.

“Given the impact of the war in Israel on women, it was important for JWF to be part of the Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund to support organizations in Israel that are advocating for the rights of women. This collective effort at a national level demonstrates the power of collaborative philanthropy, which is a core value of JWF.” PJC