December 2009
Dear Chaverot,
At the end of November Na'amat Israel held a special event commemorating 25 years since the establishment of the Department for Prevention and Treatment of Family Violence. The event was held on November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Honoured participants included with the participation of Na'amat President Talia Livni, Minister of Welfare and Social Services, M.K. Itzchak Herzog, and Tel-Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
During this special event, the history of the Na'amat Canada Glickman Centre for Family Violence Prevention was told. Event attendees learned how the Centre became the leading facility of its kind in Israel, servicing thousands of women and hundreds of children.
Talia Livni acknowledged and thanked the members and supporter of Na'amat Canada for their utmost commitment, ongoing efforts and contributions towards building and expanding the Centre and its services all through the years.
In addition, four Na'amat Certificates were given to honour people for their monumental contribution to the prevention of domestic violence: Ronit Lev-Ary, Yael Dayan, Ze'ev Friedman and Nurit Rogel.
Helping to commemorate this special anti-violence event, a Na'amat Israel booklet was created about preventing domestic violence. This new booklet will be distributed to social work and legal professionals who work in the field, in hopes that this resource will help open doors for victims of violence.
July 2009
Dear Chaverot,
On July 6 2009, a demonstration organized by Na'amat Israel was held in front of the Knesset. Approximately 500 women protested the Finance Minister's proposal to grant 197 NIS (less than $50.00USD) as a monthly subsidy for daycare tuition that would be issued to working women.
The average tuition for a child to attend a Na'amat daycare center is approximately $450.00USD per month. Alternatively, the cost for private daycare is approximately $750.00USD. A subsidy of $50.00USD a month is negligible, considering the high costs of child care for an average family.
Na'amat President, Talia Livni, called this subsidy proposal a "joke.” Livni emphasized the need for free early childhood education as the most effective step to encourage women to reintegrate into the labor force (full-time) while raising children. She said that Na'amat, together with WIZO and Emunah will continue to lobby for a full subsidy of childcare expenses for working mothers.
Sincerely,
Shirli Shavit
Director, Na'amat Overseas Department
May 2009
Dear Chaverot,
We are proud to announce that new facilities have recently been installed in 27 Na'amat daycare centers, as a result of the Fellowship Playground program. The building of these new playgrounds was funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, in order to benefit Israeli children. The new equipment was happily received by our daycares in Jerusalem, Afula, Yokneam, Nazareth Illit, Carmiel, Yavne and Be'er-Sheva.
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is a large philanthropic foundation dedicated to strengthening Israel's social resilience. With Christian and Jewish supporters worldwide, the foundation strives to help Israelis in distress. Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Fellowship President emphasized that "Over the years, Na'amat has done so much to advance women's status in Israel and helped build such a wonderful society in this country. The Foundation thinks it is important to assist Na'amat in its important and essential activities; and is delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the welfare of Israeli children."
We thank both the IFCJ foundation and our Na'amat Canada members for helping us to provide so many new playgrounds during the 2008-2009 season.
Shirli Shavit Director
Na'amat Overseas Department
January 2009
Dear Chaverot,
As you know, the ceasefire in Gaza has begun. During the 3 weeks of the war there were 851 missiles launched against cities, kibbutzim and moshavim in the southern part of Israel. One million Israeli citizens who were in the range of the missiles were in constant danger and could not lead a normal life.
The missiles of Hamas reached over 40 kilometers from Gaza, endangering in addition to Sderot and Ashkelon also Gedera, Gan Yavne, Yavne, Beer-Sheva and all of the surrounding areas. We followed the instructions of the Home Front Command and acted accordingly, to ensure that the 2,000 of our children at risk, in 27 daycare centres were in not danger.
After the ceasefire began, we opened all of our daycare centres. We immediately planned professional workshops for the children, parents and staff so they could be counseled by psychologists and social workers to overcome the trauma and adverse effects of this war. We must further focus on treating those children that were most affected, especially in our special care daycare centers, and do our utmost to help them.
We all hope and pray that this ceasefire will be sustainable, and that all of us will be able to live in peace with our neighbours. In the meantime, we are depending on our Na'amat Canada chaverot to help replenish the emergency supplies we need to replace with our daycare bomb shelters.
Thank you for your continued support,
Shirli Shavit Director,
Na'amat Overseas Department
Fall 2008
Dear Chaverot,
This fall marked the inaugural year for the Veterinary Studies program at Kanot Agricultural High School. Classes are under academic supervision of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, which is a part of Hebrew University's Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The objective of this pre-university program is to give the students a foundation for further veterinary post-secondary education, majoring in the sciences. To bee accepted, students must have completed 8th grade with high academic standing and proven extra curricular achievements, especially involving caring for animals.
As part of the agricultural school, Kanot already has a farm on its premises, including sheep, cows, horses and a bird sanctuary. Using the existing facilities, the students in the Veterinary Studies program will combine their theoretic studies with practical hands-on experience working with different types of animals. The students will be supervised by a veterinarian and will have the chance to observe animal treatments and surgeries during various fieldtrips. Some of these excursions will include: food centers, veterinary clinics, labs, the Ramat Gan zoo and the Kimron Veterinary Institute.
Shirli Shavit
Director, Na'amat Overseas Department
Spring 2008
Dear Chaverot,
On Israel's 60th Independence Day, eight organizations were awarded the Israel Prize for a Lifetime Contribution to the State and Society. We are very proud to inform you that, collectively, Na'amat, Wizo and Emunah were among the recipients of this prestigious award.
The prize committee praised our organizations' contribution to society, claiming that it is because of our efforts that “the State of Israel has become a world leader in promoting the status of women." We were also lauded for working together to advance social, cultural and educational policy and for campaigning for gender equality.
The committee further emphasized the importance of our daycare networks, claiming that that Na'amat, Wizo and Emunah are largely responsible for enabling mothers to return to work with the peace of mind that their children are well cared for. They went on to commend our involvement in initiating women's rights legislation, providing legal aid and running shelters for victims of domestic abuse.
Shirli Shavit
Director, Na'amat Overseas Department
