Leaders in Local Government – Building a Mofet Society
This program brings together key figures in local authorities—mayors, CEOs, and senior deputies—for a half-year Beit Midrash-style learning program inspired by Zionist, Jewish, and universal thought.
The program addresses key challenges facing senior officials in local authorities, including exploring the role of local authorities in building an exemplary society in Israel, managing diverse communities and identities, addressing social gaps within and between municipalities, and fostering inter-municipal cooperation.
As part of the program, participants embark on an educational journey to the United States to explore the diversity of American Jewry, deepen their understanding of Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli identity, meet with municipal peers, and engage with various community models.
Women Leaders in Local Authorities – Building a Mofet Society During U.S. Elections
In this program, 19 female public officials—mayors, deputies, and council members in Israel—explored Jewish life, Zionist movements, women's decision-making roles, and local governance challenges.
Participants engaged in Beit Midrash-style learning sessions based on Zionist, Jewish, and universal sources. They also embarked on an educational journey to the U.S., examining their Jewish-Zionist identity, interacting with diverse Jewish communities, and exploring the complexities of the U.S. elections and American municipal governance.
During their journey to Pennsylvania and New York, participants met with prominent figures from the American Jewish community, gaining firsthand insight into local governance challenges and the fight for women’s rights and gender equality in public and municipal arenas. This journey, focused on diverse Jewish communities and the U.S. elections, included discussions with individuals from various Jewish streams who shared their perspectives on the election results and their implications for American Jewry and relations with Israel.
This program was organized in collaboration with the Department for Israel and Holocaust Commemoration in the World Zionist Organization and "Kol Mekomi" at the Centers for Social Justice.
The Women Leaders in Israeli Society program, organized by the Department for Social Activism in the World Zionist Organization and the Shazur Association, brought together 14 activist and visionary women leading efforts in their respective fields.
The program aimed to deepen their understanding of the diverse facets of American Jewry, address the challenges faced by the community at large and women in particular, and connect inspiring women committed to advancing gender equality in both countries.
The delegation, "Women Leaders in Israeli Society – Building a Mofet Society", traveled to New York during the second month of the war, amidst escalating international discourse about Israel. A special session on sexual violence and Hamas's war crimes on October 7 underscored a clear message to the world: silence in the face of Hamas's atrocities and the inaction of women's organizations cannot be tolerated.
The many meetings held during the journey strengthened the participants' resolve to promote gender equality in Israel and integrate women into decision-making processes—a critical element in healing the deep rifts and leading the nation forward, even after the war ends.
