Haredi Woman Advocates Expanding Separate Academic Tracks to Preserve Religious Identity
Dr. Malkaheli Beloy Chanuka, a Haredi woman, explains in a Channel 7 podcast interview why expanding separate academic tracks for advanced degrees is essential to enable Haredi integration into academia without compromising their lifestyle. She rejects claims that the law promoting these separate tracks constitutes coercion or exclusion, emphasizing it as a right to study in a manner compatible with religious observance.
The debate over gender-segregated and separate studies in higher education has intensified following the Knesset's approval of a law extending these options to graduate programs. Beloy Chanuka clarifies that this is an expansion of a law from 2007, which has allowed separate tracks for undergraduate degrees for nearly two decades without societal disruption. She highlights the growth in Haredi students in separate undergraduate tracks from about 6,000 to 19,000 over ten years, though they remain a small fraction of all Israeli students.
Beloy Chanuka stresses that the core issue is not just the number of available places but the freedom to choose a study path aligned with religious values. She shares her personal experience of being unable to pursue music therapy due to lack of a separate track and her Chabad affiliation. She argues the law is about opportunity, not compulsion, noting it applies only to classroom separation and does not mandate institutions to open such tracks.
Addressing feminist critiques, she asserts that many Haredi women who choose separate study paths face opposition from those claiming to support women's rights, yet these women seek empowerment through their chosen religious framework. She envisions a future where Haredi women can become professionals and leaders without sacrificing their faith or community values.
Beloy Chanuka cites successful examples like the separate public policy track at the University of Haifa and women-only institutions domestically and abroad. Beyond legislation, she is active in the Knesset caucus for Haredi and religious women, addressing issues such as eating disorders, fertility preservation, employment, and at-risk youth, all on a volunteer basis. Her vision is to open academic doors for Haredi women to thrive professionally while maintaining their religious identity.
