Haredi Women Challenge Political Norms with New Online 'Primaries' Initiative
Faini Soknik, a leading activist behind the new online initiative "Haredi Women's Primaries," spoke in an interview about the project's goals and challenges. The initiative invites both men and women to select a hypothetical list of ten Haredi women they believe deserve to serve in the Israeli Knesset, aiming to break the traditional absence of Haredi women in politics. Soknik emphasized that the project is not about immediately forming a political party but about fostering a shift in public consciousness and encouraging political imagination within the Haredi community. Over 2,500 people have already participated in the voting.
Addressing criticism and rabbinical opposition to women's political involvement, Soknik drew parallels to the initial resistance faced by Sarah Schenirer, founder of the Beit Yaakov educational network for Haredi girls. She described herself as a "Haredi feminist" and expressed opposition to creating a separate women's party, instead advocating for equal representation within existing parties. She acknowledged the strong resistance from established Haredi parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism but insisted on continuing democratic efforts to gain recognition for Haredi women's perspectives.
Soknik outlined key issues motivating the initiative, including family welfare, youth dropout rates, domestic violence, and vocational training for young women after high school. She also shared personal experiences of social invisibility during her divorce, which inspired her activism and founding of "Asher Telchi," an organization supporting divorced Haredi women. The initiative aims to reach 5,000 voters to mark a significant milestone, with higher participation seen as a historic success.
While the prospect of a Haredi woman serving in the Knesset under a Haredi party remains distant, the conversation around women's political roles in the community is gaining momentum. These women are demanding visibility and a seat at the decision-making table, challenging longstanding norms within the Haredi society.
