Page 9 - Issue 22

Jewish Yishuv in Eretz Israel, the second Constituent
Assembly, its premier elected parliamentary body,
decreed equal rights for women in all areas of civil,
economic and political life.
In the months before, a pioneer woman, Hannah Trager,
wrote about her experiences in the pre-state Yishuv, recalling
the following conversation:

“Look at the old days when the daughters of Zelophehad
stood up for themselves and claimed their inheritance. Look
at Deborah, without whom the leader of the Israelites
refused to go out to battle. Look at Judith, look at the many
Jewish women of Biblical times who had as much wisdom
and courage as the men. Tell me, is it right that we should be
treated as if we were only fit to agree to anything that is
decided by the men?”

“And now,” broke in another girl, “is the time for us Yishuv
women to take a stand for our fair share in communal
matters. Here we are, helping to build up a new
commonwealth in a country where we are all really free to
do as we like. Are we going to build on a basis of equality or
not? Have not we women taken our part in the founding of
this Yishuv as fully as the man have? Did not our mothers
suffer and struggle as well as our fathers? Have we girls ever
refused to help in any kind of work, indoors or out? Have we
not weeded in the vineyards in the burning sun, and made
the hay, and milked the cows? Have we not done our best in
times of sickness and trouble? Are you afraid that we shall
fail you in the future? Let us go forward together, not
struggling against one another…”

4. In 1918 in the UK, The Parliament (Qualification of
Women) Act was passed, allowing women to be
elected to Parliament. Several women stood for
election to the House of Commons in December