by Corinne Spector
April 2023
I’m in the thick of a large group of protestors, within a sea of blue and white flags, when suddenly a red stream bursts through. It's like the parting of the Red Sea, or more precisely, the moment when all the rivers of Egypt turned red with blood, just like in the first of the ten plagues we recall now during Passover.
We see hundreds of women in flowing red robes, with broad white bonnets walking slowly and silently, their heads down. Everyone else in this demonstration is forgotten as these "handmaidens" come through. Some members of the opposition yell rude comments at them, not understanding this symbol, but the women maintain their silent, submissive posture.
We are seeing a representation of the women's struggle for their rights, similar to others around the world, inspired by Margaret Atwood's book "The Handmaiden’s tale". The bonnet serves to keep women's eyes focused on the ground -looking up or around is considered dangerous. Although this book came out forty years ago and represents societies from past and present, we hope its dystopian vision is not what we will see in our near future in Israel. This uniform is no less than a symbol of the fight against the potential totalitarian control over democracy.
The use of this costume began with the abortion-related protests in the US and has spread in variations to other parts of the world. In Israel, we understood that a situation could arise quickly here, in which women would have fewer societal rights, as a result of the new government coalition with its members from the religious extreme-right.
In the beginning, women wore red to the protests here in order to symbolize their resistance; the symbolism of red as blood, as birth, as loud protest. Soon there was an awakening wherein women and some men in more than 80 cities and towns came together. They understood that this government was seeking to harm a basic and universal truth: that women also need representation in our society and in our government.
People have long realized that due to the demographics of their high birth rate, by the year 2060, one-third of the Israeli Jewish population will have become very religious (Ultra-Orthodox). Now, however, people have understood that these changes will likely weaken or even erase the concept of democracy, and instead Israel will become a theocracy. And so now, suddenly, due to the push to reform the judiciary by this right-wing, religious government, a great fear has arisen that Israel's democratic essence is in great danger!
And so women began to see their future through the eyes of this new government, and they held up signs that asked other women: "Have you woken up yet?" And other signs followed saying "I'm awake!" (Similar to the term 'woke' in America, but focusing here on women's issues).
Women are lacking in the government here – there are now only 9 female members out of 64, or 14%. In the 70s we were forerunners when Golda Meir was our Prime Minister but since then, our numbers in government have dwindled. Obviously, if this generation of women isn't seen in positions of power, the next generation will surely not be able to follow.
In a recent parliamentary session, not one item dealt with women. Women are not getting the representation they require and deserve. A law that proposed requiring that violent men wear electronic bracelets was simply dropped!
It is of grave importance to prevent discrimination and violence against women. Historically, suppression of women has been very strong in the home, the streets and in the corridors of power. And who among us has never had fears of men in a deserted or dark place, has never been touched inappropriately or put down in other ways, big and small? The women's demonstration now brings together all these matters at once.
Suddenly many women's daily routines have changed and grass-roots leaders have arisen. There is now a platform for women's empowerment and activist, apolitical pressure groups that are talking about essential issues when they meet, and also online. They include: Sharsheret Nashim lema'an hademocratia (A chain of women for democracy); Bonot Alternativa (Building an Alternative); Thank God for making me a woman (which is a direct retort to the religious peoples’ prayer saying ‘Thank God for making me a man’) – Women standing up for women. All of this effort and these groups, led by women, stand out clearly now in the protests that are taking place across Israel.
Near Israeli embassies around the world, demonstrations by Israelis are also taking place, some including women in handmaiden costumes. Atwood herself has been very supportive of these demonstrations.
The leaders of the demonstrations have recently decided that there will no longer be handmaidens in our protests. Yes, there will continue to be women wearing red shirts and Superwoman capes, but we refuse to be passive servants any longer. In short: we are strong women who are fighting for our rights and our place in society, for the good of us all.
Demonstrations continue here on a weekly, and sometimes daily basis, as the new government is trying to quickly push through changes to the currently independent judiciary which, due to our lack of a Constitution, is our lone balance against negative political influence.
******* It is very challenging to both take part in these protests and document them, as I'm holding a flag in one hand and a camera in the other. But here I am, having awoken also to this new frightening reality. I'm a photographer but also an Israeli woman who is secular and liberal and feminist, and each of these identities has meaning in the current struggle.
I took still photos at street level, so I could never see the whole picture, such as the huge stream of people who were out demonstrating, as one could with a video or a drone. I was just one of thousands of people on the street, and I felt like a child, seeing only up to the height that I am. I usually see just the backs of people in front of me or their sides. I don't feel that I'm in any danger here; these are not violent protests, but rather protests in favour of the country most citizens have known and love. These are people trying to protect this country and the democratic nature of its judiciary. I've been taking pictures of this protest for three months, trying to document the demonstrations from a historical perspective but I feel like I can only take partial pictures of the moment I am in.
Atwood noted, in an interview with a local paper, that when people threaten to do something against women, this generally does happen. Women in Israel have now understood that we cannot assume that the way our society has been operating until now is a given and that it will continue in the same manner.
******* Supreme court judges who have been chosen by other judges on the basis of their records are presumed to be independent. If politicians appoint the judges, and the government is able to overturn the judiciary's decisions with a slim majority, the judiciary would no longer be independent. For the past 75 years, this independent judiciary is our only source of protection for minority rights and those of other weaker sectors of society –including women.
There is also a Rabbinical court here that deals primarily with marriage and divorce of Jewish citizens, and sometimes with matters of division of property, child custody and support, and visitation rights. This court is made up of male rabbis, among whom there has never been a woman. Since this is a religious court, and they believe women's status is unequal to men's, this is problematic.
Recently, however, the government in the Knesset has passed the first reading of a law for the expansion of the rabbinical courts. The result would be an expansion of its responsibilities over civil legal matters. It's feared that many of these judgments would be opposed to the universal human rights found in much of the modern world such as: respect for women's and minority rights and freedoms, as well as democracy and equality of all Israel's citizens.
Women's fear is that 'the clock will be turned back' for women here, as religious law tends to favour men in cases between the genders. Anything that affects women negatively will affect every part of people's lives. Those in favour of this law seek citizens who will accept their authority in a submissive manner.
Religious women (particularly the Ultra-Orthodox) have made a bargain between themselves and their husbands, as well as with their community. Their desires are: to raise their children, to be responsible for their households and to support their husbands –sometimes also financially, via community-approved jobs-- while the men study religious Torah texts, and do not serve in the army. The men contribute little to the national economy, supported by taxpayers and donations. They hope their sons won't serve in the army, but will also study Torah.
This bargain is not the same one that secular women in Israel have accepted. These modern women may choose to work outside the home, and they generally seek partners in raising their children and in keeping house. Both their sons and daughters will serve in the army to protect this country. Thus this is a big sticking point between secular and religious, and has been since the inception of this nation, while the numbers of the Ultra-Orthodox have grown greater with time.
A democracy cannot support the suppression of women, nor of its other weaker elements. Judicial reform is not the sole issue, but rather that deep societal changes are needed here, urgently. I am a mother to three daughters and I've always taught them that they can do anything they choose. I hope to leave them a society that is healthy and thriving, rather than one that is limiting and hurting.
