In the Haredi community, a woman’s obligation is to marry, bear children, and serve as primary breadwinner while her husband studies religious texts. Fed up with the status quo, Esty Shushan fights to change the historical forbiddance of women from seeking public office in Haredi political parties.

But change comes with a cost. Esty’s activism brings threats, suspicion and online harassment. Ostracized as a “fake Haredi,” she must reconcile deep-rooted frustration over ultra-Orthodox life with her efforts to bring the silent voices of women to the center of Israeli discourse.

Join us for a complimentary reception with hors d’ouvres and wine at 6:30 PM.

Followed by Q&A moderated by Rabbi Elianna Yolkut with film director Anna Somershaf. Opening remarks by Efrat Hochstetler, Counselor for Public Diplomacy, Embassy of Israel.

Rabbi Elianna Yolkut serves as Rabbinic Scholar, Director of Beit Midrash and Mikvah at Adas Israel. She strives through challenging questions, dynamic study and meaningful engagement to help people at all life stages reach a deeper understanding of and connection to Judaism. Elianna is a connector, writer and educator who seeks to help create intersections and integrations between wisdom texts, human beings and ritual.

Anna Somershaf is an Israeli documentary filmmaker and producer, born in Moscow and immigrated to Tel-Aviv in her childhood. Her previous projects include Jihad Now, a TV series about Global Jihad, and Holyland, a documentary about a Ghanaian Pastor of migrant workers. In addition to her filmmmaking activity, she is also teaching Documentary and research at the cinema department of Beit Berl College.

Presented in partnership with the Embassy of Israel Washington.