A gallery of photos and comments with some of the highlights from the 2011 NCJW Women's Mission to Israel.

1. NCJW
Women’s Mission to Israel 2011
Sights and Reflections
Photo Courtesy of Leslie Sternlieb

3. The Culinary Delights of Jerusalem
We toured Jerusalem’s famous open market, Mahane
Yehuda, with Chef Tali Friedman to sample a variety
of spices, vegetables, fish, and meats, which together
we transformed into a luncheon feast!
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

4. An Outstanding Israeli Feminist
NCJW presented the Jewel Bellush Israeli
Feminist Award to Shula Keshet, an advocate
who has established creative collaborations
between the business sector and women from
different disempowered sectors of Israeli
society.
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

5. The Judean Hills
As we stood together, we all said
a Shehechiyanu that we were in
this place at this time together as
progressive Jewish women!
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

6. Meeting Israeli women
who are just as daring,
committed and pioneering
as the NCJW women in
the United States was so
inspiring — it made me feel
proud of Israel, of its
women, and deepened my
attachment to Israel.

7. “Israel in 2011,
Where Do We Stand?”
Ret. Col. Miri Eisen briefs
us at our Welcome Dinner.
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

8. Gender and
Politics
We had an
informative meeting
with Chair of the
Kadima party and
the Leader of the
Opposition, Tzipi
Livni, who spoke
frankly about how
surprised she was
that gender
discrimination is
truly an issue in
politics.
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

9. Women’s Empowerment
Anat Hoffman, who on July 12, 2010,
was arrested at the Western Wall
wearing a tallit, briefs NCJW women
as they prepare to ride segregated
buses as Freedom Riders.
Photo: Vera Etzion

11. Freedom Riders
An unforgettable highlight was
riding the gender-segregated
buses in Jerusalem — especially
when Israeli women joined us at
the front of the bus!
Photo: Vera Etzion

12. Photo: Vera Etzion

13. Photo: Vera Etzion

14. There is nothing better than visiting the
Jewish homeland, hearing and seeing
firsthand how our dollars and influence
contribute to the well-being of women
and children in all groups of Israeli
society. Hearing the stories from our
granting partners, sharing all of this with
NCJW sisters is an experience that can't
be missed. NCJW missions truly bring
our work to life.

15. Photo: Leslie Sternlieb
“We saw a glimpse of
Israel’s bright future.”
We met with students and their
teachers — as well as alumni,
including Member of Knesset Einat
Wilf — from Hebrew University High
School, which NCJW built in 1962.

16. Advancing LGBT Rights
We visited NCJW Israel Program
grantee Israel Gay Youth and learned
about the amazing work they are doing
to advance the issue of LGBT rights.

17. NCJW Women and Gender
Studies Program
We participated in roundtable
discussions with NCJW Women and
Gender Studies Program students and
faculty on topics related to women,
gender, and politics, including students
and grassroots activism.
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

19. Yad Vashem
We were profoundly moved at
the National Memorial to the six
million Jewish victims of the
Holocaust.
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

20. Kabbalat Shabbat
We experienced the special energy
at the Kotel and a private NCJW
women’s Kabbalat Shabbat.
Photo: Mahyan Goldstein

21. Shabbat Shalom!
We held a Shabbat service together
and participated in a study session
with Rabbi Nahma Kelman, the Dean
of Hebrew Union College and the first
ordained woman rabbi in Israel!

22. In Remembrance
We paid tribute to Yitzhak Rabin in
Rabin Square — at the very spot where
he was assassinated 16 years ago.

23. Seeing the work of NCJW in Israel is always
emotional and invigorating.
Interacting with Israelis, whether
Ethiopian immigrants, Hebrew University
High School students, Tel Aviv University
Women & Gender Studies students, or
women from Haifa is enriching and
insightful.
At various points, our experiences brought
tears to my eyes … Going to Israel with
NCJW is a unique experience. The itinerary,
the women, are something not to be missed.

24. The Golda Meir Mount Carmel
International Training Center
We met men and women from countries
such as Kenya, Ghana, and China who come
to the center to learn about empowerment
and leadership.

25. Haifa’s Ethiopian Community
We learned about the SHILUVIM program and
the challenges and opportunities Ethiopian
citizens of Israel face.
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb

26. I hope you enjoyed these moments
from the 2011 NCJW Women’s
Mission to Israel and will consider
joining us on a future mission!
— Linda Slucker, NCJW President
Photo: Leslie Sternlieb