Women of Valor. Israel 2021 | 75 min. | Hebrew, English | Hebrew subtitles. 

Participants: 

Anna Somershaf, Director 

Esty Shushan, the film’s main protagonist 

Tanya Zion-Waldoks (Ph.D.), the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute Moderator: Ronna Brayer-Garb, the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute 

The film “Women of Valor” focuses on Nivcharot, an organization that fights for the right of Haredi women to run for office in a Haredi political party. The film follows a number of Nivcharot activists for several years – their struggles and challenges, both outside and from within their communities, and the obstacles and successes they experience in their valiant journey.

Esty Shushan, founder of Nivcharot, is a Rabbi’s daughter and the eldest of 12 brothers and sisters. Her fight - giving a voice and representation to 600,000 Haredi women in Israel – might come at a huge personal price. 

The screening will be followed with a panel discussion on the unique challenges faced by the pioneers of the Haredi feminist movement and the distinctive hardships of making “Women of Valor”.