Kolech

Kolech, formally known as Kolech: Religious Women's Forum, is an Israeli women's organization associated with Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish feminism, and religious Zionism. It was established in 1998 by Chana Kehat, a scholar of history and Jewish studies, after she attended the first conference of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance in the United States. Kehat led the organization from its founding until 2004. Kolech emerged from a distinctive social and religious tension: many Orthodox Jewish women are committed to Jewish law, ritual observance, family, and religious community while also seeking greater equality, education, public authority, and protection from discrimination. Rather than treating religious observance and feminism as mutually exclusive, Kolech works to develop interpretations, institutions, and practical arrangements that can accommodate both commitments. The organization describes its mission as improving the position and rights of Jewish women in religious law, leadership, and community life. Its early work centered on conferences for religious women and the publication of weekly articles on Jewish subjects, including commentary on the Torah portion. Women's Torah education and the recognition of women as Torah scholars have remained central concerns. In 2016, Kolech helped launch Shabbat Dorshot Tov, an initiative that promoted women speakers and scholars in residence in synagogues throughout Israel. The project was developed with Midreshet Lindenbaum, Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies, Midreshet Ein HaNetziv, and Beit Hillel. Kolech has also participated in debates about the balance between modern Orthodoxy and ultra-Orthodox institutional influence. In 2010, it joined other modern Orthodox organizations in opposing the possible removal of a director of Israel's rabbinic courts by a committee viewed as having a majority of ultra-Orthodox members. The organization has supported the use of Jewish prenuptial agreements in religious marriages as a means of reducing the risk of agunah cases, in which a woman is unable to obtain a religious divorce. On questions of prayer at the Western Wall, Kolech has taken an Orthodox position, arguing that Orthodox women who wish to pray in a quorum should do so within the women's section rather than in an egalitarian section where mixed-gender prayer is permitted. A major area of Kolech's public advocacy has been protection from sexual harassment and abuse in religious settings. In 2002, it publicly supported allegations of sexual harassment against a prominent rabbi and later became involved in a second case. Although some rabbis criticized the organization, the episode also led to cooperation with rabbis on a code of conduct for religious educational institutions. In 2019, Kolech petitioned Israel's High Court concerning the continued retention of a rabbinical title by a rabbi convicted in 2013, arguing that the religious establishment had not done enough to protect the public. Kolech became particularly prominent through its legal challenge to Kol Barama, an ultra-Orthodox radio station that had maintained a policy of excluding women's voices from its broadcasts. The organization filed a discrimination claim in 2012. After litigation involving the Supreme Court and Jerusalem District Court, the station was ordered in 2018 to pay a fine of NIS 1 million or risk its broadcasting license. The case became a notable test of gender discrimination law and women's public visibility in religious media. Kolech received recognition from the Israel Association for Civil Rights in 2007. Its activities have been supported through membership, donations, and grants from foundations, and the organization has reportedly had more than one thousand members. Leadership has included attorney Yael Rockman, who served as executive director from 2015 to 2020, and Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg, who later led the organization.

Kolech was founded in Israel in 1998 by Chana Kehat, a professor of history and Jewish studies. Kehat's participation in the inaugural conference of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance in the United States helped inspire the creation of an Israeli forum focused on the concerns of religiously observant women. The organization developed within the world of Orthodox Judaism and religious Zionism, while adopting an explicitly feminist agenda. Its founding reflected the experience of women who sought to remain fully committed to Jewish law and Orthodox communal life while questioning restrictions on women's authority, education, public participation, and legal protection. During its early years, Kolech concentrated on building a public network for religious women. It organized conferences, encouraged discussion of women's roles in Jewish life, and published regular articles on Jewish subjects, including weekly Torah commentary. Women's access to Torah learning and the recognition of women as religious scholars became continuing priorities. The organization has generally pursued change through education, advocacy, legal action, and engagement with rabbis and religious institutions rather than through separation from Orthodox society. Kolech's activities expanded into institutional and public-policy questions. It supported modern Orthodox efforts to resist what it regarded as excessive ultra-Orthodox influence over religious institutions, including a 2010 campaign concerning the proposed removal of a director of Israel's rabbinic courts. The organization has also promoted Jewish prenuptial agreements intended to reduce the problem of agunot, women unable to obtain a religious divorce. In disputes concerning women's prayer at the Western Wall, Kolech has maintained an Orthodox position that prayer requiring a quorum should take place in the women's section rather than in a mixed or egalitarian area. Gender-based abuse and harassment in religious settings became another important area of work. In 2002, Kolech supported allegations of sexual harassment against a prominent rabbi and later became involved in a second case. Its stance provoked opposition from some rabbis, but the controversy was followed by collaboration with religious leaders on a conduct code for religious educational institutions. The organization continued to use legal and public advocacy to address accountability. In 2019, it petitioned the High Court regarding a convicted rabbi's continued use of a rabbinical title, arguing that the religious establishment had not adequately protected the public. Kolech's most prominent litigation involved Kol Barama, an ultra-Orthodox radio station founded in 2009 that did not broadcast women's voices. Kolech filed a discrimination case in 2012 and argued that the station's relationship with public funding made it subject to public obligations. After proceedings that included a Supreme Court victory and a subsequent appeal, the Jerusalem District Court ruled in Kolech's favor in 2018 and imposed a NIS 1 million fine, with the station's license placed at risk if it did not comply. The reported payment in 2019, made in ten-agora coins, gave the case an additional symbolic dimension. Education and public religious leadership remained central in the 2010s. In 2016, Kolech launched Shabbat Dorshot Tov with Midreshet Lindenbaum, Matan Women's Institute for Torah Studies, Midreshet Ein HaNetziv, and Beit Hillel. The program promoted women as speakers and scholars in residence in synagogues throughout Israel. Kolech was recognized by the Israel Association for Civil Rights in 2007 for its advocacy. Leadership after Kehat included attorney Yael Rockman, who served as executive director from 2015 through 2020, followed by leadership associated with Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg. The organization has reportedly had more than one thousand members and has relied on membership, donations, and foundation support.

• 2020

  End of Yael Rockman's executive-director term

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Yael Rockman's reported tenure as executive director ends.

• 2019

  High Court petition concerning rabbinical title

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Kolech petitions over the continued title of a rabbi convicted in 2013, citing public protection and institutional accountability.

• 2018

  Court orders Kol Barama fine

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  The Jerusalem District Court rules in Kolech's favor and orders Kol Barama to pay a NIS 1 million fine or risk its broadcast license.

• 2016

  Shabbat Dorshot Tov launches

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Kolech and partner institutions begin placing women speakers and scholars in residence in synagogues across Israel.

• 2015

  Yael Rockman becomes executive director

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Attorney Yael Rockman begins a term as Kolech's executive director.

• 2012

  Kol Barama discrimination lawsuit

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Kolech files suit challenging the radio station's exclusion of women's voices from its broadcasts.

• 2010

  Campaign concerning rabbinic-court leadership

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Kolech joins modern Orthodox groups opposing a proposed leadership change at Israel's rabbinic courts.

• 2007

  Civil-rights recognition

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  The Israel Association for Civil Rights recognizes Kolech for its advocacy for Orthodox Jewish women.

• 2002

  Public advocacy on sexual-harassment allegations begins

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Kolech publicly supports allegations involving a prominent rabbi and subsequently works with rabbis on conduct standards for religious educational institutions.

• 1998

  Kolech is founded

  [1]Kolechen.wikipedia.org

  Chana Kehat establishes Kolech as an Israeli forum for Orthodox Jewish women influenced by the emerging Orthodox feminist movement.

A faith-based Orthodox feminist advocacy organization seeking greater equality and protection for Jewish women while operating within, and engaging constructively with, Orthodox Jewish religious frameworks.

• Education and community programming · 1998

  Religious women's conferences

  Kolech's conferences provide forums for Orthodox Jewish women to discuss Jewish law, Torah learning, leadership, family, community participation, and women's rights. These gatherings were among the organization's earliest activities and helped create a public network for women seeking feminist change within Orthodox religious life.

• Religious education initiative · 2016

  Shabbat Dorshot Tov

  Launched in 2016 with partner organizations, Shabbat Dorshot Tov promotes women as Torah teachers, speakers, and scholars in residence. The initiative brings women educators into synagogues and religious communities across Israel, expanding the visibility of female religious expertise.

• Publications · 1998

  Weekly Torah and Jewish-studies publications

  Kolech has published recurring material on Jewish topics, including commentary on the weekly Torah portion. The publications support the organization's broader effort to normalize women's voices in Torah interpretation and religious discussion.

• 2013

  Conviction of rabbi later challenged by Kolech

  A rabbi was convicted in 2013 and reportedly committed to rabbinical authorities that he would not hold a communal position for ten years. Kolech later argued that retaining his rabbinical title failed to provide sufficient public protection.

  Source

• 2002

  Sexual-harassment allegations involving rabbis

  Kolech publicly supported allegations of sexual harassment against a prominent rabbi and later another rabbi. The organization faced criticism from some rabbis, while the controversy also led to cooperation on conduct standards for religious educational institutions.

  Source

Read more

• 2016Shabbat Dorshot Tov

  Israel

  The initiative promoted women speakers and scholars in residence in dozens of Israeli synagogues in collaboration with women's Torah-education institutions and Beit Hillel.

  Source
• 2010Modern Orthodox institutional advocacy

  Israel

  Kolech joined other modern Orthodox organizations in opposing a proposed dismissal at Israel's rabbinic courts, viewing the process as part of a wider increase in ultra-Orthodox institutional control.

  Source
• Jewish prenuptial-agreement advocacy

  Israel

  Kolech has supported the use of prenuptial agreements in religious marriages to reduce the risk of agunah cases and strengthen women's position in divorce proceedings.

  Source

• 2019

  Petition over retention of rabbinical titleOther

  Background

  Kolech argued that a rabbi convicted in 2013 should not retain a rabbinical title after committing to refrain from communal leadership.

  Action taken

  The organization petitioned Israel's High Court, asserting that the rabbinate had not fully met its responsibility to protect the public.

  Aftermath

  The rabbinical authorities argued that the undertaking not to hold a leadership role adequately addressed the concern.

  Source

• 2016

  Launch Shabbat Dorshot TovProduct launch

  Background

  Women’s Torah scholarship and public religious leadership were longstanding Kolech priorities.

  Action taken

  Kolech partnered with several religious-education organizations to place women speakers and scholars in residence in synagogues.

  Aftermath

  The initiative expanded the presence of women teachers and scholars in Israeli Orthodox communities.

  Source

• 2012

  File discrimination claim against Kol BaramaOther

  Background

  Kol Barama had maintained a policy of not broadcasting women's voices. Kolech argued that this constituted discrimination and that the station's government funding made its public obligations relevant.

  Action taken

  Kolech filed a legal claim seeking damages under Israel's discrimination law.

  Aftermath

  The litigation ultimately produced a favorable Jerusalem District Court ruling and a NIS 1 million fine against the station in 2018.

  Source

1. 1Kolechen.wikipedia.org