Abayudaya Jewish Community: A Jewish community made up of converts from Eastern Uganda which is a part of the Conservative movement. They are considered an “emerging community” and not currently recognized as Jewish under the Law of Return.

Acting as an Amicus: IRAC will occasionally act as an amicus in a case, meaning that although not party to a case, IRAC may assist the court by offering information and expertise on an issue. For example, we acted as amicus in the case against the Municipality of Kiryat Gat for discriminating against Bedouin residents of Rahat, barring them from entering municipal pools. We also act as amicus in the case regarding gender segregation in higher education and the exclusion of women professors and lecturers from special Haredi tracks of learning in higher education.

African Hebrew Israelite Community: A community of African Americans who moved to Israel in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite being unable to claim citizenship under the Law of Return, they have been granted permanent residency. The Racism Crisis Center has represented them in several cases.

Aliyah: From the root of the Hebrew word la’a lot/לעלות/”to go up,” making Aliyah is the act of Jews in the Diaspora immigrating to Israel.

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC): AIPAC is a bipartisan American organization that aims to strengthen the relationship between America and Israel and to advocate for pro-Israel policy in the US government. AIPAC has a yearly policy conference in Washington, DC with thousands of attendees.

Ashkenazi Jews: A term that comes from the Hebrew word for Germany but refers to Jews originating from a vast area: Eastern Europe, present-day France, and the general area of present-day Germany.

Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA): ARZA is an affiliate of the URJ. "ARZA strengthens and enriches the Jewish identity of Reform Jews in the United States by ensuring that a connection with the land, people, and State of Israel are fundamental parts of that identity.”

Avodah Ivrit: Literally means Hebrew Labor. In the mid-1900s this term was used by Jewish olim who worked to build a country for themselves with manual labor. This term has more recently become a maxim for exclusion and segregation of Arabs in the workforce. IRAC won a lawsuit against an internet site called “Avodah Ivrit” that allowed businesses employing only Jews and Jewish only job-seekers to post ads.

Basic Laws: Israel’s Basic Laws consist of 16 constitutional laws in place of a formal constitution. These laws have been written over time after the 1950 Harari Decision by the first Knesset, which determined that these laws would be gradually written and would make up Israel’s constitution.

Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty: A law created in 1992 to establish that basic human rights are based on freedom and the recognition of the value of every individual. This Basic Law, alongside Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation, have special status as bill of rights, protecting the rights of dignity, equality, freedom of and from religion, and free speech. The Supreme Court can overrule any laws which contradict with the tenets of this Basic Law. Many of IRAC’s court cases rely on the principles declared in this law.

Bedouin: A sub-group within the Arab population of Israel with a nomadic culture. The majority live in the Negev desert. The group makes up approximately 4% of Israel’s population.

Michael Ben Ari: A politician and activist from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party and follower of Rabbi Meir Kahane. The Supreme Court disqualified him from running in the 2019 election because of his racist ideology as a result of IRAC’s monitoring and legal work.

Itamar Ben Gvir: A lawyer, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, and follower of Rabbi Meir Kahane. He is known for often defending radical Jewish supremacists in Israel. He advocates for the expulsion of Arab citizens who he deems “enemies of the State.” IRAC was unable to disqualify him from running for Knesset in the 2019 elections, but continues to monitor and collect information to use against him in the court. He is currently serving as an MK in the 24th Knesset.

Bet Shemesh: A city approximately 20 miles west of Jerusalem with a high percentage of Haredi residents. IRAC has battled the Municipality of Bet Shemesh in court for many years over its modesty signs.

Dr. Aliza Bloch:An Israeli educator and politician, currently serving as the first female mayor of Bet Shemesh.

B’nei Brak: A city east of Tel Aviv with a high percentage of Haredi residents.

Chief Rabbinate: Part of the Ministry of Religious Services. By law the Chief Rabbinate is considered the highest rabbinical authority in Israel. The two Chief Rabbis – one Ashkenazic and one Sephardic – are both Ultra-Orthodox and elected every ten years. Many Israelis consider the Chief Rabbinate a corrupt institution, as it holds a monopoly over many aspects of religious life including marriage, divorce, and burial.

Class Action Lawsuit: A type of lawsuit in which the plaintiff sues on behalf of a group. IRAC filed and won the first class action lawsuit related to gender discrimination and civil rights in Israel against Kol Barama on behalf of Kolech for the exclusion of women’s voices from the radio. Since our victory against Kol Barama, we have filed class action lawsuits against IKEA for the exclusion of women’s images from their catalogue, Gett Taxi for their Gett Mehadrin service that discriminates against Arab taxi drivers, and the Municipality of Jerusalem for excluding couples marrying outside of the Chief Rabbinate from their Covid-19 Wedding Initiative.

Conversion: The act of a non-Jew becoming a member of the Jewish religion. The procedure and requirements depend upon the religious denomination. In a series of court rulings, the Supreme Court recognized Reform and Conservative converts for the purposes of registering as a Jew with the Population Registry and receiving citizenship under the Law of Return.

Disciplinary Action: Action against civil servants who behave inappropriately or incorrectly in the performance of their role.

District Court: Mid-level courts of the IsrMid-level courts of the Israeli Judicial system. There is one in each of the six districts of Israel. Verdicts within these courts can be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Egged: Egged is the largest transit bus company in Israel.

El Al: Israel’s national airline. IRAC successfully sued El Al for allowing Haredi men and flight attendants to pressure women to move seats on flights.

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu: Chief Rabbi of Safed known for his extremely discriminatory comments and incitement, especially against Arabs, the LGBTQ community, women in the army, and governmental bodies and officials. The Supreme Court ordered the Ministry of Justice to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him in response to IRAC’s petition.

Ezrat Yisrael: The egalitarian platform located at Robinson’s Arch in the Davidson Center, an archaeological site just south of the Western Wall Plaza. The Western Wall agreement, which was approved in 2016 and then frozen in 2017, included plans to turn this southern section into a proper egalitarian prayer plaza that would be visible and connected to the main Western Wall plaza. It is currently not connected or accessible from the main plaza of the Western Wall.

Freedom Riders: Volunteers for IRAC’s program in which women board buses that remain segregated by gender and sit at the front, hoping to encourage other women to join them and to show Haredi men who disapprove and berate them that they will stand their ground.

Gender segregation, discrimination, and exclusion: Despite being forbidden by Israeli law, instances of gender segregation, discrimination, and exclusion are still prominent in Israeli society due to pressure from Haredi communities. IRAC has fought against the erection of modesty signs, segregation on buses, cemeteries and health clinics, radio stations refusing to put women on the air, the exclusion of women’s images, and continues to combat various manifestations of discrimination and misogyny.

Gett: A Jewish document that a husband presents to his wife for divorce. This religious document causes problems for some women in Israel who desire to divorce their husbands, as they are often unable to initiate the divorce and are not given a voice in court to the extent that the men are.

Rabbi Miri Gold: As the petitioner in IRAC’s petition that won state funding and recognition for Reform and Conservative rabbis, she became the first Reform rabbi to be recognized by the state and to begin receiving a state-funded salary.

Baruch Goldstein: An American-Israeli follower of Rabbi Meir Kahane who was part of the far-right Kach movement. In 1994 he murdered 29 people in a mosque shooting in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and was then beaten to death. The attack led to widespread protests throughout the West Bank, the eventual banning of the Kach movement, and major condemnation by most of the Jewish community in Israel and beyond.

Bentzi Gopstein: Founder and leader of hate organization, Lehava, and a politician and activist in the far right Otzma Yehudit party. In 2018, after nearly a decade of working against Lehava and Bentzi Gopstein, IRAC successfully pressured the Attorney General to indict Gopstein on charges of incitement to terrorism, incitement to violence, incitement to racism, and obstruction of justice. In 2019, IRAC’s compilation of evidence against Gopstein led to his disqualification from running for Knesset.

Hakafot: Often refers to the dancing, in circles, that occurs with the Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah.

Hanukkah: This 8-day holiday celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Romans and the miracle of the oil that burned for 8 nights, restoring the Temple, until new pure oil could be brought to the Temple.

Haredi: Ultra-Orthodox Jews who abide to a very strict version of halacha [Jewish law]. The community focus on separating themselves from modern society, although there are members within these communities who are aiming to increase modernity within the groups. They make up approximately 12% of Israeli society.

Hazon Movement: Formed in 2019, this right-wing ultra-Orthodox organization has posted anti-LGBTQ and anti-Reform signs throughout Israel, advocating for a “normal” Israel.

Hevra Kadisha: The Jewish burial society that ensures bodies of deceased Jews are prepared for burial according to Orthodox Jewish custom and tradition. Public cemeteries in Israel are generally managed by the local hevra kadisha. IRAC won several cases against burial societies for forcing gender segregation practices during funerals, and has an additional case pending on this issue against the Hevra Kadisha in Yavneh.

Im Tirtzu: A right-wing Zionist organization that is known for working against human rights activists.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF): The military force of the State of Israel. The IDF consists of the army, air force, and navy. Service in the IDF is mandatory for all Israeli citizens for at least two years for women and three for men. However, Muslim and Christian Arab citizens, as well as Haredi Jews, are currently exempted from serving.

Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism (IMPJ): The Israeli branch of the global Reform Movement. It supports a network of around 30 progressive congregations around the country and is the umbrella organization for all Reform organizations in Israel, including IRAC. The organization is modeled on “a progressive belief system integrating traditional and modern values,” so its goal is to offer opportunities to partake in the “constant struggle for Tikkun Olam” and in Jewish ritual practices in a “fully egalitarian manner.”

Rabbi Rick Jacobs: An American Reform rabbi and the president of the URJ. He often travels to Israel to support Reform organizations.

Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance (JOH): Founded in 1997 with the goal of providing services for the LGBTQ community in Jerusalem and promoting equality. It founded the first LGBTQ health clinic in Israel and organizes Jerusalem’s Annual March for Pride and Tolerance. IRAC has represented JOH in its struggle to receive municipal funding – a struggle which ended in victory – and represents JOH against the Municipality of Jerusalem while planning the annual Pride march.

Rabbi Meir Kahane: An Israeli-American Orthodox rabbi and ultra-nationalist activist and politician. Kahane co-founded the Jewish Defense League and supported Jewish Supremacist terrorism and violence. He was an activist against any relations or assimilation between Jews and non-Jews and supported the expulsion of non-Jews from the land of Israel. He founded the Kach movement and political party, a precursor to the more recent Otzma Yehudit, which was classified as a terrorist organization. Him and his party were disqualified from running for Knesset in 1992. Ideology based on his teachings is known as “Kahanism.”

Kahanism: A far-right Jewish extremist ideology based on the teachings of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who opposed all interaction between Jews and non-Jews, and therefore also supported the expulsion of non-Jews from Israel.

Rabbi Gilad Kariv: An Israeli Reform rabbi and attorney who served as the President and CEO of the Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism from 2009-2021. He is currently a Member of Knesset as part of the Labor party.

Kashrut: A set of dietary laws regarding the foods Jews are permitted to eat, and how these foods must be prepared. Until recently, the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate has held a monopoly over kashrut certification for restaurants, catering companies, event halls, bars, and all other establishments in Israel that serve food. After the Supreme Court held a rare second hearing for IRAC’s petition, it allowed for alternative kashrut certifications, which the Tzohar Rabbinic Authority now provides.

Knesset: The Israeli Parliament and legislative branch of the Israeli government. The 120 Members of Knesset (MKs) are elected in general elections. MKs vote on all laws, elect the President and Prime Minister, compose the cabinet, and supervise the work of the Government.

Kol Barama: A Haredi public radio station established in 2009 which refused to broadcast women’s voices. IRAC pressured Kol Barama to begin broadcasting women’s voices by filing and winning a class action lawsuit against the station on behalf of Kolech.

Kolech: An orthodox feminist organization. The plaintiff in IRAC’s class action lawsuit against Kol Barama.

Kotel: Also known as the Western Wall, the Kotel in Jerusalem is the most significant religious site for Judaism. Jews around the world face the direction of the Kotel during prayer. It is the Western-most wall of the Temple Mount and considered the closest site to the Holy of Holies. Despite its religious significance for all Jews, the plaza at the Kotel is under ultra-Orthodox control. IRAC is working to make the Kotel a more egalitarian and pluralistic prayer site.

Labor: A political party created in 1968 by a merging of three parties. A social democratic and Zionist political party in Israel.

Law of Return: An Israeli law that gives Jews the right to obtain Israeli citizenship. In the case of the Law of Return, one is considered Jewish if they have at least one Jewish grandparent or are married to a Jew. Many converts who did not convert through Orthodox Judaism struggle to gain recognition as Jews under this law, as do those who are not recognized as halachically [by Jewish law] Jewish.

Legal Aid Center for Olim (LACO): LACO was established in 1992 to enable all immigrants coming to Israel under the Law of Return to enjoy equal rights. LACO helps olim [immigrants] who encounter a hostile bureaucracy secure their rights by giving them access to some of the best immigration lawyers in the country through services such as a hotline, legal advice, and full legal representation. Click here for more information.

Lehava: An extreme right-wing hate group that strictly opposes Jewish-Arab assimilation and works to both incite and carry out violence against Arabs. Lehava means “flame” and is also the acronym for “Preventing Assimilation in the Holy Land,” as Lehava depicts itself as a legitimate organization devoted to a struggle against assimilation. IRAC is working to shut down the group and has successfully pressured the authorities to press charges against its leaders, including leader Bentzi Gopstein, who was indicted in 2019 on charges of incitement to terrorism, incitement to violence, incitement to racism, and obstruction of justice.

Likud: A party founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon and now led by current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The dominant right-wing party in present-day Israel.

Magen David Adom (MDA): Israel’s national medical, ambulance, blood bank, and disaster aid service.

Baruch Marzel: A politician and activist in the far-right Otzma Yehudit, Jewish Power, party who is known for his racist incitement. He was disqualified from running for Knesset in 2019 as a result of our work.

Masorti Movement: The Masorti Movement, the Israeli Conservative Movement, works towards a “democratic vision of Jewish life in Israel” by preserving “observance and tradition while recognizing how modern life in Israel is lived.” IRAC often represents the Masorti movement in the struggle for equal rights and government resources.

Megillah reading: The reading of the Book of Esther on Purim. Although women are obligated to hear the Megillah, in many Orthodox communities they are forbidden from leading the reading themselves.

Mehadrin Lines: Bus lines that mainly serviced Haredi populations and areas in which women boarded and sat in the rear. These lines were officially in operation from 1997 to 2011, when IRAC’s petition to the Supreme Court succeeded in making these lines illegal. These bus lines no longer exist, but we continue to handle cases of women who encounter discrimination on buses.

Menucha Nechona: Menucha Nechona, or Proper Rest, is a burial society established in 1986 with the aim of providing a civil burial option for those who do not wish to be buried in an Orthodox religious cemetery. IRAC represents Menucha Nechona Jerusalem in their work to establish a civil cemetery in Jerusalem.

Mikvah: A ritual bath that is used for conversions, and depending on personal traditions, for other occasions, including weddings and the end of menstruation. After 10 years of legal work, in 2016 the Supreme Court ruled that public mikvahs must be open to Reform and Conservative converts during the conversion process.

Mimouna: A Moroccan holiday celebrating the end of Passover. IRAC organized Mimouna celebrations in 2014 to facilitate opportunities for interaction between Jews and Arabs.

Ministry of the Interior: The Israeli government ministry that oversees local government, citizenship, residency, identity cards, and visas. IRAC interacts with and petitions this ministry most commonly on behalf of LACO clients.

Ministry of Justice: One of the key administrative ministries of the government of Israel. It functions to render justice and serve the public in the judicial sphere in accordance with government policy, while protecting the rule of law, human rights and the fundamental values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in which all are equal before the law.

Ministry of Labor: TThe Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social Services) is the branch of the Israeli government responsible for ensuring the welfare of the public in Israel through overseeing the supply of social services and matters related to employment. It gave monetary support for the Voluntary Code for Equality and Diversity in the Workplace.

Ministry of Religious Services: The Ministry for Religious Services provides religious services for the Jewish population in Israel. The activities include marriage registration and ceremonies, supervising the kosher regulations for religious buildings and synagogues, cemeteries and burials, and developing relations with Jews in diaspora. The ministry supervises the religious councils and Hevra Kadishas.

Modesty Signs: Signs often found on the streets of Haredi neighborhoods that aim to limit women’s freedom of dress and movement. IRAC has been successful in court against this practice multiple times, specifically against the Municipality of Bet Shemesh.

Mossawa Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel: Mossawa is Arabic for equality. This organization, which IRAC has partnered with on several occasions, was established in 1997 to promote the equal rights of Arabs in Israel.

Mufti: Responsible for the interpretation of Muslim law, and in Israel, for administering Islamic holy sites.

Na’ale: A high school program operated by the Jewish Agency that allows Diaspora students to complete their final years of high school in Israel, graduate with an Israeli high school diploma, and then receive citizenship and enlist in the army.

National Insurance Institute: Israel’s national social security agency. It collects health insurance and National Insurance contributions and provides state benefits. These cover disability pensions, parental allowances, old age pensions, income support, and burial expenses.

Nation-State Law: Israel’s’ most recent Basic Law, passed in 2018. This controversial law declares that Jewish Israelis have the sole claim to national self-determination in Israel and removes the status of Arabic as a national language. IRAC has and will continue to oppose and dismantle the law and the discrimination against minorities that it permits and to work toward amending the law to incorporate the principles of equality and democracy.

Neighborhood Rabbi: A neighborhood rabbi is a public servant working for their local religious council who gives religious services to residents of their neighborhood. The services the rabbi is meant to provide are not defined in any official capacity. In practice, they usually give religious classes, sermons, and provide religious counseling to those interested.

Otzma Yehudit: Meaning Jewish Power, Otzma Yehudit is a far-right political party in Israel. It was established as a descendant of the now-outlawed Kahanist Kach party. In the 2020 elections the party failed to reach the threshold (only getting 2% of the vote) to have any seats in the Knesset, in large part as a result of our work to delegitimize the party and its leaders. In 2021, however, they received one seat in Knesset as part of the Religious Zionist party that merged a Jewish Home, Otzma Yehudit, and Noam.

Oleh/Olim: Immigrant/s to Israel who make Aliyah within Israel's Law of Return and receive Israeli citizenship.

Panim: Panim, the Israeli-Judaism network, is the umbrella organization for progressive Jewish organizations in Israel. It services around 60 NGOs and communities, all of which are aiming for a more pluralistic Israeli society. “Panim aspires to build an Israeli-Jewish society blessed with an abundance of voices and colors, a society in which everyone is free to express as he wishes his sense of belonging to the Jewish People according to his own philosophy and conscience.”

Passover: Passover, or Pesach, commemorates the Jewish exodus from Egypt, in part by eating matzah and not eating leavened bread. In Israel it is celebrated for 7 days, and the first and last days are legal holidays.

Permanent Residency Status: Permanent Residency Status is awarded to those not eligible for aliyah, such as non-married non-Jewish partners of Jewish Israelis or family members of citizens who are not eligible for citizenship. Permanent residents receive the same social benefits as citizens, however are not allowed to vote in elections and their status can be revoked or changed in certain circumstances, including spending 7 or more days in one place outside of Israel.

Population and Immigration Authority: A government authority within the Ministry of the Interior that coordinates between various units that deal with the regulation of the legal status of citizens, residents, and foreigners. It also enforces laws regarding the residence and employment of immigrant and foreigners.

Prevention of Infiltration Law: A 1954 law that authorizes the Minister of Defense to deport an infiltrator before or after conviction. The amended version was used to hold asylum seekers in detention for long periods of time, often years. The Supreme Court ruled that these amendments were unconstitutional a number of times until acceptable formulation was reached. This law is still used against asylum seekers from Africa.

Price Tag Attacks: Vandalism, arson, and endangerment by extremist Jews targeting mosques, homes of Arab Israelis, IDF property, and other property belonging to the government, IDF, and Arabs. The phrase “price tag” is often included to imply that these attacks are the cost of terrorist attacks against Jewish Israelis and government action against settlements.

Purim: This holiday celebrates the survival of the Jews after King Achasverosh’s advisor, Haman, attempted to have all the Jews of Shushan/Persia killed. After a fast, Esther risked her life by going to see her husband and successfully saved the Jews. In Israel, the festival is celebrated with parades and costumes.

Racial Homogeneity: The idea of all citizens of a country being the same race or ethnicity.

Racism Crisis Center (RCC):  Established by IRAC and the Coalition Against Racism in Israel in 2017, RCC serves both victims of racism and those who wish to report hate crimes and discrimination they have witnessed. Providing services in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic, and English, the RCC operates a hotline, Facebook page, and email communications. For more information click here.

Renee Rabinowitz: An American-Israeli Holocaust survivor and lawyer. In 2017, with the help of IRAC lawyers, she successfully sued El Al after flight attendants pressured her to move seats at the request of a Haredi man. She passed away in May 2020.

Rosh Hashana: The Jewish New Year is a holiday revolving around sweetness for the year ahead.

Sephardic Jews: The term comes from the Hebrew word for Spain and refers to Jews originating mainly from the Iberian peninsula: Spain, Portugal, and areas like North Africa, to which many Jews from the Iberian peninsula fled in response to events like the Spanish Inquisition.

Supreme Court: The highest court in the Israeli Judicial system. It serves as an appellate court, hearing appeals of cases previously tried in Israel’s District Courts. It also serves as the High Court of Justice (Bagatz), ruling on the legality of decisions made by State authorities, including the constitutionality of laws passed by the Knesset. IRAC often turns to the Supreme Court in its role as the High Court of Justice and has had many victories overturning discriminatory legislation in the court.

Natan Sharansky: Natan Sharansky was born and later arrested in the Soviet Union. Immediately after his release, he made Aliyah. He is a human rights activist and politician who served in the Knesset on and off between 1996 and 2006. He was Chairman of the Jewish Agency from 2009 to 2018. IRAC worked with him towards a more egalitarian Western Wall. His efforts and initiative led to the Kotel Agreement in 2016.

Shavuot: This holiday celebrates receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and its popular traditions include eating dairy and studying all night.

Simchat Torah: The Jewish festival, occurring at the end of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, in which the cycle of reading from the Torah is completed.

Sukkot: 8 days in the Diaspora, 7 in Israel, this holiday recalls the booths in which the Israelites dwelled while in the desert for 40 years and is also considered the harvest festival.

The Standards Institute of Israel: A state-owned corporation responsible for setting standards for products and services in Israel. A partner in the creation of the Voluntary Code for Equality and Diversity in the Workplace.

Tallit: A Jewish prayer shawl. According to Jewish law, women are not required to wear a tallit, but many choose to. In religious sites controlled by the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate, especially at the Western Wall, women must fight for the right to wear a tallit.

Tikkun Olam: Means “repair the world” and is a key tenant of Reform and progressive Judaism. It is the idea that Jews bear responsibility for not only their own welfare, but also the welfare of the whole world.

Tisha B’av: The ninth day of the month of Av, a fast day in the Jewish calendar in which the destruction of the first and second Temples are mourned as a result of baseless hatred.

Torat HaMelech: Meaning "The King's Torah." This book, published in 2009, by Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira and Rabbi Yosef Elitzur, encourages Jews to murder non-Jews in order to prevent them from killing Jews. The Attorney General decided to indict Rabbi Elitzur in 2017 regarding two articles he published in 2016. He was convicted in 2021.

Tsnius/Tzniut: Means modesty. Often refers to the modest dress expected of women in ultra-Orthodox communities and areas consisting of long sleeves and long skirts. More extreme sects of Judaism have been known to harass women for not dressing modestly enough according to their standards. The concept of modesty, however, in more extreme settings goes beyond dress to include segregation and exclusion of women.

Union for Reform Judaism (URJ): The Union for Reform Judaism is one of IRAC’s American partner organizations, and it represents and works to strengthen the largest Jewish movement in North America. Current President, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, explains that “our Judaism is for everyone. It is egalitarian, intellectually rigorous, joyful, spiritual, pluralistic, and constantly evolving.”

Voluntary Code for Equality and Diversity in the Workplace: A voluntary ethical code created by IRAC with support from the Ministry of Labor and the Standards Institute of Israel. It includes guidelines to help companies implement provisions of anti-discrimination and equality laws, promoting diversity, and providing practical tools that can be used in the workplace.

Western Wall Agreement: The agreement first approved by the Israeli government in 2016 and then frozen in 2017 to build an egalitarian prayer space, Ezrat Yisrael, that is connected to the Western Wall in order to make Judaism's holiest site open and accessible to all Jews. This agreement includes plans to expand the existing platform, make it accessible and visible from the main plaza, and would include representation from the Reform and Conservative movements and Women of the Wall in the management of the site.

Western Wall Heritage Foundation: This organization is responsible for administering the Western Wall and is dominated by Orthodox Judaism.

Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ): Women of Reform Judaism, an affiliate of the URJ, is a global network of women’s groups or “sisterhoods” throughout America, Israel, and the world. This organization awarded Anat Hoffman the Dr. Jane Evans: Pursuit of Justice Award.

Women of the Wall: A multi-denominational organization fighting for a woman’s right to pray aloud, read from and carry Torah scrolls, and wear a tallit and tefillin at the Western Wall.

World Zionist Organization (WZO): The World Zionist Organization is an international organization that promotes Zionism that was originally founded by Theodore Herzl at the first Zionist Congress in 1897. The WZO continues to hold the World Zionist Congress, at which representatives of diverse Jewish communities from around the world gather. The organization considers one of its main goals to be encouraging Aliyah from the Diaspora to Israel, but also works to strengthen Israel and Zionism in other ways. ARZENU represents the Reform Movement in the World Zionist Congress.

Yad L’Achim: An Orthodox organization that opposes assimilation. It opposes intermarriage, claims to rescue Jewish women from abusive relationships with Arabs, and harasses Christian missionaries.

Yom Ha’atzmaut: Israel’s Independence Day. Known by Palestinian communities as the Nakba, which means disaster.

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Memorial Day, a national day of memorial and mourning that includes a nationwide siren.

Yom HaZikaron: Israel’s Memorial Day which starts with a siren that stops all activity, even driving, on which fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks are mourned and remembered. This day transitions to Yom Ha’atzmaut in a split second.

Yom Kippur: 10 days after Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, often referred to as the Day of Atonement, is considered the most serious day of the Jewish year, with a focus on fasting and repenting.