Why Jewish women must lead
In the face of such unimaginable suffering, the international outcry has been muted.
The return of the Bibas family, particularly the separation of the children from their mother, Shiri, has sparked outrage and devastation among Jewish communities worldwide.
As if we weren’t quite shattered enough.
This is not just a personal tragedy, but an emblematic moment in the broader struggle for moral clarity when it comes to confronting evil in all its forms.
As the situation unfolds, it is distressing to see the glaring lack of response, particularly from women’s organizations and feminist movements that claim to champion human rights for all
In the face of such unimaginable suffering, the international outcry has been muted.
Where is the condemnation from women’s rights groups?
Where are the voices of solidarity with Jewish women whose very identities are being targeted?
Why are the cries of Jewish women and girls overlooked and dismissed?
There is no denying the scale of suffering around the world, but this tragedy speaks to the painful reality that Jewish pain is often relegated to the periphery of global discourse, if recognised at all.
Feminism, at its core, is supposed to stand for the rights of all women, the universal principle of justice for all women, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or nationality.
Yet the feminist movement has become so narrowed and alienated from the experiences of Jewish women, choosing silence when their voices need to be heard the most.
The failure to condemn and scream in outrage reflects this very disturbing shift in the feminist movement from one of inclusion to exclusion.
Are we surprised? Hardly.
It took but five months for the UN to release a report confirming the use of sexual violence during the October 7 atrocities.
Sheryl Sandberg had to make a film, Screams before Silence, to ensure the systematic targeting of civilian Jewish women and the ensuing sexual violence was witnessed and heard.
Me too, they said.
Believe her, they said… unless you’re a Jew.
The absence of a robust outcry from women’s organizations to the plight of Shiri Bibas was yet another wake-up call.
Jewish women have always been at the forefront of struggle for social justice, and it is time we reclaim that mantle in the fight for a moral, inclusive, and global feminism that sees no borders, no divisions, and no exclusions.
Together we must rise above the silence and double down on our commitment to a feminism that is truly inclusive—one that stands firm in its commitment to the betterment of all women and girls.
As we approach International Women’s Day 2025, we know that many of us feel apprehensive about our place in and the meaning of this day.
In recent direct communication with the leadership at UN Women Australia, we expressed our concern regarding their choice of keynote speaker, Mary Robinson, at its upcoming IWD event.
Those concerns were dismissed, the metrics and significance of UN Women’s statements condemning Hamas (too little too late) we’re regurgitated in a somewhat revisionist version of history.
However, we chose to interpret this lack of historical knowledge at best, antisemitism and exclusionary feminism at worst, we have an enormous task in educating, mobilizing and advocating to redefine this devastatingly misshapen landscape of the global women’s movement.
As the President of an organisation committed to empowering women and girls, I encourage all of us to stand together, keep fighting the good fight in whatever forms you can, and rebuild a feminist movement that represents everyone, without exception.
This international Women’s Day, please join us together with all our sister organisations in Victoria to be inspired by some of the brave and tenacious achievements and resilience of our community.
Let’s channel our anger, tears and frustration into capacity building for the future
Anna Serry is the President of NCJWA Victoria
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