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That Was Then, This Is Now

11 October 2013

By Norma Kipnis Wilson, October 2013

As a little girl I believed that I could do anything that the boys could do, and I did. Particularly in sports. As I grew up I realized the limitations for girls were not self inflicted, but were very real in everyday life in society. Change was necessary. What could I do?

A wife and mother of five, it became important that my participation in what was called “women’s lib” was something I would do from home. My children marched with me on important women’s issues and we have come a long way.

As an adult I have been very active in Jewish life and particularly in Greater Miami Jewish Federation and support of Israel. I have been distressed over Israel’s treatment of women. It is high time that the women of Israel take their place among the men and not allow the ultra-Orthodox community to hold them hostage.

Perhaps we need to do a better job of informing American women of the status of women in Israel. I never knew that they had to sit in the back of the bus until recently. As the cofounder of the Lion of Judah Society which has 17,500 members from all over the world, I would like to suggest that in some way women’s rights becomes a project for ALL women through all women’s philanthropies.

Norma Kipnis Wilson, co founder of the Lion of Judah Society, Board member Greater Miami Jewish Federation (life member), Board member Americans for Immigrant Justice, Board member(retired) University of Miami, Board Member (retired) Jackson Hospital Foundation.

 

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