Dear JWF Community:  

We are pleased to share the Advocacy Committee's July update, highlighting JWF grantees and the issues that impact Jewish women and girls. A lot is happening in the world at the moment, so please follow us on Facebook for more frequent updates. If you know someone who may be interested in this newsletter, we encourage you to click the Forward, Share, or Tweet button above to help spread the word!

In response to recent decisions by the Israeli government regarding an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall, JUF President Dr. Steven B. Nasatir and Chairman Michael H. Zaransky released a statement. A relevant article written by Lesley Sachs, Executive Director of Women of the Wall, is also included in the "Global Issues" section below.

Mazel tov to JWF Grantee ATZUM, whose Task Force on Human Trafficking (TFHT) has successfully introduced a three-part bill to the Knesset to assist victims and re-frame society's perception of prostitution. The bill includes three parts: the prohibition of the criminal consumption of prostitution; rehabilitation and assistance for prostituted persons; and the establishment of a national authority to combat prostitution and assist its victims, including a public awareness campaign to strengthen the law's impact. The bill still needs to advance through the government before being signed into law so stay tuned! Read ATZUM's announcement here (scroll down for the English version).

JCAST is holding a community conversation on July 27, 2017 at 5:30pm to discuss numerous recent cases of sex trafficking in and around Chicago (for example: case 1, case 2). To RSVP or to learn more, please contact gayle@jcastchicago.org.

As always, please feel free to pass along any content you would like us to share with our community of trustees, grantees, and partners. We love to hear from you!

Fondly,
Sue Rifas, Advocacy Committee Chair
Mary Thomas, Program Associate