In the past I have done whole blog posts with photos of Arab girls and women in honor of International Women’s Day.

But this year, I would like to feature just one.

image Arab girl

This young woman was raised in the Israeli Arab town of Baka Al-Gharbiyah, the youngest of 9 children and the first in her family to graduate high school and university. Her parents do not read or write, but she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English literature from Hebrew University and is working on a Master’s Degree.

She was surprised when I recognized her guiding a VIP tour in the Knesset.

But, Rashsa Athamni’s story as the first Israeli selected to represent Israel as a youth delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, during the 69th session in 2014 was impressive.

Women serve in the Knesset. One day she could join them, seated in the chamber and not just pointing out highlights and history. but making history.

4 thoughts on “International Women’s Day Photo”

  1. Not connected with your post, but –

    Why do they recognize IWD in Israel? No-one does in the US, since people don’t warm up to the UN. Since the UN practically exists now to destroy Israel, why pay attention to it?

    Actually, it’s like Mother’s Day (originally a memorial service) became in the US. They want to sell Jewelry, so they make up these holidays – IWD and the Christian holiday and even Tu B’av, that they morphed into some sort of “Love Day”, which it certainly was not when the revolt against Rome and the great Jewish civil war started the day after, as Josephus tells.

    I don’t need some ad campaign to give my wife a present.

    1. I am not sure, but Israelis seem to like to celebrate, they love holidays. After so many days of Purim, I am worn out, but IWD seems to be gaining attention each year. Was hard to believe, but saw men on the streets tonight dressed in costumes, either that or there were Zombies roaming around.

      1. Three day Purim (went to Jerusalem Friday); that was fun. My cousins in Ramot actually do both days; kind of exhausting for the wife; making two meals and Shabbos in addition to needing to hear the Megillah four times. My wife is in Washington, and she was totally snowed in.

        They do it to sell jewelry, and I for one am not buying. (Well, I do buy jewelry, but not when they tell me to.) I wonder how many people know that the full text is “there were no holidays for Israel like Tu b’av AND YOM KIPPUR, for on those days the daughters of Israel…”.

  2. Is this Israeli Arab young woman pro-Israel? You listed all of her accomplishments that she achieved only because she is lucky enough to live in Israel, but does she acknowledge that fact or hate Israel for it? Your bio didn’t say.

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