The Argentinian Jewish Women’s Network

The Argentinian Jewish Women’s Network – Red de Mujeres Judias Argentinas – was set up in 2010 and joined ICJW in 2015.

It has twelve full members who are all active volunteers in other institutions, so they are in contact with the rest of the Argentinian Jewish community. It is not a religious or political movement but they participate in the community as a Zionist and human rights organisation, especially dedicated to women’s needs and issues.

The organisation is self-funding with a monthly fee and uses its own human resources and materials, so as not to spend unnecessary money.

The Network’s goals are:

· Defending democracy and equality
· Working against discrimination, injustice, gender violence and anti-Semitism
· Promoting women’s health
· Defending Israel’s existence
· Combating fanaticism
· Working to prevent the disappearance of native peoples
· Perpetuating the memory of the first Jewish colonies in Argentina.

To achieve these goals, the Argentinian Jewish Women’s Network organises monthly events where journalists, writers, filmmakers, politicians, senators, scientists, philosophers are invited to deliver lectures. They also organise seminars to learn about the work of important musicians and painters, mainly those who are involved with Jewish life and women’s issues.

One of their priorities is the defence of women’s health, so the Network organises workshops and debates on subjects such as breast cancer. Every March they organise a major event for International Women’s Day – to date 3,000 people have participated in these events. They have taken part in interfaith events and demonstrations against femicide.

The Network publishes an online magazine which is distributed three times a month to 14,000 people, mainly in Argentina, Israel, Uruguay and Spain. It contains social, cultural, and Jewish articles on diverse topics such as the dignity of life in old people, sexuality, abortion, forgiveness, the growth of anti-Semitism in the world, phobias and depressions, assisted reproduction, bullying, the Shoah and the cruelty of Nazism.

In the pursuit of their goals, the Network works with other local institutions such as B’nai B’rith, AMIJAI, Hacoaj, DAIA, Hebraica, the Holocaust Museum, and the Mexican and Canadian Embassies.