Marcia Freedman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marcia Freedman | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 May 1938 |
| Place of birth | Newark, United States |
| Year of Aliyah | 1967 |
| Knesset(s) | 8th |
| Party | Independent Socialist Faction |
| Former parties | Ya'ad – Civil Rights Movement Ratz |
Marcia Freedman (Hebrew: מרשה פרידמן, born 17 May 1938) is an Israeli-American activist on behalf of peace, women's rights, and gay rights. In the early 1970s she helped create and lead the feminist movement in Israel. Freedman was the founding president of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom and a past president of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Born in Newark in the United States, Freedman was active in the American Civil Rights Movement between 1960 and 1967. In 1967 she immigrated to Israel, and soon became involved in activism and politics. She helped found the Israeli feminist Movement in 1971, and became involved in the Independent Socialists Movement in 1972.
In 1973 she joined Shulamit Aloni's Ratz (the Civil Rights Movement), and was elected to the Knesset in the 1973 elections. Ratz soon merged into Ya'ad – Civil Rights Movement, but Freedman and Aryeh Eliav broke away to form the Social-Democratic Faction (later renamed the Independent Socialist Faction).
Prior to the 1977 elections Freedman formed her own party, the Women's Party.[1] However, the party failed to cross the 1% electoral threshold and Freedman lost her seat. While a member of the Knesset, she was outspoken on women's issues and brought to public attention issues that had never been discussed publicly in Israel, including domestic violence, breast cancer, rape, incest, and teenage prostitution.
Freedman helped create a support network for women in Israel. She was a co-founder of Israel's first shelter for battered women, established in 1977 in Haifa. Freedman founded the Community School for Women, which provides education in women's studies and economic empowerment.[1][2] She returned to the United States in 1981.
Freedman has written a memoir, Exile in the Promised Land. She is also the author of many articles and reviews.[1]
As of April 2008, Freedman is a member of J Street's Advisory Council.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Marcia Freedman. Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
- ^ a b Marcia Freedman. Famous GLTB People. Matt & Andrej Koymasky (June 16, 2004). Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
[edit] Further reading
- Amann, Paula (March 23, 2001). Women's studies degree program taking shape at Tel Aviv University. j.. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- Brozman, Suzi (October 20, 2005). 15 Minutes with Marcia Freedman. The Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- Derfner, Larry (October 11, 2002). Openly gay Knesset member ripples the establishment. j.. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- Groves, Sharon (22 September 2002). Interview with Marcia Freedman. Feminist Studies. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- Irvine, Alex (March 12–18 2004). At Home and Abroad. The Portland Phoenix. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- Kelley, Elaine (January/February 2005). Brit Tzedek's Marcia Freedman Discusses Role of American Jewish Community. Washington Report on Middle East Affairs 49, 51. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- Scherr, Judith (2007-01-23). Pro-Israel Peace Activist Speaks in Piedmont. Berkeley Daily Planet. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
[edit] External links
- Marcia Freedman Knesset website (English)
