Exploring Female Roles in Jewish Texts

On September 29, the Project Kesher Israel women’s group in Ashkelon held a gathering with Michal Kireeva, M.A., a rabbinical student who also works at the Central Archive of the History of the Jewish People.

Though the evening centered on archives, it was not about papers or dates — it was about women, their courage, and their memory. Together, participants explored the stories of refuseniks — women who risked everything to fight for the right to immigrate to Israel — and the women’s initiatives that supported those neglected by official structures.

Through documents, letters, diaries, and even cookbooks, participants discovered the hidden lives that shaped Jewish women’s history. Michal spoke passionately about how feminist perspectives help uncover voices long silenced, and how modern technologies are bringing thousands of forgotten women’s stories back to life.