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| Captain Nechama Spiegel (Arutz Sheva) |
I’m sure many in that world would not only deny this but
might even consider such a comment outrageous - bordering on heresy.
To be fair, feminism in its current form does promote an agenda which I, too, oppose. One that strongly contradicts traditional Jewish values,
But there is no question that their primary source of income
today would not exist without the early successes of the feminist movement. Something
I’ve supported in its original form from the very beginning.
I would add that the goal of ‘equal pay for equal work’ has
still not been fully achieved. I therefore urge the feminist movement to keep
fighting for that principle.
An interesting example of the success of feminism - and of how the Charedi world has benefited from it - happened just this morning. As reported in the Arutz Sheva:
El Al operated the first repatriation flight this morning (Wednesday) from Larnaca to Israel, led by Haredi captain Nechama Spiegel from Beit Shemesh. The flight landed in Israel in the morning hours as part of the Ministry of Transportation’s plan to return Israelis who were stranded abroad following the suspension of flights during Operation Rising Lion.
Spiegel, a mother of seven and the first Haredi captain in El Al, made the flight as part of a series of flights approved by the government.
A mother of seven. Wow.
Those who say that Charedim do not contribute to Israel’s
economy are thus proven wrong. What the Charedi world does not do is
encourage its men to contribute. Preferring instead to keep them in
Kollel while their wives ‘bring home the (kosher) bacon’.
Of course, in today’s developed world economy, it usually
takes two incomes to sustain a decent middle-class lifestyle. The Charedi world
comes up woefully short in that department. But to say they don’t contribute at
all is simply false. They do - through their women, and through the men who
eventually join the workforce later in life.
The point here, though, is not primarily about economic
contribution. It is about the lack of recognition that Charedi leadership gives
to the feminist movement - a phenomenon founded and advanced by people
completely outside the Torah world. And yet, without it, they would not be able
to live the lifestyle they have chosen: one of full-time Torah study for men,
supported by women who gladly shoulder the role of primary breadwinner, often
through pursuing higher education and professional careers.
This is not the first time I’ve spoken about the remarkable
Nechama Spiegel. I shared similar thoughts when I first learned of the unusual
occurrence of a female Charedi pilot. What’s particularly interesting to me is
that her mother and my wife were classmates and friends at the Beis Yaakov
School of Detroit. And as it turns out, Nechama is also my son-in-law’s cousin.
So even though we’ve never met - and she likely has no idea
who I am - I’m proud to have any connection at all to the first Charedi female
commercial pilot in Israel’s history. A woman who just flew an El Al
repatriation flight under some of the most dangerous flight conditions in the
country’s history.
Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel. Some of which are
getting through and hitting random targets. Ben Gurion Airport is surely within
range, and would be a valuable prize to them if it or one of its commercial
aircraft were hit. That is why the airport is currently closed to all
commercial traffic.
May God bless Nechama Spiegel and keep her safe throughout Israel’s holy mission.