Welcome

Welcome to JFS School's official Blog. This is our third year of the blog and represents a chance for our new team of intrepid student journalists to write what's on their minds. The Autumn term’s blog theme focuses on “Inspiration” - so stay tuned for some fantastic creative writing.


Thursday 31 October 2013

INSPIRATION: A Jewish Role Model


 
In defiance of expectations of subservience and to marry young, Golda Meir ran away from home at the age of just 14 simply to be educated.  Her commitment to Zionism was persistent and maintained even when having to take up several jobs to independently sustain herself, eventually being one of two women to sign the Israeli Declaration of Independence in Israel. After various leading positions in the Knesset and enduring lymphoma which ailed her for many years, Meir became the first female Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, 10 years before the esteemed Margaret Thatcher.  Her premiership as one of the only female leaders in the Middle East is inspirational and undoubtedly her position promoted the elevation and advancement of women’s status in the public sphere at that time and today. Regardless of Meir being blamed for Israel’s lack of preparation in the Yom Kippur War, it is clear that she was a strong and charismatic leader as she was re-elected as Prime Minister by her people. Meir was often described as the ‘Iron Lady’, years before the phrase was associated with Thatcher, and is said to have been “the only man in my cabinet” by Ben Gurion. Her paramount influence in paving the way for future female leaders, to me, is just one outcome of her fearlessness and commitment to her beliefs, without which she would not have reached her position, but is also only one reason why she is my Jewish role model. As well as her political significance, Golda Meir was able to challenge and defeat the stereotypical views of a Jewish woman’s role extending no further than housewife and mother.