In response to the atrocities committed against women and girls in Israel, I am proud to announce that Women of Vision of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is awarding a special one-time grant of $30,000 to the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children (“Civil Commission”).

In a world of silence and denial – most notably by leading women’s rights organizations – this grant is a statement that we stand with Israel and the victims of October 7 and we will continue to speak out about the systematic and deliberate gender and sexual-based violence that Hamas committed. 

This grant was made in commemoration of Women of Vision’s 30th anniversary through an anonymous donation, separate from the Women of Vision Endowment Fund. The Civil Commission was selected to receive this generous gift after a thorough vetting process by a small group of Women of Vision leaders. This award will support the Civil Commission’s work to research and document the war crimes, which will be used to advocate for justice on the international stage, combat widespread disinformation, and redesign international human rights mechanisms and decision-making processes to better protect the innocent – especially for women and children.

Women of Vision is proud to support this work as part of its ongoing mission to impact the lives of self-identifying Jewish women and girls in Greater Philadelphia and in Israel. 

Since October 7, Women of Vision has been and continues to be a voice for our sisters in Israel by supporting our grantees, denouncing the United Nation’s negligent response to gender-based violence committed by Hamas, and sharing resources and information as part of an international network of Jewish women’s groups.

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Women of Vision impacts the lives of self-identifying Jewish women and girls across generations and geographic boundaries through strategic grantmaking, advocacy and educational programs leading to social change and social justice. Learn more about Women of Vision by visiting jewishphilly.org/wov or by contacting Shara Swift, Women of Vision and Campaign Pipeline Director, at sswift@jewishphilly.org.