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This study examined activist women in religious society in Israel in order to gain in-depth insights into their lived experience and coping strategies in advocating for change in their society. The article is based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with fourteen such women. Contrary to the expectation that there would be a dominant mother figure influencing the activists' lives, the findings show that the influence of mothers was marginal and even an impeding factor, while father figures were the most significant in these women's childhood and development into activists. All religious activists perceived their fathers as highly influential, in three contexts: the father as a pioneer, the father as an extraordinary figure, and a strong attachment to the father. Based on these findings, we believe it is important to involve and integrate men in programs that act to promote and empower religious women in Israeli society on both the political and occupational level. Keywords: Israel, Women activists, Social change, Father figures, Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox women, Religious Activists in the Israeli Sociocultural Space The recent decade has seen the emergence of religious women who are active for social change and have gained public and political visibility [...]

This article is based on the life stories of 14 religious activist women in Israel. It aims to understand the extent to which these women's stories and their childhood and maturation experiences shaped their activist identity. In this qualitative, critical-feminist study, the women activists' life stories were examined using semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that personal or social events perceived as significant in the women's lives as children and adolescents acted as catalysts for activism. These events were central to their personal narratives and became embedded in the women's activist identity, as they came to perceive activism as the most 'natural' response to life challenges. Specifically, two types of events were identified: events in the individual-family-community sphere and events in the public-national sphere. They affected the interviewees and led them to act, whether out of antagonism and anger at a perceived injustice, or out of a sense of power and constructive thought. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the new and unique phenomenon of religious women who, despite being educated to accept and comply with the conventions of a patriarchal society, choose to make their voice heard and lead sociocultural changes in public spaces. The findings emphasize the personal-political nexus and provide insight into the activists' motives for fighting for their values and for committing to long-term activity in the public sphere--despite considerable personal costs. Keywords: Women activists, Personal narrative, Life story, Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox women in Israel., Introduction This study examines how religious women's personal narratives have shaped their lives as activists. To do so, we have interviewed Jewish Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox women living in Israel who [...]

The current study examines the challenges and coping of Arab women employed as child caretakers in kibbutz kindergartens in Israel. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with Arab caretakers. Three themes were identified: (1) Self-perception as secular Israelis versus a combined Muslim-Arab one Israeli-civic identity; (2) The families' reaction to their decision to work in a kibbutz and to their adoption of Western and kibbutz norms that clash with traditional Arab ones; (3) Conditional acceptance by Jewish kibbutz society. The main recommendations following this study are to create a training model that would include both the Arab caretakers and other staff members in the kibbutz education system to heighten their awareness of these issues. In addition, since the entry of Arab women caretakers into the Jewish-Israeli early childhood education system is a growing trend, it is important to raise awareness in Israeli society of the complex issues raised by this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines Jewish women's activism in Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox society in Israel. In order to gain an in-depth perspective on their experience and coping in leading change processes in their society, it focuses on strategies and tactics they use in the course of their activism and on what motivates them or constraints their choices. Informed by thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with fourteen activists, the findings indicate that they walk between raindrops, making judicious and carefully planned use of a variety of strategies and tactics, of both consensus and confrontation, to promote their aims. Together with their protest against injustices in their society and attempts to redress them, they observe the norms of the religious world and avoid crossing "red lines," as they put it. Combined, their complex combination of strict observance of religious and social conventions and their feminist outlook are their way of overcoming obstacles and achieving desirable change. This study sheds light on the phenomenon of women activism in patriarchal societies, and in particular, on how social change can be pursued by women even in extremely traditional societies with strict behavioral norms, in Israel and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes and evaluates an innovative experiment in education and training of social workers at an academic learning center, which was established by the Hebrew University's School of Social Work and Social Welfare in a neighborhood of Jerusalem. The project focused on strengthening the link between theory, research, and practice. Participants were exposed to advanced theories and macropractice seminars, and gained practical experience as well as tools and technologies for coping with the social problems faced by Jerusalem neighborhoods. In that process, they became aware of the difficulties involved in initiating programs and in establishing coalitions with neighborhood institutions, residents, and other constituencies. The article deals with the achievements of the learning center, as well as with the difficulties and dilemmas encountered in the effort to sustain collaboration between the university and the community. In addition, issues related to supervision of students specializing in community work and practice, and implications for social work education are presented and discussed.

Recent decades have witnessed an increasing trend towards the development of critical approaches to the study of poverty, which call upon social workers to perceive people living in poverty as active agents who resist their condition. Relatively few studies, however, have examined how women living in poverty, who embody collective-political agency, experience the encounter with the welfare services, and how their manner of organisation is shaped by this encounter. This study examines this issue based on fifteen semi-structured interviews with mothers in need of public housing in Israel who are activists in protest groups against the public housing policy. The findings reveal that the encounter with welfare services generated feelings of othering due to the meanings attributed to their homelessness and to the nature of their mothering. Conversely, activism was perceived as a practice for challenging, redesigning and reducing power relations with the welfare agencies. The findings also show that the encounter shaped the participants' manners of activist mobilisation. The study contributes to the research literature on social work with women who live in poverty, by highlighting the important role of women's activism within the encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study deals with the encounters of Arab social work students who are citizens of Israel, with Palestinian clients from East Jerusalem. The study was based on interviews with social work students who carried out their field work in East Jerusalem. This article discusses a special kind of transcultural practice in social work on the basis of a case study analysis of the dynamics and strategies reported by 15 Arab Israeli citizens students regarding their practice with Palestinian Arabs from East Jerusalem. Findings: The findings indicate two themes: (1) The encounters aroused inner-personal conflicts regarding the students' identity. (2) The students noted the importance of creating a dialogue with the clients as a way of coping with the difficulties entailed by their work. Applications: This case study calls attention to the importance of embracing a transcultural perspective in practice theory. A transcultural perspective needs to go beyond the conceptualization of culture and ethnicity to include other relevant contextual variables such as structural factors, power relations, and an understanding of the political context. In addition, academic institutions need to develop culturally sensitive training programs while creating a safe space to discuss cultural challenges and while clarifying different identities faced by social work students from minority groups who share similar backgrounds with their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deepen the understanding of how social enterprises manage the tension between considerations of profit and well-being, the organizations were examined through theories from the field of organizational culture. In this article, research findings that indicate the unique characteristics of the organizational culture in WISE organizations are presented. The findings elicit two organizational models that depict the interface between the business and social orientations. Additionally, a model was developed to present parameters that support a hybrid organizational culture, which include: the vision of the entrepreneur, a hybrid staff, complementary practices, interorganizational relationships, and characteristics of a 'learning organization'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Summary: The article attempts to characterize social work students in higher education institutes in Israel, regarding professional socialization and the development of commitment to the profession during their BA (undergraduate) studies, lasting three years. This longitudinal study included a sample of 450 students in four social work schools. Data was gathered throughout four time periods: during the first two weeks of the academic year and at the end of each academic year. • Findings: Students, during the first academic year, harbor certain misconceptions about the profession, leading to a sharp decrease in their commitment to the profession. However, it seems that supervisors, teachers and decisionmakers in social work schools somehow manage to bring the fantasies entertained by students at the beginning of their studies into line with reality, leading to both higher and stronger commitment to the profession by the time they complete their BA degree. • Applications: The article discusses the findings and their implications on the social work profession, in general, and on social work training, in particular, regarding the development of commitment to the profession over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to present the impact of the Arab-Israeli culture on the therapeutic encounter between women social workers with fathers in Arab parent-child centers in Israel. The research was qualitative, and was based on in-depth interviews with 15 Arab women social workers employed in nine parent-child centers, where they treat Arab fathers. Findings: The social workers' perceptions about the fathers' perceptions of the therapeutic encounter has an impact on the professional encounter. In some cases, these perceptions were a hindrance to the treatment and necessitated work to help the father overcome these perceptions and to reduce his potential resistance to the treatment. In other cases, the social workers' perceptions about the fathers' perceptions advanced the treatment. A supportive attitude toward the treatment meant a better starting point, which was reflected throughout the therapeutic process, when the father believed in the treatment and accepted the idea of asking for help. Application: The study findings show the importance of the social workers' awareness of the fathers' cultural stance, as well as of the similarities and differences between their own cultural perceptions and that of the fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]