Marcia Freedman
Marcia Freedman | |
---|---|
Faction represented in the Knesset | |
1974–1975 | Ratz |
1975–1976 | Ya'ad – Civil Rights Movement |
1976–1977 | Independent Socialist Faction |
Personal details | |
Born | Marcia Judith Prince May 17, 1938 South Berkeley, California , US |
Spouse |
Bill Freedman
(m. 1961; div. 1975) |
Children | 1 daughter |
Alma mater | New York University |
Marcia Judith Freedman (
Biography
Born in to a Jewish family in
In 1973, the feminist movement decided to support Shulamit Aloni's Ratz (the Civil Rights Movement), and Freedman was given third place on the Ratz slate. She caught Shulamit Aloni's attention based on her passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for the movement.[4] Aloni asked Freedman to be the third seat on the party.[4] The party won three seats in the 1973 Israeli legislative election, and Freedman became a member of the Knesset. Ratz soon merged into Ya'ad – Civil Rights Movement, but Freedman and Aryeh Eliav broke away to form the Social-Democratic Faction (later renamed the Independent Socialist Faction). Freedman served in the Knesset from 1974 to 1977.[3] She became a strong advocate for Gay Rights movements because she came out as a lesbian to her daughter and her daughter started to isolate from her.[3]
Prior to the
Freedman helped create an advocacy and support network for women in Israel. She was a co-founder, together with Barbara Swersky and others of Israel's first shelter for battered women, established in 1977 in Haifa. Freedman left Israel and returned to the United States in 1981. She again lived in Israel from 1997 to 2002, and founded the Community of Learning Women, which provided education in women's studies and computer literacy.[5][6][7]
Freedman wrote an article titled "Feminist Publishing in Israel" for the Women's Studies Newsletter in 1980. She spoke about different bookstores involving feminist books in Hebrew and the six publishers that allows feminist works to be published. She also spoke about how few books on feminism were originally written in Hebrew and the minimal efforts there were to publish feminist writings.[8]
Freedman wrote a memoir entitled, Exile in the Promised Land, and was dedicated to her father. She stated on the dedication page, "whose example I have largely followed." She was also the author of many articles and reviews.[5]
Freedman was the founding president of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom,[5][6] a pro-Israel and pro-peace organization which merged into J Street in 2010.[1][9] She was also a past president of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.[5]
She was married to Bill Freedman in 1961 and the marriage ended in 1975; they had one daughter. Freedman died on September 21, 2021, at the age of 83.[1][9][10] As of 2021, she remains the only openly lesbian woman to have served in the Knesset.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Seelye, Katharine Q. (October 2, 2021). "Marcia Freedman, First American Woman in Knesset, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Bio". www.knesset.gov.il. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ ProQuest 204301214– via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d e "Marcia Freedman – American-Jewish Peace Archive (1967–2017)". ajpeacearchive.org. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Marcia Freedman". Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ a b "Marcia Freedman". Famous GLTB People. Matt & Andrej Koymasky. June 16, 2004. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
- ^ "The American Jewish woman who brought feminism to Israel - Haaretz - Israel News". Haaretz.com. April 22, 2020. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- JSTOR 40042475.
- ^ a b c Bachner, Michael (September 23, 2021). "US-born ex-MK Marcia Freedman, a pioneer of Israeli women's rights, dies at 83". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ Zaig, Gadi (September 23, 2021). "Former Knesset MK Marcia Freedman passes away at 83". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
Further reading
- Amann, Paula (March 23, 2001). "Women's studies degree program taking shape at Tel Aviv University". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- Brozman, Suzi (October 20, 2005). "15 Minutes with Marcia Freedman". The Atlanta Jewish Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- Derfner, Larry (October 11, 2002). "Openly gay Knesset member ripples the establishment". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- Groves, Sharon (September 22, 2002). "Interview with Marcia Freedman". Feminist Studies. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- Irvine, Alex (March 12, 2004). "At Home and Abroad". The Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- Kelley, Elaine (January–February 2005). "Brit Tzedek's Marcia Freedman Discusses Role of American Jewish Community". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. pp. 49, 51. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
- Scherr, Judith (January 23, 2007). "Pro-Israel Peace Activist Speaks in Piedmont". Berkeley Daily Planet. Retrieved February 15, 2008.
External links
- Marcia Freedman papers held by Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections at Brandeis University
- Digital exhibit on the Marcia Freedman papers held by Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections at Brandeis University
- Brit Tzedek v'Shalom legacy website
- Memorial for Marcia Freedman Sinai Memorial Chapel, San Francisco