‘Gender Equality’ pilot scheme to help Jewish women attain senior posts

A pilot scheme to help Jewish women reach the top of organisations this week launched in three communal organisations as leaders admitted they were making “slow progress” towards equality.

World Jewish Relief, the Jewish Community Housing Association (jLiving) and Masorti Judaism are trialling the Gender Equality Plan, which includes revised recruitment processes, flexible working and personal development to help Jewish women attain senior positions.

The Women in Jewish Leadership (WJL) initiative comes at a time of increasing anger at a lack of change, the group this week saying: “Progress towards equality has been slow.”

It follows a high-profile meeting between Jewish communal leaders and Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street last month, at which Board of Deputies chief executive Gillian Merron was the lone female representative.

“Shame only one woman in @JLC_uk with PM,” the group tweeted at the time. “Reminds us again why change is needed.”

WJR chief executive Paul Anticoni said: “Jewish women are amongst this country’s highest educational and professional achievers, yet there remains a stark gender imbalance at the top of communal organisations… We can and must do more.”