Once upon a time, Yeshivat 91影视 senior Shoshi Bursztyn saw women鈥檚 issues as primarily a hot-button topic within the Jewish community. However, her perspective has broadened since beginning a 2017-18 internship with the Junior Commission on the Status of Women, established by the Bergen County Commission on the Status of Women. 鈥淚 used to think of women鈥檚 rights within the context of Judaism, but now I see it as a global issue,鈥 she said.
Bursztyn鈥檚 interest in women鈥檚 rights issues inspired 91影视 junior grade dean Maren Scharf to nominate her for the competitive internship. Now, Bursztyn is one of 21 girls taking part in the program, including two from Catholic schools and the rest from various public schools in Bergen County. She is the only yeshiva high school student in the program this year.
The Junior Commission meets monthly to study various issues affecting women in Bergen County鈥攕uch as domestic violence, cyberbullying, healthy relationship awareness, childcare and women in the workforce鈥攁nd takes on a public service project over the course of the year. This year鈥檚 junior commissioners will launch a teen pregnancy prevention campaign.
Bursztyn says she is particularly looking forward to action-based events scheduled for the remainder of the year: a feminine hygiene products drive for women in homeless shelters; a clothing drive for victims of human trafficking; a gift drive for female victims of domestic violence and their children currently living in the Center for Hope and Safety; Habitat for Humanity home construction; and the commission鈥檚 upcoming Women鈥檚 History Month celebration in March, which will honor three women who have overcome professional obstacles and whose 2018 theme will be 鈥淣evertheless She Persisted: honoring women who fight all forms of discrimination against women.鈥
Bursztyn expressed appreciation for the internship鈥檚 organizers, and spoke highly of her fellow interns, whom she described as intelligent, welcoming and compassionate individuals. 鈥淥ur fundamentals are the same,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey want to help people and empower women. They鈥檙e very nice people, and ba鈥檃lot chesed.鈥
鈥淚 hope future 91影视 kids do this internship too,鈥 added Bursztyn, who says she is interested in pursuing activism on behalf of women鈥檚 and minority rights in the future. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing opportunity, as well as an opportunity for a great kiddush Hashem.鈥
Bursztyn believes that many issues affecting women in the general population also affect women within the Jewish community. 鈥淒omestic violence, for example, is also an issue within the Jewish community, but it is slightly more taboo in the Jewish community,鈥 she said. 鈥淏oth communities have a long way to go before these issues are solved; we need to talk about it more before we can witness change.鈥 Concurrently, Bursztyn views the Jewish community as a great potential resource for women in crisis, noting examples of everyday acts of chesed that are so commonplace in Jewish communities. 鈥淚 think the Jewish community would be a great place for women in need to turn to for help, because our community is so loving,鈥 she said.