Anat Hoffman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anat Hoffman
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| Born |
Anat Weiss
April 2, 1954 |
| Education | UCLA in Los Angeles (BA in Psychology, 1980) |
| Alma mater | UCLA |
| Occupation | Executive Director, Israel Religious Action Center |
| Known for | Social activism |
Anat Hoffman (Hebrew: ענת הופמן) was born on April 2, 1954. She is an Israeli activist known for her work promoting equality and religious freedom. She used to be the executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). She is also a leader and a founding member of Women of the Wall, a group that works for women's rights at the Western Wall. Hoffman also served as a member of the Jerusalem City Council for many years.
In 2013, the newspaper Haaretz called her "Person of the Year." Another newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, listed her as one of the 50 most influential Jewish people. They noted her success in bringing attention to women's rights at the Kotel (Western Wall) around the world.
Early Life and Education
Anat Hoffman was born in Haifa, Israel, in 1954. Her mother, Varda Blechman, was the first child born at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. Her father, Charles Weiss, was an American who worked as a reporter for Voice of America in Israel.
Anat was a talented swimmer when she was younger. Between 1967 and 1973, she was one of the best female swimmers in Israel. In 1972, she won seven medals, including four gold medals, at the Israeli national championships. She also won two silver medals in the 1973 Maccabia Games, which are like the Olympics for Jewish athletes.
After serving in the Israel Defense Forces, she moved to the United States to study. She graduated from UCLA in 1980 with a degree in Psychology. While at UCLA, she learned about Reform Judaism. This helped her understand that there were different ways to practice Judaism, not just the Orthodox way she knew. She later continued her studies at Bar Ilan University in Israel.
Activism and Advocacy
When Anat Hoffman returned to Israel, she became a strong advocate for religious freedom and different ways of practicing Judaism. She helped start Kol HaNeshama, a Reform synagogue in Jerusalem. She also served on the Jerusalem City Council from 1988 to 2002, representing a group focused on civil rights and peace.
In the late 1980s, she led a campaign to protect consumers. She challenged Bezeq, a large phone company in Israel, because they wouldn't give customers detailed phone bills. She argued that people were paying for services they didn't use. In the end, she won, and Bezeq started giving itemized bills to its customers.
Anat Hoffman also leads the Domari Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem. Before the 1993 Oslo Accords, she was the leader of Women in Black. This is an international group of women who protest against war. The first group started in Jerusalem in 1988.
She was also part of the group that started Women of the Wall in December 1988. This group works to allow women to pray in their own way at the Western Wall. They want to be able to wear prayer shawls, sing, and read from the Torah together. When Israel's Supreme Court supported Women of the Wall, some Orthodox leaders disagreed. Anat Hoffman faced challenges for wearing a prayer shawl at the Wall. The Anti-Defamation League supported her, saying that how she was treated was concerning.
From 2002 to 2022, Hoffman was the executive director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). This organization works to promote equality, justice, and religious freedom in Israel.
Anat Hoffman also spoke out against incidents where women were asked to move seats on flights so that Orthodox Jewish men would not have to sit next to them. She encouraged women not to give up their seats and believes airlines should follow laws against discrimination. She also believes that religious councils should not be funded by the government.
Awards
In December 2024, Anat Hoffman was recognized by the BBC and included on their 100 Women list.
