Become a Member
Israel

Bnei Akiva too religious for some Israeli parents

September 2, 2010 11:26

By

Nathan Jeffay,

Nathan Jeffay

2 min read

Mother-of-four Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg is apprehensive. In a few weeks it will be time for her daughter Avigail to start Bnei Akiva, the religious Zionist youth movement that she, and her parents before her, attended.

Ms Shapira-Rosenberg, of Mazkeret Batya near Tel Aviv, does not want Avigail to miss out on the experience of getting involved, but is worried that since her day, religious standards have changed to a point that she considers extreme.

One of her main objections is that the 60,000-member Israeli Bnei Akiva - distinct from Bnei Akiva branches abroad which set their own religious standards - has become preoccupied with issues of tzniut, modesty.

"I think that the entire issue of tzniut has become obsessive and this is bad for the status of women - the girls always have to think how they look in the eyes of the boys, and they become objectified," she said.

To get more Israel news, click here to sign up for our free Israel Briefing newsletter.