The Henkin family is outraged over the use of their daughter’s HY”D name for a feminist conference that is to be hosted in Knesset next week. The kenos according to dati leumi websites is for “dati leumi lights and Conservatives”.

MKs Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid) and Rachel Azariya (Kulanu) used the name of Rebitzen Na’ama Henkin HYD but without clearing it with the family. Mrs. Henkin and her husband Rabbi Eitam HY”D were killed in a terrorist attack in the Shomron on erev Shabbos Chol Hamoed Sukkos 5776.

Yagil Henkin, a brother, family of the Henkins used Facebook to speak out against the Knesset event which is viewed by them as “feminist”, stating “Almost all the registered participants are on the scale between “Ne’emanei Torah V’Avodah, liberal religious, dati light, dati leumi feminist and a female Conservative rabbi. There is no representation of the more traditionalist camp that focuses on limud Torah, receiving inferior representation (If he has, that is assuming Bob Ross represents this wing and the Department of Gender Studies at Bar Ilan University)”.

The anger is not over the event but the posting at the end of the advert for the event which says “Dedicated in memory of Tamar Ariel, http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/265581/first-iaf-religious-navigator-among-the-israelis-killed-in-nepal.html Na’ama Henkin and Dafne Meir obm”. http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/376552/terror-dafna-meir-hyd-murdered-in-front-of-her-3-children-inside-her-otniel-home-terrorist-flees-scene-manhunt-launched.html

Henkin adds in his Facebook post “I am not authorized to speak on behalf of the first or last, but what I do know is that the middle [person listed]. She was far more [religiously] traditionalistic than I and she would not have been found at this kenos and the listed spokespersons and she would not have been among the invited guests. This list salutes religious feminism as a mechanism of change, not one seeking to connect. There is room for a Conservative female rabbi so there is no room for a dossi (frummer), not to mention chardal, not even a kezayis but only if on the sign as ‘in memory of’”.

He continues explaining how the feminism was far from his late sister’s agenda and hashkafa and using her name is most inappropriate. To strengthen and back his words he quotes writings from Na’ama, in which she states she does not connect to the term feminist as it is used today. “That means to say that I wish to be an Orthodox feminist but then I must support lesbian mothers and I don’t. actually I am opposed…”

In response, MK Azariya apologizes, explaining they simply wished to dedicate the event in memory of these dear women, nothing more. Azariya stated to avoid bringing any pain to the family, Na’ama’s name will be removed from invitations.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)