International Women's Day celebrations are underway across the globe this week, with organizations hosting special events and retailers launching promotional campaigns, ostensibly in support of women's achievements and equality. However, they fail to do the one thing that will actually make this day worthwhile – living up to its goal.
Since Oct. 7, it has been made clear: One's Jewishness taints her status as a woman. Women globally fight against harassment, violence, and discrimination – but when Jewish women face these same violations, the silence is deafening. Shiri Bibas, an Israeli hostage murdered along with her children in Hamas captivity, has unfortunately become a symbol of this inconsistency.
The selectivity was so prominent these past 16 months that Jewish activists came up with the social media hashtag "#metoo unless you're a Jew." This Women's Day, we must recognize Jewish women. Transform the hashtag into "#metoo regardless if you're a Jew." Otherwise, what's there to celebrate?