Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2005

Leading Jewish Peace Activist Honored As “Woman Who Dared” at Ceremony

Boston, Mass.— Diane Balser, vice president of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, will be honored as a “Woman Who Dared” by the Jewish Women’s Archive and Women’s Philanthropy at the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston for her work in support of a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The award, which celebrates contemporary Jewish women who stand up for the rights of others, will be conferred at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 5 th at 6:30 PM at Temple Israel at 477 Longwood Avenue in Boston.

Balser has been involved in Brit Tzedek’s work since its inception three years ago. Brit Tzedek is a national grassroots organization of more than 25,000 American Jews deeply committed to Israel's well-being through the achievement of a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition to serving as vice president, Balser is co-chair of Brit Tzedek's Advocacy and Public Policy committee, in which capacity she has spearheaded major advocacy campaigns, including "Bring the Settlers Home" and the "Open Letter to the Next President." In December of 2003, she was one of only a handful of American Jewish community leaders invited to the commitment ceremony for the Geneva Accord in Geneva, Switzerland.

Balser’s attachment to Israel springs from her deep ties to Judaism. She was first drawn to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through her work training Israeli women in leadership development and peer empowerment. She was struck and inspired by the connections many of the women made between their feminist activism and their peace activism.

“Diane articulates her message for peace in a persuasive and powerful way that people can hear,” said Nancy Kaufman, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston.

Balser, who is a professor of Women’s Studies at Boston University, was the founder of the Women’s Statewide Legislative Network of Massachusetts, which was the largest network of individuals and organizations in the state, representing women on public policy issues. She also led delegations of women to the third and fourth NGO International Conference for Women in Kenya and China, respectively. At the third conference, she co-facilitated a forum on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and at the fourth, she organized the first ever Shabbat ceremony held at an international women’s conference.

Balser was nominated for the honor by Marcia Freedman, current and founding president of Brit Tzedek, herself recently honored for her life’s work on behalf of a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a $20,000 gift by the Massachusetts-based Ella Lyman Cabot Trust Inc.