PHOTOS BY SHARI COHEN
University:
Making an Impact
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in
the
Ideas For Change
Jewish Working Women’s Network
tackles sexual harassment at work.
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
M eet Dr. Izhak Haviv , director of
the cancer research center at Bar-Ilan
University’s Azrieli School of Medicine
in the Galilee. He and his team are
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cancer.
“People who come to us are generally
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technological edge, we are capable
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creative solutions. Now, we are at a
stage where optimism for these
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funding for research, you can help
Dr. Haviv to provide a brighter
outcome for those with cancer.
Tel: 847-423-2270
8170 McCormick Blvd.
Suite 120
Skokie, IL 60076
ari.steinberg@afbiu.org
AFBIU.ORG
T
he headlines pile up ABOVE: Speakers on women. Approximately 50
Deborah Gordon women of all ages attended
every day — new
and Brooke
the program at the Max. M.
allegations of sexual
Bendix with
Fisher Federation Building in
harassment and abuse
Nancy Glen.
Bloomfield Hills.
by well-known business
Gordon explained the legal
CEOS, movie producers,
journalists, elected officials and per- definition of sex harassment in the
workplace, which is prohibited
formers. Women are revealing cur-
under federal law. She explained
rent and past incidents as they gain
that the behavior must be unwel-
courage from each other, creating
come to the employee, must be
the mass movement #MeToo.
used as a term of employment or
But these problems are not lim-
ited to abuse by high-profile, power- workplace decision making, or be a
component of a hostile work envi-
ful men. Women cope with sexual
ronment.
harassment while working in the
“The conduct has to affect the
offices of corporations and non-
woman’s work, for example creat-
profit organizations, manufacturing
ing a ‘tit-for-tat’ situation where
plants and even religious institu-
an employee has to go out with a
tions. And Jewish women are not
supervisor for a promotion,” she
exempt from this societal problem
said. “A hostile environment exists
— including verbal abuse, inappro-
when conduct or conversation
priate touching or threats for say-
creates an intimidating or hostile
ing no to workplace managers who
environment where the conduct is
want a date or more.
pervasive. It can’t be a one-off unless
On Feb. 5, Federation’s Jewish
the behavior is extreme.”
Working Women’s Network pre-
sented “Sexual Harassment at
OPTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE
Work: A look at the current climate
According to Gordon, women faced
and how we can change the fore-
with harassment in the workplace
cast.” Attorney Deborah Gordon, a
have options but not necessar-
well-known employment and civil
ily ones that yield timely, positive
rights lawyer, and Brooke Bendix,
results. They can “do nothing”
LMSW and psychotherapist, pro-
and just cope with the situation;
vided insights on the nature of
go to their Human Resources
sexual harassment and its impact
continued on page 20
18
February 22 • 2018
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