As a gay Jewish immigrant from South Africa, raised by three extraordinary women—my grandmother, Bee Smollan, my biological mother, Sandra Gochin, and my aunt, Valerie Smollan—I write this with great hesitancy as a man. In our household, the lines of motherhood blurred—each was equally and fully my mother. Growing up in a misogynistic, paternalistic society, these women were unyielding in their strength, instilling in me an unshakable belief in feminism as a lived truth. To me, women’s excellence in intellect, resilience, and compassion was self-evident, save for brute strength. I reject any claim to the contrary. Yet, I feel compelled to speak out because women’s groups, entrusted to champion the rights of all victims of gender-based violence, have let everyone down. By failing to unequivocally condemn the horrific sexual violence against Israeli women and men during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, these groups have effectively abandoned current and future victims of sexual violence, undermining the very principles they claim to uphold.

Feminism was as natural as breathing, yet its history revealed the profound role of Jewish activists. My Jewish friends shared my instinctive support for women’s rights, unlike some non-Jewish peers. Jews built feminism’s foundation, pioneering equality in secular, religious, and scientific spheres, only to see Jewish feminists especially betrayed, kicked when they were down by feminist movements, the United Nations, and global NGOs aligning with narratives that vilify Israel, attack Jews, and dismiss their suffering. The British All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on UK-Israel’s 7 October Parliamentary Commission Report, chaired by Lord Andrew Roberts and released on March 18, 2025, meticulously documents these atrocities, including sexual violence against both women and men, yet global feminist organizations remain silent. By prioritizing virtue signaling for Islamist ideals over condemning gender-based violence, these organizations undermine the progress Jewish feminists fought for, erasing their legacy. This article celebrates the Jewish legacy in feminism, highlights Israel’s strides toward gender equality, laments the antisemitic betrayal of Jewish feminists and male victims, and calls for accountability.

Jewish Pioneers of Feminism

The feminist movement is inseparable from Jewish contributions, driven by a tradition of justice and tikkun olam—repairing the world. Jews were among the first to champion women’s equality, breaking ground in government, science, religious leadership, and anti-apartheid activism, setting precedents that feminist organizations later betrayed by ignoring Jewish victims and aligning with anti-Israel narratives.

In government, Jewish women were trailblazers. Bella Abzug, a U.S. Representative in the 1960s and 1970s, known as “Battling Bella,” fiercely advocated for women’s and civil rights, instrumental in establishing Women’s Equality Day. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court Justice, reshaped gender equality law, ruling on landmark cases like Obergefell v. Hodges for same-sex marriage. Elena Kagan, appointed in 2010, became the fourth woman and eighth Jewish Supreme Court Justice, marking a historic moment with three female justices on the Court. Their leadership transformed American governance, advancing justice for all.

In science, Jewish women outpaced their peers. Vera Rubin discovered dark matter, revealing it constitutes 27% of the universe. Rosalind Franklin’s work on DNA’s molecular structure laid the foundation for the double helix model, though her male colleagues took credit. Ruth Arnon, with Michael Sela, synthesized the first synthetic antigen, revolutionizing immunology. These........

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