The woman who defeated ultra-Orthodox politics
The impressive victory of Aliza Bloch in the Beit Shemesh municipal election created new agendas and threatened the political and religious leadership of the ultra-Orthodox community.
The election of a woman as mayor of Beit Shemesh is much more than a personal victory or the lifting of some gender barrier. It is an important indicator of deep-rooted trends in ultra-Orthodox society, which bubbled to the surface on one dramatic election night.
Of all the municipal election victories, including victories by women, the turnover in Beit Shemesh is the most potent and symbolic. It has the potential to shine a light on the deep changes taking place in ultra-Orthodox society.
